Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas

The Paris Catacombs release only a limited number of tickets each day, making them one of the hardest sites in the city to enter. This tour solves that with pre-reserved timed entry, so you can head inside without a worry. An expert, English-speaking guide leads the way through a labyrinth of bone-lined tunnels, sharing the dark history of how forgotten limestone quarries became the resting place for millions of Parisians. Along the route, walk past walls of skulls and femurs arranged into crosses and archways, and you stand before the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion. The highlight is privileged access to two restricted chambers, closed to the general public, where a guard unlocks the iron gates for your small group. With reserved entry, eerie legends, and rooms most visitors never see, this is one of the most memorable ways to experience underground Paris.

1. 1

   The Paris Catacombs

   1.5 hours

   Meet your guide near the Catacombs entrance at Denfert-Rochereau and get ready to head far below the city. Descend the long spiral staircase into a maze of tunnels first carved as limestone quarries in the Middle Ages, later used as burial chambers when the city's graveyards overflowed. As you walk the bone-lined corridors, you'll see skulls and femurs stacked floor to ceiling and arranged into crosses, hearts, and archways, while your guide explains how the remains of millions came to rest here. Next, stand before the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion, the most striking arrangement underground, and hear the tale of a secret midnight concert once held in these tunnels. The highlight comes when a guard unlocks the iron gates to two restricted chambers closed to the general public, where your small group sees rooms most visitors never reach. The tour ends deep inside the Catacombs, with free time to linger and explore at your own pace before you exit to street level.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• The Catacombs are confined and lined with human bones, so the atmosphere may feel unsettling for guests who are claustrophobic or sensitive to enclosed spaces.
• This tour involves descending and climbing a long staircase and walking through uneven underground passages.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.