Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas

4.7 (90 reviews) 1 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

90 reviews

4.7

Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The Paris Catacombs release only a limited number of tickets each day, making them one of the hardest sites in the city to enter. This tour solves that with pre-reserved timed entry, so you can head inside without a worry.

An expert, English-speaking guide leads the way through a labyrinth of bone-lined tunnels, sharing the dark history of how forgotten limestone quarries became the resting place for millions of Parisians.

Along the route, walk past walls of skulls and femurs arranged into crosses and archways, and you stand before the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion.

The highlight is privileged access to two restricted chambers, closed to the general public, where a guard unlocks the iron gates for your small group.

With reserved entry, eerie legends, and rooms most visitors never see, this is one of the most memorable ways to experience underground Paris.

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 19 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: The Tour Guy

Ages: Children (0–6 years) · Youth (7–17 years) · Adults (18–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Expert, English-speaking guide
Included: Visit to the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion
Included: Timed-entry Paris Catacombs tickets
Included: Access to 2 restricted chambers
Included: Exploration of the lower Catacombs

Not included

Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

The Paris Catacombs

1 h 30 min Admission included

Meet your guide near the Catacombs entrance at Denfert-Rochereau and get ready to head far below the city. Descend the long spiral staircase into a maze of tunnels first carved as limestone quarries in the Middle Ages, later used as burial chambers when the city's graveyards overflowed.

As you walk the bone-lined corridors, you'll see skulls and femurs stacked floor to ceiling and arranged into crosses, hearts, and archways, while your guide explains how the remains of millions came to rest here.

Next, stand before the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion, the most striking arrangement underground, and hear the tale of a secret midnight concert once held in these tunnels. The highlight comes when a guard unlocks the iron gates to two restricted chambers closed to the general public, where your small group sees rooms most visitors never reach.

The tour ends deep inside the Catacombs, with free time to linger and explore at your own pace before you exit to street level.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Please Arrive 10 Minutes Early. Your guide will meet you in front of Café Oz (3 Place Denfert-Rochereau), near the exit of the Denfert-Rochereau Metro. A representative will be there holding a sign with ''The Tour Guy'' on it.

End point

Using your ticket

Comfortable shoes or sneakers are recommended for this tour, as a portion of it takes place underground on slightly uneven terrain. The Catacombs can be quite cool and humid with an average temperature of around 60 degrees F., so a sweater or light jacket is recommended.
Please read our meeting point directions thoroughly in advance. It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 10 to 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.
Mandatory: Everyone is required to carry a copy of the identification page of their passports on all tours. A photo of the first page of your passport saved on your smartphone works as well.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
We will be subject to a security check at the entrance to all sites. Depending on the volume of visitors, we may have a short wait in the security line.
The museums, sites and monuments we visit on our tours are among the most popular in the world. Careful planning helps limit crowd exposure, but please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours and high season.
The Tour Guy reserves the right to alter itineraries for reasons of safety, restoration, maintenance, adverse weather conditions or occasional events.
The Tour Guy runs tours rain or shine and no refunds will be issued due to inclement weather. In extreme weather conditions (for example flooding, hail storms, or lightning storms) some areas may close down for safety purposes.
We will do everything within our power to ensure timings and itineraries are respected. However, due to issues beyond our control, timings and sites are subject to last-minute changes on rare occasions.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
The Catacombs are confined and lined with human bones, so the atmosphere may feel unsettling for guests who are claustrophobic or sensitive to enclosed spaces.
This tour involves descending and climbing a long staircase and walking through uneven underground passages.