Paris Catacombs: Tickets, Hours and How to Visit (2026)
Twenty metres below the streets of the 14th arrondissement, the Paris Catacombs hold the bones of around six million Parisians, stacked into walls of skulls and femurs along the tunnels of old limestone quarries. It is one of the strangest and most memorable visits in Paris, and one of the hardest to get into on a whim, because visitor numbers are capped and the queues are long. This guide covers 2026 ticket prices, opening hours, how to book, what you will see underground and the practical rules you need to know before you go. For the rest of the city, see our Paris travel guide.
The Paris Catacombs at a glance
Tickets: €31 (€25 reduced, €15 for ages 8 to 17, free under 8), audio guide included
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:45 to 20:30; last entry 19:30
Closed: Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December
Entrance: 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 (Métro and RER B Denfert-Rochereau)
Visit: about an hour, 1.5 km on foot, with 243 steps in total
What are the Paris Catacombs?
The tunnels under southern Paris are old quarries, dug over centuries to extract the limestone that built the city. In the late 18th century, the overflowing cemeteries of central Paris had become a health hazard, so from 1785 the bones were dug up and carried, often at night, into the quarries, starting with the huge Cemetery of the Holy Innocents near Les Halles. The ossuary was consecrated in 1786, and bones continued to arrive for decades.
Today only about 1.5 km of a network of roughly 300 km of tunnels is open to the public. The rest is closed and illegal to enter. The visit is run by Paris Musées, the city's museums service, on its official Paris Catacombs website.
Paris Catacombs tickets and prices (2026)
- Full rate: €31, including the audio guide.
- Reduced rate: €25, including the audio guide.
- Children aged 8 to 17: €15, including the audio guide.
- Children under 8: free.
Paris Catacombs tickets are sold for timed slots, online only, and go on sale 7 days in advance; book as soon as your date opens, because slots sell out, especially in summer and at weekends. Free tickets do not include the audio guide and are issued at the desk on the day. The Paris Museum Pass does not cover the Catacombs. You can book Paris Catacombs tickets on the official Paris Musées ticket site.
Paris Catacombs opening hours
- Tuesday to Sunday: 9:45 to 20:30, with last entry at 19:30.
- Closed: every Monday, and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
- Open on holidays: including 14 July, 15 August, 1 November and 11 November.
Best time to visit the Paris Catacombs
The quietest times are the first slot of the morning and the last slots of the evening, on a weekday outside school holidays. Summer weekends are the busiest, and slots for them disappear fast. Because the tunnels stay at about 14°C all year, the Catacombs are a good choice for a hot summer afternoon or a rainy winter day, as long as you have booked ahead. Avoid Mondays, when they are closed, and remember that the last entry is at 19:30.
How to skip the queue at the Paris Catacombs
The queue outside the green entrance pavilion on Place Denfert-Rochereau is famous, and it can stretch round the square in summer. The best way to avoid it is simply to book a timed ticket online: ticket holders join a much shorter line at their slot time.
- Book exactly 7 days ahead for summer, weekends and school holidays.
- Choose the first slot at 9:45 or an evening slot after 18:00, when it is calmer underground.
- Arrive on time for your slot, not early.
- Travel light, so you get through the bag check quickly.
Planning your Paris trip? The 14th arrondissement is a calm, good-value base close to the Catacombs. Compare flights and hotels for your dates.
What to expect inside the Paris Catacombs
Going down
The visit starts with a narrow spiral staircase of 131 steps, taking you about 20 metres underground. At the bottom, it is cool and damp: around 14°C all year, and very humid, so bring a light layer even in summer.
The quarry galleries
Before you reach any bones, you walk for several minutes through the old quarry tunnels. Look out for the street names and dates carved into the walls, which matched the streets above so that quarry inspectors could find their way, and for small stone models carved by a former quarryman.
The ossuary
The ossuary begins at a doorway inscribed Arrête ! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort ("Stop! This is the empire of Death"). Beyond it, skulls and long bones are stacked into neat walls, sometimes in patterns of hearts and crosses, with plaques recording which cemetery or church they came from and when. It is moving rather than gruesome, and the audio guide explains the history as you walk.
Climbing out
The route is one-way. At the end you climb 112 steps and come out on Avenue René-Coty, about 700 metres from where you started, so do not leave anything at the entrance. Toilets are at the entrance and the exit only.
How to get to the Paris Catacombs
The entrance is the small green pavilion on Place Denfert-Rochereau, in the 14th arrondissement.
- Métro: Denfert-Rochereau, on lines 4 and 6, right outside the entrance.
- RER: Denfert-Rochereau on RER B, which runs direct from Charles de Gaulle airport and the Gare du Nord, and links with Orly airport via Orlyval at Antony.
- Bus: lines 38 and 68.
- Leaving: the exit on Avenue René-Coty is a short walk back to Denfert-Rochereau, or about 10 minutes to Mouton-Duvernet (line 4).
Rules and practical tips for the Paris Catacombs
- Bags: no larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Suitcases, large bags and motorbike helmets are refused, and there is no cloakroom.
- Pushchairs: not allowed, so bring a baby carrier.
- Children: under-14s must be with an adult. Most children from about 10 find it fascinating, but it may upset younger ones.
- Accessibility: not accessible to wheelchair users, and not recommended for people with limited mobility, claustrophobia, or heart or breathing problems.
- Behaviour: no eating, drinking or smoking, and never touch the bones. Photos for personal use are fine, without flash or a tripod.
What to see near the Paris Catacombs
The Catacombs are in the 14th arrondissement, a quiet, local part of Paris (see our Paris arrondissements map). After your visit, walk to the Rue Daguerre market street for a café or lunch, explore Montparnasse and its cemetery, or head north to the Luxembourg Gardens, about 20 minutes on foot. Our 5 days in Paris itinerary shows how to fit the Catacombs into a full trip.
Paris Catacombs: FAQ
How much are Paris Catacombs tickets?
In 2026 a full-price ticket costs €31, the reduced rate is €25 and children aged 8 to 17 pay €15, all including the audio guide. Children under 8 go free.
Do you need to book the Paris Catacombs in advance?
Yes. Tickets are sold online for timed slots up to 7 days ahead, and they often sell out. Booking also lets you skip most of the long queue outside.
How long does a visit to the Paris Catacombs take?
About an hour for the 1.5 km route, plus time to get through the entrance. The audio guide also lasts around an hour.
Are the Paris Catacombs suitable for children?
Children under 14 must be with an adult and under-8s go free. Many older children love the visit, but the bones and the dark tunnels can frighten younger ones, and pushchairs are not allowed.
Is the Paris Museum Pass valid for the Catacombs?
No. The Paris Catacombs are not included in the Paris Museum Pass, so you need a separate ticket.
Can you buy Paris Catacombs tickets on the day?
Only if slots are still free online, as tickets are sold online for timed entry. Free tickets for eligible visitors are issued at the desk on the day, without the audio guide, so expect to queue.
Is it worth visiting the Paris Catacombs?
Yes, if you are comfortable underground. It is one of the most unusual experiences in Paris and gives a fascinating view of the city's history. Book early and choose a morning or evening slot for the calmest visit.
Ready to visit the Paris Catacombs?
Book a timed ticket exactly 7 days ahead, bring a warm layer and travel light for the bag check.
More for your trip: our Paris travel guide, our 3 days in Paris itinerary and our guide to where to stay in Paris.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: ossuary, tunnel, staircase and plaque by Jorge Láscar (CC BY 2.0); queue at Denfert-Rochereau by Guilhem Vellut (CC BY 2.0).
