Americans heading to the Louvre Museum in Paris will soon have to pay more for admission. The museum is raising ticket prices for foreigners to help fund a massive renovation project, according to The New York Times.
On Thursday, the Louvre’s board approved a 45% price increase for visitors from outside the European Economic Area. That means a standard ticket will jump from about $25 to roughly $37 for Americans and other foreign travelers.
Why the Louvre is raising prices
The museum says the increase will help support the long-planned upgrades aimed at reducing congestion, improving flow, and addressing infrastructure.
A part of the renovation includes moving the Mona Lisa to a new exhibition space to address overcrowding around the classic piece.
The plan also includes repairs to heating and cooling systems and leaking roofs, as well as security improvements and renovations to hundreds of rooms.
The plans were unveiled back in January, but feel even more relevant now following the brazen robbery at the museum in October, when thieves stole roughly $100 million worth of jewelry.
A multi-billion-dollar overhaul
The Times reports the renovations will cost an estimated $1.3 billion. The higher ticket prices are expected to bring in up to $23 million per year, covering only a fraction of the expense but helping offset rising operating costs.
It’s a decision that Emilie Girard, president of the French branch of the International Council of Museums, previously said was possible.
In an interview, she said museums are “at a crossroads” because of rising costs. She said facilities would have to decide whether to charge visitors more or save money through other measures, like cutting opening hours.
Most Louvre visitors are from abroad
The Louvre price hike will affect the majority of the museum’s audience.
Of the 8.7 million people who visited the Louvre in 2024, 77% were foreign tourists – with the largest groups coming from the United States, China, and across Europe, The Times reported.
Rising tourism
The Louvre’s overcrowding and increase in visitors come at a time when Europe is also seeing a record number of tourists each year. In 2024, 747 million tourists visited the continent, which far outnumbered any other region in the world, according to The Associated Press.
That increase in tourism has led to overcrowding and added pressure on infrastructure, prompting the need for remodels and renovations similar to those at the Louvre.
Some European countries have taken different approaches to combat over-tourism, including implementing entry fees for foreigners visiting places like Venice, Italy, during the peak season.
Changes to visiting requirements
In addition to seeing more crowds, tourists will also have to take extra steps when traveling to Europe. Beginning in late 2026, Americans will need to apply for an ETIAS authorization, a travel pre-approval, for short, visa-free visits.
The application can be done online, and requires information from American passports. According to the ETIAS website, the new requirement will be implemented in the final quarter of 2026.
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