Sainte-Chapelle in Paris: Tickets and Tours

Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most popular attractions on the Île de la Cité in Paris and one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in the city. Considered a masterpiece of the High Gothic period, it was built to house the reliquary containing the Crown of Thorns and today amazes visitors with its polychrome stained glass windows.

However, it is not only the façade of the building that is a spectacle in itself, as the interior features a clean construction, without murals, reaching a height of 75 metres with the main tower. You can also visit the lower and upper chapels, making a tour of this site one of the best things to do in Paris.

The direct option

Paris Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie Tickets

Skip the lines to enter the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie in Paris

Discover one of the most famous Gothic temples in the French capital and combine this tour with a visit to the Conciergerie with preferential access.

From £18 at Hellotickets

With these tickets to the Sainte-Chapelle, you can visit one of the most popular and most visited churches in Paris with skip-the-line access. The tickets will give you access to the interior chapels and also to the central nave, where you will begin a journey back in time to 13th-century medieval France. Explore its history through the stained glass engravings and interior decorations.

These tickets also give you the opportunity to visit the Conciergerie, a historic building on the Quai de l'Horloge, a few metres from the Sainte-Chapelle, which was the residence of the kings of France during the Middle Ages. During the French Revolution, this building served as one of the most feared prisons in the country.

Recommended if... you want to discover one of the most famous temples in Paris in a comfortable experience with preferential access.

The guided option

Ile de la Cité, Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie Tour

Explore the Sainte-Chapelle and its history with a guided tour of the Île de la Cité

Gain access with a local guide to the Sainte-Chapelle and discover its history alongside other iconic monuments such as Notre Dame and the Conciergerie.

From £65 at Hellotickets

If you want to delve deeper into the history and secrets of the Sainte-Chapelle, this guided tour of the Île de la Cité is the most enriching way to do so. For around 3 hours, an expert local guide will show you this jewel of the Gothic Revival, famous for its impressive stained-glass windows that turn light into a spectacle of colour.

The tour also allows you to stroll around Notre Dame, learn about the evolution of the island where Paris was born and enjoy skip-the-line access to the Conciergerie, the former prison of Marie Antoinette. All in small groups of maximum 20 people, so you can ask questions and enjoy each explanation at your own pace.

Recommended if... you want to discover the Sainte-Chapelle in all its historical context and visit other nearby monuments accompanied by a professional guide.

Tickets to visit the Sainte-Chapelle cost approximately £13 per person for a general ticket that includes adults and minors who are not citizens or residents of the European Union.

Alternatively, you can opt for a double ticket, which includes a visit to the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie and costs around £18 In this case, the ticket also offers skip-the-line entry to both monuments.

There are several options to suit different interests and budgets. From combined tickets with the Conciergerie to guided tours of the entire Île de la Cité, here are some of the best options you can book in advance to ensure skip-the-line access and the best experience:

• Skip-the-line tickets for Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie — from 18
• Guided tour of the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie — from £65
• Tour of the Île de la Cité with skip-the-line tickets to Sainte-Chapelle — from £31
• Guided tour of Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie with a cruise on the Seine — from £69
• Exclusive guided tour of Sainte-Chapelle — from £57

Tickets to the Sainte-Chapelle are included in the Paris Pass, so if you purchase this tourist card, you will have admission to the chapel included. This will allow you to save money on your visit and also enter this Gothic temple without queuing, as this pass also includes preferential access to most of its attractions.

The Paris Pass also includes admission to other sites on the Île de la Cité, such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Conciergerie and the Archaeological Crypt, which will come in handy when planning your itinerary. Without a doubt, this is an ideal way to explore the city if you plan to visit Paris in 3 days or even less.

Keep in mind that the Paris Pass can be purchased for 2, 3, 4 or 6 days, which you must decide before purchasing the pass based on your travel plans.

General tickets do not include a guided tour of the Sainte-Chapelle, but simply admission to the interior of the chapel. However, if you wish, you can hire the services of an expert local guide, although this is not strictly necessary as the temple is well signposted and has sufficient information panels to understand its historical importance. These guides usually charge an additional fee that does not include admission to the temple.

If you opt for the double ticket that also includes admission to the Conciergerie, you will also get a guided tour that will allow you to discover this building and its complex history. In addition, many of the best tours of Paris offer a tour of the Île de la Cité and its main attractions.

Are there special tickets for children?

General admission tickets to visit the Sainte-Chapelle do not distinguish between ages, so there are no special tickets, discounts or reduced rates for children. However, all children under 18 who are citizens or residents of the European Union can enter the chapel free of charge.

Keep in mind, however, that the Île de la Cité offers some of the best activities for children in Paris, as you can not only visit historic buildings and temples, but also take part in themed tours and enjoy some of the best panoramic views of the French capital.

