Plan Your Visit to Paris Catacombs
About 20 m below the glitzy landscape of Paris lies a dark, gruesome secret -- the remains of about 6 million Parisians entombed in the Paris Catacombs. As a solution to the city’s once overflowing cemeteries and deaths by disease, back between the 1700s and 1800s, several kilometers worth of tunnels were dug underground; here, the remains of the departed lie until today. The Paris Catacombs are an unlikely yet popular tourist attraction in the city. If you’re planning a visit, here’s all the essential visitor information you would need.
Plan Your Visit to the Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 AM to 08:30 PM. Final admission is at 07:30 PM.
The Paris Catacombs are closed on Mondays, along with 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
The best time to visit Paris Catacombs during the day is to book an early morning or late evening slot, while eekends are generally busier than weekdays. The best time of year to visit the Paris Catacombs is during the off-season, between October to May; however, December can get a little crowded due to the holiday season.
On average, you can cover the entire the length of the Paris Catacombs between 45 minutes to an hour.
The Paris Catacombs are located at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France.
Google Map Directions.
You can drive down to the Paris Catacombs, or use public transport options like the bus or the metro/RER.
Yes. If you take buses 38 or 68 to the Paris Catacombs, alight at the Denfert-Rochereau station. From here, you need to walk for 2-3 minutes to get to the Paris Catacombs.
Yes. Both have a stop at the Denfert-Rochereau station, from where you can simply walk 2-3 minutes to get to the Paris Catacombs.
The Paris Catacombs entrance is right at the site’s location, at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy.
There’s no specific dress code. Just remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a light sweater since the temperature underground is generally lower than what you’re used to.
There are about 131 steps to go down to the Paris Catacombs and towards the exit, 112 to climb up.
Yes, photography is permitted. However, flash photography and tripods are not recommended.
No. Considering that there are 131 steps to go down and 112 to climb back up, and the slippery, narrow tunnels, it is recommended that those with physical disabilities avoid visiting the Catacombs.
Yes. You can purchase an audio guide as an add-on to your Paris Catacombs tickets, or get it on-site for €5.
No, storage facility is not available. Guests with large baggage and suitcases will not be permitted inside the Paris Catacombs.
FAQs
Paris Catacombs are open between 10:00 AM to 08:30 PM from Tuesday to Sunday, with final admission at 07:30 PM; they are closed on Mondays.
You can either drive down, or take the metro, RER or bus to get to the Paris Catacombs. If you’re using public transport, you can alight at the common station: Denfert-Rochereau. From here, the Catacombs are at a mere 3-minute walking distance.
The Paris Catacombs entrance is at the exact site location, at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France.
No. You would have to additionally purchase an audio guide with your Paris Catacombs tickets. Additionally, you can also choose to buy it on-site for €5.
The best time to visit the Paris Catacombs is early mornings and late evenings, during the week, as weekends are generally full. The best time of year is between October to May, to experience smaller crowds.
There are 131 steps to go down to the Paris Catacombs, and 112 to climb back up near the exit.
No. Since the Catacombs are underground with no lift and several steps, and the tunnels are dimly-lit and narrow, it is not advised that those with physical disabilities visit.
Yes, they are available. You would need to specifically book Paris Catacombs tickets that provide skip-the-line access to bypass the long waiting lines.
More Reads
Paris Catacombs History
Paris Catacombs Tour
