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Louvre Museum Tour: A Guided Crash Course

Get an insider's view of the world's largest art collection
From US$498 privately
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Louvre Museum

"Exemplary tour and company support"

"We loved Francois! Everything about working with Context and their guides so far has been exemplary. Thank you! Up next, Normandy!!"

Lisa O.

"Brings enthusiasm to every piece"

"Marie took us on the most insightful, whirlwind tour of the Louvre that we could have imagined. Her knowledge base is extraordinary and she brings enthusiasm to every piece that she described. My only regret is that we did not book more time with her."

Kathleen C.

"Not just tourists being rushed"

"We truly felt like being on a personally guided art tour, not just tourists being rushed from one end of the Louvre to the other. "

Alexandra K.
Photos & Highlights
  • Join an engaging local expert at the top of their field, such as art history or museum curation, as you explore the most-visited collection of artworks in the world
  • Unique, personal tours for the intentional traveler. Choose from private tours for just you and your party, or join a small group tour with up 6 other travelers
Tour Description
Over the course of your three-hour visit, you’ll learn how the museum transformed over five centuries from an immense medieval fortress to a magnificent royal palace, to the museum we know today. 

Each expert tour guide has their own preferred route to touch upon the most important works on display. You may start your visit by heading to the Classical Antiquities wing, known for its stunning collection of Egyptian artifacts and awe-inspiring Greek and Roman sculptures. You will touch upon the Denon Wing, the grand galleries of Italian painting, and be treated to some of the greatest works of art in the Western world, including masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Veronese. 

You will also spend some time with the French Masters, learning about the late 18th- and early 19th-century rival art movements of Neoclassicism, led by Jacques-Louis David, and Romanticism, spearheaded by Théodore Gericault and Eugène Delacroix. And of course, what visit to the Louvre would be complete without saying hello to the Mona Lisa and discussing the mysteries behind her smile? 

Your guide will curate your visit, selecting a mixture of famous and lesser-known works and crafting a narrative around your interests and questions. You’ll discuss anything from perspective in the late medieval era, to the Baroque period, to issues of powers and politics as expressed by court painters, and more.

Experts
Sandrine Sandrine
Art Historian
Aymeric Aymeric
Local Guide
Kotryna Kotryna
Art Historian
John Edward John Edward
Local Guide
Laurent Laurent
Local Guide
Anthony Anthony
Art Historian
Aline Aline
Art Historian
Violette Violette
Art Historian
Amy Amy
Local Guide
Sean Sean
Tour guide/Historian
Kasia Kasia
Art Historian
Pablo Jesus Pablo Jesus
Historian
Sylvanie Sylvanie
Art Historian
Caroline Caroline
Art Historian
Charlotte Charlotte
Art Historian
Sandra Sandra
Art Historian
Fatah Fatah
Local Guide
Abigail Abigail
Local Guide
Michael Michael
Art Historian
BĂ©ate BĂ©ate
Art Historian/Local Guide
Nadia Nadia
Historian
François François
Local Guide
Kristina Kristina
Local Guide
Susan Susan
Art Historian
Achille Achille
Historian
Elisa Elisa
Art Historian
Eugénie Eugénie
Local Guide
Elli Elli
Art Historian
Carine Carine
Art Historian
Evrard Evrard
Historian
Sunday Sunday
Art Historian
Lindsey Lindsey
Art Historian
Cecile Cecile
Local Guide
Emmanuel Emmanuel
Local Guide
James James
Artist
Barbara Barbara
Art Historian
Lorraine Lorraine
Art Historian
RĂ©my RĂ©my
Local Guide
Stéphanie Stéphanie
Local Guide
Celia Celia
Local Guide
Jessica Jessica
Local Guide
Daniele Daniele
Art Historian
Isabelle Isabelle
Art Historian
Marie Marie
Art Historian
Marine Marine
Art Historian
Sarah Sarah
Art Historian
Laure-Caroline Laure-Caroline
Art Historian
Jessica Jessica
Art Historian
Thibaud Thibaud
Art Historian
Babis Babis
Art Historian
  • It’s your first time in Paris and you’re seeking a comprehensive and engaging tour that will help you understand the Louvre collections 
  • You’re returning to Paris and wish to explore and go deeper into the museum’s masterpieces
  • If you’re traveling with children under the age of 12, we recommend our family-oriented Louvre for Kids Tour.
  • Louvre Museum – One of the world's largest and most famous art museums, housing an extensive collection of art and historical artifacts.
Tickets
  • Incudes Louvre Museum tickets
  • Our tickets will get us to a special group tour entrance, using the line for ticket holders with a time slot, where our group will have to stand in line due to security measures and crowd control measures.
Meeting and Ending Point 
  • We meet at a cafĂ© near the Louvre and end in the museum so you can stay inside and continue to visit on your own if you choose to do so. 
  • The exact meeting point and map are communicated in your confirmation email.
Headsets
  • Depending on your group size, you may have headsets on the tour. 
Resources
  • For more information on planning your tour, take a read through our How to Visit the Louvre resources page.
  • If you are looking to learn more about Paris prior to a visit, check out our online lectures at Context Learning.
Wheelchair accessibility
  • The Louvre is wheelchair accessible and you can request a temporary wheelchair loan from the information desk. There are elevators throughout the museum as well and you can print a wheelchair accessibility guide from the site.
Service Dogs 
  • Service dogs are allowed if you have a medical certificate proving the need. 
  • For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.
Why can’t I book this tour for more than 6 people?
Our Louvre tours are capped at 6 due to venue reservation restrictions, this also helps your tour experience in order to best navigate the museum and crowds. Should you have a larger group, we suggest splitting into multiple groups.

I have purchased a Museum Pass, can I use it on my Context tours?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to refund your Louvre tickets if you have Museum Passes.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.83) 2116 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

We loved our morning with Marie! The Louvre is such a massive place that it’s impossible to see everything in one trip. Marie was very kind and knowledgeable across a range of periods and regions and neatly wove them together into a great historical journey. Merci beaucoup, Marie!
James was absolutely outstanding. Such a wealth of knowledge not only about the Louvre and its history, but about the history of France and the Louve’s part in it. James would be my first and only recommendation for a guided tour of anywhere in Paris. This is the one to go to. He is IT!
Amyeric was fantastic, we learned so much. I was so impressed and really appreciated all the time and care he took of us and gave us a great crash course of the Lourve. I highly recommend Aymeric!! Thank you again for such a great tour!!!

See the Louvre with Context

Get to know one of the art historians leading this tour

Meet James

Louvre Tours: Visit the Louvre with a Local Expert

Don't just visit the Louvre. Experience Louvre Tours that don't feel like tours. Our three-hour Louvre tours take you through the ages to learn the meaning behind the art you see. You'll dive deep into the Louvre's most iconic works while unveiling its hidden stories as a local expert guides you along the museum's famous hallways.

Whether its your first time visiting the Louvre or you're familiar with its endless halls, Context experiences will help you uncover something new. Show up already in the know, with background on the museum's history and how to interpret the paintings and sculptures you see, by enjoying a Pre-Trip Talk. And continue your learning after your tour with our unique audio guides that allow you to explore Paris's history on your own schedule

Need help planning your trip to the Louvre, including which Louvre Tours are right for you? Start with our comprehensive guide.