In brief
For most individual visitors with an online ticket, use the Pyramid or Carrousel entrance; the Pyramid, in the Cour Napoléon, is the main one, with three separate queues. Carrousel, at 99 rue de Rivoli, takes all ticketed visitors and groups as an alternative. Porte des Lions and Passage Richelieu serve narrower groups: ticketed visitors only, or groups and members, respectively, and both close earlier than the museum.
- Pyramid: main entrance, three queues (ticket holders, no-ticket, priority for disabled visitors and staff)2.
- Carrousel (99 rue de Rivoli): open to all ticketed visitors and groups, an alternative to the Pyramid2.
- Porte des Lions (Quai François Mitterrand): ticketed visitors only; closes 6 p.m., last entry 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays2.
- Passage Richelieu (rue de Rivoli): groups, guide-led parties of up to 6, members; closes 5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays)2.
- Carte Louvre holders and groups with a booked slot get priority access via Richelieu1.
- The Pyramid’s central lift accommodates wheelchairs and prams2.
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This page compares the Louvre’s four published entrances so you can pick the right one before you arrive, rather than finding out at the door. All four lead into the same museum and the same collection; the difference between them is who is allowed to use each one, and how long the queue tends to be once you’re there. For tickets, hours and the rest of the visit, see The Louvre: Tickets, Entrances, Hours and How to Visit.
The short answer
| If you are… | Use this entrance |
|---|---|
| A first-time visitor with an online ticket and no other status | Pyramid or Carrousel2 |
| Visiting late in the day and want to avoid the Pyramid’s crowds | Carrousel, at 99 rue de Rivoli, takes the same ticketed visitors2 |
| Part of a group with a booked time slot, or a Carte Louvre member | Passage Richelieu, which gives you priority there12 |
| On a guided tour with a group of 6 or fewer | Passage Richelieu2 |
| Arriving without a ticket and need to buy one | Pyramid, which has a dedicated no-ticket queue2 |
| A wheelchair user or traveling with a stroller | Pyramid, whose central lift accommodates both2 |
| Visiting after 6 p.m. on a Wednesday or Friday | Pyramid or Carrousel; Richelieu closes earlier2 |
The Pyramid: the main entrance
The Pyramid, in the Cour Napoléon, is the Louvre’s principal entrance and the one most individual visitors default to2. It has three separate queues: a green line for visitors with a ticket already booked, an orange line for visitors without one, and a blue priority line for disabled visitors and staff2. The central lift beneath the Pyramid, sometimes called “the tube,” reaches the lobby and accommodates wheelchairs and prams2. Because it is the default entrance for anyone without a specific reason to use another one, it is also where queues build fastest during busy periods.
Carrousel: the quieter alternative
The Carrousel entrance, at 99 rue de Rivoli, accepts every category of ticketed visitor and group, functioning as a straightforward alternative to the Pyramid2. It shares the same Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre metro station (lines 1 and 7) as the Pyramid, so switching between the two costs you nothing in terms of getting there2. The Louvre’s own guidance does not state that Carrousel is faster than the Pyramid at every hour, only that it is an alternative open to the same ticket holders — worth trying if the Pyramid’s queue looks long2.
Passage Richelieu: groups and members
The Passage Richelieu, on rue de Rivoli, is reserved for groups, guide-led parties capped at 6 people, activity and workshop participants, auditorium attendees, and Louvre members2. The museum’s FAQ specifically calls out two categories with priority access here: Carte Louvre holders, and groups that have already booked a time slot1. Richelieu keeps shorter hours than the museum itself: it closes at 5:30 p.m. most days, and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, when the museum stays open until 9 p.m.2. An individual visitor without a group booking or membership should not plan to use this entrance.
Porte des Lions: a smaller, ticketed-only door
The Porte des Lions, on Quai François Mitterrand along the river, is open to ticketed visitors only2. It runs on its own schedule: last entry is 5 p.m., the entrance itself closes at 6 p.m., and it is closed entirely on Tuesdays, the museum’s regular closing day2. Two practical limits apply here that do not apply at the Pyramid: equipment loans, such as prams or wheelchairs, are not available at this entrance, and its locker room only stays accessible until 3 p.m.2. It suits a ticketed visitor arriving reasonably early in the day who wants to avoid the Pyramid’s queues and does not need equipment loans.
Hours at a glance
| Entrance | Who can use it | Closing time |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramid | All visitors | Follows museum hours |
| Carrousel | All ticketed visitors and groups | Follows museum hours |
| Porte des Lions | Ticketed visitors only | 6 p.m.; closed Tuesdays; last entry 5 p.m. |
| Passage Richelieu | Groups, guide-led parties (max 6), members | 5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Wed/Fri) |
Source for the table:2.
Tours worth considering
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Entrance choice mostly matters for how long you wait, not for what you see once inside, so a tour is not required for any particular door. It becomes useful in one specific case:
- You want the group priority access that Passage Richelieu offers. A guide-led group of 6 or fewer can use that entrance, which individual ticket holders cannot12. A private guided tour is one way to be in such a group: see the private guided tour of the Louvre, and ask the operator before booking which entrance the guide uses.
If you are visiting alone or as a couple with a standard online ticket, the Pyramid or Carrousel entrances work the same way whether or not you book a tour, so entrance access alone is not a reason to pay for one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main entrance to the Louvre?
The Pyramid, in the Cour Napoléon, is the museum’s main entrance and has three queues: for ticket holders, for visitors without a ticket, and a priority line for disabled visitors and staff2.
Is the Carrousel entrance faster than the Pyramid?
The Louvre’s own pages describe Carrousel as an alternative entrance for ticketed visitors and groups, without stating that it is consistently faster; it is worth trying if the Pyramid’s queue is long2.
Which entrance should I use if I have a timed ticket?
Any of the four accepts a valid ticket for the visitor category it serves, but groups with a booked time slot get priority specifically at Passage Richelieu1.
Can I use the Passage Richelieu entrance as an individual visitor?
No. It is reserved for groups, guide-led parties of up to 6, activity and auditorium participants, and members2.
Which entrance is open the latest?
The Pyramid and Carrousel follow the museum’s own hours, including the 9 p.m. closing on Wednesdays and Fridays. Porte des Lions closes at 6 p.m. and Passage Richelieu at 5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays), both earlier than the museum itself2.
Which entrance is best for a wheelchair or a stroller?
Is the Porte des Lions entrance open every day?
No. It is closed on Tuesdays, the museum’s regular weekly closure, and keeps shorter hours than the main museum on the days it is open2.
Do all four entrances use the same metro station?
The Pyramid and Carrousel are both reached from Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre, on lines 1 and 72. The museum’s entrance page does not list a separate nearest station for Porte des Lions or Passage Richelieu, so plan around the Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre stop unless you are arriving with a group whose transport is already organized.
Related Articles
Sources
- FAQ — Musée du Louvre. Accessed 2026-09-19.
- Map, Entrances & Directions — Musée du Louvre. Accessed 2026-09-19.