Visiting the Louvre with kids can be fun and educational provided that everyone is properly prepared and the visit is focused and limited to 2 or 3 hours.
The Musée du Louvre is a landmark in Paris and at more than 650,000 square feet is one of the largest, and busiest, museums in the world. There are more than 35,000 objects exhibited in the museum and it is said that it would take a visitor up to 9 months to see them all. Visiting a museum such as the Louvre with kids may seem like a daunting proposition but a successful visit is possible.
A Brief History of the Louvre
The Louvre has been a fixture in Paris since the late 12th century when it was built as a fortress on the banks of the Seine by King Philippe Auguste who wanted to protect the city from the Anglo-Normans. Over the centuries, the fortress underwent extensive renovations and was transformed into a grand palace.
Following the revolution, the Assemblée Nationale decreed that the Louvre and the Tuileries would be used for displaying art and the Museum Central des Arts subsequently opened in 1793. The Louvre now houses a stunning collection of art from the Middle Ages through to 1848, including the most famous painting in the world.
In the 1980s an extensive modernization project was undertaken with architect I.M. Pei at the helm. Nineteen eighty-nine saw the opening of the glass pyramid which is now the impressive focal point of the building’s modern entrance and a perfect backdrop for some courtyard posing before visiting the museum.
In the courtyard of the Louvre
Tips for Visiting the Louvre with Kids
When planning a family trip to Paris, parents are going to read a lot of well-meaning advice suggesting that the Louvre be avoided. I’m the sort of mom, however, that believes that I shouldn’t have to skip things that I badly want to do just because I have kids with me and, when I’m in Paris, I plan to visit art museums. I believe that you can take kids to any art museum – even the Louvre – provided that the adults have adjusted their expectations to take into account the interests and attention span of the children.
1. Prepare for the Visit: With a museum collection as extensive as this, it is imperative that families prepare for the visit beforehand. Preparation is important for a successful visit to any museum and absolutely essential for one that is as large as the Louvre. Prior to our trip to Paris, we reviewed art books including, The Pocket Louvre, in order to get a sense of which works of art we most wanted to see.
2. Focus on a Few Exhibits: The larger the museum’s collection the more important it is going to be to focus on two or three exhibits. Trying to see too much will likely cause kids to become overwhelmed and either lose interest or have a meltdown. Emma knew that she wanted to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo because they were the works that she recognized from books and had heard about. Based on her interests, we decided that our focus for this visit would primarily be seeing those two works of art and then anything else that struck our fancy.
At the Louvre
3. Limit Time at the Museum: It’s important to limit time spent in a museum or everyone will end up exhausted and grumpy. The Louvre is exhausting even for older kids and adults so it’s wise not to plan to spend hours there in an attempt to see as much as possible. Much better to enjoy a short visit than to be miserable after a long one. We planned to limit our time at the Louvre to just a couple of hours and then walk through Tuileries Gardens to the Champs Elysées and eventually on to the Arc de Triomphe.
4. Take Breaks During the Visit: It’s important to take breaks when visiting art museums with kids. Mine need plenty of snack breaks so we stopped at one of the cafés in the Louvre for something to eat before we even started exploring the museum and when we found an inviting set of stairs in the atrium we stopped for a rest there too.
Resting at the Louvre
5. Plan Fun Activities: We decided that we could tackle the Louvre on our own but another option would have been hiring a tour guide to plan an itinerary suitable for a family. Planning fun activities such as scavenger hunts or printing out thematic trails to follow would also be useful in keeping kids engaged.
6. Be Flexible. Perhaps the most important tip for visiting the Louvre is to be flexible. If the plan for visiting the museum is not working then be prepared to either change it or bail on the visit altogether. The Louvre is not going anywhere so if the kids are miserable then by all means get them out before they decide that they hate art museums. If you have to cut your visit short then you can use it as an excuse to return to Paris someday!
Our Visit to the Louvre
We walked to the Louvre from our apartment in St. Germain-des-Près and the kids were hungry by the time we arrived so we stopped at a café on the first level and had a snack before seeing anything.
Emma was so excited about seeing the Mona Lisa that we decided we might as well head directly there as she was not going to be able to focus on anything else until she had seen that painting. I had been concerned that she might be disappointed by the crowds or the size of the masterpiece but I had no need to worry – she was thrilled to see DaVinci’s famous lady for herself.
Mona Lisa!!
From there we went in search of the Venus de Milo which was also a priority.
Venus de Milo
After both of those goals were accomplished we were free to wander the other exhibits a bit. Emma is keen about Greek mythology so she enjoyed a gallery of statues of various gods, goddesses and mythological creatures.
Statues at Louvre
Louvre statues
Katie doesn’t enjoy art museums as much as Emma and I do so she amused herself by taking photos of me taking photos. It kept her entertained so I wasn’t about to complain.
