The comparison at a glance
| Offer | What you see | Price "from" | Rating | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre-Dame guided tour with scheduled access | Cathedral, planned access slot | From €39.90 | 4.8 out of 5 (423 reviews) | Seeing the inside with a guide | See |
| Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie and Notre-Dame | Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie (tickets), Notre-Dame from outside | From $84 | 4.7 out of 5 (858 reviews) | A full morning on the island | See |
| Sainte-Chapelle with Notre-Dame outdoor tour | Sainte-Chapelle entry, Notre-Dame from outside | From $72 | 4.7 out of 5 (577 reviews) | Tight budgets | See |
Another tour with reserved interior access is rated 4.2 out of 5: we left it out.
Before you book: what is free
- The cathedral: entry is free. A free time slot can be reserved in advance on the official site notredamedeparis.fr; it mainly saves you queuing in high season.
- The towers: the climb is paid (€16 according to the sources we found) and booked on the Centre des monuments nationaux website. It is not included in the guided tours above unless the listing says so.
- Opening hours: they change by day and by service; check the official site before you go.
Tour with scheduled access
This tour aims to take you inside the cathedral at a fixed time. From €39.90 in October 2026, rated 4.8 out of 5 (423 reviews); price, length and conditions change: read the listing and check that interior entry is really included. Since entry is free, what you buy is the guide and the time slot.
Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie and Notre-Dame
This route starts at $84 and has 858 reviews at 4.7. Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie tickets are included; Notre-Dame is seen from outside. Several travelers would have liked to know that more clearly before booking. See also our Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie comparison.
Sainte-Chapelle with Notre-Dame outdoor tour
This tour is the cheapest of the selection (from $72, 577 reviews at 4.7). A recent traveler reports that the guide did not go into Sainte-Chapelle with the group: you visit it on your own.
Pitfalls
- Outside or inside: read the description, this is the most common mix-up.
- Tower ticket: separate, through the official site.
- Prices: they vary by date and group size.
- Crowds: from summer to autumn the island is very busy; take the first slot of the morning.
Which offer to choose?
- Seeing the inside with a guide: the scheduled-access tour, after checking the listing.
- Several monuments in one morning: Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie and Notre-Dame.
- Tight budget: Sainte-Chapelle with Notre-Dame from outside.
- No guide: visit on your own, it is free. Discover the area with the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis and booking ahead in Paris.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to enter Notre-Dame? No, entry is free. Only the tower climb, the treasury and guided tours are paid.
Do I need to book? It is not compulsory, but a free online slot reduces the wait in summer.
Are guided tours worth it? Yes for the history of the cathedral, the 2019 fire and the restoration; not essential for the interior visit alone.
