Catacombs History and Dark Paris PRIVATE EXTERIOR Tour

4.0 (6 reviews) 1 h 15 min Private tour

out of 5

6 reviews

4.0

Catacombs History and Dark Paris PRIVATE EXTERIOR Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Catacombs History and Dark Paris PRIVATE EXTERIOR Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover the mysterious and darker side of Paris on this private walking tour exploring the history of the Paris Catacombs and underground Paris—without entering the Catacombs.

Led by a professional local guide, this experience focuses on the origins of the Catacombs, Paris’s underground tunnels, cemeteries, plagues, revolutions, and the hidden stories beneath the city streets. This tour is designed as a historical and cultural exploration, perfect if Catacombs tickets are sold out or if you want to understand the site before or after a visit.

This is a 100% private tour, created exclusively for you and your group.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 15 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: TripsMonster.com

Ages: Infants (0–5 years) · Children (6–10 years) · Adults (11–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Photos Taken during the whole tour by our guide
Included: Professional Local Guide
Included: Guided Walking Tour (ONLY EXTERIOR)
Included: Private: Only your group

Not included

Not included: Hotel pickup or drop-off
Not included: Catacombs entry tickets are not included

Itinerary

The Paris Catacombs

Passing by

Paris Catacombs Entrance (Exterior Only)

Stand outside the official entrance of the Paris Catacombs and uncover the dramatic story behind one of the city’s most mysterious sites. Learn why millions of bones were moved underground, how the ossuary was created, and what makes the Catacombs so unique—explained clearly from the outside, without entering.
Place Denfert-Rochereau

20 min

Explore this historic square built above former underground quarries. Discover how this area became a key gateway to underground Paris and hear stories about its strategic importance during different periods of Parisian history, including World War II.
Stop 3

15 min Admission included

Walk along the avenue named after a leader of the French Resistance. ENTER The 2nd World War Bunker and Learn how underground tunnels beneath Paris were used as secret command centers during World War II and how the city’s underground played a crucial role in its liberation.
Montparnasse Cemetery (Cimetiere Montparnasse)

20 min Admission included

Stroll through one of Paris’s most famous cemeteries and discover the contrast between burial traditions above ground and the vast ossuaries below the city. See the graves of famous artists, writers, and thinkers while learning about Parisian funerary art and symbolism.
Stop 5

15 min

Walk along Rue Froidevaux, a street directly connected to the Catacombs area. Hear stories about underground quarry networks, modern-day explorers known as “cataphiles,” and the hidden world that still exists beneath Paris’s streets.
Stop 6

5 min

Conclude the tour in the Montparnasse area with a summary of Paris’s underground history, how the city manages its hidden spaces today, and general advice for exploring Paris responsibly.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Please meet our guide in front of the Pharmacy named (Pharmacie de la Place Denfert Rochereau). Please wait outside the door of the pharmacy and do NOT cross the street to the other side. Thanks

End point

We end the tour near the Montparnasse Cemetery and the guide will leave there.

Using your ticket

No tickets are included in this tour. The tour is for exterior visits only

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour does not include entry to the Paris Catacombs. All explanations take place outside the Catacombs and at nearby historical locations.