Paris heatwave forces early closure of Eiffel Tower and Louvre

The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum have both truncated their opening schedules through the weekend as operators respond to extreme heat blanketing the French capital, with the iconic iron lattice tower closing at 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday and the world’s most-visited museum maintaining reduced hours since Friday.

Management at the 330-meter landmark advised visitors holding tickets for afternoon entry via stairs or elevators to monitor their email accounts for automatic refund notifications. The monument typically remains open until late evening during the summer season.

Museum limits access

The Louvre has enforced an early 4 pm closure since Friday that will extend through Monday, with last admissions capped at 2 pm to limit visitor exposure to the high temperatures. Museum officials urged guests to moderate their pace and take necessary precautions against the heat during their tours of the sprawling former royal palace.

The early closures mark a rare disruption to summer operations at both sites, which typically extend evening hours during peak tourist season to accommodate millions of annual visitors. Authorities have issued heat warnings across the Paris region as temperatures climb well above seasonal averages.