One tip I have for the Louvre, don't force yourself to enjoy everything. Art isn't for everyone, and not every artwork has to impress. Some people claim to feel something profound when seeing the Mona Lisa, I felt nothing, but I did feel something for Winged victory, and more. Basically, planning around seeing everything is the best way to do it. I found the royal crowns & jewels, and the Egyptian sections to be the most interesting, but the only way to know what "speaks" to you is to see everything. Don't think that just because the Mona Lisa is famous, it means you have to feel some sort of connection with it.
Wolfgod 64 totally agree. I want to go to the Louvre mostly to see the Mesopotamian sculpture & other ancient relics. There's something for everyone; only the ignorant are convinced they HAVE to see the Mona Lisa - sheep. If you love renaissance art or are studying art then I suppose it's a must, for the rest it's just a status symbol imo (or cos they're gullible enough to believe it's a must see)
Definitely agree! I didn’t realize just how big the Louvre is on my first visit and I wasted hours in the ancient art sections trying to properly “appreciate” everything in those exhibits, even though it wasn’t my thing, that I missed a lot of the rest of the museum.
When we went to the Louvre we went straight to the Mona Lisa and saw that first, barely looking at any art along the way. This meant that we could then just enjoy the rest of the art in our own good time afterwards, and just leave when we had had enough, rather than being all exhausted or fed up before we even got to the Mona Lisa. :)
The last couple of times I've been to Paris, I first visited the Crypt of Paris Museum. Its a small museum about 100 meters from the front of Notre Dame Cathedral. The Museum is below street and shows the original Roman foundations of Paris. You can also pick up a three day museum pass which allows you not only to pass up the Louvre line, but get into most of the Paris museums.
I can’t waaaaaait to go back to Paris! My daughter and I entered through the carousel de Louvre last month and got in in a flash. My smart daughter had purchased our tickets online. A MUST-SEE is Napoleon III’s apartments. So few people have heard of that. We were awestruck!!!
I went to the museum of the Louvre in early September. I am an artist and relished not having to worry about losing anyone. I went where I wanted, when I wanted...and had an absolute adventure. I'm looking forward to going back maybe in a couple of years.
Absolutely brill video. You are so right about the comfy shoes. That place is so big you don't realise, until you start walking and walking and standing. But I do love the Louvre. But I am sorry to say Chateau de Versailles is the tops for me.
Another helpful tip for students, show your studentcard for free entrance, also works at centre pompidou and other places. As a Belgian student this was so awesome to get in free in all these museums!
would be cool if you do more of those videos for specific places/tourist attraction! you could also mention the best time during the day to visit the place. from experience early mornings and late afternoons are less crowded in such places.
We've just come back from Paris. Great tip for visiting the Louvre is to go in the evening 6-7pm on the evenings it stays open til 10pm (wed and Fri I think but check first). We walked straight in at 6.30pm, no lines at all. Nice inside too, not packed. X
It is massive!! What I did (once) was I went 3 days, interspersed over a week going in there. The Mona Lisa is small, and getting around it is like a mosh pit. I love how the walls are tapestry. I love Paris, and have been 4x and would go again, but for museums I found (and recommend) the Musee D'Orsay far better. The Louvre also leads right onto the Tulleries Gardens and then the Eiffel Tower and Champs D'Elysees. I like the Louvre, but it can be domineering and overhwhelming.
I've been watching all your videos and they are amazing! I can't stop watching them! :) I am preparing for my backpack trip to Europe and this videos have help me a lot. Hopefully you're in Paris by June i will love to have a word with you and meet those little awesome backpackers kids that you have. ;) keep up he videos.
Naville Valladares Thanks Naville! you will have a great time traveling. It is so much fun :) I am glad our videos can help you prepare! all the best for your travels! Mark
Also, I don't know if this was mentionned before in the comments, but access to the permanent collections of The Louvre is free for all citizens from the European Union under the age of 26. It not only saves money (obviously) but also time, because you don't have to wait in line to get a ticket, you can go in through the "carrousel du Louvre" like he mentionned and you just have to show your id or passport. It's the same for all national monuments and the permanent collections of all the national museums in France (in a few museums even temporary collections are free, like in the "Musée d'Orsay"). It's cool for young european tourists and it's pretty awesome for young french people, especially students like me, living in Paris: when you have free time you can always tell your friends "let's go to the Louvre and walk around for an hour or two: I haven't been to the Greek Statues' wing in ages" =D .
