Understanding the museum

Go up the -1 floor of the Sully entrance by using the escalator.

Once you have scanned your ticket continue straight until you bump into the crossing with the 3 paths, take the hallway in-between the two staircases.

Walk through the medieval foundation of the castle. Follow the natural path until you see the Sphinx at the top of the staircase.

Go up the staircase and look up close at the Sphinx. Once you are done, take the staircase to the right.

Once up the stairs, walk around the Greek sculpture garden, you can walk through on either side as you will run into the Venus of Milo if you continue straight, on the left side.

Once you get a close look to the Venus walk to the room on the right side of the Venus. Past the passage and the columns, is the room of the Caryatids.

You will find in this room a sculpture garden with classical sculptures called the Caryatids room. Don't forget to look at the marvelous balcony that used to serve for the musicians to play in this ballroom.

Retrace your steps back towards the Venus, turn right on the hall with some stairs right before it. Go up those few steps and on top of the large staircase to the left is the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

When facing the Victory take the stairs to the right. You will enter the Italian Renaissance paintings continue straight until the 'Salon Carré.' Here, you can admire the gold-adorned ceiling.

In the Salon Carré, turn right into the Grande Galerie. These 288 meters-long halls contain one of the most impressive Italian painting collections. You will find here paintings by Da Vinci, Raphael, etc.

After strolling through the Grande Galerie, take the first right to the Salle des États. This is Mona Lisa's room, however, first admire the largest painting (70m²) in the entire museum: The Wedding Feast at Cana. Just in front, you will see the famous Mona Lisa.

Once out of the Salle des États turn to the gallery on the right. Keep going forward until you see the historic painting by Jacques-Louis David: The Coronation of Napoleon.

Turn back and retrace your steps into the gallery in front. In here, you will find famous large-scale paintings such as The Raft of the Medusa by Géricault and Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix.

Once you are done appreciating the paintings, walk to the staircase near the café. Feel free to grab a snack and then take the stairs down.

Keep going forward towards the sculptures and admire masterpieces such as Michelangelo's Dying Slave and Canova's Cupid's Kiss.

After Cupid’s Kiss go straight and down the stairs and then take the stairs to the right down. Just in front you will have the exit towards the main lobby.

Go up the -1 floor of the Denon entrance by using the elevator found in the Group Reception Area.

Once you have scanned your ticket continue straight until you find the two elevators (K or L). Take either of them to the first floor.

Once out of the elevator turn to the gallery on the left. In here, you will find famous large-scale paintings such as The Raft of the Medusa by Géricault and Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix.

Make your way back towards the elevator, politely go up to the agents standing in front of the room in between the elevators and ask if you can go in. Once inside, smile and ask the staff coordinating the crowds in front of Mona if you may get access to a more privileged and closer look at her :) Afterwards, be sure not to miss the largest painting (70m²) in the entire museum: The Wedding Feast at Cana.

Exit the gallery into the hall where the elevators are and turn into the gallery to the right. Keep going forward until you see the historic painting by Jacques-Louis David: The Coronation of Napoleon.

After you finish admiring The Coronation of Napoleon, continue in the direction you came in, and you will see a balcony with the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

To the right of the balcony there are glass doors, go in the room and go straight. At the very end of the Italian paintings’ gallery, turn left.

Once you have turned left go straight into Apollon’s Galerie. This galerie was direct architectural and aesthetic inspiration for the Hall of Mirrors in the Chateau de Versailles. Go through the galerie at the end, turn right.

After turning right, plunge into the Etruscan civilization in the golden galleries. Admire the jewelry, pottery, and tomb relics. Continue straight until high ceiling room. You will then be in the impressive Salle des Bronzes. Look up!

Once you take a look around the Salle des Bronzes, go straight. You will find Elevator C right when you go into the next room. Take it to level -1.

Exit the elevator and to the right will be the Venus of Milo. Afterwards go into the room to the right, across the hall, into the sculpture room: Caryatids.

The only way out is by retracing your steps to Elevator C to level 1. From here you can either explore the decorative arts on level 1 of the Sully and Richelieu wing, visit the 2nd floor paintings, or go back to the main lobby by taking Elevator G back to level -1.