Catacombs of Paris Tickets and Tours

Under the ground of Paris are hidden hundreds of kilometers of tunnels full of mysteries and history. The catacombs are a place that, either out of respect or ignorance, many people overlook during their visit to Paris, but it is a mistake not to visit them.

Of the more than 300 kilometers of tunnels in the subsoil, only 1.5 can be visited legally. I summarize everything you should know before enjoying this proposal full of peculiarities.

To visit the catacombs of Paris you can either buy tickets directly at the ticket office at the entrance, next to the Montparnasse cemetery, or buy tickets online. This second option is more advisable because buying them in advance will save long queues. The normal entrance fee with audio guide is about 35 €.

There is another more risky option, but with which we can save something. If we go at the last minute we can get a special ticket called "last minute", valid for the same day and can only be purchased at the box office. These cost from 18 € the normal ticket, from 16 € the reduced ticket and children go free, but they are limited tickets and only if the capacity allows it.

So if you choose this option, you run the risk of not being able to make the visit. Also, keep in mind that this ticket does not include the audio guide and you will have to pay a supplement from 5 €. In addition to the tickets you can also sign up for a guided tour. There are several types and the price is around 140 €.

The visit to the catacombs includes the audio guide with the entrance ticket, which allows you to learn all about the darkest history of the city of Paris through the detailed explanations available in several languages, of course including English.

But there are also different guided tours that can be very interesting to learn more about this place. The best options that you can book in advance are:

• Guided tour of the Catacombs of Paris with special access, from $123.
• Guided tour without queues to the Catacombs of Paris with access to restricted areas, from $147.
• Guided tour of the Catacombs of Paris for small groups, from $169.

Exploring the Catacombs of Paris is a powerful and unforgettable experience for several reasons. Here are the main ones before you book your tickets:

• It is a place full of stories and mysteries that immerses visitors in the hidden past of Paris.
• They have a very characteristic aesthetic, as the tunnels are decorated with bones and skulls placed in an orderly and artistic way.
• It is one of the most famous ossuaries in the world and is also one of the few open to the public.
• It is a dazzling visit for photography lovers.
• The visit is very well organized.

Before booking your tickets for the Paris catacombs, you should know that the tourist entrance is located next to the Montparnasse cemetery, on the Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, which is located in the southern part of Paris, about an hour walk from the center.

As a reference, from the Place de la Concorde it takes about 55 minutes to get there on foot. But it is very accessible by other means of transport that are among the best options to move around Paris and surroundings:

• By Paris Metro: The nearest station is Denfert-Rochereau through which lines 4 and 6 pass.
• By Bus: Lines 38 and 68 stop near the Montparnasse cemetery.
• By car or cab: You have to put the following address in the GPS or ask the cab driver to take you to Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014.

Technically the entrance is allowed for children over 5 years old. But it is not the best place to visit with little ones. Apart from the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the catacombs and the skulls and human remains that can be seen during the visit, the access and the conditions of the place are not ideal for the little ones of the house.

The catacombs are 20 meters underground and there are numerous steps up and down to get in and out of them. Underground there is little light and many corridors are very narrow so it can cause a feeling of being cramped, especially for children.

Although they can be visited with children, take into account these conditions to decide whether to visit with children under your responsibility. Here are some alternative plans to get to know the French capital with children.

Of the estimated 300 kilometers of the catacombs' tunnels, only 1.5 kilometers have been made available for visits. In this route there is an area of tunnels and a small explanatory exhibition on the history of the catacombs.

Further on, there is the main attraction of the catacombs, its ossuary, which houses the remains of more than 6 million people whose skulls and hollows are arranged in very peculiar places and shapes.

There are more than 800 meters of ossuaries in which stand out an area dedicated to the memory of those who died in the French Revolution, the area of the well that was used for the works of the tunnels, and the barrel of skulls. The latter is a pile of bones arranged in the shape of a barrel and is one of the most characteristic elements of the catacombs.

When booking your tickets for the Paris Catacombs, keep in mind that the best time to visit the catacombs is early in the morning to avoid the long lines that usually form as the day progresses. I recommend that you arrive 15 minutes before opening time.