Mark, I would like to add suggestions of my own: -Probably the most important suggestion I could make is to pay for a guided tour. As of 2017 they are 15 Euros and you get an audio device that amplifies the tour guide's voice if you get too far away from your guide. They say you can spend days at the Louvre but our tour took an hour and a half and when we looked at the map to see what was left that we wanted to see, there were very few things left! -As far as getting tickets online ahead of time, this is a great idea. However, I went with a friend in June on a Friday and the lines were small. If at all possible, go during the week and you should have no problem. -Go see the painting called The Coronation of Napoleon. It's a huge painting (20 feet by 33 feet).
I know Prado and Louvre are in your top three. Is Hermitage the third? I seem to recall those three mentioned in another video. Great tips Mark. I too went in the winter but had to wait way longer than 5 minutes!
Unfortunately when I was at the Louvre, we only had 2 hours till closing time but it was still a pretty neat place. It amazed how crazy people were over Mona Lisa haha but all the art was so interesting!
Please forgive me if I've missed a video about these things already; I would love a video including information on: -best way to exchange money while travelling (not getting ripped off, not getting charger more than need to...) -how to make phones work overseas; least expensive/easiest... Thank you for your videos!
Booked a flight for France just one day to pass through while I’m in spain , was just now looking for tickets and realized THEYRE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS guess I’m gonna be taking pictures from outside 🤣🤣🤣
Fabulous tips especially re alternate entry. But you mention the lines being MUCH shorter in winter - but does this apply to Christmas time too?? Cos I've heard Paris is pretty crowded then
Hi Wolter, ,is it good time to go Paris on May .We don't know about the weather over there .We appreciate your help .Thank you for your wonderful video.
I visited the Vatican Museums recently. The signs said lines were over 4 hours long (this was a cold winter day). Thank goodness I bought tickets online. I loved the artwork (especially the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel) but the tight corridors and the (mostly) one-way sort of route made it feel like a super-sized line for a Disneyworld ride. Is the Louvre that packed?
I went on a school trip to Paris back in 2005. First stop was the Louvre. We literally went in one shop at the shopping centre bit with the upside down pyramid and left. Eleven year old me walked out of there thinking, "wtf was the point in that?", haha.
There is another entrance around by the river side at the northern end. Few people know it is there, no lines and it is closer to the Mona Lisa than the pyramid entrance
Hey have you traveled to other places besides the US, Europe, and China? If you ever go to other cool parts of the world, you gotta make videos about them! Southeast Asia, India, Mexico, South America, Russia, Japan, Vietnam, Tahitian Islands, etc. That would be sweet!
woltersworld If you manage to go there at the time of the Festival de Musique Interceltique de Lorient, you'll have a great time. It's around the summer. At least, it's usually broadcasted on public TV. And if you fo to Rennes, go to the crêperie Ouzh-Taol ;D (With some luck, you can do: end of July>Douarnenez for the sailboats festival and start of August>Lorient; i don't know if Douarnenez is every year or every two year)
Anyone have recommendations on who to buy tickets from? I am seeing them say you have to buy them and pick them up near there. That seems inconvenient. I am looking to see at least the Tower, Siene river cruise, Notre Dame, and the Lourve. I would also like to do it on my time? Should I just buy all online separately?
I think you shud include the tip about lockers. It was so hot in the Louvre, lockers are provided free of charge to get rid of bags, coats, umbrella etc.
And a tip for all museums in Paris, be under 26 and European, turn back time if you have to since its all free. But I think museums are free the first Sunday of every month, I may be wrong on that.
woltersworld And if you want to visit other things than museums, try to set your journey during the Journées du Patrimoine where a lot of monuments and other things become free
i love you man and i love your family too. thank you for all this helpful and happy videos :) btw i recommend you to subscribe to funforlouis (if you don't know him). he have an amazing traveling videos like you :)
I don't understand the attitude of the security guards at the Mona Lisa. When I was there people were pushing and shoving to get a better view and security just seemed to let it happen. No doubt a few pickpockets in that crowd.
