The Mona Lisa is Moving, the Louvre is Changing

For tourists, a trip to Paris usually means a trip to the Louvre.

This means big numbers for the Parisian landmark. Hovering at 30,000 visitors per day, the Louvre is the most visited museum on the planet.

Housing more than 500,000 art pieces, one painting rises to the top when it comes to visitors - and that's the Mona Lisa.

According to a 2019 press release from the Louvre, 80% of museum-goers stop to see Leonardo Da Vinci's painting, which is currently housed in the Salle des États. The "State Room" was refurbished in 2019. After all, it needs constant upkeep seeing more than 8 million visitors a year.

The room itself isn't small; it's 7,513 square feet (698 m²), but it can feel small to the tourist who finds themself stuck in a congested wave of people - all who want even a quick glimpse of Da Vinci's magnum opus.

Entering the Salle des États today feels like a fight to the finish, with arms raised high, phones pointed towards the small painting, hoping to capture a post-worthy photo.

It's not really an ideal experience for the viewer, who might only visit the Louvre once in their life.

In a survey conducted in 2019, the Louvre found that "only the tallest and most perseverant visitors managed to view the [Mona Lisa] painting" and those who did manage to scramble their way to the front of the pack only had about 50 seconds to take in the most famous piece of art in the world.

The Mona Lisa is moving

To address these issues, the President of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, and French President Macron announced that the Mona Lisa will be leaving the Salle des États. In fact, she will be leaving the Louvre as we know it today.

This is because the Louvre is about to undergo a multi-hundred million dollar renovation, the first of its kind in over 40 years.

In a brand new area of the Louvre, probably under the Cour Carée, the Mona Lisa will have a new space designed. The Cour Carée is one of the museum's main courtyards.

Yet to be built, this will be an entirely new section of the palace that promises to give museum visitors a more enriching experience with the Mona Lisa - as Da Vinci intended.

While the exact experience and design have yet to be announced, we do know that it will come at a cost. In Macron's announcement, he shared that the Mona Lisa will be separately ticketed.

Today, a ticket to the Louvre grants visitors access to the Mona Lisa - if they can manage to get into the overcrowded Salle des États to begin with.

Once the renovation is complete, it appears that visitors will be required to purchase a separate ticket if they'd like to see the Mona Lisa too.

It isn't clear whether or not the tickets will have timed entry.

The Louvre is getting a second entrance

The Mona Lisa's move wasn't the only change announced. The Louvre is getting a second entrance.

Since 1989, all museum-goers enter the Louvre through the iconic glass pyramid. While it's a visually dramatic experience going down an escalator inside of a glass pyramid, it's also not ideal.

Laurence des Cars said that the pyramid is "structurally unable to cope" with the ever-increasing foot traffic.

On top of that, Louvre visitors stand in long lines, snaking their way around the pyramid and large courtyard, even when they have timed tickets. Wait times can feel exorbitant, especially during peak travel seasons.

A second entrance will be constructed with the hope of releasing some of that tension. This will have positive effects on the museum staff, tourists, and the building itself.

Tourists are getting more amenities

While no specific details have been divulged, this multi-year renovation includes new bathrooms, restaurant(s), and "rest facilities".

At over 780,000 square feet (73,000 m²), the museum itself says it's impossible to see everything it houses in a single day. For tourists who plan to spend an entire day (or more) in the museum, bathroom breaks, meals, and occasional breaks are essential.

These new additions to the Louvre will help facilitate the growing traffic and make the experience more comfortable for visitors.

Louvre ticket prices are increasing

It wasn't reported how much ticket prices are increasing, but non-EU tourists can expect to pay more when visiting the Louvre, even before the renovation is complete.

According to the announcement, tourists will see a tariff increase from January 2026.

When are these changes taking place?

Macron announced that the renovation will completed by 2031.

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