‘I visited one of the world’s top tourist attractions but it was way too crowded’ | Travel News | Travel
Eiffel Tower aside, Paris’ Louvre gallery might be France’s most iconic attraction. Home to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, it’s arguably the world’s top art gallery and has a place on many travel bucket lists.
However, I was left pretty disappointed by my visit to the Louvre. All of the main galleries were completely packed with people and it was hard to even see the paintings.
The separate queue to see the Mona Lisa was so long that seeing the painting couldn’t really be described as an enjoyable experience.
It was also a really hot day in August and the temperature and crowds just made the visit pretty unpleasant. Personally, it’s the worst experience I’ve had in a gallery crowd-wise.
Luckily, Paris isn’t just about the Louvre and there are plenty of quieter attractions well worth visiting for culture on a city break.
I loved the Maison de Victor Hugo, a tiny museum in Paris’s famous Place des Vosges. The Les Miserables author lived in the apartment for 16 years and the rooms have been reimagined to create an immersive experience and it’s free to enter.
If you want to learn more about life in Paris, I’d recommend Musee Carnavalet, another free museum which is dedicated to the history of the city. It’s really interesting and much quieter than the Louvre.
The museum also has a beautiful cafe in a courtyard which is a lovely place to have a coffee in summer.
Paris also has lots of smaller galleries so take a look online and see if anything takes your fancy.
If you do want to visit the Louvre, there are a few ways to have a more enjoyable experience. I visited in August, the peak holiday season.
If you want the best chance of avoiding the crowds, book a holiday for January or February when Paris is quietest.
Of course, the Louvre is never going to be quiet but July and August are likely to be the worst times to visit for crowds.
The Mona Lisa might be the gallery’s top attraction but the Louvre has a whopping four floors of art. Head to one of the lesser-known rooms to escape the crowds.
I booked a ticket ahead of my visit online and this was definitely worth doing. Booking ahead lets you skip the long queue outside the gallery.
Get a free National Trust family pass worth up to £50 for a family day out this winter.