I don't care if I see the Mona Lisa. The room looks so crowded, you have to stand so far from it and it is behind a thick sheet of glass. There are to many other great paintings to see for my to waste my time on that .
One tip I have for the Louvre, don't force yourself to enjoy everything. Art isn't for everyone, and not every artwork has to impress. Some people claim to feel something profound when seeing the Mona Lisa, I felt nothing, but I did feel something for Winged victory, and more. Basically, planning around seeing everything is the best way to do it. I found the royal crowns & jewels, and the Egyptian sections to be the most interesting, but the only way to know what "speaks" to you is to see everything. Don't think that just because the Mona Lisa is famous, it means you have to feel some sort of connection with it.
Wolfgod 64 totally agree. I want to go to the Louvre mostly to see the Mesopotamian sculpture & other ancient relics. There's something for everyone; only the ignorant are convinced they HAVE to see the Mona Lisa - sheep. If you love renaissance art or are studying art then I suppose it's a must, for the rest it's just a status symbol imo (or cos they're gullible enough to believe it's a must see)
Definitely agree! I didn’t realize just how big the Louvre is on my first visit and I wasted hours in the ancient art sections trying to properly “appreciate” everything in those exhibits, even though it wasn’t my thing, that I missed a lot of the rest of the museum.
the royal crowns & jewels are fakes
When we went to the Louvre we went straight to the Mona Lisa and saw that first, barely looking at any art along the way. This meant that we could then just enjoy the rest of the art in our own good time afterwards, and just leave when we had had enough, rather than being all exhausted or fed up before we even got to the Mona Lisa. :)
HeathenMaiden I’m going meet week and that’s exactly my plan
My father in-law got separated from us in the British museum and I thought we'd never see him again. I wasn't entirely disappointed by that. HAHAHA.
As always, useful and entertaining videos from all over the world! I'm delighted to see you and your family on screen. Thanks to you all.
Wow what a great museum.Thanks for the tips.Wish i could visit too.
2:21 aw so cute hehe
The last couple of times I've been to Paris, I first visited the Crypt of Paris Museum. Its a small museum about 100 meters from the front of Notre Dame Cathedral. The Museum is below street and shows the original Roman foundations of Paris. You can also pick up a three day museum pass which allows you not only to pass up the Louvre line, but get into most of the Paris museums.
Thank you for the no flash and no touching. It drives me crazy when I see that at any museum!!
I can’t waaaaaait to go back to Paris! My daughter and I entered through the carousel de Louvre last month and got in in a flash. My smart daughter had purchased our tickets online. A MUST-SEE is Napoleon III’s apartments. So few people have heard of that. We were awestruck!!!
Linda Ciaravino
I'll have to remember that. The carousel and buy tix online. Great advice, thank you!
I went to the museum of the Louvre in early September. I am an artist and relished not having to worry about losing anyone. I went where I wanted, when I wanted...and had an absolute adventure. I'm looking forward to going back maybe in a couple of years.
Absolutely brill video. You are so right about the comfy shoes. That place is so big you don't realise, until you start walking and walking and standing. But I do love the Louvre.
But I am sorry to say Chateau de Versailles is the tops for me.
Another helpful tip for students, show your studentcard for free entrance, also works at centre pompidou and other places. As a Belgian student this was so awesome to get in free in all these museums!
would be cool if you do more of those videos for specific places/tourist attraction! you could also mention the best time during the day to visit the place. from experience early mornings and late afternoons are less crowded in such places.
Another great video. Heading back to Paris in spring can't wait to visit the louvre again
Thank you for making these videos. Im going to london and paris for the first time in april and these videos really help!
The bring snacks tip is very crucial and important! Which I would have done that.
but Are you allow to bring food?
