Visiting the Paris Catacombs: The Complete Guide

Put simply, the Paris catacombs are a winding maze of tunnels that stretches deep underneath one of the most famous cities in the world and plays host to roughly 6 million artfully arranged human skeletons… and with a description like that, is it any surprise that the idea of visiting the Paris catacombs has fascinated visitors for centuries?

This is a place where centuries worth of Paris’ dead have come to rest, a place that has been the site of many an illicit party, and a place where rumors of deaths and disappearances of impetuous explorers are never far away.

It’s also a place that–done safely and legally–is incredibly simple and interesting to visit.

Here’s how to tour the Paris catacombs, and what you need to know before you go.

The ticket process has changed a bit in the last few years, and this blog post has been updated accordingly as of the summer of 2024.

A (Very) Brief History of the Paris Catacombs

The story of the Paris catacombs starts long before there were human skeletons involved, but we’ll try to keep it very brief here.

If your trip to Paris has already taken you to the Louvre, Notre Dame, or the Latin Quarter, then you’ve observed plenty of Paris Stone–the easily identifiable limestone that gives many Parisian buildings their typical charm.

Well, that stone had to come from somewhere, and in the 18th century, it primarily came from quarries underneath Paris.

This wasn’t the first time the area had been quarried–the Romans got that started long ago–but it did eventually lead to a tipping point, because in 1774, the city was horrified when 300 meters of Rue Denfert-Rochereau were swallowed by the now not-so-solid ground.

Fast forward a bit, and King Louis XIV decides to solve two problems at once: he already has people at work trying to reinforce the literal ground beneath Paris’ feet, and he also has a problem with a very dirty city that is overflowing with all manner of unsavory things–including dead bodies.

In a move deeply unpopular with both the populace and the Church, the King ordered that bodies be removed from Paris’ unhygienic cemeteries and placed underground, starting with those in the Saints Innocents cemetery that was closed due to overflowing conditions in 1780 and then emptied into the catacombs 1786.

Those of you familiar with French history can probably see what comes next: revolution, which of course interrupted this whole catacombs process for a bit.

Once the dust settled on the revolution, though, the Paris catacombs were cleaned up, with bones being arranged in artful ways and organized in order to allow better access for visitors and mourners.

In 1809, the catacombs were officially opened to the public, and they’ve been attracting visitors ever since, with a whopping 550,000 (and growing) estimated to visit each year!

What to Know Before Visiting the Catacombs in Paris

Only 200 people are allowed to tour the Paris catacombs at any given time.

While this can make booking tickets in advance practically essential, especially during high season, it pays off in a big way once you’re actually inside the ossuary: the place feels almost deserted when visiting, and you’re likely to have at least a couple of moments without another person in sight if you wish.

Paris is very strict about this rule, and they carefully track people entering and leaving.

On our most recent visit to the catacombs, I actually had to wait a few minutes after entering for Jeremy to join me, since I was the 200th person to enter and he couldn’t come in until someone left.

You should definitely book your Paris catacombs tickets in advance... but not too far in advance.

Given the strict rule above, it should come as no surprise that the lines for the Paris catacombs get insanely long–I’m talking hours long. 

On our first visit, we waited more than 2 hours to visit the catacombs on a cold day in January, and years later, we had to book tickets 2 days in advance in order to get a time slot.

Tickets have only gotten more competitive over the years, and as a result, official tickets are only available for a week at a time, Sunday through Saturday (so if you’re trying to book tickets on a Monday, you’ll have more slots and days to choose from than if you book on a Friday).

If you don’t want to book within that window (either because you want to guarantee your date further in advance or you’re planning last minute), a workaround is to book a third-party experience like this popular catacomb tour or this tour that combines a visit to the catacombs with a Seine river cruise.

Book your catacomb tour or catacomb ticket + Seine river cruise today!

Absolutely can’t book in advance? Get there early.

Like, really, really early.

Thirty minutes to an hour before they open is best, and will give you the best chance of getting in early enough to still spend the bulk of your day enjoying other places in Paris.

The catacombs in Paris are not wheelchair accessible.

Visiting the Paris catacombs requires walking down 131 steps, followed by a roughly 1.5km walk on somewhat narrow, uneven, and possibly damp surfaces, followed by an additional 112 steps back up to street level.

If that isn’t something you can comfortably do, the catacombs in Paris probably aren’t the right destination for you.

Dress the part: wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.

The Paris catacombs are a cool 14 Celsius / 57 Fahrenheit year-round, and often a bit damp as well, so this isn’t the place for sundresses! 

Opt for comfortable shoes to navigate the slightly uneven terrain, and bring a jacket for comfort.

I tend to get cold, and was comfortable in a cotton dress worn with tights, boots, and a light jacket.

Jeremy rarely gets cold and stayed comfortable in slacks, boots, and a t-shirt.

Don’t bring large bags with you.

Anything over 40cm x 30cm isn’t allowed inside, and there is no luggage storage on site.

