The most reviewed live-guided Catacombs tour: skip-the-line entry, a guide, and gates opened to special areas.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Duration2 hours
- Starting timesSeveral daily; the 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm departures are capped at 6
- LanguagesEnglish
The Paris Catacombs guided tour with special access costs $156 per person and is a two-hour visit with a local English-speaking guide, skip-the-line entry and access to areas of the Catacombs usually closed to the public. The listing names the bone arrangements, the quarrymen's carvings and the underground chapel among the highlights. Groups are capped at 14, and some departures (1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm) at 6. It is run by Walks France-Spain, has 4.67 out of 5 from 1,025 reviews on GetYourGuide, and can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.
Book Catacombs TicketsKey facts
guided-tour- Duration
- 2 hours
- Starts
- Several daily; the 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm departures are capped at 6
- Meeting point
- Café du Rendez-vous; arrive 15 minutes early and look for the guide's yellow Walks sign
- Price
- $156 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- Up to 14; 6 on the 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm departures
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: 130 steps down and no lift. Strollers are not allowed.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Included
- ✓ Skip-the-line ticket for the Paris Catacombs
- ✓ Access to special areas
- ✓ Local English-speaking guide
- ✓ Small group, max 14 (6 on some departures)
Not included
- ✗ Audio guide
- ✗ Baby strollers
- ✗ Luggage or large bags
Meeting point
2 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 75014 Paris, France
Nearest transit: Metro lines 4 and 6 or RER B to Denfert-Rochereau
What the special access covers
Special access means the guards open gates for your group into areas the standard route passes by. The listing names an underground chapel decorated with skulls and femurs, the quarrymen's carvings and the more elaborate bone arrangements. Between those, your guide takes you through the main ossuary and tells the story of the quarries, the cemetery clearances of the 1780s and the six million Parisians whose remains ended up here.
Choosing a departure time
Most departures take up to 14 people, which is a small group by Paris standards. If you want it smaller, book the 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm or 5:30 pm start: those are capped at six, at the same price. The listing showed the 'likely to sell out' badge on 27 October 2026, and the next free date was 23 December, so book early for a specific day.
Where you meet
This tour does not meet at the Catacombs door. You meet at Café du Rendez-vous, 2 avenue du Général Leclerc, on the corner of Place Denfert-Rochereau, 15 minutes before the start; the guide holds a yellow sign. From there it is a short walk across the square to the entrance.
Bags, strollers and strikes
Only bags smaller than 55 × 35 × 20 cm are allowed, and strollers are not. The operator notes the Catacombs have neither toilets nor a cloakroom, so use a café before you meet. The site can close at short notice during strikes; the operator says it will contact you if it can, otherwise at the meeting point.
How it compares
At $156 this is the cheapest of the guided tours that include special-access areas, and it has the most reviews of any guided Catacombs tour. The restricted access tour costs $56 more for a group of seven or fewer and a 4.9 rating. The audio-guide ticket costs $43 but shows only the public route, with no guide.
| Tour | Price | Group | Cancellation | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Access Tour (this page) | $156 | 14, or 6 on 3 departures | Free up to 24 h | 4.67 (1,025) |
| Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Special Access | $156 | Up to 19 | Non-refundable | 4.8 (423) |
| Restricted Access Tour | $212 | 7 or fewer | Free up to 24 h | 4.9 (533) |
| Small-Group Tour | $234 | 6 | Free up to 24 h | 4.91 (205) |
What reviewers consistently say
- 10 of the 10 latest reviews praise the guide's knowledge
- 1 of the 10 latest reviews reports the assigned guide did not turn up and a replacement came an hour late
Who should not book this
- Families with strollers, and wheelchair users
- Visitors who want a group of six or fewer at any time of day: only three departures guarantee it
-
Paris Catacombs Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Special Access
$156if you want a shorter 1.5-hour tour with an optional Seine cruise upgrade; it is non-refundable and groups go up to 19
Check availability -
Paris Catacombs Restricted Access Tour
$2124.9 533 reviews
if a group of seven or fewer at every departure is worth $56 more
Read the full page
How to book
Choose your date and start time, noting which departures are capped at six, and book; you can reserve now and pay later and cancel free up to 24 hours before. Meet at Café du Rendez-vous, 2 avenue du Général Leclerc, 15 minutes early. This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Catacombs special access tour meet?
At Café du Rendez-vous, 2 avenue du Général Leclerc, on Place Denfert-Rochereau. Arrive 15 minutes early and look for the guide's yellow sign.
How many people are in the group?
Up to 14 on most departures and up to 6 on the 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm starts.
Is the entry ticket included?
Yes. The price includes the skip-the-line Catacombs ticket as well as the guide and the special-access areas.
Can I bring a stroller or a backpack?
No strollers. Bags must be smaller than 55 × 35 × 20 cm, and there is no cloakroom.
What happens if the Catacombs close because of a strike?
The operator says it will contact you before the tour if it can; for a last-minute closure you are told at the meeting point.
Sources