We've just come back from Paris. Great tip for visiting the Louvre is to go in the evening 6-7pm on the evenings it stays open til 10pm (wed and Fri I think but check first). We walked straight in at 6.30pm, no lines at all. Nice inside too, not packed. X
It is massive!! What I did (once) was I went 3 days, interspersed over a week going in there. The Mona Lisa is small, and getting around it is like a mosh pit. I love how the walls are tapestry. I love Paris, and have been 4x and would go again, but for museums I found (and recommend) the Musee D'Orsay far better. The Louvre also leads right onto the Tulleries Gardens and then the Eiffel Tower and Champs D'Elysees. I like the Louvre, but it can be domineering and overhwhelming.
I've been watching all your videos and they are amazing! I can't stop watching them! :) I am preparing for my backpack trip to Europe and this videos have help me a lot. Hopefully you're in Paris by June i will love to have a word with you and meet those little awesome backpackers kids that you have. ;) keep up he videos.
Naville Valladares Thanks Naville! you will have a great time traveling. It is so much fun :) I am glad our videos can help you prepare! all the best for your travels! Mark
Also, I don't know if this was mentionned before in the comments, but access to the permanent collections of The Louvre is free for all citizens from the European Union under the age of 26. It not only saves money (obviously) but also time, because you don't have to wait in line to get a ticket, you can go in through the "carrousel du Louvre" like he mentionned and you just have to show your id or passport. It's the same for all national monuments and the permanent collections of all the national museums in France (in a few museums even temporary collections are free, like in the "Musée d'Orsay"). It's cool for young european tourists and it's pretty awesome for young french people, especially students like me, living in Paris: when you have free time you can always tell your friends "let's go to the Louvre and walk around for an hour or two: I haven't been to the Greek Statues' wing in ages" =D .
Mark, I would like to add suggestions of my own:
-Probably the most important suggestion I could make is to pay for a guided tour. As of 2017 they are 15 Euros and you get an audio device that amplifies the tour guide's voice if you get too far away from your guide. They say you can spend days at the Louvre but our tour took an hour and a half and when we looked at the map to see what was left that we wanted to see, there were very few things left!
-As far as getting tickets online ahead of time, this is a great idea. However, I went with a friend in June on a Friday and the lines were small. If at all possible, go during the week and you should have no problem.
-Go see the painting called The Coronation of Napoleon. It's a huge painting (20 feet by 33 feet).
I know Prado and Louvre are in your top three. Is Hermitage the third? I seem to recall those three mentioned in another video. Great tips Mark. I too went in the winter but had to wait way longer than 5 minutes!
You and your family are adorable! Keep making videos!
We love you dude....your the best!! Thank you!! Going in May!
going again in may, cant wait!!
I love your videos and am also liking your new look.
Cool tips Mark, this definitely helps for my visit this Sep
Unfortunately when I was at the Louvre, we only had 2 hours till closing time but it was still a pretty neat place. It amazed how crazy people were over Mona Lisa haha but all the art was so interesting!
Great Video. What type of ticket you can recommend for a family of 10 audio guide booking?
Please forgive me if I've missed a video about these things already; I would love a video including information on:
-best way to exchange money while travelling (not getting ripped off, not getting charger more than need to...)
-how to make phones work overseas; least expensive/easiest...
Thank you for your videos!
Booked a flight for France just one day to pass through while I’m in spain , was just now looking for tickets and realized THEYRE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS guess I’m gonna be taking pictures from outside 🤣🤣🤣
Fabulous tips especially re alternate entry. But you mention the lines being MUCH shorter in winter - but does this apply to Christmas time too?? Cos I've heard Paris is pretty crowded then
Hi Wolter, ,is it good time to go Paris on May .We don't know about the weather over there .We appreciate your help .Thank you for your wonderful video.
Love your videos
Thank you :)
I visited the Vatican Museums recently. The signs said lines were over 4 hours long (this was a cold winter day). Thank goodness I bought tickets online. I loved the artwork (especially the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel) but the tight corridors and the (mostly) one-way sort of route made it feel like a super-sized line for a Disneyworld ride. Is the Louvre that packed?
I can't remember; Can you take a small backpack with you to carry water and snacks?
paris is most beautyful country
At the visitors booths in the city you can also buy the tickets for the museum and public transport.
Awesome tips !! Thank you
I have a question to you sir, is this your job? Traveling around the world making videos? If so, congrats. Seems like you're living the good life!
My grandfather rendered the schematics for that pyramid.
