Visiting the catacombs in Paris? Behind the romantic hotels, haute couture fashion houses and bustling avenues lies a hidden, underground world: the famous catacombs of Paris. A visit to the catacombs is a unique and somewhat creepy experience that takes you to the dark underworld of the City of Light. The catacombs have been open to the general public since 1809 and are an underground realm of tunnels filled with the bones and skulls of 6 million people. It is illegal and dangerous to enter the catacombs yourself. The chance of getting lost is therefore very high. Every year, around 500,000 people visit the corridors and tunnels.
In this blog article, the most important things to optimally enjoy your visit to the catacombs of Paris. But also where you can buy tickets and how much a ticket will cost you. It is better to buy your tickets in advance to avoid the queues. With our tips and facts, you can take a carefree tour of one of the best sights in Paris. Also read our frequently asked questions about the catacombs with address, opening hours, entrance, which metro to take, etc…
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1. Tickets to visit the Catacombs in Paris & price (+ guided tour)
Buying tickets for the Catacombs of Paris is easy via the link below. The price for a ticket is €36, including an audio guide. Entrance tickets often sell out quickly, so reserve your tickets well in advance. Due to the limited space and the fragility of the location, only a limited number of visitors are allowed in at a time.
The entrance to the catacombs is located on Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, and after a descent of about 20 meters (via a narrow spiral staircase) you end up in a labyrinth of corridors full of carefully stacked skulls and bones. The tour through the catacombs covers about 1.5 kilometers and takes about 45 minutes on average. The atmosphere in the catacombs is cold and damp, and the narrow tunnels can feel oppressive, making it not ideal for people with claustrophobia.
Prefer a skip-the-line tour? Take a 2-hour guided tour with a detailed look at the history of the catacombs. Highly recommended!
• Paris Catacombs tickets →
• Catacombs Tour in English (2h) →
2. The History of the underground catacombs in Paris
Let us first tell you a little more about the history of the catacombs. Beneath the streets of Paris lies a hidden, mysterious world: the catacombs. This immense network of underground tunnels originally originated as a limestone quarry, where stone had been extracted for the construction of the city since Roman times. For centuries, these tunnels were forgotten, until Paris had a major problem with its overcrowded cemeteries at the end of the 18th century. The stench and the danger to public health led to a search for a new solution for the thousands of bodies that could no longer find a place above ground.
In 1786, the French government decided to move the remains of old cemeteries to the abandoned quarries beneath the city. This process took several years and was mainly carried out at night so as not to cause panic among the population. The bones were not placed randomly, but carefully arranged, which led to the macabre, but organized ossuaries that you can admire as a visitor today.
Over the centuries, the catacombs have had various functions. During World War II, the French Resistance used the tunnels as shelters and secret passages, while German troops even built a bunker there. Today, the catacombs are a popular tourist attraction, but much of it remains closed to the public. However, the hidden tunnels still attract adventurers and illegal explorers, known as cataphiles, who venture into the dark corridors of the Parisian underworld.
3. Practical tips for visiting the catacombs & fun facts
– Fun fact? The area you can visit is 2 kilometers long. In total, the catacombs are considered to be 320 kilometers long.
– Make sure you bring a jacket in the Paris catacombs, the temperature in the tunnels is about 14°C
– The depth of the catacombs is equal to that of a five-story building
– More than 6 million Parisians are buried in the catacombs
– The number of visitors is limited to 200 per hour, so the line can get very long. We strongly recommend that you book your tickets in advance.
A visit to the catacombs is definitely worth it during a city trip to Paris. To get the most out of your visit to the catacombs, the audio guide offered at the entrance is a must. It will give you a deeper insight into the history behind the intriguing corridors and tunnels with bones and skulls under Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions about the catacombs of Paris & tickets/tours
Buy your tickets for a visit to the Catacombs of Paris online in advance via the link below. You can also choose to buy tickets at the museum itself (often no more tickets available). However, this is not always the most convenient option, especially during holidays, when there can be long queues.
The price for a ticket is 36€. With a ticket you have general access to the catacombs and an audio guide.
The locations and entrance of the catacombs in Paris is 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris.
These are the opening hours of the catacombs:
- Tuesday to Sunday from 9:45 to 20:30, last admission at 19:30.
- Closed on Mondays and certain holidays: 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
The catacombs are open on Ascension Day, and on 14 July, 15 August, 1 November and 11 November (except if it falls on a Monday)
The closest metro station to the Catacombs in Paris is Denfert-Rochereau (metro lines 4 & 6).
Definitely and definitely recommended. Take a 2 hour guided tour with a detailed look at the history of the catacombs.
• Catacombs Tour in English (2h) →