At this point we thought that we had seen enough but Emma insisted that there had been a photo of a pink bed in The Pocket Louvre that she wanted to see. I had no idea what she was talking about and was soon wishing that I had paid more attention when she had been reading the book at home as she was adamant that she wasn’t leaving the museum without seeing that bed. After consulting the floor plan we concluded that it must be in the Napoleon Apartments and headed there. This part of the Louvre was practically deserted and we enjoyed wandering through the lavishly decorated rooms without any crowds to contend with.
Napoleon Apartments
We found the bed that Emma had seen pictured (it was indeed beautiful) and she was then content to wrap up our visit to the Louvre.
Napoleon Apartments
We spent approximately 2 or 3 hours at the Louvre and then headed outside for a walk in Tuileries Gardens. If the weather is pleasant then the gardens are the perfect way to decompress after a museum visit and enjoy some fresh air and exercise.
Starting our walk in Tuileries Gardens outside the Louvre
What You Need To Know
- The Louvre is located in Paris’ 1st arrondissement on the Right Bank;
- The Louvre is open every day (except Tuesdays). The museum is also closed on December 25, January 1, and May 1. Opening hours are from 9am-6pm on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and 9am – 9:45pm on Wednesday and Friday;
- Admission prices are available here – in 2012 adult admission to the permanent collection was 11 Euros. Admission is free to visitors under the age of 18. Admission is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month and on July 14th (except for temporary exhibitions in the Napoleon Hall);
- Visitors can avoid waiting in line buy purchasing advance tickets online or by purchasing a Paris Museum Pass;
- The museum is accessible by car, bus, batobus (Louvre stop, quai François Mitterrand), and Métro (Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station);
- Coat and luggage check is available free of charge. Strollers and wheelchairs are available free of charge;
- Audio guides may be rented and are available in 7 languages;
- There are numerous cafés and restaurants located throughout the Louvre;
- Guided tours are available. There are also a variety of thematic Visitor Trails available on the website which can be printed ahead of time.
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Related Links
9 Tips for Taking Kids to an Art Museum
Paris With Kids? Mais, Bien Sûr!
A Whirlwind Visit to Musée Rodin
Visiting the Palace of Versailles with Kids
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Leigh
Emma seems like an incredibly good sport. Good for you giving them such a rich cultural education. I tried but….
jan
Lots of great information here. You are lucky Lisa to have willing subjects in your photos and such lovely smiling ones at that! I am not big on museums either, so I enjoyed the taking photos of me taking photos strategy.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jan! I am lucky to have subjects that are, for the most part, willing and smiling! And when they aren’t, they take photos of me! 😉
Amy
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I was in Paris on a Tuesday and didn’t get to go to the museum. I’m glad to know that it’s possible to visit with kids, which I will do the next time I’m in Paris.
Steve
I’m not a huge fan of museums, but I think even I could handle a 2 or 3 hour visit. That’s short enough that I should be able to keep focused on whatever is on display. I’m surprised how much you managed to see in the short amount of time that you were at the Louvre. I would have thought it would take that long just to see either the Mona Lisa or Venus. Seeing both plus extras seems pretty good to me.
eileen at FamiliesGo!
I love that you took your kids to the Louvre. how will children learn to behave in places like the Louvre if you don’t take them to these places. And kids love art if it’s introduced in the right way.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
I’m so glad to revisit the Louvre with you and the family. These are great and important tips, Lisa! We didn’t let the naysayers stop us from visiting with a hyperactive 4-year-old boy either. My kids loved their visit to the Louvre and remember it 3 years later. You’re so right to focus on 2-3 items. We chose the Mona Lisa, Venus and Nike. Our bonuses were the Egyptian artifacts and the crown jewels. My daughter would absolutely love that pink bed. Something to add for next time 🙂
Kalpana Sharma
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Michele @ Malaysian Meanders
These are great tips, and I think they’d work well with my kids, too. I remember seeing Pei’s pyramid just a couple years after it was unveiled. I’d love to go back with mymkids someday.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I almost missed the Louvre on my first trip to Paris because the museum workers were on strike. Fortunately the strike ended on our last day in the city. It was a different type of visit the second time around with kids along but we still had a great time. It’s definitely possible with kids but you MUST have a plan or the Louvre will swallow you whole! 😉
Lisa Goodmurphy
We were lucky as we visited in March and the Louvre was not as crowded as it can sometimes be. We waited in line for only a few minutes, had a quick snack as soon as we were inside and headed straight for the Mona Lisa. I would say it probably took less than an hour to see Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Exactly! My kids have been to a lot of big art museums and the only one that was a difficult experience was the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. We were there in August and it was so incredibly crowded that it just wasn’t fun for anyone. We had to get out of the popular areas quickly and head for less busy galleries or a meltdown would most likely have ensued! 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
Glad to know that your kids enjoyed their trip to the Louvre as well! One of the things that I love about the museum is that you can go back over and over again and still see new things – so be sure to put that bed on your list!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I love the pyramid – it just seems to belong in the courtyard of the Louvre now – I can’t imagine the museum without it!
