Catacombs of Paris Tickets and Tours

Beneath the streets of Paris lie hundreds of kilometres of tunnels brimming with mystery and history. The catacombs are a place that, whether out of respect or simply because they’re unaware of them, many people overlook during their visit to Paris, but it’s a mistake not to visit them.

Of the more than 300 kilometres of tunnels beneath the city, only 1.5 kilometres can be legally visited. Here’s a summary of everything you need to know before enjoying this experience full of peculiarities.

To visit the Paris Catacombs, you can either buy tickets directly at the ticket office at the entrance, next to Montparnasse Cemetery, or buy them online. The latter option is recommended as buying in advance saves you from long queues. The standard admission price with an audio guide is around €35.

There is another, riskier option, but one that can save you some money. If you turn up at the last minute, you can get hold of a special ‘last-minute’ ticket, valid for the same day and available only at the ticket office. These cost from €18 for a standard ticket, from €16 for a reduced-price ticket, and children go 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 go on the tour. Also, bear in mind that this ticket does not include the audio guide and you will have to pay a supplement starting from €5. As well as 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 the city of Paris through detailed explanations available in several languages, including Spanish, of course.

However, 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, from €160
• Guided tour of the Catacombs of Paris for small groups, from €190

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

• It is 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 visit for photography enthusiasts.
• The tour is very well organised.

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

As a guide, it takes about 55 minutes to walk there from Place de la Concorde. However, it is easily accessible by other forms of transport, which are among the best options for getting around Paris and the surrounding area:

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

Technically , children over the age of 5 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 that can be seen 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 metres 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 it is possible to visit with children, please bear these conditions in mind when deciding whether to take children under your care. Here are some alternative ideas for exploring the French capital with children.

Of the more than 300 kilometres of tunnels estimated to make up the catacombs, only 1.5 kilometres 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 ways and locations.

There are over 800 metres of ossuaries, including a section dedicated to the memory of those who died in the French Revolution, the area around the shaft used for tunnelling work, 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, bear in mind that the best time to visit is first thing in the morning, as this will allow you to avoid the long queues that tend to form as the day goes on. I recommend arriving 15 minutes before opening time.

And, of course, bear 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 is important not to exceed this time, as capacity is limited to around 200 people and they keep a close eye on this and on the number of people entering and leaving the Catacombs. However, 45 minutes is more than enough time to see the whole complex at a leisurely pace.

The Paris Catacombs are open every day of the week except Mondays. From Tuesday to Sunday, opening hours are from 10 am to 8.30 pm. Last admission is at 7.30 pm, so you should arrive before then to avoid missing out on a ticket.

The origins of the Catacombs date back to the early 13th century, when the first tunnels were dug 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 refurbished, 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 formations and locations for visitors to see. In 1955, entry to the tunnels was banned, 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 which claim that the tunnels are haunted and that those who walk through them hear voices and can 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 complete with a projector, a screen, seats carved from stone and a collection of films.

Numerous works of art and mysterious symbols have also been found. In fact, various walls of the tunnels bear inscriptions and engravings, some of which include emblems and Latin words relating to death, philosophy and eternal life. Furthermore, 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 have got lost in its labyrinthine tunnels.

One of the most famous 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 alongside his extinguished lantern. Furthermore, over the years, numerous adventurers have explored them without authorisation, which has contributed to the number of disappearances.

To prevent the risk of people going missing in the catacombs, a large section has been closed off and is now under surveillance; today, only one section is open to the public, with signposted routes.

Yes, there are numerous hidden sections in the Paris Catacombs. Bear in mind that the underground network comprises 300 kilometres of tunnels, although, as mentioned, only a small part is open to the public. Many passages are closed to the public due to the risk of collapse and the lack of signage.

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

The Paris Catacombs are an essential stop on your trip to the French capital. It is very different from other tourist attractions, so there are a few things you should bear in mind.

• My first recommendation is to buy your tickets in advance online. If you don’t, you’ll likely have to queue for over an hour to get in, as capacity is limited and demand is usually high. In peak season, queues can be over two hours long.
• Also, if you’re visiting in summer, make sure you bring something warm to wear, as 20 metres underground the average temperature doesn’t exceed 15 degrees and it’s very damp.
• If you are claustrophobic, suffer from a respiratory condition or are several weeks pregnant, visiting the catacombs is not recommended.
• Do not bring rucksacks, bags or large items, as you will not be allowed in with them to protect the ossuary. In some places it is very narrow and there is no cloakroom service to leave them.
• You are not allowed to take photos with a flash inside.
• It is not accessible for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
• There are two sections of over 100 steps each, going up and down. Bear this in mind and make sure you wear suitable footwear.