To visit the Sainte-Chapelle, buy your ticket online with a time slot: the official site “very strongly recommends” it, because the security check at the Palais de Justice means waiting and the monument can be full. The ticket costs €16 for nationals and residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) and €22 for other visitors, and entry is free for under-18s.
The spectacle is the fifteen 13th-century stained-glass windows and the Apocalypse rose window of the upper chapel: how they look depends on the position of the sun. For four dates of the year, we calculated the height and direction of the sun at each opening hour. For the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting Paris.
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Sainte-Chapelle: key facts
- Hours: 9 am–7 pm from April 1 to September 30, 9 am–5 pm from October 1 to March 31; last access 30 minutes before closing; closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25 — checked on 16 October 2026 on sainte-chapelle.fr
- Standard price: €16 (EEA nationals and residents) or €22 (other visitors, including U.S. and U.K. visitors); combined ticket with the Conciergerie €23 or €30 — checked on 16 October 2026 on sainte-chapelle.fr
- Booking: time slot “very strongly” recommended, including for free entries and Paris Museum Pass holders (for whom it is requested); entry guaranteed within 30 minutes of the slot — checked on 16 October 2026 on sainte-chapelle.fr
- Duration: not published for the Sainte-Chapelle; the free guided tour lasts 45 minutes. Allow time for the security check
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Tickets: official vs resellers
| Ticket | EEA nationals/residents | Other visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Sainte-Chapelle | €16 | €22 |
| Combined ticket Sainte-Chapelle + Conciergerie | €23 | €30 |
| Audio guide (on site) | €4 | €4 |
Destination de Voyage calculation: the Conciergerie alone costs €13. The combined ticket therefore saves €6 (16 + 13 = €29 against €23) for an EEA visitor, and €5 (22 + 13 = €35 against €30) for others. It is only sold on the Sainte-Chapelle ticket office, and the booked slot applies to the Sainte-Chapelle: the Conciergerie is visited before or after.
Free entry: under-18s (excluding groups), 18–25-year-olds who are EU nationals or legal residents of France, people with disabilities and one companion, jobseekers, Pass Éducation holders, soldiers on France’s Sentinelle operation, ICOM and ICOMOS members. U.S. and U.K. visitors aged 18–25 do not qualify for the age-based free entry. Even when free, a child must have a booked ticket, and proof of eligibility (ID, passport) is checked. On the first Sundays of January, February, March, November and December, entry is free for everyone and booking is not possible; Destination de Voyage calculation: Sunday, November 1, 2026, Sunday, December 6, 2026, Sunday, January 3, 2027, Sunday, February 7, 2027, Sunday, March 7, 2027.
Partner rates (French rail and river-cruise operators, the City of Paris kiosk, loyalty programs, etc.): they are only applied at the ticket desk. Book a slot with the “I already have a ticket” option and pay on site. Resellers: the official FAQ states that only orders placed on the official ticket office are handled by the monument; if there is a problem with a ticket bought elsewhere, you must contact the seller. Tickets are neither exchangeable nor refundable.
Opening hours and closing days
| Period | Hours | Last access |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 – September 30 | 9 am – 7 pm | 6:30 pm |
| October 1 – March 31 | 9 am – 5 pm | 4:30 pm |
| January 1, May 1, December 25 | Closed | — |
A free guided tour (in French, 45 minutes) leaves every day at 11 am and 3 pm, subject to a staff member being available: the FAQ advises booking the 10:30 am or 2:30 pm slot so as not to miss it. Concerts take place in the evening, organized by an outside provider whose contact details are in the official FAQ.
Best time to visit: when the sun shines through the stained glass
The upper chapel is a “vessel of glass”: the windows on the north and south walls tell the story of the Old Testament, and the Apocalypse rose window, on the west wall, is according to the official site “the last part of the building to let the light in”. The windows facing south and west only really light up in full sun, when it is high enough above the buildings of the Île de la Cité. We calculated the position of the sun at opening hours.
| Date | Solar noon | 10 am | 12 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 15 | 12:59 | 26° / southeast | 37° / south | 37° / south | 26° / southwest | closed |
| June 15 | 13:51 | 38° / east | 56° / southeast | 64° / south | 54° / southwest | 35° / west |
| September 15 | 13:45 | 24° / southeast | 39° / southeast | 44° / south | 36° / southwest | 19° / west |
| December 15 | 12:45 | 9° / southeast | 17° / south | 16° / south | 6° / southwest | closed |
How to read it: the sun is due south around 1:50 pm in summer and 12:50 pm in winter (local time). Around that time, between late morning and mid-afternoon, the south-side windows receive the most direct light. The west rose window is lit in the late afternoon, when the sun passes to the southwest and then the west: in summer, choose a slot between 4 pm and 6 pm; in winter, the sun stays low (under 20° above the horizon on December 15) and quickly passes behind the buildings, so aim instead for late morning and early afternoon.
As for weather, the sky matters more than the season: in overcast weather, the stained glass remains legible but less brilliant. September is the driest month in Paris according to the Météo-France normals (7.5 rainy days, 21.5 °C / 71 °F maximum), followed by July (7.4 days). The official FAQ cites school holidays and the Easter weekend as periods of heavy attendance, when you may not be able to get in without a reservation.
| Month | Average max temp, Paris | Rainy days | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.6 °C (46 °F) | 9.9 | 5 pm |
| February | 8.8 °C (48 °F) | 9.1 | 5 pm |
| March | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | 9.5 | 5 pm |
| April | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 8.6 | 7 pm |
| May | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 9.2 | 7 pm |
| June | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 8.3 | 7 pm |
| July | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | 7.4 | 7 pm |
| August | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | 8.1 | 7 pm |
| September | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 7.5 | 7 pm |
| October | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 9.5 | 5 pm |
| November | 11.1 °C (52 °F) | 10.4 | 5 pm |
| December | 8.0 °C (46 °F) | 11.4 | 5 pm |
What to see: suggested route
- The lower chapel, with its blue ceiling sown with fleurs-de-lis, through which you enter.
