Try visiting late in the evening or during lunch hours. The queues can get very long!
The fame of the Mona Lisa only really began in the late 1860s. Critics, reexamining the past, acclaimed Da Vinci’s work to be a masterpiece of the Renaissance and its fame naturally grew. Then, in 1911, it was stolen from its place in the Louvre and became a sensation overnight. The Louvre remained closed all week whilst the investigation continued to no avail: the painting remained lost for the next two years.
During this time, it became legendary. Huge numbers of fakes sprung up in the US and Europe. Eventually its Italian thief, Peruggia, was caught whilst trying to sell it to a gallerist in Florence. He was a patriot who believed it should be on display in its creator’s homeland, not France.
In 2012, John Lichfield, writing in the Independent, described it as ‘the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world.’ It depicts a simple scene; the subject, Lisa Gherardini, sits with her hands crossed in her lap. The fascination stems from the complex expression caught on her face, which invites the audience into silent conversation with the subject. It’s difficult to leave her gaze, or decide whether or not a hint of a smile adorns her lips.
Another point of surprise is its size. The Mona Lisa only 77 by 53 centimetres, which makes it difficult to get a good view in a crowded room.
The artistry and architecture of Paris are phenomenal, and there is no place better to gain a sense of its sheer magnitude of it than the Louvre Museum. Throughout this private guided tour, your guide will talk to you about the history and culture of individual artists and their artwork.
On your private tour of the best of the Louvre Museum, you will:
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art.
Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures.
Whilst visiting this fabulous museum you will have the pleasure of viewing the most celebrated of all the Louvre treasures: 'Three Grand Ladies'- the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, and Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Your guide will discuss the fascinating stories that surround these influential and important works of art.
After your guided tour, feel free to further explore the vast museum on your own and its beautiful work at your own pace.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Uncover the history and art of the quintessentially Parisian neighbourhoods on this tour, your all-inclusive tour includes tickets to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a river cruise.
On your full-day private tour, you will:
Originally one of France’s most lavish royal palaces, and home to some of the most ostentatious Kings of France, the Louvre has fast become the world's most impressive and influential museum of art in the world and is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in art. Your private licensed guide will take you through one of the most expansive and beautiful art collections in the world, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures.
From the museum, your guide will take you to a neighbourhood which truly evokes the ‘je ne sais quoi’ of Parisian nostalgia, where you will see the magnificent Hotel De Ville – the city’s seat of government for over 600 years. Enjoy lunch at your own pace in Le Marais, with recommendations from your guide on the best place to indulge in the local cuisine of your choosing.
Step onto a riverboat to enjoy the magic of the city from the Seine – the geography around which the entire city has been built for thousands of years.
Learn more about the city’s modernization efforts in the 19th century, which brought gas lanterns, parks, sewage systems, schools, and hospitals to the city. Your tour concludes at the city’s most iconic site: the Eiffel Tower, where you will enjoy lift tickets to the second story. Your guide will be sure to give you dinner recommendations before leaving you to marvel at the spectacular panoramic views of the city.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Explore one of the greatest museums in the world on this family-friendly private tour of the Louvre Museum. This thoughtfully designed tour will engage your children and teens, with a specially matched expert guide.
On your private family-friendly tour of the Louvre, you will:
The Louvre is a vast, palatial complex turned museum with a treasure trove of over 35,000 pieces of art. It is really spectacular to look at for kids and adults alike. This tour is geared toward children and teens, and in 2.5 hours covers all the major highlights of the Louvre in a fun, engaging, and interesting way.
You'll walk into the medieval basement of the building to see some incredible gargoyles, and then the Ancient Egyptian Mummies!
Your guide will tell you all about the life of Napoleon in front of the massive painting of his coronation - and explain how the painting has lots of little purposeful mistakes in it - a large bit of propaganda! Was Napoleon really so short? What was true and what was not?
You'll also see some amazing statues from the ancient world and hear lots of dramatic stories of Greek and Roman myths, heroes, gods, and goddesses like Hercules and Diana. You might want to know why some statues - like the Venus de Milo - don't have any arms!
No trip to the Louvre is complete without a visit to the Mona Lisa. Your guide will tell you all about the dramatic theft that shook the art world, and how she recovered. You'll also learn how she seems to follow you with her eyes as you walk past her!
As you walk down lots of galleries packed with treasures and jewels and paintings and statues, you'll also learn all about some of the famous people who lived here, like Catherine de Medici and King Henry IV who built a large wing of the palace and used to gallop his horses down it!
This tour was designed for you and your family – a tour of one of the world’s most famous museums made accessible for young people in 2.5 hours.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
The Louvre Museum is not only the home to classics like The Mona Lisa, but it also houses one of the most impressive and extensive Egyptian Antiquities Collection considered to be the largest in the world. This private tour is your chance to explore the best artworks and masterpieces of the museum, along with the fascinating Egyptian Collection.
On this private tour, you will:
This tour is an all-inclusive, immersive experience at the Louvre, with the opportunity to explore nearly 10,000 pieces of the Egyptian art collection curated by the museum over the course of two centuries. While exploring the collection, you’ll dive into French history, told through the lens of art and archaeology.
From there, your private licensed guide will take you through the unmissable highlights, where you will see some of the museum’s greatest works that span from 450 BCE to the 19th century, along with several of its lesser-known treasures.
Whilst visiting this fabulous museum you will have the pleasure of viewing the most celebrated of all the Louvre treasures: 'Three Grand Ladies'- the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, and Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Your guide will discuss the fascinating stories that surround these influential and important works of art.
After your guided tour, feel free to further explore the vast museum and its beautiful work at your own pace.
Please note that the "Liberty Leading the People" will be under restoration until further notice.
Join the fastest growing community of professional tour guides.
Use our easy to integrate toolset to include Tours & Attractions in your customer journey.