Louvre: Everything but the Mona Lisa - Limited to 6 Guests

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Paris, France

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

There's so much more to the Louvre Museum than the “Mona Lisa”. Discover its hidden gems away on a small-group tour of hand-picked highlights from its vast collections—from ancient sculptures to Renaissance masterpieces. Your guide can also tailor your tour if there's a specific area you would like to see.

Leave navigating this huge museum to your guide
See a side of the museum that many travelers miss
A small group means plenty of opportunity to ask questions

What's Included

Entrance fee - Entrance fee
Professional Guide
€28 entrance ticket to the museum for adults

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from attractions

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

8 Pl. du Carrousel, 75001 Paris, France
Your guide will be holding a Fat Cat Tours sign by the statue of Louis XIV on a horse directly in front of the Pyramid in the Place du Carrousel.

End point

Louvre Museum
75001 Paris, France

Itinerary

Louvre Museum

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Not wheelchair accessible on group tours

Strollers and pushchairs cannot be accepted on group tours
Large backpacks or luggage are not allowed in the Louvre
Free admission applies to visitors under 18 and EEA residents under 26, upon presentation of valid ID and proof of residency.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 55 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great tour!

Karen_J, Apr 2026

Doing a small group is so worth it! Violette was a great guide, and brought everything to life with her stories and knowledge of the history and artworks! The Louvre is overwhelming in size, and if you’re going to go, you might as well get much more out of it by doing it with a guide!

Small group tour is a must in such a crowded museum

Greg_N, Feb 2026

Maryam was an amazing tour guide for the Louve. She knew the Louve very well and provided us lots of interesting facts about the Louve and artwork in the museum. She was open to what we were interested and was able to customize the tour to our interests. There was only 3 ppl in our group and recommend a smaller group to get the most of your time.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear Greg, Thank-you for choosing Fat Cat for your recent Louvre tour! We are truly thrilled you enjoyed Maryam - she really is a star! We hope to have the pleasure to see you again soon! Fat Cat Tours

We loved our tour of the...

Andrew_K, Sep 2025

We loved our tour of the Louvre. We have 3 teenage boys who don't love art museums, but the guide was great at relating to them and made it a fun and interesting experience for them. Definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Andrew, We are so glad to see that you and your family enjoyed your guided tour of the Louvre with Fat Cat Tours. Visiting such a massive museum with an experienced tour guide makes a huge difference! Thanks a lot for booking a tour with us! Warmly, Fat Cat Tours

Overtly Sexual Louvre Tour, A Disappointing Family Private Tour Experience

Janeesa_J, Jul 2025

As an avid traveler, I recently re-booked Viator’s private Louvre tour, “Front of the Line: Everything but the Mona Lisa,” with very high expectations. I had taken the identical tour last year and found it exemplary! Well-paced, intellectually rich, and led by a superb guide. Hoping to replicate that experience for our visiting family friends, I even asked Viator whether the same guide was available (they could not confirm) but, confident in the company’s standards, proceeded with the reservation. I fully appreciate that the Louvre’s collection features nudity, mythology, and other mature themes; my children are seasoned museum-goers who have traveled to museums all over, they enjoy thoughtful, nuanced discussions and are comfortable with all works of art. What I expect in return is professionalism and discernment especially when minors are present. Where the tour guide faltered- 1. Excessive fixation on sexual content In the tapestry gallery, the guide repeatedly highlighted what he termed “naughty cherubs” wrestling naked and urinating on one another. By the fourth tapestry of pointing out the "naughty angels" doing "naughty things" I politely requested that he discuss historical context, weaving techniques, or iconography instead. He continued to default to sexual commentary whenever a work allowed it, despite my repeated efforts to redirect the narrative for him to share other elements that we could learn from. 2. Inappropriate remarks to a minor The decisive breach occurred at "The Sleep of Endymion." Addressing my 14-year-old son, the guide explained that Diana “fondles Endymion while he sleeps” and urged him to observe Eros’s “naughty look,” adding that Eros might “have his way with him.” He then moved on without exploring the painting’s artistry, light and shadow, Greek myth’s influence on French painters, or Endymion’s symbolism of eternal youth. Acknowledging sexual interpretation is one thing; subjecting a minor to graphic detail is quite another especially when there were other elements to highlight from this painting but that was the main focus he chose to share. Viator’s and Fat Cat Tours response When I expressed my concerns, Viator & Fat Cat Tours cited the guide’s 18 years of experience and suggested I should have booked a “children’s or family tour.” Respectfully, experience ought to include the ability to gauge an audience and pivot. I was not seeking a sanitized/conservative tour; I was seeking judicious, educational, artistic-technical and historical, context and commentary not solely our tour guide's sexual perception of the art works. Viator also noted that I left a tip something I do out of courtesy, not endorsement. In the end, they offered a $95 goodwill refund against an $828.74 charge. Advice for families Private museum tours can be invaluable, but this experience illustrates that tone, situational awareness, and respect for the audience are as crucial as subject expertise. If you are traveling with teens or younger children: Set explicit expectations in writing beforehand. (We confirmed comfort with nudity; however we did not invite overtly explicit sexual detail which was what we received throughout the entire three hours) Request a family guide by name, if possible. Consider alternative operators if initial concerns are deflected. Our family values art and intellectual engagement, and we relish nuanced cultural perspectives. Yet the guide’s commentary landed on such a discordant, overtly sexual register that its inappropriateness was unmistakable. I share this review so other travelers can secure the enriching, educational experience a Louvre tour should provide. Nonetheless, we will not be booking through Viator again.

The Louvre With a PhD.

Stephen_C, May 2025

The Louvre is a fantastic museum. A few hours cannot give it justice. Still, our guide was able to give us a great appreciation of the history of the building and some good general information about how the Louvre presents its collection. We have a new understanding of the role of sculpture and painting in early religion. Our guide clearly had PhD level knowledge of the subject matter.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Stephen, Your glowing review brought us so much joy! We are SO glad you loved your Everything but the Mona Lisa Tour with Adam! We hope to have the chance to have you again soon on one of our tours. Warmly, Fat Cat Tours

Louvre c'EST magnifique. Thank Ivana, Adam as and Fat Cat tours.

Rhonda_Z, Apr 2025

Don't buy from street vendors. Meet your tour group at equine statue of Louis XIV unless told specifically otherwise. Adam and Ivana at Fat Cat tours great communication with us. So spoiled by Ivana, we got into the Louvre within 5 minutes of meeting up. She loves Paris, the Louvre and the Arts. We saw everything we wanted to see as well as some hidden treasures. If you have your heart set on seeing the Mona Lisa you still can, but way less crowded to see 5 or 6 other DaVinci paintings! Aphrodite Venus also await. Educational informative and fun. Thank you again Ivana and Adam

Nancy was an awesome...

NOAH_M, Sep 2024

Nancy was an awesome guide overflowing with knowledge and a clear grasp on navigating the museum. ‘Skipping’ the Mona Lisa allowed much more time to see the rest of the museum since there is so much ground to cover. Great tour, great guide.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Noah, Thank-you for your lovely review - it is always a pleasure to know our guests have enjoyed their tour. Nancy sure is a gem and she will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour. If ever you are back in Paris, we look forward to showing you more of Paris!

Best art tour ever

Jean_W, Oct 2023

Our Louvre guide, Nancy, was extremely knowledgeable about the art at the Louvre. In addition, she had an infectious passion for the art. I have been on many art tours and this was, by far, the best. I highly recommend this tour with Nancy!