Visiting Notre-Dame de Paris means two separate visits: the cathedral, reopened in December 2024 and run by the Diocese of Paris, and the tower tour, run by the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN), with a paid ticket that can only be booked online. The tower ticket does not give access to the inside of the cathedral, and vice versa. This guide sets out what can be checked on the official websites, the rules that get visitors turned away every day, and one figure we calculated ourselves: the time of sunset on the west front, month by month, compared with the tower tour’s opening hours.
The cathedral is in the heart of the Île de la Cité, a few minutes’ walk from the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. To plan the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting Paris.
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Notre-Dame de Paris: key facts
- Cathedral: free entry; the official site offers a free time-slot booking (“Free entry: book” page). Open Monday to Friday 7:50 am–7 pm (Thursday until 10 pm), Saturday and Sunday 8:15 am–7:30 pm, last entry 30 minutes before closing; booking optional; the treasury is paid, tickets at the counter only (checked on 18 October 2026 on notredamedeparis.fr)
- Towers (hours): 9 am–11 pm from April 1 to September 30, 9 am–5:30 pm from October 1 to March 31; last entry 1 hour before closing; closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25 — checked on 16 October 2026 on tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr
- Towers (standard price): €16; free for under-18s and for 18–25-year-olds who are EU nationals or legal residents of France, among others (U.S. and U.K. visitors aged 18–25 do not qualify) — checked on 16 October 2026 on tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr
- Towers (booking): compulsory, including for free entries; no sales on site; entry not guaranteed if you are late — checked on 16 October 2026 on tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr
- Duration: about 50 minutes for the tower tour according to the official FAQ; 424 steps, 69 m (226 ft) high
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Tickets: free cathedral, paid towers
The cathedral is a working place of worship and entry is free. The diocese’s official site, notredamedeparis.fr, has a page for booking a free visit slot. According to that site, the cathedral is open Monday to Friday from 7:50 am to 7 pm (until 10 pm on Thursdays) and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:15 am to 7:30 pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The free booking is optional: it is only meant to “smooth the flow of entries”. The treasury can be visited Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (8:30 pm on Thursdays), Saturday from 9:30 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 6:30 pm; tickets are sold only at the treasury counter, with no online booking. Prices: the “Visit the treasury” page shows “Full price: €12” and “Reduced price: €6”, while the “Accessibility” page, about free treasury entry for visitors with disabilities, mentions “(full price €10)”: the official site therefore shows two different full prices (checked on 18 October 2026 on notredamedeparis.fr). Beware of sites selling a “ticket” or a “skip-the-line” pass for the nave: getting into the cathedral itself costs nothing.
The towers have their own website, tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr, and their own online ticket office: it is the only sales channel. The site states in capital letters “no tickets sold on site” and “no entry without presenting a reservation”. Tourism professionals (travel agencies, guides, online booking platforms) are not allowed to buy tickets for the tour, and groups are not admitted, except groups accompanied by the monument’s education service. A tower ticket offered by a reseller should therefore be avoided.
| Visit | Operator | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral (nave) | Diocese of Paris | Free | Optional, free (online time slot) |
| Tower tour | Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) | €16 (free entry categories below) | Compulsory, online only |
Official free entry for the towers: under-18s; 18–25-year-olds who are nationals of the European Union or non-EU legal residents of France; people with disabilities and one companion; jobseekers (certificate less than 6 months old); permanent teachers with the Pass Éducation; journalists; ICOM and ICOMOS members; and everyone on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December. Free tickets are limited per time slot: once the quota is reached, only paid tickets remain. For first Sundays, tickets go online a few days beforehand. U.S. and U.K. visitors are not covered by the age-based free entry, but the first-Sunday rule applies to everyone.
Destination de Voyage calculation, based on this rule: the next free first Sundays are Sunday, November 1, 2026, Sunday, December 6, 2026, Sunday, January 3, 2027, Sunday, February 7, 2027 and Sunday, March 7, 2027. November 1, 2026 is also All Saints’ Day.
The CMN’s Passion monuments pass (€45 according to the towers page) gives access for one year to more than 80 monuments, including the towers, the Arc de Triomphe, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Panthéon; booking a time slot is still compulsory.
