A Room-by-Room Guide to the Paris Catacombs for Tourists
Paris is one of the great medieval cities of Europe. Like Rome, it has vast underlying passageways and quarries, called catacombs. This labyrinth…
No Badge
407 Reviews
Catacombs Guided Tour
The sacred and strange underground tomb of Paris
€99 per adult
-
Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips -
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars -
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
€99 per adult
€99 per adult
-
Local experts
Personal stories and insider travel tips -
Top-rated
Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars -
Worry-free booking
Flexible scheduling and refunds
Highlights
- Gain special access to otherwise forbidden areas of the Catacombs.
- Learn how this network of 200 miles of underground tunnels came to be and who’s buried here.
- Skip the long lines to enter the Catacombs.
- Hear the many histories and legends associated with this strange subterranean world.
- Get tips on where to look for unique bone configurations and even unexpected art.
What you'll do
Journey below the city streets of Paris to learn the secrets of the world’s largest catacombs — the darkest part of the City of Light.
Meet your guide at the street-level entrance for skip-the-line entry to the Paris Catacombs. Then, descend more than 60 feet underground to the land of ...
Journey below the city streets of Paris to learn the secrets of the world’s largest catacombs — the darkest part of the City of Light.
Meet your guide at the street-level entrance for skip-the-line entry to the Paris Catacombs. Then, descend more than 60 feet underground to the land of the dead. Even the sign warns you, “Arrête! C’est ici l’Empire de la Mort” (Stop! Here is the Empire of Death).
Hear how millions of souls found their way to this subterranean burial ground due to overcrowded cemeteries. Journey through corridors piled with bones, carefully and often artistically arranged, preserved for centuries in the ossuaries.
We’ll walk some of the most fascinating parts of the 200 miles of tunnels, including special-access areas closed to the general public. You’ll follow in the footsteps of 18th and 19th century French royals as you hear about the legendary struggles and triumphs buried here.
Macabre and sacred, the Paris Catacombs are the city’s most unusual must-see attraction!
Itinerary
-
Paris Catacombs descent
A guided descent into the historic ossuary below Paris, including areas off limits to regular tourists
-
The Empire of Death Sign
Warning you to stop as you enter the Empire of Death (“Arrête! C’est ici l’Empire de la Mort”)
-
Ossuaries
The underground burial chambers for millions of Parisians
-
Special-access areas
Portions of the Paris Catacombs not open to the public without a guided tour
-
Shop Paris Catacombs
Where you can pick up that perfect Paris Catacombs souvenir
Plan your trip
Admission
Your entry ticket to the Catacombs is included in the price of the tour and allows access to exclusive areas available only during guided tours.
What to wear
The average temperature at the depth of the Catacombs is around 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius). We recommend wearing layers!
Reviews
When we arrived at the catacombs for our tour, the line to get in wrapped around the building. We were very grateful we had a scheduled tour so we could avoid waiting for hours. Amber was an excellent tour guide, she provided several interesting facts we wouldn’t have known otherwise. We were even able to tour restricted areas of the catacombs others were not allowed to enter. Amber has a great respect for the catacombs and the people laid to rest there. This was our favorite tour during our visit to Paris. Highly recommend!
Steph
Very enlightening journey
Our guide Igor was wonderful and made sure everyone in the group was engaged.
— Colleen
Meeting point
How to get to the meeting point:
From Metro station Denfert Rochereau (line 4 or 6), use Exit 1 to reach the street level. You’ll see the Catacombs entrance, with glass doors and a sign, across the street, located to the right of the small green building that was the former entrance.
Your guide will be waiting for you with an orange sign that says “ExperienceFirst” 15 minutes before the start of your tour.
1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
FAQs
How difficult are the stairs into the Catacombs?
We recommend this tour for those with at least a moderate physical fitness level. You should be comfortable descending stairs underground (about 130 steps), but don’t worry — your guide will lead the way. We don’t recommend this tour for those with anxiety in closed spaces or limited mobility since the Catacombs aren’t wheelchair accessible.
Can I take photos inside the Catacombs?
Taking photos inside the Catacombs is permitted but some areas prohibit the use of flash photography.
What is the refund and rescheduling policy?
Due to the nature of this attraction, all purchases are final.
When should I get there?
Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.
What if it rains?
Our tours run rain or shine, so please check the local forecast to plan. In rare cases when we have to cancel for extreme weather, we’ll offer you the chance to reschedule or give a full refund.
What about gratuities?
Tips are always appreciated but never expected. They’re a great way to tell your guide they did an awesome job and show your appreciation.
Paris travel guides
13 Surprising Facts About the Louvre (And What To See There)
There’s nothing quite like the Louvre. It’s the largest museum in the world, and the glass pyramid marking the entrance has become a…
