A late opening works well if you’d rather keep the day for Paris and dedicate the evening to a focused visit. The Louvre announces that it stays open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays: book a suitable time slot, choose a few galleries, and don’t wait until the last admission to get started.

The event at a glance

When
Wednesday and Friday, subject to the official calendar
Announced closing time
9 p.m.; last admission at 8 p.m.
Gallery exit
Galleries cleared thirty minutes before closing
Our recommended pace
A focused route rather than an exhaustive visit

A different moment in your trip

A late opening is not a promise of an empty museum or a ticket that means you don’t need to plan your visit. Its main advantage is the timing: the day remains free for the city, and the evening becomes cultural time in its own right. This split can work better for a short stay than a long visit in the middle of an already busy day.

The Louvre’s website presents the Wednesday and Friday late openings as a weekly event, with the museum open until 9 p.m. So this article covers a recurring format, not a new event with invented dates. The accompanying program may vary. An activity listed on the official page should not be assumed to take place every evening or to be automatically included with your ticket.

Plan your evening in three stages

  1. Beforehand · suggested time

    Before: book and trim your plans

    Check the date, time slot, ticket rules and access to the collections you want to see. Choose a theme: a few works, a period or a department. A late opening shouldn’t turn into an attempt to catch up on the entire museum. If you want to take part in an activity, check its own listing and conditions.

  2. Early evening · suggested time

    During: leave time to look

    Arrive early enough for your plans; don’t treat the last-admission time as the ideal time to start. Security checks, getting around and finding the galleries all take up some of your available time. Nothing in this guide guarantees there won’t be a wait. A short list of works lets you spend time with them instead of rushing through the palace.

  3. Late evening · suggested time

    After: keep your exit plans simple

    Plan your journey home and your meal without relying on an exact minute. The galleries begin closing before the museum’s official closing time. If you have another reservation afterward, leave a real buffer between the end of your visit and that appointment. A museum ticket guarantees neither a quick exit nor restaurant availability nearby.

Louvre evening visit with a private guide

Viator

Louvre evening visit with a private guide

For an evening visit to the Louvre with a private guide and a timed-entry ticket included. French is among the available languages; select your language and check the departure time available for your date.

  • 4.9/5 (59 reviews)

Private visit advertised on Wednesdays and Fridays, with a timed-entry ticket included. French is available among the languages to select; transport is separate.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure date.

From €290.00

View activity

Free admission also comes with conditions

The official page announces free admission during the late opening on the first Friday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., except in July and August. It says reservations open a few days beforehand. Check this again when planning your visit: a general rule doesn’t prove that time slots are still available or that you can get a ticket at the last minute.

If your trip depends entirely on this option, secure your reservation first and check the conditions that apply to your situation. Don’t base your budget on assumed free admission, and don’t confuse access to the collections with a specific activity or temporary exhibition. We don’t list a price here: the right amount is the one the museum actually applies to your circumstances and chosen ticket.

Around the museum, don’t overbook yourself

A late opening can be the highlight of a relatively relaxed day. Keep the morning or afternoon free for a walk, a meeting or another activity without a tight schedule. But avoid scheduling it after a full day of museums if you know your attention fades quickly. The best time is the one that suits your energy, not the one that lets you tick off one more place.

This format may be less suitable if you need to head back very early, if the children are tired in the evening, or if a particular collection isn’t accessible during your chosen time slot. In those cases, a shorter daytime visit may be preferable. The comparison linked to this guide also helps you choose between a longer Louvre visit and a focused visit to the Musée Delacroix. There’s no need to book both.

The check that makes a difference

Before buying, open the official late-opening page, then the page on opening hours and prices. Check the exact day, any closures, access to the collections and the terms for any activity you’re interested in. The photos in this guide illustrate the venue; they don’t document an upcoming session or prove how busy it will be.

The museum’s pages let you check opening hours, free-admission rules and ticket conditions. The guided option featured in this article is booked separately, with its own time slot.

Sources and checks

Plan your visits and check current conditions.

  1. Wednesday and Friday late openings ↗

    Musée du Louvre · Accessed October 29, 2026

    What this source supports

    Weekly event on Wednesdays and Fridays, with late opening until 9 p.m. and last admission at 8 p.m. Free admission announced on the first Friday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., except July and August; check the calendar and reservation requirements.

  2. Louvre: opening hours, prices and visiting conditions ↗

    Musée du Louvre · Accessed October 29, 2026

    What this source supports

    Closed on Tuesdays; open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; last admission one hour before closing, with galleries cleared thirty minutes before. Conditions for the combined Delacroix ticket and exceptional closures.

  3. Louvre evening visit with a private guide ↗

    Viator · Accessed November 1, 2026

    What this source supports

    Languages, duration, inclusions and product details checked via the Viator API. Viator booking buttons are affiliate links: Odyvero may earn a commission.

Viator — activity pages

Source for the activity information below.Affiliate links: Odyvero may earn a commission when you book through this article’s buttons.