The Secret Entrance To One Of Paris' Most Popular Tourist Attractions Has Much Shorter Lines
Ahh, the city of lights! It's no wonder this enamoring European city is a popular favorite among globetrotters, as the streets of Paris are dappled with a fascinating montage of historic emblems and iconic attractions. Among this city's spectacular sights is a particularly enchanting gem, housing a carefully curated collection of artistic masterpieces. Featuring over 35,000 timeless art pieces, the Louvre Museum is one of the most coveted tourist sites in the entire city, its permanent and rotating galleries attesting to the history and heritage of France.
According to data from Statista, the Louvre Museum ranked first among Paris's top tourist attractions from 2019 to 2022, even surpassing the iconic Eiffel Tower. Its most recent data reflects that the Louvre welcomed 7.7 million guests in 2022, an impressive accolade, considering Paris is chock-full of wondrous gems. If you're unfamiliar with what exactly gives the Louvre Museum its alluring presence, it could be the fact that Louis XIV once lived here or that it's now the resting place for distinguished art collections, including the Mona Lisa. This historic palace speaks for itself, with an enamoring appearance and undeniable European charm that captivates visitors before ever setting foot through the front door.
Speaking of doors, it's rare to catch a glimpse of this museum's entrance when it's not overwhelmed by thousands of tourists squeezing their way through. Fortunately, there's more than one way to enter through the doors of this magnificent palace if you know where to look.
The Louvre has a back door?
Time is precious, especially when in Paris. With a million croissants to sample and a long list of gardens and exhibits to work your way through, time is of the essence. Waiting in an hour-long line to enter the Louvre is not on anyone's agenda (especially considering the Louvre is not the only museum worth paying a visit to). Luckily, there's a secret, back-door type of entrance that some eagle-eyed visitors were able to scope out, saving future guests the time and trouble of a never-ending line. Before we get to the secret entry door, securing a ticket online is your first line of defense for shaving off time. Try and select the earliest touring time when purchasing your tickets to ensure you visit during the museum's least-busy time slot.
Rather than hope for the best at the front gates of the building, head underground to Carrousel du Louvre. The ground street entrance can be found at 99 Rue de Rivoli, marked by a double set of escalators that lead visitors underneath the bustling city streets. This top-secret entrance can also be accessed by taking metro lines 1 and 7 to the Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre Station and following the underground signs.
Eventually, you'll be met by a heavenly reward of a small line at the foot of this "back-door" entrance, leaving plenty of time to pursue the exhibits and check off the rest of the sights on your Paris bucket list.
Savor those extra hours — get lost in the streets of Paris
Surrounded by a photogenic backdrop of manicured cobblestone pathways, vibrant gardens, and boulangeries, a visit to the Louvre just begins to scratch the surface of Parisian culture. Despite the size and grandeur of this popular exhibit, those extra hours saved through the museum's underground entrance means less time in line and more time exploring the streets of Paris. The Tuileries Garden is a sight for sore eyes, and this magnificent oasis contains an abundance of lush vegetation and flowering blooms. Tucked in the heart of this city's urban center, the vibrant flower beds and tranquil walking paths mean the Louvre's next-door-neighbor offers a peaceful respite from bustling city life.
If 17th-century French royal history is what you aim to discover, then the Palais Royal will surely capture your attention. Just a stone's throw away from the Louvre Museum, this fabled palace boasts flowering gardens and ancient intricate architecture, including 260 octagon-shaped columns. Art installations, corner cafés, and upscale boutiques make it all too easy to spend at least a few hours getting lost inside this magnificent feat of architecture.
If a spot of tea or café is what you're craving after hours of wandering the Louvre's interior, pop into Café Marly for a refreshing French treat. Adjacent to the museum, its location couldn't be more perfect, treating visitors to a caffeinated luxury. Authentic French plates and signature pastries are what awaits inside the doors of this Parisian delight.