Louvre Ticket Prices Jump for Global Visitors
The Louvre Museum in Paris will raise ticket prices for most non-European Union visitors by 45% starting 14 January, marking one of the most significant fee adjustments in its recent history. The decision, approved by the museum’s board on Thursday, aims to help fund a large-scale modernization plan and address mounting security and infrastructure concerns.
New Ticket Prices for 2025
Beginning early next year, tourists from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and China will pay €32 ($37; £28) to enter the iconic museum — an increase of €10.
Visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) will be affected, while EU residents will keep current pricing.
The Louvre also confirmed that non-EU visitors in groups led by accredited guides will pay €28 starting next year.
Why the Price Hike?
Museum officials say the new pricing structure is expected to generate €15–€20 million annually, which will be invested in:
Upgrading ageing infrastructure
Strengthening security systems
Improving visitor flow in congested galleries
Expanding amenities, including new restrooms and restaurants
The move follows an official audit published after a high-profile October heist, in which a four-person gang stole jewellery worth $102 million (€95m) within minutes. The report criticized the Louvre’s outdated security systems and long-neglected maintenance spending.
Modernization Plans and Overcrowding Issues
With nearly 9 million visitors in 2023, the Louvre remains the world’s most visited museum. A significant share comes from abroad, with more than 10% from the United States and around 6% from China.
Chronic overcrowding — especially around the Mona Lisa, which attracts the majority of the museum’s 30,000 daily visitors — has prompted long-awaited changes. Earlier this year, President Emmanuel Macron and the Louvre announced plans to improve the visitor experience. Macron even suggested higher fees for non-EU residents beginning in 2026.
A major highlight of the modernization plan includes relocating the Mona Lisa to a new, larger space to ease congestion in the Salle des États gallery, where visitors currently have only moments to view the painting.
Additional Renovations and Closures
Renovation efforts extend across the museum, with upgrades expected to cost several hundred million euros. Earlier this month, the Louvre temporarily closed its Greek ceramics gallery after structural concerns were detected.
The post-heist investigation revealed that while the museum had significantly increased spending on acquiring artworks, investment in restoration and maintenance lagged far behind — a gap the new pricing aims to close.
