1. The Louvre is a Great Central Point

While in Paris this weekend I spent most of my time in, by, or around the Louvre. It is a great meeting point and general admission is free. The Louvre connects to a mall with cafes, shopping, and yes you guessed it... Free Wifi

2. The Louvre is a Great Place for Free Storage

The first day in Paris was fun, but it would have been much more enjoyable if I was not lagging around my body weight in clothes. Yes packing light is essential, but if you're anything like me you are still learning the concept. Anyways the Lourve is free for general admission and with that the coat room. You are free to use as many lockers as you need and leave it for the day whether you decide to walk outside or tour the Lourve. It was very helpful the last day of my trip. I was able to check out of my Airbnb and just move my stuff into the Lourve. Defiantly was helpful and defiantly would do it again. Just make sure you pick up your things before closing!

3. Know what's free and where!

A lot of the countries in the European Union are pro youth and pro students and because of that a lot of things are free or discounted for EU residents ages 18-25. As an abroad student you are a resident and so places like the Lourve do not require a ticket. You simply enter the line and show you passport and student visa and you are free to roam.

4. Skip the Line

I don't mean cut the line by any means. But there are other entrances that are not the main entrance by the pyramids. Some entrances will require you to enter through the main entrance if you are using your student visa. But a short cut is entering through the mall which leads you to the main foyer of the Lourve with minimum waiting time.

5. Don't Be Afraid to Get Lost

If you were not aware, the Lourve is massive. With that be prepared to walk a lot. Walking down halls, up and down stairs, and back through other halls. Don't be stressed if you get lost or mapping out your own personal your didn't go as planned. You will find plenty of things to look at that are not exactly on the mainstream corridors of the Lourve. Just be careful because some mysterious halls lead to the outside and may require you to go around and re enter the Lourve.

6. If Time Isn't on your Side, the Louvre May Not Be the Site for You

I love art, if you don't know one of my majors is art with a minor in art history so I could spend weeks in the Lourve. But when you enter the Lourve it is a lot to take in and a lot of time. I broke up my visit in two days and I'm sure I did not see it all. So if you are planning to come and appreciate the art the make sure you give yourself a substantial amount of time. If you are about the mainstream art like the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo then don't be hesitant to do a quick walk through and get on with your day. No matter what your parogitive, you will still get cultured.

7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

I found that everyone in the Louvre was super super helpful. This is one of the few places in Paris where you will see 9/10 smiling and helpful people. If you have a question ask them, you can practice your French but if you don't know anything they will be more than happy to speak English. I was reluctant on asking questions the first day and unfortunately paid the admission fee at the Lourve. Though it was only 15€ it defiantly does not beat free for students.