Tower opening hours and closing days
| Period | Opening | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 – September 30 | 9 am – 11 pm | 10 pm |
| October 1 – March 31 | 9 am – 5:30 pm | 4:30 pm |
| January 1, May 1, December 25 | Closed | — |
In bad weather, some parts of the tour may be closed; this partial closure gives no right to a refund or a discount. If the whole tour closes, e-tickets bought on the CMN ticket office are refunded automatically. Time at the top of the south tower is limited to 5 minutes, but several viewpoints punctuate the climb.
For the cathedral: Monday to Friday 7:50 am–7 pm (Thursday 10 pm), Saturday and Sunday 8:15 am–7:30 pm. Weekday masses at 8 am, noon and 6 pm; on Saturday at 8:30 am, noon and 6 pm (vigil mass); on Sunday at 8:30 am, 10 am (Gregorian chant), 11:30 am and 6 pm. Masses are attended without booking, through a dedicated line that opens 20 minutes beforehand, facing the Last Judgment portal (checked on 18 October 2026 on notredamedeparis.fr). During services, visiting may be limited to parts of the nave.
Best time to visit: sunset on the west front
Notre-Dame’s main front, with its two towers and its rose window, faces west and the square in front of the cathedral: it is the one that catches the late-day light. We calculated the time of sunset on the 15th of each month at the cathedral’s coordinates and compared it with the last entry for the tower tour.
| Month (the 15th) | Sunset | Sunset direction | Average max temp, Paris | Rainy days | Sunset visible from the towers? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17:21 | southwest (237°) | 7.6 °C (46 °F) | 9.9 | Yes (sunset before 5:30 pm) |
| February | 18:10 | west (251°) | 8.8 °C (48 °F) | 9.1 | No (sunset after closing) |
| March | 18:55 | west (267°) | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 9.5 | No (sunset after closing) |
| April | 20:41 | west (285°) | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 8.6 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| May | 21:25 | northwest (300°) | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 9.2 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| June | 21:55 | northwest (307°) | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 8.3 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| July | 21:49 | northwest (304°) | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | 7.4 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| August | 21:06 | west (291°) | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | 8.1 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| September | 20:04 | west (274°) | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 7.5 | Yes (open until 11 pm) |
| October | 19:01 | west (257°) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 9.5 | No (sunset after closing) |
| November | 17:10 | southwest (241°) | 11.1 °C (52 °F) | 10.4 | Yes (sunset before 5:30 pm) |
| December | 16:54 | southwest (233°) | 8.0 °C (46 °F) | 11.4 | Yes (sunset before 5:30 pm) |
How to read it: from April to September, the tower tour is open until 11 pm, after sunset, so you can see Paris in the golden hour from the galleries; book a slot 1 to 1½ hours before the time in the table. From November to January, the sun sets between 4:55 and 5:25 pm, before the 5:30 pm closing, but last entry is at 4:30 pm: take a slot around 4 pm. In October, February and March, sunset is after closing: aim for the square in front instead, where the façade is lit by the low late-afternoon light.
September has the fewest rainy days of the year in Paris (7.5 on average) and still-long days. The CMN does not publish daily attendance figures for the towers; it only says that free tickets are limited and advises booking ahead.
Suggested route
- The square in front (free, open access): the west front and its three sculpted portals.
- The cathedral (free): the nave, the choir and the transept rose windows, open every day, free entry (hours above).
- The tower tour (≈ 50 min): 424 steps up to the top of the south tower, at 69 m (226 ft), with passages 45 cm (18 in) wide and low ceilings; views over the Île de la Cité, the Seine and the rooftops of Paris.
- Combined: follow with the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, a few minutes’ walk away on the Île de la Cité, then the Panthéon on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.
Destination de Voyage calculation (straight-line distance between Wikidata coordinates, indicative walking time): Sainte-Chapelle 440 m (1,444 ft; ≈ 8 min), Conciergerie 490 m (1,608 ft; ≈ 8 min), Panthéon 0.8 km (0.5 mi; ≈ 14 min).
Getting there
- Towers address: place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris; the tour entrance is on the right as you face the cathedral — checked on 16 October 2026 on tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr
- RER B or C: Saint-Michel station.
- Metro: lines 1, 7, 11, 14 (Châtelet or Hôtel de Ville); line 4 (Cité).
- Bus: lines 21, 24, 27, 38, 58, 75, 81, 85, 96; Vélib’ bike stations nearby. Transport details from the cathedral’s “Access and transport” page (consulted on 18 October 2026).
