November 28, 2025
Smile, it’s the Mona Lisa Markup
Louvre to hike ticket prices for most non-EU tourists by 45%
Non‑EU tourists face a 'Mona Lisa tax' as commenters roast security and cheer shorter lines
TLDR: The Louvre will charge most non‑EU visitors €32, a 45% hike to fund security and crowd fixes after a jewel heist. Commenters mostly say it’s still cheap, roasting past security slip‑ups and dubbing it a “Mona Lisa tax,” while legal sticklers note EU rules shape who gets hit.
Paris just slapped a 45% price bump on most non‑EU visitors to the Louvre, hiking tickets to €32 (about $37). The museum says it’ll rake in €15–€20 million a year to fix ageing infrastructure, add toilets and restaurants, and finally deal with those Mona Lisa mobs. Context matters: after a jaw‑dropping $102 million jewel heist and an audit calling out inadequate security, the crowd is split between “necessary upgrade” and “tourist tax.”
In the comments, the hottest take is that €37 is still a steal: kibwen insists they could “easily double” the price and tourists would keep coming. Others are here for the jokes—vintagedave quips they’ll “buy back those stolen jewels,” while the security roast is on fire, with a viral reminder that the surveillance system’s password was literally “Louvre” (ABC News). Legal nerds chime in too: TazeTSchnitzel points out EU/EEA rules mean they can’t single out non‑French visitors, so non‑EU gets the bump. Meanwhile, one proud ticket‑collector tourist says this is good and will treasure the pricier pass. The meme machine has christened it the “Mona Lisa tax” and the “Smile surcharge,” while locals quietly celebrate the promise of shorter lines and an actual chance to see the painting for more than two seconds.
Key Points
- •The Louvre will raise standard entry to €32 for most non-EEA visitors starting January 14, a 45% increase (about €10 more).
- •Non-EEA visitors in accredited guide groups will pay €28.
- •The price hike aims to generate €15–20 million annually to fund modernization and security upgrades.
- •The move follows an October heist of $102 million in jewellery and an audit citing inadequate security and ageing infrastructure.
- •Plans include relocating the Mona Lisa to reduce overcrowding and adding amenities; upgrades are expected to cost several hundred million euros.