The only way to get tickets to visit the Sainte-Chapelle is through the chapel's official website or through authorised tourist service providers. Therefore, you will not be able to buy tickets at the ticket office at the time of your visit, especially since you will need to specify the time slot for your tour when booking in advance.

Furthermore, to help preserve the building and its interior, the number of visitors per day is usually limited, so by booking in advance online, you will secure your place on the tour on the day and at the time you choose, allowing you to plan your itinerary and make the most of your trip to the French capital.

The opening hours of the Sainte-Chapelle vary depending on the time of year. If you plan to visit Paris in summer or spring , you can enter every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. These hours apply from 1 April to 30 September each year.

However, if you plan to visit Paris during the winter and autumn, the Sainte-Chapelle will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from 1 October to 31 March of the following year. Please also note that the last admission to the building is 30 minutes before closing time.

The Sainte-Chapelle is also open every day except 1 January, 1 May and 25 December each year.

Details of interest

• Winter opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Summer opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Visits to the Sainte-Chapelle are booked every hour, which is enough time to see the building, both outside, where you can marvel at its radiant Gothic architecture, and inside, where you will find the central nave, the lower and upper chapels and the crypt containing the crown of thorns on which the building was constructed.

However, if you wish, you can stay longer inside the chapel and if you choose to buy the double ticket, which also includes admission to the Conciergerie, the tour will be extended by approximately one hour. Please note that you can enter the chapel up to 30 minutes before closing time and that if you visit Paris during the summer, the opening hours are extended until 7pm every day.

The Sainte-Chapelle has different charms at different times of the year. Summer, especially from June to August, is considered the best time to visit, mainly because during these months the city blossoms with warm weather and longer days, allowing you to enjoy the sunlight filtering through the chapel's stained glass windows, creating an unmissable visual spectacle.

However, if you plan to visit Paris in spring or autumn, you can also explore some of the best aspects of the Sainte-Chapelle. In spring, the surrounding gardens come to life, providing a magical setting to complement your visit. In autumn, although the days are shorter, the smaller crowds can make for a more peaceful and relaxing experience, and you will have plenty of time to appreciate the architectural details of the interior.

On the other hand, although winter can be colder and the days shorter, the Sainte-Chapelle illuminated during the Christmas season in Paris offers a very beautiful sight. The festive decorations and the possibility of attending special concerts in this historic setting can make your visit a memorable experience.

You can reach the Sainte-Chapelle from anywhere in Paris on lines 1, 4 and 14 and on bus lines 27, 38, 47, 63, 72 and 75. If you are staying outside the city, you can also take regional train lines B and C.

Several of the best tourist buses in Paris also stop near the Île de la Cité, so you can use this mode of transport as well. Many of these services offer hop-on hop-off tours, which are ideal for getting to the Sainte-Chapelle and then continuing on to other attractions.

Visiting the Sainte-Chapelle will allow you to discover the Gothic splendour of the Île de la Cité and contemplate one of the city's most representative architectural gems. Inside the chapel, you can admire the details of the stained glass windows, which are divided into fifteen panels, each depicting biblical scenes from Genesis to the Resurrection.

During your tour of the interior, don't miss the Gothic details of the building, such as the flying buttresses and counterforts, which reveal the technical skill of the medieval builders and are evident in the absence of walls to support the structure, designed to highlight the verticality and luminosity. You can also admire the height of the ceilings, which reach 75 metres in the main tower.

On the other hand, the lower chapel, often overlooked, is also a place you should not miss. Here you will find a collection of statues representing the twelve apostles, which will give you an artistic and symbolic perspective of what the Sainte-Chapelle represented in the Middle Ages as the reliquary of the coveted crown of thorns.

Last but not least, be sure to learn about the history behind this temple! Built in the 13th century as a royal chapel to house relics of the Passion of Christ, it is a testament to the power and devotion of the medieval French monarchy. Knowing the historical context will enrich your visit, allowing you to appreciate not only the visual beauty but also the cultural depth of this site.

Firstly, don't forget to buy your tickets in advance. The Sainte-Chapelle is a popular attraction and by booking before your visit, you'll avoid the delays caused by last-minute bookings. Also, remember that tickets are no longer sold at the ticket office.

Secondly, don't forget to consider the time of your visit as a key factor in enjoying this site. The stained glass windows are particularly striking in the morning or evening, especially during the Parisian summer, so this detail could make the difference between an acceptable experience and a fascinating one. Also, try to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

Finally, don't forget to respect the rules of the place. The Sainte-Chapelle is a site of great historical and spiritual importance, so visitors are expected to keep their voices down and avoid disruptive behaviour. Also, don't forget that although it is a tourist attraction, it is primarily a religious building, so you should avoid disturbing the worshippers who come to practise their faith.