Louvre Raises Ticket Prices Ahead of 2024 Olympics

The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum and home to the Mona Lisa, has announced that it will increase its admission fee by 29% from January 2024, just six months before the start of the Paris Olympics.

The price hike, the first since 2017, will raise the general admission ticket from €17 to €22 ($18.30 to $23.70).

Why the Price Hike?

The Louvre said in a statement that the higher tariff would help it cope with rising energy costs and fund free entry to certain groups of people, such as those under 18, teachers and journalists.

It did not mention the Olympics as a factor, but the move comes amid concerns that visitors to Paris will face soaring costs during the Games.

Paris is preparing to host the Olympics from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and expects to welcome millions of tourists from around the world.

However, the city is also facing challenges such as accommodation shortages, metro ticket price increases and environmental issues.

How Will It Affect Visitors?

The Louvre’s price increase will affect both domestic and international visitors, as the museum does not offer different rates for residents and non-residents.

However, the museum said that it will maintain its policy of free admission on the first Sunday of each month, and that it will offer reduced rates for young people aged 18 to 25, regardless of their nationality.

The Louvre also said that it will introduce a new annual pass for €80 ($86.40), which will allow unlimited access to the museum and its temporary exhibitions.

The pass will also include priority access, discounts at the museum’s shops and restaurants, and invitations to exclusive events.

The Louvre is not the only museum in Paris to raise its prices in recent years.

The Musée d’Orsay, which houses impressionist masterpieces, increased its admission fee from €12 to €14 in 2019.

The Centre Pompidou, which showcases modern and contemporary art, raised its ticket from €14 to €15 in 2020.

What Else to Know About the Paris Olympics?

The Paris Olympics will feature 33 sports and 329 events, with some new additions such as breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing.

The sports competition calendar by event was released by the Organising Committee in July 2022, and can be found here.

The first ticket pricing details for the Games were also revealed in July 2022, with more than one million tickets offered at €24 ($25.90).

Nearly 50% of the tickets reserved for the general public will cost €50 ($54) or less.

Almost a third of the general public tickets for medal events will cost €100 ($108) or less.

It is expected that the official information regarding the ticket price will be known to public by December 2022.

The Paris Olympics will be the third time that the city hosts the Games, after 1900 and 1924.

The motto of the Games is “Made for Sharing”, reflecting the city’s vision of celebrating diversity, solidarity and sustainability.

The Games will also aim to be the most environmentally friendly in history, with a target of zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable energy.