- The upper chapel, up a spiral staircase of 33 steps: 15 13th-century windows, two-thirds of them medieval, and 1,113 scenes, from Genesis in the north to the Apocalypse in the west, according to the official site.
- The relics bay and the tribune, built by Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns.
- The Apocalypse rose window, rebuilt around 1485 under Charles VIII, 9 meters (30 ft) wide, dominated by yellow and green.
Visit leaflets in 11 languages, a children’s booklet from age 6 (in French), audio guide at €4 in six languages.
Getting there and security
- Address: 10 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, within the grounds of the Palais de Justice — checked on 16 October 2026 on sainte-chapelle.fr
- RER B or C: Saint-Michel; metro: lines 1, 7, 11, 14 (Châtelet), line 4 (Cité) — checked on 11 November 2026 on sainte-chapelle.fr
- Bus: lines 21, 24, 27, 38, 58, 81, 85, 96; the “Palais de Justice” stop is sometimes not served for security reasons.
- Checks: identity checks are possible nearby, with reinforced screening at the entrance. Do not show up before the time on your ticket.
Accessibility
The route is accessible to people with reduced mobility according to the official disability page: a ramp for the lower chapel, and assistance by a staff member via a lift in the Palais de Justice for the upper chapel. Free, priority entry for the disabled person and one companion (French Mobility Inclusion card, “disability” or “priority”); book a slot all the same, as the monument is sometimes full. Folding seats or a wheelchair can be borrowed against ID. Parking spaces at the corner of rue Aube and quai de Corse, about 150 m (492 ft) away. Visitors from abroad should ask what proof of disability is accepted.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Bringing scissors, nail clippers, a penknife or a glass perfume bottle: prohibited and confiscated without return, even very small ones.
- Counting on a cloakroom: there is none; suitcases, bulky bags, scooters, motorcycle helmets and bicycle batteries are refused.
- Bringing a large stroller: only small folding strollers get through the screening, and none is allowed in the upper chapel; plan on a baby carrier.
- Arriving early for your slot: the FAQ asks you not to show up before the time on your ticket; entry stays guaranteed for 30 minutes afterwards.
- Visiting the Conciergerie too late with a combined ticket: last access is in the late afternoon and the visit takes 1 to 1½ hours.
- Bringing an animal, even in a bag: refused, except guide dogs and assistance dogs.
What to see nearby
The Conciergerie is 120 m (394 ft) away (straight-line calculation), in the same Palais de la Cité complex; Notre-Dame is 440 m (1,444 ft) away. Further on, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay can be reached on foot along the quays. Our guide to things to do in Paris helps you plan the rest of your stay.
The history of the Sainte-Chapelle in brief
- 1239 and 1241: Louis IX (Saint Louis) buys the Crown of Thorns, then other relics of the Passion, including a fragment of the Cross.
- Less than 7 years of building: the chapel is built in the heart of the royal Palais de la Cité to house these relics; it is consecrated on April 26, 1248.
- Two levels: the upper chapel, reserved for the king and his guests, and the lower chapel, intended for palace staff.
- After the Revolution: damaged, it becomes in the 19th century a pilot project for the restoration of historic monuments.
The 15 windows, each 15 m (49 ft) high, bring together 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments, up to the arrival of the relics in Paris, according to the Centre des monuments nationaux.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Sainte-Chapelle?
€16 for nationals and residents of the European Economic Area, €22 for other visitors, according to the official site on 16 October 2026. Free for under-18s.
Do you need to book the Sainte-Chapelle?
The official site very strongly recommends it: without a time slot, the wait can be long and entry impossible during busy periods. On the free first Sundays (November to March), booking is not possible.
Is there a Sainte-Chapelle + Conciergerie ticket?
Yes: €23 (EEA) or €30 (other visitors), to be bought on the Sainte-Chapelle ticket office. The slot applies to the Sainte-Chapelle; the Conciergerie is visited before or after.
What is the best time to see the Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass?
In sunny weather, around solar noon (about 1:50 pm in summer, 12:50 pm in winter) for the south windows, and in the late afternoon in summer for the west rose window, according to our calculation of the sun’s position.
What items are prohibited at the Sainte-Chapelle?
Sharp objects, even small ones, glass containers, aerosols, motorcycle helmets, bulky luggage, scooters and bicycle batteries; they are confiscated without return.
Who had the Sainte-Chapelle built?
Louis IX, the future Saint Louis, in the mid-13th century, to house the relics of Christ’s Passion. The chapel was consecrated on April 26, 1248.
Our sources
- Centre des monuments nationaux, Sainte-Chapelle website (sainte-chapelle.fr): practical information, FAQ, page for visitors with disabilities, articles “A unique ensemble of stained glass” and “The Apocalypse rose window”, consulted on 16 October 2026; practical information page (access) consulted again on 11 November 2026
- Centre des monuments nationaux, “History of the Sainte-Chapelle” article (sainte-chapelle.fr), and “History of the monument” article for the Notre-Dame towers (date of consecration), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Centre des monuments nationaux, Conciergerie website (paris-conciergerie.fr): individual price, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Paris-Montsouris station, taken from our Paris page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the Wikidata coordinates of the Sainte-Chapelle (Q193193)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.