What "sold out" means at the Louvre
The Louvre limits the number of entries per time slot. A "sold out" slot means that half-hour has reached its cap, not that the museum is closed for the day. According to our Louvre guide, the museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesday, until 9 pm on Wednesday and Friday, and it recommends booking an online time slot, even when entry is free.
The options, from simplest to most expensive
- Change day or time. Open the official ticket calendar and look at neighboring days. Wednesday and Friday after 6 pm are generally the least crowded, and late afternoon is calmer than the morning.
- Check back several times. Slots free up through cancellations and re-releases: check the site in the morning and late in the evening, especially in the days before your visit.
- Buy a resold ticket with reserved entry. Operators sell an entry ticket with a time slot. The price is higher than the official ticket: you pay for the service, not a shortcut. Check the date, the time and what is included before paying.
- Take a guided tour. This is the most reliable option when ticketing is full, and the only one that also gives you a thread through a huge museum. We compare the offers in Louvre with a guide: which guided tour to choose.
- Swap to another museum. If the Louvre stays full on your date, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie are top alternatives.
Official ticket, resold ticket, guided tour: the table
| Option | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official ticket | €22 (EEA) or €32 (non-EEA), October 2026 | Entry with a time slot | Everyone, if a slot exists |
| Resold ticket with reserved entry | Higher than the official ticket; not recorded to date | Entry with a time slot, no guide | Independent visitors, official slots sold out |
| Guided tour | See the comparison | Entry, guide, route | First visit, families, art lovers |
We could not record resold ticket prices at the date of this page: compare them when you book, and make sure museum entry is included.
Pitfalls
- A ticket is not a time slot. At the Louvre you need a reserved entry time, even with a Paris Museum Pass or a free-entry right. See our review of the Paris Museum Pass.
- Queues do not disappear. A reserved slot avoids the line for visitors without a ticket, not the security check.
- Tickets sold on the spot or on the street. Be wary of sellers in the street or around the pyramid; buy only on the official site or from an identified operator.
- Free entry. It exists for certain groups; see the free museums in Paris. It also requires a time slot.
- Tuesday. The museum is closed: no point looking for it in the calendar.
What to do if nothing is really available
Explore the surroundings: the Tuileries Garden and the Cour Carrée can be visited without a ticket, and the outside of the palace is worth the detour on its own. Keep a plan B for the day, with our guide to booking ahead in Paris to see which sites require a slot.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Louvre be sold out all day? Yes, in high season some slots disappear weeks ahead. Another day or Wednesday and Friday evenings often offer more choice.
Can you buy a ticket on the spot? The museum recommends booking online; do not count on the ticket desk in high season.
Does a guided tour skip the queue? It includes a reserved entry, so you avoid the line for visitors without a ticket, but the security check remains.