InACents
I have to agree with Emma in that I would have wanted to see and hang out in Napoleon’s rooms too. So ornate and beautiful!
Lisa wood
Oh that bed! I so could sleep there forever. Its the Style – it looks so comfortable yet so stylish…almost like a princess bed!
Love Emma’s smile – it says it all.
Crystal @ Little Sightseers
I have to admit, I avoid art museums with my kiddos. I say that I’ll take them when they are older, we’ll see!! I was lucky to have my mom with me in September when we went to Paris, and she had no interest in museums. So my husband and I got to do a quick tour without the kiddos. Your right, so much to see, we wizzed through looking for the peices we knew. Really should plan ahead to see what you really want to see. Great tips!!
Lesley Peterson
Excellent tips, Lisa. It is so important to plan ahead which specific works to prioritize because it’s not possible to see some of the world’s great collections all in one day. Planning meal breaks and alternating museum and outdoor activities is definitely the way to go, for adults as well as kids!
Lisa Goodmurphy
They are so elaborate – precisely what you would expect of Napoleon!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It would definitely be suitable for a princess, Lisa. Emma was thrilled with her visit to the Louvre – she didn’t stop smiling the entire time!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I would definitely suggest starting at a small art museum with younger kids – a place like the Louvre can be overwhelming even for adults! Glad to hear that you enjoyed your time in Paris!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Lesley – I’ve learned from experience that when we don’t do those things the visit can go downhill very quickly!
Family Travels on a Budget
We visited the Louvre this past spring. Our advice:
1. Head to the Mona Lisa first — bypass EVERYTHING ELSE. You’ll get there ahead of the gawkers who didn’t think about the fact that everyone wants to see the Mona Lisa. 🙂
2. When visiting with younger kids, encourage them to mimic the poses of the statues. It’s lots of fun.
3. Read up on the museum before you travel. Our kids wouldn’t leave until they saw the Code of Hammurabi, perhaps the oldest written law in the world.
4. The Louvre is closed on Tuesday.
Ann
That tip of having the kids mimic statues is so true. It’s a lot of fun to do that, even when just walking around. It’s on my scavenger hunt list of must take photos when we travel.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Art museums can definitely be fun if they are approached the right way. Have some ideas of fun things to do, head in with a good attitude and get out before things take a turn for the worse! 🙂
Narayan
Loved your post on the Louvre. We are going for the first time outside of US and are visiting Paris. Was looking for ideas on what to do in Louvre with the kids (14 and 8). Nice and informative. I don’t intend on spending more than 3 hours..Did you visit anywhere else other than Louvre? Didn’t see any other posts. Your suggestions will be much appreciated.
Narayan
Found your other posts as well. What would you suggest covering in 3.5 days. I don’t want to tire the kids out and being the first time atleast want to hit on the important spots. I had planned on Eiffel (obviously…), Louvre, Notre Dame cathedral, take a boat ride on Seine, Palace of Versaille and then stroll on the streets and take the feelings in. Any other suggestions would be most welcome.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hi Narayan,
I apologise for the delay in responding to your questions – I have just returned from travelling for 10 days in Amsterdam and London.
How much ground you can cover in Paris in 3.5 days mostly depends on the age of the children, the time of year that you are visiting and where you are travelling from. For us, travelling overnight from Canada means that we don’t do much beyond a walk on the first day because of exhaustion from lack of sleep. The second day is a bit better but still hard to put in a full day of touring.
My girls were 15 and 8 when we visited Paris (about the same age as your kids) so they had the stamina to keep going on busy days. We did eat earlier than is the norm in Paris though because the 8 year-old would not have been able to stay up late and get up early for sightseeing.
We visited Paris in March so the city was nowhere near as busy as it is in the summer season – yet there were still lines at attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Whenever you can, book tickets ahead of time to avoid queuing – I didn’t do this at the Eiffel Tower and we regretted it.
You will have to take a train ride out of the city to get to Versailles and it will take the better part of a day so unless you want to see Versailles very badly then you might want to focus your attention on Paris when you are only there for a short visit.
Apart from the thrill of seeing the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, my girls preferred the Musee d’Orsay and gardens of Musee Rodin – much smaller and not so crowded or overwhelming. The Musee d’Orsay features the Impressionists and the sculpture garden (The Thinker is on display here) of Musee Rodin is a lovely place for a walk (and I think it only cost 1 Euro for admission).
Be sure to leave time for just enjoying Paris – sitting at an outdoor cafe and enjoying the atmosphere of the city. If the weather is nice, explore the gardens as well – we loved Luxembourg Gardens and Tuileries Gardens.
Hope that helps – please do let me know if you have more questions.
Lisa