Louvre Official Site Tickets vs a Booking Partner: Differences
Updated October 28, 2026
Verdict
If you only want to get in and your date is fixed, buy on the official website: it is cheaper, and booking a time slot is the only thing that guarantees entry. If you want a guide, a tour in your language or the option to cancel up to 24 hours ahead, a booking partner costs more but gives you that flexibility, which the official ticket does not have.
The Louvre official site is louvre.fr, and its online ticket office is at ticket.louvre.fr. There, general admission costs 22 € for EEA residents and 32 € for everyone else, and it is always the cheapest way to get just the ticket. A booking partner, like the one this site uses, sells something else: guided tours with entry included and free cancellation. This comparison explains what each channel gives you and which one suits you. This site is not the museum's official website.
| Criterion | Louvre official website | Booking partner |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | A ticket with date and time slot; audio guide (6 €) and museum activities extra | Guided tours, small-group, private or combined, with entry included |
| Price | 22 € (EEA) or 32 € (everyone else); free for those who qualify | From $66 per person, guide and entry included |
| Changes and cancellation | Cannot be changed, exchanged or refunded unless the museum cancels | Full refund if you cancel 24 hours ahead (all 10 options we sell) |
| Payment | Card online; euros only | Reserve now and pay later on 9 of the 10 options |
| Language | Audio guide in 9 languages; some museum activities only in certain languages | Guided tours in several languages, English included (from $70 in groups of up to 6) |
| Free tickets | Yes: you book the matching free option | Not applicable: you pay for the tour even if you qualify for free entry |
| Limit per purchase | Up to 6 tickets or audio guides | Depends on the tour; small-group tours have a maximum of 6 people |
What the official website sells
On ticket.louvre.fr you buy general admission with a date and time slot, book the free ticket if you qualify, add the official audio guide (6 €) and book the museum's own guided tours and workshops (12 €, 9 € reduced, on top of the ticket). You pay by card and only in euros. The ticket is valid only for the slot you chose, for a single entry, and cannot be changed or refunded unless the museum cancels the service. According to the museum, booking online is the only way to guarantee entry.
What a partner adds (cancellation, tours, language)
A booking partner adds service around the ticket. The 10 tours we sell include museum entry and let you cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead; on 9 of them you can reserve now and pay later. There are options with a guide in English or another language, in groups of up to 6 people, private tours, family tours and combinations with a Seine cruise. Each rating belongs to its own tour: the masterpieces guided tour has 4.6 from 8,027 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Price in each channel
For the ticket alone, the official website always wins: 22 € or 32 €, against $66 for the cheapest tour we sell. The difference pays for the guide, the group and the cancellation flexibility. The museum's ticket desk also sells same-day tickets, but only subject to availability; there you pay by cash, card or Chèques-Vacances. The official website prices are those in force since January 14, 2026.
- Official ticket (EEA) — 22 €
- Official ticket (everyone else) — 32 €
- Masterpieces guided tour with entry — $66, English-speaking guide, up to 20 people
- Small-group tour with entry — $70, up to 6 people, 7 languages including English
- Tour with a Spanish-speaking guide — $110, up to 6 people, 2 hours
How to avoid sites that imitate the official one
Check the address: the museum's official website is louvre.fr and its ticket office is ticket.louvre.fr. Any other address, even if it uses the word "official", the logo or photos of the Pyramid, belongs to a third party. Compare the price: if you are charged more than 22 € or 32 € for a ticket with no guide or extras, you are not at the museum's ticket office. This site is not the official one either: we are an independent guide that earns a commission when you book a tour with our partner. If you only want the ticket, buy it from the museum.
Which to choose, case by case
The choice depends on what matters most to you:
- You are going on your own and your date is fixed — Official website: 22 € with an EEA ID, 32 € otherwise.
- You are under 26 and live in the EEA — Official website: book the free ticket.
- You want commentary in your language — A guided tour in your language, or the official audio guide (9 languages) for 6 €.
- Your dates might change — Booking partner, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
- You are going with kids — There is a 2-hour private family tour for $110; under-18s get in free with the official ticket.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Louvre Museum's official website?
louvre.fr. The official online ticket office is at ticket.louvre.fr.
Can you buy Louvre tickets at the door?
Yes, for the same day and subject to availability. The museum recommends booking online, because it is the only way to guarantee entry.
Is it cheaper to buy on the official website?
For the ticket alone, yes: 22 € or 32 €. A booking partner sells tours with a guide and entry included from $66.
Can I cancel a ticket bought on the official website?
No. The official ticket cannot be changed, exchanged or refunded unless the museum cancels.
Is this the Louvre's official website?
No. We are an independent guide that sells tours through a booking partner. The official website is louvre.fr.
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