The Catacombs of Paris are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:45am to 8:30pm (last entry 7:30pm), and a visit takes about an hour; booking online is strongly recommended. They are, in fact, the city's municipal ossuary: a somewhat macabre place, admittedly, but one worth visiting at least once. For another option, see Catacombs of Paris: skip-the-line ticket. Located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, the Catacombs were originally old underground quarries. It wasn't until the end of the 18th century that the remains of six million people were transferred there.
Before you book Paris Catacombs Tickets: How to Book, from €38Highlights
The labyrinthine galleries
"Stop! This is the empire of the dead," reads the inscription at the entrance to this extraordinary world. What follows is an impressive 1.5-kilometer walk through a labyrinth of former Parisian quarry galleries. Among the remains are those of notable historical figures such as Charles Perrault and François Rabelais, as well as guillotine victims like Camille and Lucile Desmoulins, Danton, and Robespierre. The corridors are narrow and low, and the atmosphere is eerie, but you'll be thrilled to have explored this other world.
The tomb of Philibert Aspairt
Legend has it that Philibert Aspairt, a doorkeeper at Val-de-Grâce during the French Revolution, got lost and died in the underground quarries of Paris on November 3, 1793. He wasn't found until eleven years later, and was buried on the spot. There's no proof this story, or even the man himself, is true, but his tomb does indeed exist within the Catacombs of Paris.
Practical info
Tips
- The Catacombs are at 14 degrees: bring warm enough clothes.
- There are 131 steps down, then 112 back up.
- Remember to bring a flashlight.
- The visit is not recommended for people with breathing difficulties or claustrophobia, or for young children; it is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
- On the RER B, Port-Royal station is just one stop from Denfert-Rochereau, very close to the Val-de-Grâce.
- Right by the entrance, the Giacometti Institute hosts temporary exhibitions devoted to Alberto Giacometti; check the programme before you come.
- 2026 prices (official ticket office: catacombes.paris.fr): full price €31 (audioguide included), reduced €25, children 8-17 €15, free under 8; booking a time slot online is strongly recommended.
How to get there
By public transport, bus lines 38 and 68 will drop you off close to the Catacombs. Once back above ground, Parc Montsouris is close by for some fresh air. The "Denfert-Rochereau" station (metro lines 4, 6, and RER B) is also nearby.
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