The Mona Lisa is one of the most beloved paintings portrait in the world, but it can be difficult to find.
This post provides tips on the easiest ways to see this historic piece of art, as well as directions on where to go and how to spot the Mona Lisa.
- How to Find the Mona Lisa
- Tickets
- After Hours at the Louvre
- Tours of the Louvre
- Highlights of the Louvre
Where in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa Located?
The Mona Lisa is located at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Since it is one of the most popular paintings in the building, the room in which it is found will almost always be filled with visitors who are also interested in seeing the piece of art.
You’ll find the Mona Lisa in the largest room of the Louvre, the Salle des États. This is room 711 in the Denon wing, Level 1.
There are 5 total floors of the Louvre:
- Level 2
- Level 1
- Level 0
- Level -1
- Level -2
If you’re on the bottom floor (Level -2), you’ll have to go up 3 floors to reach Level 1 where you’ll find the Mona Lisa.
If you’re still confused about how to find this room, make sure to use the following map of the Louvre for further directions.
Even with directions, it can still be difficult to pinpoint exactly where you are in the Louvre and make your way to Room 701 on Level 1 in the Denon aisle.
Once you’re in the museum, one of the easiest ways to find the Mona Lisa is to look for picture signs that will point you in the right direction to find the piece of art.
If you need further guidance, reach out to the nearest security guards.
You should be able to find these signs with ease as you’re walking through the Louvre.
As long as you stick to the Denon aisle, you will at least ensure that you’re looking on the correct side of the museum.
All you have to do then is make sure you’re on the correct level of the building. You’ll find the Salle des États room halfway down the aisle.
That said if you want to ensure you will have a chance to see the Mona Lisa, your best bet might be to take a guided tour of the Louvre.
Any tour guide with experience in the museum will know exactly where the painting is located and how to get there.
Tickets for The Louvre
It’s relatively easy to get tickets for the museum. No matter how you plan to visit, there will almost always be plenty of options to choose from.
While tickets are typically €17 per person, there are several ways to save money on admission including Paris tourist passes.
Read our post about visiting the Louvre for more details on obtaining tickets. Alternatively, you can also purchase tickets here for 10% less!
Alternatively, if you’re concerned that you won’t be able to find the Mona Lisa, there is actually one tour company offering a ticket to the Louvre which includes guidance to help you find Da Vinci’s painting.
This service includes an escort through a priority entrance which will take you directly to the Mona Lisa.
Your escort will also provide valuable information about the Louvre to help you get the most out of your visit.
Purchase Priority Louvre Museum Tickets w/ Escort to Mona Lisa.
After Hours at the Louvre
As of 2022, the Louvre is not offering any special after-hours tickets or tours of the building.
Even so, there are some tours being offered that run until closing time, which is as close to after-hours as you can get.
This section covers all the important details about each closing-time tour of the Louvre. So, if you're interested in masterpieces of painters or their artistic canvas (Wife of Francesco del Giocondo, an Italian name) like Mona Lisa or The Wedding Feast at Cana Titian, hop on to this section.
Take Walks
This company offers multiple tours of the Louvre, and one of them focuses specifically on the Mona Lisa.
- €84/Adults | €79/Children (2-14)
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes a guided walking tour of the museum.
- Includes a visit to the Mona Lisa.
- Availability: Wed - Mon at 3 pm.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
The Tour Guy
If you're looking for an alternative closing time tour at the Louvre, this company also offers a similar service to their competitors.
Although this outing is not as long, it is more affordable and it also takes place just before closing time.
Louvre at Closing Time Tour w/ Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo
- €65.95/Adults | €55.95/Children (7-17)
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes a guided walking tour of the museum.
- Includes a visit to the Mona Lisa.
- Includes a visit to the Venus de Milo
- Availability: Wed & Fri at 3:30 pm.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
The main advantage of this tour is its lower price point, but it's also great if you don't have as much time for a tour.
Tours of The Louvre
Guided tours start at around €50 per person, and they typically include the cost of tickets.
For more details, check our post covering the best-guided tours of the Louvre that you might want to consider.
Here are a few tours that either focus on the Mona Lisa or at least guarantee that you will see this historic painting.
Take Walks
In addition to their closing time tour, this company also has a highlights tour of the Louvre which includes a stop at the Mona Lisa.
Whether you're looking to save some money or you can't make it to a later tour, this is an excellent option to consider.
- €59/Adults | €55/Children (2-14)
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes a guided walking tour of the museum.
- Includes a visit to the Mona Lisa.
- Availability: Wed - Mon at 10:30 am and 11 am.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
City Wonders
Although this company does not offer any tours that focus only on the Mona Lisa, each of their outings includes a stop at Leonardo da Vinci’s beloved painting.
These tours also include coverage of artistic pieces such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, the Great Sphinx of Tanis, and more.
3-Hour Comprehensive Tour of the Louvre
- €62/Adults | €57/Children (0-17)
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes a guided walking tour of the museum.
- Includes a visit to the Mona Lisa.
- Availability: Wed - Mon at 9 am, 9:45 am, 11 am, and 2:30 pm
- Duration: 3 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Small Group Tour of the Louvre
- €89/Adults | €84/Children (4-17)
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes a guided walking tour of the museum.
- Includes a visit to the Mona Lisa.
- The group size is limited to just 10 people.
- Availability: Wed - Mon at 10:30 am and 3 pm
- Duration: 3 hours
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Mona Lisa's Allure Through the Eyes of King François
During the French Revolution, King François hid in the Palace of Versailles.
Like Napoleon and Louis XIV, he loved art. He liked how the sfumato technique was used in the painting of La Gioconda.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, he often visited the palace's art gallery. There, he saw art from Florence and France, including pieces by Veronese and Lisa Gherardini.
He was interested in the pyramids and the buildings of New York. This showed his desire for a peaceful place during the chaos of the 19th-century.
Which other works of Leonardo da Vinci are in the Louvre?
Leonardo da Vinci's works at the Louvre include the Mona Lisa (1st floor), The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (1st floor), Saint John the Baptist (2nd floor), and the landscape paintings (various floors).
Is Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper in the Louvre?
No, Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is not housed in the Louvre. It is located in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy, its original place of creation.
Has the Mona Lisa ever been stolen from the Louvre?
Yes, it has been stolen just once. Vincenzo Peruggia was working at the Louvre when he stole the painting on August 21st, 1911. Since then, they have clearly implemented much better security!
Are any of the paintings at the Louvre fake?
The Louvre upholds the authenticity of its paintings, including those by Leonardo da Vinci, and no instances of fake artworks within its collection have been reported.