Accessibility and conditions of visit for the towers
Cathedral: access ramps, a lift platform in the north arm of the transept leading to the ambulatory, a priority line without booking for visitors with disabilities and one companion (with proof), and a wheelchair exit through the Virgin’s portal with a staff member’s help; no toilets in the cathedral (checked on 18 October 2026 on notredamedeparis.fr).
The tower tour has no lift, no drinking water and no toilets (public toilets are on the square). It is strongly discouraged for people with heart conditions or a fear of heights, pregnant women and young children. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. There is no cloakroom or left-luggage. Strollers are not allowed on the tour but can be left with the reception staff; front baby carriers are allowed.
The accessibility of the cathedral itself (wheelchair access, equipment loans) is described by the diocese on notredamedeparis.fr, which we were unable to read.
Common mistakes (official tower rules)
- Turning up without a reservation: no sales on site, no entry without an e-ticket, even for children and free entries.
- Arriving late: entry is no longer guaranteed after your slot.
- Thinking the tower ticket opens the cathedral: they are two visits run by two organizations.
- Bringing a suitcase: luggage is refused; backpacks are limited to 40 × 40 × 20 cm (16 × 16 × 8 in).
- Bringing a motorcycle helmet, a bicycle battery, a scooter, a drone, a selfie stick, a tripod, a glass bottle or a sharp object: all prohibited. A bicycle helmet is only allowed inside a bag.
- Going up in flip-flops, stilettos, swimwear or bare-chested: refused.
- Buying a tower ticket from a reseller: tourism professionals are not allowed to buy them.
What to see nearby
On the Île de la Cité, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie are visited with a combined ticket. Further afield, the right bank leads to the Louvre, a 15–20 minute walk away, and the left bank to the Musée d’Orsay. To plan your stay, see our guide to things to do in Paris, which also covers the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles.
Notre-Dame’s history in a few dates
- 1163: Bishop Maurice de Sully lays the first stone, on the Île de la Cité. Construction lasts nearly two centuries.
- Around 1250: the towers are completed, shortly after the consecration of the neighboring Sainte-Chapelle (April 26, 1248).
- 1831: publication of Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame de Paris in French), which revives interest in the building.
- From 1844: restoration led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Jean-Baptiste Lassus, who replaced the spire, the gargoyles and the chimeras, among other things.
- August 26, 1944: General de Gaulle attends a Magnificat celebrating the liberation of Paris.
- April 15, 2019: a fire destroys the spire and the roof of the nave, choir and transept.
- December 7–8, 2024: reopening ceremony on the 7th, opening to the public on the 8th.
For your visit: the upper parts, the rose windows and the towers date from the 13th century and the 19th-century restorations; the spire and the roof frame were rebuilt after 2019.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to enter Notre-Dame de Paris?
No: entry to the cathedral is free. Only the tower tour, run by the Centre des monuments nationaux, is paid (€16 full price, recorded on 16 October 2026).
Do you need to book to visit Notre-Dame de Paris?
For the towers, yes: online booking is compulsory, with no sales on site. For the cathedral, no: entry is open; the free time-slot booking is optional and helps limit waiting (checked on 18 October 2026 on notredamedeparis.fr).
How many steps are there to climb the Notre-Dame towers?
424 steps up to the top of the south tower, at 69 m (226 ft), according to the official towers site. There is no lift.
What are the opening hours of the Notre-Dame towers?
9 am–11 pm from April 1 to September 30 and 9 am–5:30 pm from October 1 to March 31, with last entry one hour before closing.
Does the tower ticket give access to the cathedral?
No. The towers are run by the Centre des monuments nationaux and the cathedral by the Diocese of Paris: they are two separate visits.
When did Notre-Dame de Paris burn?
The fire broke out on the evening of April 15, 2019. The cathedral reopened to the public on December 8, 2024, after an official ceremony on December 7.
Our sources
- Centre des monuments nationaux, Notre-Dame towers website (tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr): practical information and FAQ, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Centre des monuments nationaux, “History of the monument” article (tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Wikipedia, “Notre-Dame de Paris” article (dates of the fire and the reopening), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Official cathedral website (notredamedeparis.fr): Opening hours, Service times, Visit the treasury, Accessibility, Access and transport pages, consulted on 18 October 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Paris-Montsouris station (maximum temperature, rainy days), taken from our Paris page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the cathedral’s Wikidata coordinates (Q2981)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.