Louvre Implements 30,000 Daily Visitor Cap to Manage Crowds

Paris’s Musée du Louvre is arguably the world’s most renowned museum, evidenced by its attendance figures. In 2019, it welcomed 10 million visitors, with peak days seeing around 45,000 attendees. During the strict lockdowns of 2020, the Louvre temporarily closed and took the opportunity to carry out major renovations on parts of the Egyptian Wing and the Grande Galerie. The museum reopened in May 2021, and visitor numbers quickly surged again, with 7.8 million people visiting in 2022.

Recently, the Louvre announced its decision to maintain a daily visitor cap of 30,000 (approximately 7.5 million annually), a practice quietly instituted since June 2022. Last week, the museum confirmed this policy would be permanent. Home to some of the most iconic artworks globally, including Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, and, of course, Mona Lisa, viewing these masterpieces often feels like a struggle against throngs of visitors wielding cellphone cameras, not to mention the long queues just to enter. In 2022, 70 percent of Louvre guests were international tourists.

In recent years, the Louvre’s staff have expressed concerns about the challenges posed by overcrowding, even staging several strikes that halted daily operations. By limiting daily visitors, the museum aims to create a more enjoyable experience for both guests and employees.

"I hope visitors, especially first-timers who make up 60 percent of our guests, enjoy their time at the Musée du Louvre," said the museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, in a press release. "We are continually striving to enhance the visitor experience and to offer high-quality programming along with unique live performances that resonate with our exhibitions."

Tickets to the Louvre can be purchased on its website for approximately $18 per adult. In-person tickets are available for $16, but due to the museum's popularity and the newly established visitor cap, it's advisable to buy tickets in advance. Admission provides access to both permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as the nearby Musée National Eugène-Delacroix, dedicated to the iconic French romantic artist. Entry remains free for those 18 and younger, or residents of the European Economic Area who are 26 and under.

If traveling to Paris isn’t an option, consider a virtual visit: over 490,000 artworks from the Louvre are accessible through its online archives.