Skip-the-Line Paris Catacombs Special Access Tour

Highlights

  • Learn the history and legends of the Catacombs from an expert guide

  • Descend 20 meters below the streets to explore the Paris Catacombs

  • Get to know why the remains of over 6 million people were transported underground in the 18th century

  • Visit two special access tunnels in the Catacombs

  • Choose 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM time for a smaller group size (6 guests)

Summary

Discover the labyrinth of the Paris Catacombs with a guide. Skip the ticket line and uncover the secrets of the world’s largest underground burial site.

Tour info

Duration
2 hours
Group Size
19
Pricing (From)
Adult (15+): (15-99 years)
€95.00
Child (2-14): (2-14 years)
€90.00
Infant (0-1): (0-1 years)
€0.00
See all pricing
Commentary
English
Meeting Point

2 Av. du Général Leclerc, Paris, 75014, FR

Dropoff location

21 avenue Rene Coty, Paris, 75014, FR

Why take this tour?

Venture beneath the City of Light to explore the dark underworld of the Paris Catacombs. Skip the entrance lines and head inside this fantastically macabre tunnel system filled with the skeletal remains of more than six million Parisians. Hear about the remarkable construction of the catacombs from an expert guide as you walk past ornate chambers piled with decorative arrangements of bones, and gain special access to chapels and chambers closed to the general public.

Get immediate access to the Paris Catacombs with your skip-the-line admission. Once inside, your knowledgeable guide ushers you through the extensive subterranean network, created when Parisian leaders undertook the greatest civil engineering project of their time to address the overcrowding in their city's cemeteries. Tour the Catacombs' main tunnels to discover a city of dead beneath the City of Lights.

Then, duck inside two exclusive tunnels. Explore a chapel where religious services were once delivered among vestibules filled with bones. Next, see mysterious carvings created by an original tunnel worker. Rather than stacking skulls in the vast warren, this iconoclastic worker began sculpting intricate tributes into the rock. These beguiling artworks swiftly became the first public attraction of the Paris Catacombs. 

Get the most out of your visit as you listen to unique insights from your guide and together, navigate this dark but curious space. Along the way, you'll learn the intriguing stories of those who worked, visited, and have been laid to rest here over the centuries, including the secret societies that still visit today. 

Please note: Tours at 12:30 PM and 5:00 PM have a group size of 19. Tours at 1:30PM, 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM have a decreased group size of 6 for a more intimate experience.

What’s included?

  • Local English-speaking guide

  • Expertly guided walking tour

  • Skip-the-line ticket for Paris Catacombs

  • Access to special areas of the Paris Catacombs

  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

  • Gratuities

Things to know

Before you book

  • Due to the tight nature of the catacombs, the catacombs are not advised for those with claustrophobia.

  • The catacombs are not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for those with mobility limitations.

  • There are 130 steps into the catacombs with no elevator access.

  • Women who are visibly pregnant will not be given clearance to enter the catacombs by the guards.

  • Areas visited during this tour are subject to closure. Your guide may need to modify areas visited on the day of the tour.

  • The catacombs are subject to closures due to strikes. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, cancellations may be communicated at the meeting point.

  • Please note: This tour has a decreased group size of six people and a modified price on select days to allow for a more intimate experience.

Before you go

  • This tour is in English.

  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

  • This tour meets 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.

  • Security measures are enforced to enter the Catacombs. Only small handbags and backpacks are allowed inside. No item larger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm will be allowed. There is no bag check.

  • Due to the tight nature of the catacombs, the catacombs are not advised for those with claustrophobia.

  • The catacombs are not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for those with mobility limitations.

  • There are 130 steps into the catacombs with no elevator access.

  • Women who are visibly pregnant will not be given clearance to enter the catacombs by the guards.

  • The catacombs are consistently wet and cool (14°C/57°F) all year long. We recommend bringing a layer in summer for the temperature drop.

  • Areas visited during this tour are subject to closure. Your guide may need to modify areas visited on the day of the tour.

  • The catacombs are subject to closures due to strikes. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, cancellations may be communicated at the meeting point.

  • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.

  • Please note: This tour has a decreased group size of six people and a modified price on select days to allow for a more intimate experience.

Covid Policy

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas

Cancellation Policy

    Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.

Redemption information

    Mobile tickets will be accepted


    Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption

Pricing

CATACOMBS TOUR PRICING VALID FROM THE 1ST OF JAN UNTIL 29TH OF FEB 2024

Adult (15+): (15-99 years)
€109.00
Child (2-14): (2-14 years)
€99.00
Infant (0-1): (0-1 years)
€0.00

CATACOMBS TOUR PRICING VALID FROM THE 1ST OF JAN UNTIL 29TH OF FEB 2024

Adult (15+): (15-99 years)
€95.00
Child (2-14): (2-14 years)
€90.00
Infant (0-1): (0-1 years)
€0.00

CATACOMBS TOUR PRICING VALID FROM THE 1ST OF MARCH TO THE 31ST OF MARCH 2024

Adult (15+): (15-99 years)
€139.00
Child (2-14): (2-14 years)
€129.00
Infant (0-1): (0-1 years)
€0.00

CATACOMBS TOUR PRICING VALID FROM THE 1ST OF MARCH TO THE 31ST OF MARCH 2024

Adult (15+): (15-99 years)
€119.00
Child (2-14): (2-14 years)
€99.00
Infant (0-1): (0-1 years)
€0.00

About operator:

Walks (takewalks.com, walksofitaly.com) began over a decade ago (2008, to be exact) in Rome, Italy. We quickly became the premier walking tour company in 7 countries - Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Greece, and Portugal. Our US cities include San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.

In 2021, we joined The Hornblower Group (cityexperiences.com) expanding our reach and working alongside this powerhouse travel brand.

Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...

Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.