Catacombes de Paris

★ 4.1 (11,003)$$$$ · Premium

Opened to the public in 1809, the Catacombes de Paris occupy former limestone quarry galleries 20 metres beneath the city. The 1,500-metre route winds past walls of stacked bones and skulls, transferred here as Paris cemeteries closed. Displays cover the site's geology, architecture and history. Advance booking is recommended, and an audioguide is included with tickets.

✨ Reasons to go

1The galleries hold the remains of roughly six million people, transferred here from overflowing Paris cemeteries starting in the late 18th century.
2The site occupies a former limestone quarry 20 metres underground, part of a network of tunnels that once supplied stone for building Paris itself.
3Visitors reach the ossuary via a narrow spiral staircase before walking a 1,500-metre route lined with skulls and bones arranged in decorative patterns.

💡 Good to know

1Book tickets online well in advance as reservation is strongly recommended and lines can be long
2note the visit involves a spiral staircase descent and roughly 1,500 meters of walking underground.

⏱️ Typical visit

1h30

🕰️ Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening

🚶 Walking intensity

Active — lots of walking

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Address

1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France · Denfert-RochereauGoogle Apple

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Hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
Thursday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
Friday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
Sunday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM

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Booking

Booking required

What people say

"I’ve been wanting to visit here for a while. The whole experience is amazing. Firstly visiting and learning about how the limestone was quarried from deep underground, creating a labyrinth of tunnels. Then learning and visiting the catacombs, created as Paris expanded and cemeteries were reclaimed for building on. It was much larger than I expected. Very moving to see the remains of so many people beautifully arranged. The whole experience is managed brilliantly. I would thoroughly recommend. However once you are underground you’re there until the end of the walk, which pops you up a short distance from the entrance."

— Jason Reynolds

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