Things to do at the Louvre and Tuileries

The Louvre sits on the Right Bank, across the Seine from the Musée d'Orsay, and the two are easy to conflate on a first visit despite the short walk between them. The museum closes on Tuesdays, never another day, and every visitor needs a pre-booked entry slot, including holders of the Paris Museum Pass, which covers more than 50 museums and monuments but never replaces that reservation.

A serious visit, beyond a quick pass through the main galleries, runs three to four hours; block half a day if the Mona Lisa crowds and the wings either side of it are on the list. Next door, the Tuileries gardens offer a slower register: gravel paths, fountains and café chairs between the museum and Place de la Concorde, worth building into the same outing rather than rushing through.

The approaches to the Louvre are also a known spot for pickpockets, so keep bags closed in the queues and courtyards.