That's cool!
Wow, really? That's awesome :)
also any student in the European union can get in for free and skip buying the ticket by presenting your student id
Marc, thanks for the video. Is there an app that would recommend for visiting the louvre? Regards.
Hi there thanks for the vid. Will be there in May. What do you think about the The Paris Museum Pass? Plus can you skip the line if you have it?
l l don't know if you can skip
Arcimboldo is my favorite too :)
I went on a school trip to Paris back in 2005. First stop was the Louvre. We literally went in one shop at the shopping centre bit with the upside down pyramid and left. Eleven year old me walked out of there thinking, "wtf was the point in that?", haha.
There is another entrance around by the river side at the northern end. Few people know it is there, no lines and it is closer to the Mona Lisa than the pyramid entrance
What an informative video. Cool beans ;)
Hey I was just wondering have you ever done a video on un preventing of getting sick
Do you suggest leaving the big expensive camera at home?
Hey have you traveled to other places besides the US, Europe, and China? If you ever go to other cool parts of the world, you gotta make videos about them! Southeast Asia, India, Mexico, South America, Russia, Japan, Vietnam, Tahitian Islands, etc. That would be sweet!
Can you put your backpack or something like that in a locker ?
Yes there are free lockers x
Is the big Nikon welcomed at the Louvre?
Great video
Thanks Matt!
closed on tuesdays? Thanks for the video :)
Farescape 98 glad I could help
Have you visited Bretagne yet? I can't recommend it enough
Bender B. Rodriguez I will try to check it out next year when we are back in France
woltersworld
If you manage to go there at the time of the Festival de Musique Interceltique de Lorient, you'll have a great time. It's around the summer. At least, it's usually broadcasted on public TV.
And if you fo to Rennes, go to the crêperie Ouzh-Taol ;D
(With some luck, you can do: end of July>Douarnenez for the sailboats festival and start of August>Lorient; i don't know if Douarnenez is every year or every two year)
Anyone have recommendations on who to buy tickets from? I am seeing them say you have to buy them and pick them up near there. That seems inconvenient. I am looking to see at least the Tower, Siene river cruise, Notre Dame, and the Lourve. I would also like to do it on my time? Should I just buy all online separately?
+SeanP7195 Charles de Gaulle Airport has multiple pickup locations on Terminal 1 & 2. Tourist Information Points
I think you shud include the tip about lockers. It was so hot in the Louvre, lockers are provided free of charge to get rid of bags, coats, umbrella etc.
Do you suggest getting the Paris Museum pass?
+nsx276 if you are going to do a lot of museums I would do it. Compare the overall price versus the individual.
+woltersworld thanks! It seems the pass works at monuments also.
And a tip for all museums in Paris, be under 26 and European, turn back time if you have to since its all free. But I think museums are free the first Sunday of every month, I may be wrong on that.
If only I could turn back time :)
woltersworld And if you want to visit other things than museums, try to set your journey during the Journées du Patrimoine where a lot of monuments and other things become free
Is pickpocketing legal?
TheMrJinglesWorld No, have you ever heard of a country with legal pickpocketing?
TheMrJinglesWorld are you serious?
i love you man and i love your family too.
thank you for all this helpful and happy videos :)
btw i recommend you to subscribe to funforlouis (if you don't know him).
he have an amazing traveling videos like you :)
Thanks for recommending us. I will check out their channel. All the best on your travels!
what websites are real louvre tickets?
Dude married up
I don't understand the attitude of the security guards at the Mona Lisa. When I was there people were pushing and shoving to get a better view and security just seemed to let it happen. No doubt a few pickpockets in that crowd.
KevinPDX1 oh yeah. there are signs in the louvre warning youa bout that.
I was glad to see the Mona Lisa but felt very anxious and panicky so I got out of the frenzy of pushing and shoving as quickly as I could.
KevinPDX1 they're not there for crowd control - they're guarding the painting
You’re so funny.... touch the art-are you f’ing kidding me?!
I don't care if I see the Mona Lisa. The room looks so crowded, you have to stand so far from it and it is behind a thick sheet of glass. There are to many other great paintings to see for my to waste my time on that .
Richard Lund But it's a famous painting