Visit guide · Louvre Museum
The Mona Lisa at the Louvre
Where to see it, how to reach room 711 and what other works by Leonardo to discover right next door: a precise route so as not to reduce your visit to a photo taken in the crowd.
Immediate response
Where is The Mona Lisa located?
The Mona Lisa is currently on display in room 711, known as the States Room, Denon Wing, level 1. It alone occupies the center of a blue wall, behind an air-conditioned window.
The Louvre chose this room in 1966 because it is the largest in the museum. Since 2005, the poplar panel has benefited from an independent presentation ensuring both its safety and the stability of temperature and humidity.
A future space dedicated to the Mona Lisa has been announced as part of the major Louvre transformation project. This project does not change current practical information: as long as the museum does not officially announce a trip, the reference remains room 711.
From the Pyramid
The simplest path
The palace is vast and the routes sometimes change with the work. Above all, remember three stable landmarks: denon Wing, Level 1, Room 711. The "La Mona Lisa" signs line the route.
Hall under the Pyramid
After the check, stay at the reception level and locate access to the Denon wing.
Choose Denon
Follow the signage of Italian paintings and The Mona Lisa, rather than looking for a shortcut through Sully.
Go up to level 1
Stairs, escalators or elevators lead to the Grande Galerie and the Salon Carré.
Enter room 711
The States Hall can be recognized by its deep blue walls and the central line in front of the Mona Lisa.
Room 711
What to expect in front of the board
The Mona Lisa measures only about 77 × 53 cm. The distance imposed by the window, the reflections and the crowd make it appear even smaller. The experience is therefore not that of a silent tête-à-tête.
The central line allows you to move towards the work, then the staff invites visitors to leave room. Prepare your gaze before arriving in the front row: the entire composition is often best read from a little further away.
Look before photographing
Four things to observe in less than two minutes
The rotation of the body
The bust, shoulders and face do not follow exactly the same axis. This discreet twist gives the portrait its living presence.
Facial transitions
Sfumato reduces the contours around the eyes and mouth. The smile changes depending on the area you are staring at.
Hands superimposed
Their calm stabilizes the lower half and replaces jewelry or attributes that usually identify a pattern.
Impossible horizons
The landscape is not perfectly continuous behind the figure. Its roads, waters and rocks seem to belong to a changing world.
A smile without a clear outline
Shadows are constructed in translucent layers rather than closed lines.
A nature older than portraiture
Paths, water and reliefs extend the figure while disturbing the perspective.
Room 710
The other four Leonards to discover
The Louvre preserves five essential paintings by Leonardo da Vinci. After The Mona Lisa, join the Large Gallery, room 710 : the four other works are presented on the left wall, after the white marble columns according to the official route.
The Virgin of the Rocks
The four figures form a circulation of gestures and glances in the heart of a damp cave. The landscape is not a decorative background: it really envelops the group.
To watch: the hand of the angel, the plants in the foreground and the passage from near to far without a sudden break.
La Belle Ferronnière
The traditional title is misleading and the identity of the model remains debated. The parapet, the geometric garment and the side gaze make up a particularly firm presence.
To watch: the eye turned towards the viewer and the way the parapet brings the face together while maintaining a distance.
The Saint Anne
Three generations fit together in a spiral movement. Leonardo preserved and reworked this composition for a long time, where maternal tenderness mixes with the symbol of sacrifice.
To watch: the smile of Saint Anne, the body of the Virgin leaning towards the Child and the deliberately less finished areas.
Saint John the Baptist
A figure emerges almost alone from the darkness. His smile, his gaze and his raised finger direct attention towards a direction outside the painting.
To watch: the curls of the hair, the illuminated hand and the almost invisible transition between the body and the black background.
And Leonardo's drawings?
The Department of Graphic Arts keeps twenty-two drawings by Leonardo. Their fragility prevents permanent exposure: light and exposure time are strictly limited. So don't plan to see them all on an ordinary visit.
Good reflex: consult the exhibition calendar and the collection base before your visit. A rotation or temporary presentation can help you discover some of them.
Just turn around
Facing the Mona Lisa, the largest painting in the Louvre
The Wedding at Cana veronese occupy almost the entire opposite wall. Many visitors turn their backs on them while waiting for their photo of the Mona Lisa, while the work offers exactly the opposite experience: immensity, color, architecture and painted crowds.
Also look at Titian, Tintoretto and the other Venetian masters on the blue walls: they explain the chromatic intensity of the States Hall.
Prepare the visit
Times, tickets and time to choose
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. or late night
Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; until 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Weekly closure on Tuesday.
€22 or €32
France/EEA rate: €22. Price outside the EEA: €32. Entrance remains free for under 18s and several categories, upon proof.
Opening or end of night
To reduce waiting, choose the first slot in the morning or a night. This offers no guarantee of solitude, but often avoids the heart of the day.
Mandatory in summer 2026
From July 1 to August 31, 2026, reservations are required for everyone except for exceptions specified by the museum.
45 to 75 minutes
Allow about an hour for room 711, the other four Leonards in room 710 and a close look at the Wedding at Cana.
Consult the same day
Opening times, access and rooms may change. An exit from the museum is final: organize your route before leaving a wing.
Updated: July 2026. Always check the conditions in force on the official pages Schedules and prices and Louvre ticket office.
Recommended route
The Leonardo visit in 60 minutes
0 -15 min: join room 711 and first observe The Mona Lisa from a distance, then from the central line.
15 -25 min: turn back to The Wedding at Cana and browse the Venetian paintings in the States Hall.
25 -55 min: go to the Grande Galerie, room 710, and give five to seven minutes to each of Leonardo's four other paintings.
55 -60 min: choose the work you want to see again. The proximity of the rooms allows this second passage without crossing the entire museum.
Extend the visit
Find Leonardo da Vinci in reproduction
Frequently asked questions
See The Mona Lisa at the Louvre
In which room of the Louvre is La Mona Lisa located?
In Room 711, called the States Room, located in the Denon Wing on Level 1.
Do you need a special ticket to see The Mona Lisa?
No. The general entrance ticket gives access to the permanent collections, including La Mona Lisa. However, a reservation slot may be required depending on the period.
When is the best time to see The Mona Lisa?
The first slot after the opening or end of a Wednesday or Friday night often offers better conditions, without guaranteeing an empty room.
What other works by Leonardo are visible at the Louvre?
The Virgin of the Rocks, La Belle Ferronnière, La Sainte Anne and Saint Jean Baptiste are currently indicated in room 710, in the Grande Galerie.
How much time should you allow for a Leonard course?
Between 45 and 75 minutes you can see The Mona Lisa, Leonardo's four other paintings and The Wedding at Cana without crossing the rest of the museum.
Are Leonardo's drawings still on display?
No. The Louvre retains twenty-two, but their fragility requires rotations and periods of rest sheltered from light.
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