If you’re planning a trip to Paris, you might be hoping to visit Notre Dame Cathedral. Loved by millions of people all over the world, the gorgeous cathedral has been SUPER popular since reopening after its tragic fire in 2019. I have to say, I was really eager to revisit it too and I was blown away by the incredible restorations. There’s plenty to admire from the outside of the building, but the most visible parts of the restoration are on the inside. BUT before just showing up at the cathedral, there are some VERY important things you need to know. I’ve got you covered on all the details in this guide on how to visit Notre Dame – including how you can skip the line.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Where is Notre Dame?
Notre Dame is on a large square in the 4th arrondissement, called the Parvis Notre-Dame or the Place Jean-Paul II, which is on the Ile-de-la-Cité, one of the two islands in the center of Paris. If you’re coming by public transit, the closest métro station is Cité (line 4), but some exits of the RER B (a suburban train that acts as the métro within Paris) at Saint Michel station are also really close to Notre Dame. I recommend that you check Google Maps or Citymapper to see which station is the most convenient for you depending on where you’ll be before.
When is Notre Dame open?
Notre Dame’s actually got pretty extensive opening hours. It’s open from 7:50am to 7pm Monday to Friday (until 10 pm on Thursdays), and from 8:15am to 7:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The Thursday late opening is a FANTASTIC time to visit because this is when the cathedral is a LOT less busy. This time’s also very handy if you didn’t book a ticket (more on this below), as you likely won’t have to wait in line too long. If you’re an early bird, you can also dodge the big crowds by going before 9am.
Is an entrance ticket REQUIRED to visit Notre Dame?
A ticket isn’t required and it’s completely free to visit the inside of the cathedral. However, because so many people want to visit Notre Dame since it reopened, there’s a free online booking system for skip-the-line, timed entrance which I explain how to get in the next section.
You can still visit Notre Dame WITHOUT a timed ticket. You’ll just need to wait in a longer line. It actually moves rather quickly and shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes.
There are a couple of exceptions to the “free” access to Notre Dame. The Treasury of Notre Dame, which displays the cathedral’s collection of religious artifacts, requires a paid ticket. It costs €12 for adults and €6 for children under 12. No need to try to get this in advance, you can buy tickets at the entrance to the Treasury, which is inside the building on the right side. In my opinion, the Treasury is only worth visiting if you’re a big fan of religious art and objects, most visitors can skip it.
The cathedral occasionally holds concerts in the evenings. These are usually paid concerts and are a nice way to experience Notre Dame without the crowds. Ticket prices vary but are between €25 and €40.
Before the fire, there was an entrance ticket to visit the towers of Notre Dame, but they’re still closed because they’re still repairing the exterior. So when the towers do reopen, you’ll need to pay for a ticket to visit them. High up there in the bell towers, the views are GORGEOUS and you get an up-close look at the sculptures and gargoyles, so this is a cool extra thing to do at Notre Dame – when the space reopens.
How to book a timed entrance ticket
The free, timed entrance tickets are available on the reservations page on the official website of Notre Dame. You can only book three days prior, so I suggest setting a reminder on your phone for three days before the date you’d like to visit. Booking a ticket is really easy to do (the website can be switched to English – yay) and you’ll be emailed a PDF ticket in just a few minutes. You can use this ticket to get into the cathedral five minutes before the time and up to 30 min after, so don’t worry if you’re running a tad late.
Whatever you do, DON’T pay for an entrance ticket to Notre Dame. There are a few websites that are taking advantage of tourists, by “selling” entrance tickets, but this service is kinda a scam since the cathedral is free.
How to access Notre Dame with or without tickets
If you’re able to get a timed ticket through the official website, you can go straight to the line for ticket-holders. At the time of writing this, this entrance is located in the center of the front of the cathedral. There’s a sign showing you where it is and there’ll be a short line of people for the timed tickets. This only takes a few minutes, the time it takes for the staff person to scan your ticket.
If you don’t have a timed ticket, you’ll see the line for non-ticket holders on the right side of the front of the cathedral. It has some security barriers around it and there’s usually a staff member helping guide visitors to the right place. Like I said above, it usually doesn’t take all that long and moves relatively quickly, so it might take you 15-20 minutes.
How to access Notre Dame for visitors with reduced mobility
Most museums and monuments in Paris offer skip-the-line access for visitors with reduced mobility and this is also the case for Notre Dame. So if you’re in a wheelchair or use a cane or crutch, you don’t have to book and you don’t have to wait in line.
The special entrance for visitors with reduced mobility is currently in the center of the front of the cathedral, near the ticket holder’s line. Look out for the sign with a wheelchair on it. The staff are really nice and helpful, so the whole process should go smoothly.
Once inside, the cathedral is virtually 100% accessible – there are only a few steps to access the choir area (the back of the cathedral). There’s a staff member on either side to help you get up the steps via a lifting platform and back down on the other side. Go to the sign showing this, which is on the right of the steps, and someone will notice you and assist you.
How to attend mass at Notre Dame Cathedral
If you’d like to attend mass at Notre Dame, you don’t have to wait until Sunday. There are actually a few different types of mass every day at these times:
- Monday to Friday: 8am, 12pm and 6pm
- Thursdays there’s also a Eucharistic Adoration at 6:45 pm
- Saturdays: 8:30am, 12pm and 6 pm
- Sundays: 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am, and 6pm
So, I’d suggest trying to reserve an entrance ticket for 30 minutes before the time of the mass you’d like to attend so you can visit before or plan to come a little bit before this if you didn’t manage to book a ticket.
Image Courtesy of Take Walks
Guided tours of Notre Dame
If you’re interested in learning more about the history and architecture of Notre Dame, you might want to book a tour that covers the cathedral. It’s usually included along with other nearby sites from the same time period, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, like on this great Notre Dame Island Tour offered by Walks.
Or if you’d prefer to visit Notre Dame and these other sites on your own, but with a little helpful guidance, they’re also included on Day 1 of our Paris Itineraries. It includes a handy digital map to get you between the sites and some great places to eat in the area – that aren’t tourist traps.
No matter how you visit the cathedral, it’ll certainly be an amazing experience that you’ll never forget.
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