A private guided tour that goes beyond identical set lists of masterpieces, exploring the hidden corners of the Louvre Museum. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
A private tour of the hidden treasures of the Louvre
The Louvre, even at the peak of the tourist season, offers empty or nearly empty rooms for those who venture into its 9-mile-long labyrinth. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
First-time visitors to the Louvre have been told horror stories about the queues to enter the pyramid entrance and will be enticed by "skip the line" promises.
But, as the Louvre requires every visitor to book a reserved entry with a time slot, getting inside the museum is not the hurdle one needs to worry about.
It is navigating the largest museum in the world, which is also the world's most visited museum, attracting up to 10 million visitors annually.
That is where you can benefit from an expert-designed private tour of the Louvre. Let's start by understanding the size of the museum.
The Louvre, a gigantic labyrinth with 9 miles of corridors
The walls of the moat of the Louvre castle, dating back to the Middle Ages, the oldest surviving part of the Louvre. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
What does 'largest museum in the world' even mean? Where does one start when attempting to discover masterpieces spread out along 9 miles of corridors? The view above is of the medieval Louvre, from which visitors access all three wings and three different floors of the museum. Where do you go?
Be aware that if you tried to see everything on display for one minute at a time, it would take you three months to see the Louvre. An entire summer, for eight hours a day, up and down staircases, to get to see it all.
There is the good way to be overwhelmed—to be in awe—and the bad one, the sense of vertigo when one is lost within miles of museum corridors. That is one reason to consider a private guided tour.
The other is overcrowding.
Getting away from the crowd, seeking the quiet, hidden corners of the Louvre
An empty room of the Louvre, with two Vermeers, the Lacemaker and the Astronomer. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
Let's make sense of the fact that the Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, with 10 million visitors per year. On average, it means 30,000 persons a day.
And the reality is that most of the 30,000 visitors visit one wing, leaving two-thirds of the Louvre nearly empty in comparison. There are even rooms that are deserted.
A Louvre Museum without crowds? Yes, even at the peak of the tourist season—roughly April to July, as well as Christmas—it is possible to enjoy quiet corners of the world's most visited museum.
Do not expect to see the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory and the Mona Lisa alone; it is unlikely to happen, as all three masterpieces are in the one wing that is always crowded. These masterpieces are, of course, very important and part of a program of highlights for first-time visitors.
The 'secret' of the Louvre is that while nearly every visitor will be viewing these, somewhere down the 9 miles of corridors, there are entire empty rooms. And these rooms are not filled with second-rate works at all, unless one considers Vermeer and Rembrandt to be second-rate.
That is why one needs time to appreciate the Louvre truly. Then, the way to discover the hidden treasures of the Louvre is with an expert-designed private tour.
An expert-designed private tour of the Louvre
Venture to the least frequented and sometimes deserted corners of the museum and discover its hidden treasures. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
Art Journey private tours are conceived by a Louvre School Graduate, who knows intimately all the nooks and crannies of the 9 miles of corridors of the museum. With over fifteen years of experience crafting private tours of Paris museums and monuments, he has dealt with many different people from varied walks of life.
That is how, from first-time visitors to experienced museumgoers, you will benefit from an expert-designed private tour. It is because it genuinely is a private tour: as long as you ask in advance, anything in the Louvre, all 9 miles of corridors, is possible, depending on the room opening schedule.
There is no obligatory set list of masterpieces to see. Each tour is unique, catering to visitors of all ages, from individuals to families of up to five persons.
A private tour is also at your own pace: whether you are fit enough to go up and down stairs for hours, or have rusty knees. If you are disabled, you will benefit from that extensive knowledge of the Louvre's corridors, staircases, and lifts, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable visit.
A relaxing private guided Louvre Museum visit
What about sitting for a relaxing pause during a private visit? There are two cafés, Angelina and café Mollien with a terrace in summer inside the Louvre Museum where we can get a coffee break. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
For most, visiting the Louvre is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so make it count. Considering the size of the Louvre, it is essential to allocate sufficient time to discover an immense museum.
It means a visit is about 4 hours, which allows for a relaxing pace and gives you the chance to stop in one of the Louvre cafeterias for a coffee break during the private tour. You will be glad to find a place to sit and use the break to discuss options for venturing into the quieter parts of the museum.
In two hours, you will only see the same artworks that everyone sees in the crowded areas of the Louvre. Staying longer is when magic happens, allowing one to discover the hidden treasures of the museum.
That is the 'secret' of the Louvre: two hours there doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. A half-day visit means turning a crowded place into an intimate one.
A genuinely customizable private visit, anything in the Louvre on demand
There are always rooms of the Louvre museum that are crowdless. To discover them, join an expert-designed private guided tour. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
A private tour means there is no set list to follow; this is genuinely a visit tailored to your taste and rhythm. The tour is not a recitation, but a conversation.
There are two scenarios: either you are making a first visit or you have already visited the Louvre.
One, this is your first stay in Paris, and you have no particular requirements. In that case, the plan is to discover highlights such as the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Then, take a coffee break and discuss options to venture into another wing of the Louvre, away from the crowds.
The other is that you have already been to the Louvre, so we can plan to see any of the 35,000 artworks on display. Focus on one particular wing or subject.
Considering not only the size of the museum but also the fact that many rooms close depending on the day of the week, it is essential to inquire about what you would like to see in advance.
