Catacombs of Paris Tickets and Tours

Hidden beneath the streets of Paris lie hundreds of kilometers of tunnels filled with mystery and history. The Catacombs are a place that, whether out of respect or ignorance, many people overlook during their visit to Paris, but it’s a mistake not to visit them.

Of the more than 300 kilometers of tunnels beneath the city, only 1.5 kilometers are legally open to visitors. Here’s a summary of everything you need to know before enjoying this unique experience.

To visit the Paris Catacombs, you can either buy tickets directly at the ticket booth at the entrance, next to the Montparnasse Cemetery, or purchase tickets online. The second option is recommended since buying in advance saves you from long lines. The standard admission price with an audio guide is about €35.

There is another, riskier option, but one that can save you some money. If you arrive at the last minute, you can get a special “last-minute” ticket, valid for the same day and available only at the ticket counter. These start at €18 for a standard ticket, €16 for a reduced-price ticket, and children enter for free, but they are limited in number and subject to availability.

So if you choose this option, you run the risk of not being able to take the tour. Also, keep in mind that this ticket does not include the audio guide, and you’ll have to pay an additional fee starting at €5. In addition to tickets, you can also sign up for a guided tour. There are several types, and the price is around €140.

The visit to the Catacombs includes an audio guide with your ticket, allowing you to discover the darkest history of Paris through detailed explanations available in several languages, including Spanish, of course.

But there are also various guided tours that can be very interesting for gaining a deeper understanding of this place. The best options you can book in advance are:

• Skip-the-line guided tour of the Paris Catacombs with access to restricted areas, starting at $240
• Guided tour of the Catacombs of Paris for small groups, starting at $223

Exploring the Catacombs of Paris is a striking and unforgettable experience for many reasons. Here are the main ones before you book your tickets:

• It’s a place steeped in history and mystery that immerses visitors in Paris’s hidden past.
• They have a very distinctive aesthetic, as the tunnels are decorated with bones and skulls arranged in an orderly and artistic manner.
• It is one of the most famous ossuaries in the world and, moreover, one of the few open to the public.
• It’s a stunning experience for photography enthusiasts.
• The tour is very well organized.

Before booking your tickets for the Paris Catacombs, you should know that the visitor entrance is located next to the Montparnasse Cemetery on Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, in the southern part of Paris, about an hour’s walk from the city center.

As a reference, it takes about 55 minutes to walk there from Place de la Concorde. However, it is easily accessible via other modes of transportation, which are among the best options for getting around Paris and its surroundings:

• By Paris Metro: The nearest station is Denfert-Rochereau, served by lines 4 and 6.
• By bus: Lines 38 and 68 stop near the Montparnasse Cemetery.
• By car or taxi: Enter the following address into your GPS or ask the taxi driver to take you to Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014.

Technically , children over 5 years old are allowed entry. However, it is not the best place to visit with young children. Aside from the dark and eerie atmosphere of the catacombs and the skulls and human remains visible during the tour, the access and conditions of the site are not ideal for the youngest members of the family.

The catacombs are located 20 meters underground, and there are numerous steps to climb up and down to enter and exit them. Underground, there is little light, and many of the passageways are very narrow, which can make children feel claustrophobic.

Although you can visit with children, keep these conditions in mind when deciding whether to bring them along under your supervision. Here are some alternative plans for exploring the French capital with children.

Of the more than 300 kilometers estimated to make up the catacombs’ tunnels, only 1.5 kilometers have been made accessible to visitors. This tour includes a section of tunnels and a small exhibition explaining the history of the catacombs.

Further on lies the catacombs’ main attraction: the ossuary, which houses the remains of over 6 million people, whose skulls and bones are arranged in highly unusual patterns and formations.

There are over 800 meters of ossuaries, featuring a section dedicated to the memory of those who died in the French Revolution, the area around the shaft used for tunnel construction, and the barrel of skulls. The latter is a pile of bones arranged in the shape of a barrel and is one of the most distinctive features of the catacombs.

When booking your tickets for the Paris Catacombs, keep in mind that the best time to visit is first thing in the morning, as this will help you avoid the long lines that tend to form as the day goes on. I recommend arriving 15 minutes before opening.

