How to Visit Notre-Dame in Paris
After a devastating fire in 2019, Paris’s iconic church of Notre Dame has reopened to the public.
A beautiful example of Gothic architecture, Notre Dame has always been one of the city’s top attractions and a “Must See” for first-time visitors. Since reopening, the church has introduced a new booking system that allows visitors to book their tickets in advance. I recently visited Notre Dame and am happy to share my tips for having the best experience.
Notre Dame de Paris in December 2024, shortly after reopening.
How To Get Tickets
First off, tickets are free so what you are reserving is actually a time slot to enter to the church.
Time slots can only be reserved on the church’s official website and are only available 2 days in advance. Tickets become available at midnight Paris time two days before. So if you want to visit on a Thursday, you would book your tickets at 12:01am on Tuesday.
If you are located in the US and can buy your tickets before your departure that is easier: so if you want to visit on the coming Thursday, purchase your tickets at 6pm Monday (Eastern Time).
*Guided group tours for Notre Dame are not allowed until June 2025. Any website or organization attempting to sell such “tours” should be viewed with suspicion.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Visit
Unfortunately, getting your ticket in advance does not really allow you to “skip the line.”
When you arrive at the front of the church, there will be two lines. One is for those who have not booked online, the other is for those who have. When I went, the line to the far left (looking at the church) was for those without a reservation and the line for those with reservations was through the center of the church.
The entrance line for those with reserved tickets will be long. However, the line moves continuously (the person working is just scanning tickets as people enter, I never saw them stop the line or make anyone wait). When I visited in December, shortly after the reopening, the line looked terribly long (hundreds of people), however it kept moving and we were inside within about 10 minutes.
Once Inside
Expect crowds! Once you get past the entrance you will have a little more breathing space and be better able to take it all in.
Allow 30-60 minutes for your visit. You can also visit the Treasury, but on the day I visited the line for that was also long.
The towers remain closed. Before the fire, visitors could climb the tower for a splendid view of Paris. There is currently no reopening date for the towers.
Take in the beauty. The architecture of Notre Dame is one of the most perfect examples of Gothic architecture. Notice the ribbed vaulting and pointed arched. These both help carry the weight of the building, free up wall space for larger windows than previous churches. These churches were meant to be a little sliver of heaven on earth. They were intended to transport the entrant from the profane world to the sacred. It will be difficult with the crowds, but try to see how the church envelops you and cancels out everything outside of it: the traffic, the people, the noise.
Admire the stained glass. The most notable stained glass inside the church are the three rose windows. The rose window in the south transept (to your right as you enter) was commissioned by Louis IX around 1250. It depicts the Last Judgement. On the opposite side (north) side is another rose window from the same time period. This is the only window in the church that contains most of its original glass. This window shows Mary and the Christ child surrounded by kings and prophets from the Old Testament.
The west rose window (to your back as you enter) is the oldest, constructed around 1225. (Most of the original glass does not survive.) This window shows the Madonna and Child along with Vices and Virtues and stories from the Zodiac and the Labor of the Months.
FAQ
Do I have to get tickets in advance?
No, you can join the line for those without reservations. Expect to wait a long time (I would think at least an hour).
I wasn’t able to get tickets. Now what?
You can visit the church by the joining the line of people without tickets. This line moves slowly and I recommend going first thing in the morning when it opens (7:50am Mon-Friday and 8:15 Sat-Sun) or later in the day before closing (7pm Mon-Wed and Fri and 7:30pm Sat-Sun). Thursday the church is open until 10pm and I would think that going around 8pm (when most people are at dinner) would work.
You can also try to buy tickets from a company selling tours online, but be careful: most of these companies only include a visit to the exterior of the church. Guided tours are not allowed inside the church until June of 2025.
Is there any way to avoid crowds?
When I booked tickets online, the most availability was during lunch (between 1-2pm) and others had less crowded visits early in the morning and in the evening before it closes. The time of year also matters. A Tuesday in February will be less crowded than a weekend in May.
Is it worth visiting?
This is a very honest answer from yours truly, who has a PhD in Art History and specialized in medieval art. I am glad that I saw the restoration of the church: it is noticeably brighter and cleaner than it was before the fire, when it was dark and dingy. This allows you to get a better sense for how the church actually looked after it was built (and before car pollution). That said, you should not feel like you have to go. If you don’t like crowds or your time is limited, or you’d simply rather do something else, then skip it. Notre Dame in Paris is a beautiful cathedral but it not the tallest or the biggest, nor does it have the best stained glass.
What churches could I visit instead?
My favorite church in Paris is the Sainte-Chapelle. This church was actually the private chapel of King Louis IX. It was built in the 13th century to house his Crown of Thorn relics and has stunning stained glass windows. It was originally connected to the royal palace (it is now amidst government buildings). If you go, reserve your tickets in advance online. While it is rare uncrowded, it is rarely so crowded as to be unpleasant.
There are also several great Gothic cathedrals just outside of Paris.
I love Chartres. It was recently cleaned as well and has perhaps the best stained glass windows. The town is also super charming. It is a 45 minute train ride from Paris Montparnasse station.
Amiens is the tallest and largest Gothic cathedral in France. It is harmonious and grand and worth visiting if you are a cathedral aficionado. Take the train from Paris Gare du Nord station, it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes each way.
St-Denis is in the suburbs of Paris and is possibly my personal favorite. It is one of the first Gothic cathedrals to be built and was the burial place of the kings and queens of France. It also has beautiful stained glass. If you go, you can take the subway. While not dangerous, the church is an area that might make some uncomfortable. Your hotel should also be able to arrange for a private car to take you.