Skip the Lines at the Paris Catacombs

Skip the Line Tours

The Paris Catacombs are a mysterious maze of tunnels under the glamorous Parisian landscape. The primary reason behind its appeal to visitors is that the Catacombs are an open graveyard — the final resting place of over 6 million Parisians from the 1700s. Visitors are in for an eerie surprise; prepare to see skulls and bones of the departed, meticulously arranged in various patterns across the long 2 km stretch. Due to its unique appeal, the site is generally quite crowded. If you’re looking for a way to visit and avoid the long waiting lines, here’s how to skip the lines at the Paris Catacombs.

How Long Are the Queues at the Paris Catacombs Entrance?

The Paris Catacombs are a popular tourist destination in Paris that welcomes over 550,000 visitors every year. The Catacombs draw huge crowds, especially during the weekends and peak season. Since entry is limited to only 200 people at a time, it is common to experience long queues at the entrance that can range from 1 hour during the low season to 3 hours during the peak season.

Skip the Lines at the Paris Catacombs

As a widely-visited attraction in Paris, you can almost always expect long waiting lines at the Catacombs. Here are some Paris Catacombs skip-the-line tips:

Limited capacity: The Paris Catacombs only permit 200 guests per time slot. If you do not pre-book your tickets online, chances are you’ll have to wait in long lines with others who have not made online reservations. Due to this, you would have to wait in line for another couple of hours to get access. Pre-book your tickets online!
Skip-the-line tickets: Even if you book your tickets online, you would have to wait in line with 199 other people who have reservations for your time slot. By specifically purchasing skip-the-line Paris Catacombs tickets, you can bypass even these lines and head straight ahead.
Booking: Given its popularity, Paris Catacombs tickets tend to sell out. Book your tickets at least a couple of weeks in advance to avoid missing out on your experience. Select your preferred time slot and confirm your booking.
Plan your day: It’s important to look at the best time to visit the Paris Catacombs if you’re looking to avoid long lines. Book time slots in the mornings or late evenings since crowds are generally smaller than the busy time slots during the afternoons and evenings.
Guided tours: Some guided tours also include skip-the-line access. Your tour guide will accompany you past the long waiting lines directly to the security check.