And, of course, keep in mind that weekdays usually have fewer visitors than weekends. I also recommend avoiding peak seasons, such as summer and the Christmas and Easter holidays.

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. It’s important not to exceed this time, as capacity is limited to about 200 people and they strictly monitor both the capacity and the number of people entering and exiting the catacombs. However, 45 minutes is more than enough time to thoroughly explore the entire complex.

The Paris Catacombs are open every day of the week except Mondays. From Tuesday to Sunday, hours are from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Last admission is at 7:30 PM, so you should arrive earlier to ensure you don’t miss out on a ticket.

The origins of the Catacombs date back to the early 13th century when the first tunnels were excavated to extract stone and materials for the construction of buildings such as Notre Dame Cathedral. After many years of collapses and cave-ins, King Louis XVI ordered them to be reinforced, thereby solving one of the problems Paris was facing at the time. The lack of space in its cemeteries.

From 1786 to 1859, the remains of many Parisians were continuously transferred to the catacombs. In 1814, they were prepared for visitors, and many of the remains were arranged in unusual shapes and locations for visitors to see. In 1955, entry into the tunnels was prohibited, as they were frequently used for satanic rituals and activities that were not entirely legal. Since then and up to the present day, only a small part of the catacombs can be visited.

There are numerous legends about the Catacombs that claim the tunnels are haunted and that those who walk through them hear voices and see figures in the shadows. One of the most popular stories is that of a man who disappeared in the 18th century; his body was found years later in complete darkness next to his lantern.

Throughout history, the Catacombs of Paris have revealed hidden discoveries, treasures, and mysteries. One of the most recent took place in 2004, when the Paris police discovered an underground cinema equipped with a projector, a screen, seats carved into stone, and a collection of films.

Numerous works of art and mysterious symbols have also been found. In fact, various tunnel walls bear inscriptions and engravings, some of which include emblems and Latin words related to death, philosophy, and eternal life. Additionally, sculptures and reliefs created by quarry workers have been found.

Furthermore, hidden chambers and nooks have been discovered that appear to have never been entered. In some cases, these spaces contain tools used by the quarry workers and oil lamps steeped in history.

The number of people who have gone missing in the Paris Catacombs is not officially known. There are numerous accounts of people who got lost in its labyrinthine tunnels.

One of the most famous incidents occurred in the 18th century, when Philibert Aspairt, who worked at a nearby hospital, got lost in the tunnels and his body was found years later next to his extinguished lantern. Furthermore, over the years, numerous adventurers have explored them without authorization, which has contributed to the number of disappearances.

To prevent the risk of disappearances in the catacombs, a large portion of the Catacombs has been closed off and is now under surveillance; today, only a segment with marked routes is open to the public.

Yes, there are numerous hidden sections in the Paris Catacombs. Keep in mind that the underground network consists of 300 kilometers of tunnels, although, as mentioned, only a small portion is open to the public. Many passages are closed to the public due to the risk of cave-ins and the lack of signage.

The Paris police regularly patrol the unofficial entrances to prevent unauthorized access. In fact, fines are imposed on those who attempt to enter without authorization.

The Paris Catacombs are a must-see on your trip to the French capital. It’s very different from other tourist sites, so there are a few things you should keep in mind.

• My first recommendation is to buy your tickets in advance online. If you don’t, you’ll likely have to wait in line for over an hour to get in, since capacity is limited and demand is usually high. During peak season, lines can stretch to over two hours.
• Also, if you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to bring a light jacket, as the average temperature 20 meters underground doesn’t exceed 15 degrees Celsius and the humidity is very high.
• If you are claustrophobic, have a respiratory condition, or are several weeks pregnant, visiting the catacombs is not recommended.
• Do not bring backpacks, bags, or large items, as you will not be allowed to bring them in to preserve the ossuary. In some areas, the passage is very narrow, and there is no coat check service to leave them.
• Flash photography is not permitted inside.
• It is not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs.
• There are two sections of over 100 stairs each, both going up and down. Keep this in mind and wear sturdy shoes.