Instead of walking the street of Rue de Rivoli, may I suggest you stroll through the garden (Jardin des Tuileries)? If I'm traveling to Paris for shopping, I enjoy staying on the Right Bank near the shopping areas. The hotels are pricy, but a convenient walk to the stores.
I've learned to NOT walk down the street of Rue de Rivoli as it can be a tourist nightmare with pickpockets, beggars and aggressive store merchants.
Instead, I prefer to cross the street and walk through the garden called Jardin (garden) de Tuileries. You'll be walking on pea gravel, so you may get a little dusty. Just warning you!
The views of the Louvre, Arc de Triumph and surrounding area is SO pretty. In the morning, locals & tourists will walk/jog through the garden. The ducks will be playing the in the ponds and the morning workers will be setting up the cafe's for business. You will get a mix of smells between fresh flowers and coffee (espresso) brewing in the distance. So french, right?
By the time you walk to the Louvre, you'll be ready & excited to start your journey of exploring the 16 miles of museum that awaits you. Though I'm including a photo of the outside line, please use this as a warning.
I suggest you purchase the Museum Pass so you can use the quick access line. It's called the mall access point or Porte des Lions (Lion statue). Trust me! There won't be a line. It will look like a special/private access point saying for groups only or pre-purchased passes (this is for you!) The Museum Pass is a pre-purchased ticket and will get you in.
Most tourists will miss this entry point and stand in the pyramid line for hours ONLY to find out that they waisted valuable travel/vacation time.
Happy Traveling!
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