Discover the Catacombs of Paris - a macabre and fascinating underworld below the City of Lights.
By the late eighteenth century, Parisian cemeteries were simply too full and becoming a public health problem. The solution was to transfer the contents to the former Tombe-Issoire quarry under Montrouge - South Paris.
The spectacular and curious ossuary features impressive architecture to match. Go on a tour 20 meters below ground to explore this subterranean world of skeletal remains and experience a grotesquely beautiful monument to Paris's dead.
You may book your Catacombs of Paris tickets either at the door or online. You may find below tickets price accordingly.
At the door - Catacombs of Paris tickets cost 14 € for adults and 12 € for youth aged between 18 to 26 years old.
Online - Catacombs of Paris tickets cost 29 € for adults and 5 € for youth aged under 18. Audio-guides are included.
Entrance is free for youth aged 17 and under.
Reduced ticket prices are available for teachers, individuals 26 and under, large families, job seekers, and handicapped individuals. Proof of identity will be required.
The Paris Catacombs are known for their long waiting lines. Only 200 people maximum are allowed to get in the Catacombs at the same time.
If you do not want to queue up, we strongly suggest you to book online your tickets. You can either book on the official website or with a third party vendor such as Viator, Getyourguide or Headout to name a few.
Guided tours are available through both the official site and through travel agencies. With a guided tour, you’ll definitely hit all of the high points of the catacombs and you won’t miss anything important.
Booking through an agency means you can skip the line and save time during your visit. You’ll have the opportunity to get answers to questions you’ve always wanted to ask. The official guided tours are in French, so you’ll want to look for a travel agency for guided tours in English.
There are different types of guided tours available from online travel agencies you can find through TourScanner:
Admission is free for youth under the age of 18, with the exception of quick-access passes.
You will see what is called an ossuary, or rooms that contain bones. Overcrowded Parisian cemeteries and related public health concerns led to relocation to a former quarry in the 1700s. The bones were decoratively arranged before the catacombs were opened to the public in 1809, and the site has been a marvel ever since.
There is also a rotating exhibition that is included in the ticket price.
You will also see architecture from the era of King Louis XVI and walk through passages of the old quarry. Your tour may also include information on the geology of the area and the history of the quarry.
We recommend you to avoid school holidays and weekends if possible.The site can only accommodate 200 people at a time, so getting there earlier means a shorter wait time.
Finally if wish to not waste your precious holiday time, the best way to avoid the crowd is to book online skip the line tickets.
The Paris catacombs are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8:30 pm; the ticket window closes at 7:30 pm.
The catacombs are closed Mondays and January 1, May 1, and December 25.