Louvre move stuns travellers as Paris plans new ticket rule for visitors

Paris’ Louvre Museum has confirmed a significant change to its ticketing structure, approving a rise from 22 to 32 euros for visitors from outside the European Union beginning in mid January. The decision was approved by the Louvre’s governing board and will apply to travellers from countries including the United States, Britain and China. People from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will be exempt due to their European Economic Area status. The plan sits within a wider modernisation effort that the museum is preparing to undertake across the next decade.

The increase arrives after the crown jewels heist on 19 October exposed structural weaknesses and security gaps that officials had already been discussing internally. The theft, valued at about 88 million euros, accelerated the push for rapid improvements. French authorities have said all four people captured on camera during the heist are now in custody after the most recent suspect received preliminary charges for organised theft and criminal conspiracy.

Louvre Director Laurence Des Cars described the museum’s infrastructure as outdated and explained that several urgent measures have already begun. Modern systems, crowd management improvements and a dedicated Mona Lisa gallery form part of the upcoming renovation blueprint known as the Louvre New Renaissance. Costs may reach 800 million euros as planners aim to update the building and alleviate pressure created by high visitor numbers.

The museum welcomed 8.7 million people in 2024, and most were international tourists. Reactions online have reflected a mixture of acceptance and disappointment. Several travellers expressed irritation that their long planned holiday budgets might be affected, while others noted that the added funds could help protect the institution’s most fragile spaces. Some American users compared the change to rising park entry prices back home, while Europeans highlighted the pattern of large cultural sites turning toward higher non local charges to support massive restoration needs.

Other French landmarks appear ready to follow. The Chateau De Chambord will introduce a similar increase for non EU residents in January to support urgent repairs to its sixteenth century royal wing. Officials at the Palace of Versailles are weighing a smaller rise aimed at foreign visitors as maintenance demands continue to grow.