Is Catacombs worth it?
Skip itLives up to the hype · +151.5 km of former quarry tunnels 20 m below Denfert-Rochereau lined with millions of bones
Usually not worth it. Recent reviewers are enthusiastic, but a 4.1 Google rating across 11,600 reviews is low for a marquee Paris sight, reflecting price, booking and repetitive-bones complaints.
Hype34How famous and hyped it is
Reality49Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.1 ★ Google · 11,596 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Catacombs? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 active travelers vote
Reviewers call it a highlight and unlike any other Paris visit; 243 steps and 1.5 km of tunnels are easy for the fit.
Why Reality is 49
Lives up to its fame3/5Recent reviewers are enthusiastic, but a 4.1 Google rating across 11,600 reviews is low for a marquee Paris sight, reflecting price, booking and repetitive-bones complaints.
Value for money2/5€31 for 45–75 minutes, no pass discounts; the new headset helps, but it's one of the priciest hours in Paris.
Can’t get it elsewhere5/5Nothing else in Paris lets you walk through an ossuary of millions of Parisians in former quarries.
Easy to do2/57-day booking window with fast sell-outs, 243 steps, bag limits and an exit several blocks away, though right by Denfert-Rochereau station.
What people loved
A genuinely one-of-a-kind, eerie walk through walls of neatly stacked bones beneath the cityThe new immersive headset audio (2026) is widely praised for its context on the quarries and ossuaryTimed entry caps the number underground, so it doesn't feel packedOpen late (last entry 7:30 p.m.) and right by a major metro/RER hubWhat wore them down
€31 for about an hour is expensive by Paris museum standards, and passes aren't acceptedTickets release only 7 days ahead and sell out fast; visitors report fully sold-out days243 narrow spiral steps, low ceilings, uneven floors, no toilets — unsuitable for limited mobilityYou exit several blocks from the entrance with no re-entry; bag size limits and no coat checkSome visitors report headsets failing partway throughKnow before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Reservation required. Book a timed ticket online exactly 7 days ahead; don't expect same-day tickets at the door.
Entry€31 adult and €25 reduced (both with audio headset); €15 ages 8–17; under-8s free. Museum passes not acceptedSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
ReservationTimed online tickets via Paris Musées; slots release 7 days ahead and peak-season weekend mornings sell out within hours; 200 visitors underground at a timeSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HoursTue–Sun 9:45 a.m.–8:30 p.m., last entry 7:30 p.m.; closed Mondays, Jan 1, May 1 and Dec 25Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Recent renovationClosed Nov 3, 2025 for a €5.5 million upgrade (LED lighting, immersive headset, new scenography); reopened April 2026Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Steps / route243 steps (131 down, 112 up), about 1.5 km one-way, 20 m deep, around 14°C and humid; exit is at 21 bis Avenue René-Coty, several blocks away, with no re-entrySource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting thereMetro 4/6 or RER B Denfert-Rochereau, across the square; about 15 min on RER B from ChâteletSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time needed45–75 minutes undergroundSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- 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
In their words
“I loved this over every other museum visit in Paris and can't wait to go again!”
“visiting is not recommended for people with limited mobility, as you have to descend and ascend on narrow spiral staircases fairly quickly”
“Don't count on buying tickets at the door, they sell out far in advance.”
“we went as a group of 5 and 2 of our headphones stopped working partway through.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
How much are Paris Catacombs tickets?
€31 for adults and €25 reduced, both including the audio headset; €15 for ages 8–17 and free under 8.
When do Catacombs tickets go on sale?
Official timed tickets are released 7 days in advance, and popular slots sell out within hours.
How many steps are in the Paris Catacombs?
243 in total: 131 down and 112 up to the exit.
Where is the Catacombs exit?
At 21 bis Avenue René-Coty, several blocks from the Denfert-Rochereau entrance; there is no re-entry.
Are the Catacombs open now?
Yes. They closed in November 2025 for renovation and reopened in April 2026; open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Catacombes de Paris — official site
- Paris je t'aime — Catacombes de Paris
- Ulysse — Catacombes reopening in spring 2026 after €5.5m works
- Art Visit Guide — Paris Catacombs tickets 2026
- Google Maps — Catacombs of Paris