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NON-EU VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE 45% INCREASE IN COSTS TO VISIT THE LOUVRE

Published: 2025-12-07 19:43:05 Last Updated: 2025-12-08 11:29:58

Before January 14, 2026, the majority of visitors from outside the EU will likely wish to see the Louvre. The Parisian museum will raise ticket rates for visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) by 45% starting on that date, from €22 to €32 (about $25 to $37). Visitors from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—all nations that are parties to the EEA agreement—are not subject to the price hike, but Russians and Britons are. A Louvre representative informed the BBC that starting next year, non-EU tourists travelling in groups with authorised guides will also be required to pay €28 (about $32.50). The Louvre anticipates that the hike will result in an additional €15 to 20 million (about $17 to 23 million) annually.
After a notorious robbery last month, this ticketing change aims to fund a structural overhaul. On October 19, 2025, while the Louvre was open, four robbers stole $102 million worth of crown jewels and fled in broad daylight. The event revealed the institution's deteriorating infrastructure and insufficient security, which resulted in the partial closure of one of its wings. The museum has announced that it will add 100 external cameras by the end of 2026 at the request of France's state auditor. According to a statement released by the Paris prosecutor in charge of the case, a fifth suspect in the crime was given preliminary charges on November 28.
This move also aims to make room for the Louvre's extensive makeover, which will include, among other things, a new entry, a dedicated Mona Lisa gallery, updated infrastructure, and more security measures. The renovation is a component of the "Louvre—New Renaissance" plan, which was unveiled in January by Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre, and President Emmanuel Macron. The French accounting firm Cour des Comptes estimates that the proposal will cost roughly €1.1 billion (roughly $1.3 billion) in total.

With almost 8.7 million visitors last year, 77% of whom came from outside, the Louvre has continuously been the most popular museum in the world. These figures will be leveraged by the ticket hikes, which are in line with comparable practices at other establishments worldwide. For example, admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is $30, but citizens of New York are free to pay whatever they like. In contrast, foreign visitors to Kenya's Masai Mara reserve pay $200 per day, but locals only pay $24. In line with this viewpoint, the Trump administration declared that foreign visitors will have to pay an additional $100 to enter the nation's most well-known national parks starting on January 1, 2026.

French museums are also imitating the Louvre. The Palace of Versailles declared that tickets for non-EU visitors will increase by €3 ($3.5) starting on January 14. A representative for the Loire Valley's Château de Chambord has confirmed that starting on January 1, non-European visitors will pay €31 ($36) for admission, up from €19 ($22). Other establishments already contemplating price increases include the Palais Garnier opera house and the Sainte Chapelle chapel.

Article Tags: Viral The Louvre Visitors Non-EU