Foreign Visitors from Non-European Countries to Face a $10 Tax When Viewing the Mona Lisa in France
French Museums and Tourist Attractions to Increase Admission Fees for Non-EU Visitors
Starting January 1, 2026, major French museums and tourist attractions will be implementing a new pricing policy for non-European Union (EU) visitors. The increased fees aim to raise funds for critical restoration and renovation projects, as the French culture department faces funding gaps.
The Louvre and Château de Versailles will lead the way, charging non-EU visitors around €30 (approximately $35), compared to the current general admission prices of roughly €21-22. This new pricing policy, known as a "differential tariff," will also be applied to other landmarks such as the Château de Chambord, the Opéra Garnier, the Conciergerie, and the Arc de Triomphe.
The Louvre, one of the world's most visited museums, is facing significant repair needs, with much of its building no longer watertight and suffering from erratic climate conditions that jeopardize the collection. The Louvre's building is not watertight and suffers from erratic climate conditions that jeopardize the collection. The Louvre curator, speaking anonymously to Le Monde, expressed concern about the pricing strategy, questioning the fairness of charging more to non-EU visitors for cultural artifacts that originate from their countries.
At Chambord, where only 10% of admissions come from non-EU tourists, officials are considering raising prices from €19 to €29 to fund renovations over 10 years. At Versailles, where 42% of visitors come from outside Europe, the funds raised from the new pricing could be used for repairs to cracked pools, neglected groves, and leaking rooftops.
The goal of the new pricing is to address financial issues such as cultural budget cuts, waning corporate sponsorships, and rising restoration costs. Supporters of the policy argue that a form of tiered access already exists, with EU students under 26 receiving free entry, while non-European students must pay full price.
However, the new pricing policy has drawn backlash from French unions, who criticize it as discriminatory and undermining the core values of France's public cultural service. The pricing strategy for museums and tourist destinations in France is legally limited to non-EU visitors, according to European Commission rules.
This approach reflects a targeted strategy to directly engage non-EU tourists in supporting the upkeep of France’s cultural heritage amid financial challenges. The increased fees are expected to generate significant revenue, with the Louvre's new pricing expected to raise €20 million per year towards its renovations, and the €30 ticket at the Louvre and Versailles combined projected to raise around €60 million annually. The funds will be crucial in addressing the Louvre's repair needs, which are estimated to be €400 million over the next 15 years.
[1] Le Figaro, "Les prix des billets d'entrée des musées augmenteront pour les touristes non-EU" (2023) [2] Le Monde, "Les musées français augmentent les prix pour les non-EU" (2023) [3] FranceInfo, "Les musées français augmentent les prix pour les touristes non-EU" (2023)
- The increased admission fees for non-EU visitors at French museums and tourist attractions is part of a strategy to generate revenue for critical restoration and renovation projects.
- The Louvre's building is suffering from erratic climate conditions and much of it is not watertight, putting the collection at risk.
- The curator of the Louvre expressed concerns about the pricing strategy, questioning the fairness of charging more to non-EU visitors for cultural artifacts that originate from their countries.
- The new pricing policy for French museums and tourist attractions could raise significant revenue, with the €30 ticket at the Louvre and Versailles combined projected to raise around €60 million annually.
