In a year when many Paris prices are rising—including a doubling of non-resident transit prices during the summer Olympics—the world’s most-visited museum has jumped on the bandwagon, raising its basic admission charge from €17 to €22.
Officials at the museum say the increase is necessary to cover rising energy costs (a rise of 88% between 2021 and 2022) and plans to extend opening hours, along with the likely increase in visitors over the normally slow summer season for the museum. They also said that about 40% of visitors qualify for free tickets, including under-25s, disabled people, and the low-paid and unemployed.
Overseas visitors interviewed by Agence France Presse seemed unfazed by the hike, though some thought it was a bit high. One family from Australia noted that they had paid more than $5000 for their round-trip flights, and said the €5 wasn’t going to change their plans: “It’s a pretty rare opportunity for us and I know it’s expensive to keep this kind of institution running.”