And, of course, keep in mind that weekdays tend to have fewer visitors than weekends. I also recommend that you avoid high season periods, such as summer and the Christmas and Easter vacations.

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. It is important not to exceed this time, as the capacity is limited to about 200 people and they keep an exhaustive control of the capacity and of the people entering and leaving the catacombs. However, in three quarters of an hour there is more than enough time to see the whole complex in detail.

The Paris Catacombs are open every day of the week except Mondays. From Tuesday to Sunday, the opening hours are from 10 am to 8:30 pm. The last admissions are at 7:30 p.m. in the evening, so be there early to avoid missing out on admission.

The origin of the catacombs dates back to the early 13th century when the first tunnels were dug to extract stone and materials for the construction of buildings such as the cathedral of Notre Dame. After many years of collapses and collapses, King Louis VXI ordered to refurbish them, thus solving one of the problems that Paris suffered at that time. The lack of space in its cemeteries.

From 1786 to 1859 the remains of many Parisians were continuously transferred to the catacombs. In 1814 they were conditioned for their visit and many of the stored remains were placed in peculiar forms and places for the visitors. In 1955 it was forbidden to enter the tunnels, since it was frequent that they were used for satanic rites and not entirely legal activities. Since then and until today only a small part of the catacombs can be visited.

There are numerous legends about the Catacombs that tell that the tunnels are haunted and that those who walk through them hear voices and can see figures in the shadows. One of the most popular stories is that of a man who disappeared in the 18th century, his body was found years later in the darkness next to his lantern.

Throughout history, the Catacombs of Paris have revealed hidden discoveries, treasures and mysteries. One of the most recent took place in 2004, when Parisian police discovered a subway cinema that featured a projector, a screen, seats carved in stone and a collection of films.

Numerous works of art and mysterious symbols have also been found. In fact, several walls of the tunnels have inscriptions and engravings, some of which include emblems and Latin words related to death, philosophy and eternal life. In addition, sculptures and reliefs made by quarry workers have appeared.

Moreover, hidden rooms and nooks and crannies have been found that do not appear to have been traversed. In some cases, these spaces contain quarry workers' tools and oil lamps with a long history.

The number of people missing in the Catacombs of Paris is not official. There are numerous accounts of people who got lost in its labyrinthine tunnels.

One of the most famous occurred in the 18th century, when Philibert Aspairt, who worked in a nearby hospital, got lost in the tunnels and his body was found years later next to his extinguished lantern. In addition, over the years, numerous adventurers have explored them without authorization, which has increased the number of disappearances.

To avoid the risk of disappearances in the catacombs, a large part of the Catacombs has been closed and guarded, and today only a segment is open to the public, with signposted routes.

Yes, there are many hidden sections in the Catacombs of Paris. Just think that the subway network has 300 kilometers of tunnels, although, as mentioned above, only a small part is open to the public. Many passages are closed to the public because of the risk of collapse and the lack of signage.

The Parisian police regularly monitor unofficial entrances to prevent unauthorized access. In fact, fines are imposed on those who attempt to enter without authorization.

The catacombs of Paris are a must-see of your trip to the French capital It is very different from other tourist places, so you should take a number of points into account.

• The first recommendation I make is to buy your tickets in advance and online. If you don't, you will probably have to queue for more than an hour to get in, as the capacity is reduced and the demand is usually high. In high season the queues can be more than 2 hours.
• Even if you go in summer you should be prepared with something warm, since at 20 meters underground the average temperature does not exceed 15 degrees and there is a lot of humidity.
• If you are claustrophobic, suffer from a respiratory disease or are several weeks pregnant it is not recommended to visit the catacombs.
• Do not carry backpacks, bags or large packages, as they will not let you access with them to preserve the ossuary. At some points it is very narrow and there is no locker service to leave them.
• Inside you can not take pictures with flash.
• It is not accessible for baby carriages or wheelchairs.
• There are two flights of more than 100 stairs each up and down. Keep this in mind in order to wear good footwear.