Rick Steves' 'Secret Entrance' Guarantees Shorter Lines At The Louvre
By Jenna Busch
VACATIONS
The Louvre in France can have such long lines that it takes over 3 hours to enter. To avoid this, travel pro Rick Steves suggests using a secret entrance.
Steves says, "Grand as the Louvre's glass-pyramid main entrance is, you'll likely encounter shorter security lines if you use the less crowded underground entrance."
The entrance Steves is talking about is called Le Carrousel du Louvre. This entrance is through an underground shopping mall, which you can access directly from the metro.
You'll go underground, pass the shops, and enter at the inverted pyramid. This entrance is for people with and without pre-booked tickets, and the security line is less crowded.
If you book a tour with a group, you can enter at the Passage Richelieu entrance. Visitors who already have a ticket can enter through Porte des Lions on Quai François-Mitterrand.