A private tour means you can expect a personal and timely answer to your message, not an automated reply.
Louvre Museum Private Guided Tour
A private, 4-hour Louvre Museum visit, led by an officially licensed art historian guide.
1 to 2 people - 550 €
3 people - 675 €
4 people - 850 €
5 people - 975 €
Family (two adults, up to 3 children) - 550 €
The fee includes personalized Louvre entrance tickets with a time slot reservation guaranteeing access to the museum.
Contact
To book a private guided tour of the Louvre museum, please mention the date of the visit as well as the number of participants, using the form below, thank you.
Examples of masterpieces and stories to enjoy during a private guided visit of the Louvre Museum:
The story of the Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory: who carved it, how Nike of Samothrace was discovered, why it is iconic, and how it survived the Nazis' attempt to destroy the statue in 1944.
Discover the story of Winged Victory.
'Liberty Leading the People', a revolutionary masterpiece
Why is Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People such an important masterpiece?
Discover the true story of Liberty Leading the People.
Jacques Jaujard, the quiet hero who organized the largest art rescue operation ever.
The true story of saving the treasures of the Louvre from Nazis.
Discover what happened in the Louvre during the Second World War.
Mona Lisa Consumed By Fame: Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?
The story of a celebrity and the lady behind bulletproof glass, Lisa del Giocondo.
Discover the true reason why the Mona Lisa is famous.
Our Louvre private tour with you was the highlight of our trip. Your tour exceeded all our expectations and your knowledge of the history of the artifacts in the Louvre was impressive.
Your stories made everything come alive for us. You were right, the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo paled in comparison to the treasures you showed us!
We navigated corridors, elevators, staircases and wings seamlessly, and if felt as though we had the Louvre to ourselves.
We cannot thank you enough for the magic provided to us on our private tour of the Louvre. We are not big "touristy" people and therefore wanted an experience that would be efficient, fun, and a bit different. We could not have found it more than with you. It was one of the biggest highlights of our trip to Paris.
We learned so much and it was really enjoyable. I can't believe how much we packed into just a half day with you.
In my previous visits, I had felt overwhelmed by the scale of the museum and was determined to try and avoid the crowds and rushing from 1 "star attraction" to the next. Your expert knowledge helped us gain a glimpse of the 9000 years of treasures on display and inspired us to discover more.
With a professional artist in the family we had some reservations about spending so much money for the private tour. We expected little more than the canned tour offered by so many guides. Two of us had visited the Louvre in the past and felt like we knew our way around. Our expectations were low, but we had hopes.
You made our visit both memorable and enjoyable as you guided us effortlessly through the museum even to the point of giving the impression the Louvre was your private museum.
What was truly worth every euro was the quality of the experience. To take a place that would take months to visit, to boil it down into four hours, and make you feel like you truly experienced the Louvre is an art!! Our guide was fantastic and simply made the Louvre the highlight of our short time in Paris. You brought art to life!!
Practical Information About A Private Tour Of The Louvre Museum
Join an expert-designed private guided tour to discover the quiet, relaxing corners of the Musée du Louvre. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
Skip the line - The Louvre uses a timed entry system, a "Ticket and time slot booking granting access to the permanent collections and exhibitions" every half-hour. The Louvre explains that "Only tickets purchased online guarantee access to the museum".
As long as one arrives at the time advised by the official guide, the wait is a matter of minutes, the time needed for the security check to get through the x-ray machine for bags.
Avoiding crowds in the Louvre - It is unrealistic to expect to have the world's most visited museum all to oneself.
Yet, while most visitors converge toward the same famous masterpieces, all located in the same wing, the other two wings of the Louvre remain nearly empty, particularly during the out of hours evening openings, which takes place twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, until 9 pm.
After all, there are 9 miles of corridors across three separate wings, spread over 400 rooms and three floors. Having long realized that most foreign visitors only get to visit the Louvre once in their lives, we want to make sure they can experience the quieter corners of the Louvre. To walk off the beaten path and enjoy the least visited areas of the museum and the hidden treasures of the Louvre.
VIP experience - What is VIP, the silk curtains, or the view out of the window? The chauffeur-driven ride to the Louvre, or what goes on once inside the museum?
Is it not better to enjoy a tailor-made experience where you can choose anything among the 35,000 artworks of the Louvre? Art Journey Paris is a private tour specialist that offers bespoke visits only.
Masterpieces of the Louvre - There are 35,000 artworks displayed in the Louvre, so there is a lot more to choose from than the Venus of Milo, Victory of Samothrace, and Mona Lisa! To make sense of the scale of the Louvre museum, another way to express its immensity is that trying to see every artwork on display, one minute at a time would take nearly 3 months... Art Journey Paris prides itself on being able to show you any artwork in the museum, as long as it is requested in advance. And if you do not know what to choose, no worries, we will tailor a discovery of the treasures of the Louvre for you, from famous masterpieces to unexpected hidden wonders.
Wheelchair access - People with disabilities are welcome. The Louvre does loan wheelchairs in exchange for a passport. Please let us know in advance if you need a wheelchair. - Visitors with physical disabilities.
Schedule of the Louvre Museum Room Closures - To ensure the artwork you wish to see is visible, please consult the Schedule of room closure of the Louvre.
Taking photos in the Louvre museum - Photography, without a flash or tripod, is allowed. But keep in mind that photos of all artworks of the museum are available from the fantastic Louvre Museum Collection database.