Louvre Museum

The world's most visited art museum

Vast. Almost overwhelming. Undeniably iconic. The Louvre is the world's most visited museum for a reason.

This former royal palace holds over 380,000 objects, with 35,000 on display. You could spend days here and stillmiss entire wings. The collection spans civilisations. Its borders blur. Expect artefacts and artworks from Ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman Antiquity, Europe and beyond.

You’ll come for the Mona Lisa. She hangs proudly behind polished glass in the Salle des États, perpetually surrounded by crowds holding phones aloft. Stop in to admire her smile (it's a must), but don't let her consume your visit.

There are plenty of other treasures to tick off your list. The Winged Victory of Samothrace commands her staircase – headless, powerful, 2,200 years old. The Venus de Milo stands serene in her gallery. Vermeer's Lacemaker captures intimacy in tiny, perfect detail.

Booking ahead of time is a must. Try to secure a slot for early morning or late afternoon to walk the halls at their quietest.