You also won’t be able to carry backpacks in their usual way, and instead, the catacombs request that you carry them in front of you or by hand.

Should be obvious, but: don’t touch the bones.

I know, I know, this shouldn’t need to be said, but given that I recently witnessed a child hugging a 4000-year-old statue in the Louvre, it’s probably worth noting that just because there’s no barrier between you and 6 million skeletons doesn’t mean you should touch them.

The exit to the Paris catacombs is not in the same place as the entrance.

It’s only a few minutes walk away, so not really a big deal, but if you have someone waiting for you to emerge up top, it’s worth knowing that you won’t pop back up right where you started!

Don’t bring a large bag.

Bags larger than 40 x 30 centimeters aren’t allowed (which is about 15.7 inches x 11.8 inches, for Americans like us).

If you bring a small backpack, you’ll need to wear it on your front, not your back.

The best option is simply to bring as little with you to the catacombs as possible!

The catacombs are far from the most budget-friendly attraction in Paris.

Like many popular attractions, prices have increased dramatically for the catacombs over the years.

Today, a standard adult ticket costs 29 Euro, plus an additional 5 Euro for an audio guide (which adds invaluable context if you’re not visiting as part of a tour).

Are they worth it?

We definitely think so–they’re certainly one of the most unique things to see in the city.

However, if you’re visiting Paris on a budget, it’s safe to say that you’ll want to carefully consider whether visiting the catacombs is something that’s high on your personal Paris bucket list, or if you’d be comfortable switching it out for a different museum or experience (after all, it’s impossible to do everything in Paris, no matter how long your trip is).

The gift shop is kind of bizarre.

Not super important, but just so you know, if you’ve ever wanted a goblet covered in skulls to add to your decor, this is definitely the place to get it.

“

… However, there are restrooms there.

If you’d like the chance to use a free (or more accurately, included) toilet before moving on with your sightseeing, exiting the catacombs is a great opportunity to do so.

How to Visit the Paris Catacombs Independently

If you’d like the visit the Paris catacombs independently, we recommend booking in advance, whether that’s an official ticket, a guided tour, or a ticket through a third party, depending on availability and your travel preferences.

With any of these options, you’ll receive a scheduled time to visit Paris’ catacombs, and when you date and time arrives, you can simply walk past the (often enormous) line of visitors and stroll right into the catacombs.

No matter how you book your ticket, we highly recommend that you visit with either a live guide or with an audio guide!

The audio guide costs 5 Euro to add onto the base ticket, if you book through the official site–some third-party sellers throw in the audio guide as an incentive to book with them.

Should you take a Paris catacombs tour?

If you’re particularly interested in the history of the catacombs, or simply want to get behind the scenes and visit rooms and sections that are not open to the average visitor, then a Paris catacombs tour is absolutely the right choice for you!

The catacombs are truly one of the most remarkable underground sights we have ever seen, and the long, torrid history of the catacombs, from religious rituals to illicit parties to the politics of their initial construction, makes this the perfect place for an in-depth tour.

This popular tour from Take Walks is the perfect option, combining small group sizes and compelling guides with behind-the-scenes access that will allow you to see more rooms than you would with a normal ticket.

Book your restricted-access tour of the Paris catacombs today!

How to Get to the Paris Catacombs

Like most places in Paris, the easiest way to reach the catacombs is by metro.

You can get to the Paris catacombs on Line 4, Line 6, or via the RER B train.

The entrance to the Paris catacombs is located just outside the Denfert-Rochereau metro stop, in a fairly modern-looking, nondescript building that in no way implies what an interesting place lies beneath its feet.

The catacombs aren’t located right next door to any of Paris’ other major attractions, but if you’d like to walk there, it’s about a 20-minute walk from either the Montparnasse Tower or the Jardin du Luxembourg (or about 40-45 minutes if you start from Notre Dame and walk past the Jardin du Luxembourg, though we’d recommend allowing at least an hour for that route, as you’ll want to sightsee along the way).

Hours + Essential Info for Visiting the Paris Catacombs

The catacombs are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:45 AM to 8:30 PM, with ticket sales stopping an hour before closing.

They’re closed on Mondays and just a few other days of the year: January 1, May 1, and December 25.

Ready to book your Paris catacombs tour or ticket?

Book your ticket or guided tour of the catacombs today!

Read More About Visiting Paris (and Beyond)

Heading to Paris soon and ready to do more in-depth planning of your trip?

You can browse all of our France blog posts here (we have a couple of dozen and counting about Paris alone), or check out these guides:

• Secret Paris: Off the Beaten Path Spots + Cool Hidden Gems in Paris
• Paris in August is Actually Pretty Wonderful
• French Breakfast Guide: How to Enjoy Breakfast in France
• Honeymoon in Paris: How to Plan Your Dream Trip
• Paris Bucket List: 50 Fun Attractions + Things to Do in Paris