Louvre - Rivoli

Louvre-Rivoli is the dedicated Métro station for the world's most visited art museum. The Louvre receives over 9 million visitors a year - making early planning essential. What most visitors do not know is that this station connects via an underground passage directly into the Carrousel du Louvre shopping complex beneath the museum's pyramid, bypassing the outdoor queue entirely. The station itself is decorated with reproductions of Louvre masterpieces and Egyptian antiquities, making it one of the most visually interesting platforms on the entire Métro network.

The rue de Rivoli exit leads to the historic arcade running along the north face of the Louvre - covered galleries with bookshops, art print sellers and cafes that have operated here since the First Empire.

Station Overview

Zone 1. Line 1 only. No step-free access - use Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 and 7, step-free) as an alternative accessible approach to the museum.

Travel Tips

• Book Louvre tickets online in advance - same-day queues at the Pyramid can exceed 2 hours
• The underground passage from the station connects directly into the Carrousel du Louvre, allowing you to bypass outdoor queues
• Wednesday and Friday evenings the Louvre opens until 21:45 - significantly less crowded after 18:00
• Allow a minimum of 3 hours for a first visit; the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory are in three separate wings

Nearby Attractions

Louvre Museum - Connected via underground passage. Over 35,000 works on display. The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace are the headline works. Free for EU citizens under 26; admission charged for others.

Palais Royal Gardens - 5 minutes walk north. Beautiful arcaded gardens, free to enter, with Buren's striped columns and the Comédie-Française.

Rue de Rivoli arcades - Directly outside. Covered galleries with bookshops, art prints and cafes along the Louvre's north wing.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Standard Métro hours. The Louvre is open Wednesday to Monday, 09:00 to 18:00, with late opening Wednesday and Friday until 21:45. Closed Tuesdays. The museum is least crowded on weekday mornings (opening time to 11:00) and on Wednesday/Friday evenings after 18:00.