catacombs tour

The 5 Best Paris Catacombs Tours [2024 Reviews]

Over many centuries, there wasn’t room for more of those who passed away to fit into the already crowded Paris cemeteries. There wasn’t room for more cemeteries and they needed room for housing and services for the growing population.

Starting in 1783, Paris began moving those who had been buried in the city’s cemeteries to the tunnels underground. It is estimated that there are between 6 and 7 million remains in the 200+ miles of tunnels beneath Paris.

Be sure to see our reviews of Day Trips to Normandy , Louvre Guided Tours and Eiffel Tower Tours .

Best Paris Guided Catacomb Tours

Plan the Ultimate Paris Vacation : See our 5 Day Itinerary of the Best Things to do in Paris!

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Paris Catacombs Tours For 2024

• Best Skip-the-Line Tour: 2-Hour Paris Catacombs Small Group Skip the line Tour
• Best Family Tour: Catacombs of Paris Private Tour for Families
• Best Sightseeing Tour: Catacombs of Paris – 2-Hour Tour with Priority Entrance
• Best Semi-Private Tour: Paris Catacombs Special Access Entry Ticket
• Best Small Group Tour: Catacombs of Paris – Restricted Access Tour

We’ve chosen these top rated Paris Catacomb tours because they offer a wide range of experiences and will fit into everyone’s budget.

Paris Catacombs Tour Reviews

1. best skip-the-line tour: skip the line 2-hour paris catacombs small group tour.

• Departure Point : 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
• Departure Time : 12:30 PM
• Duration : 2 hours (approx.)
• Includes : Skip-the-line entrance ticket, expert guide, a small group of up to 19 guests

Want to see the doorway over which is inscribed “Beware the Realm of Death”? Your expert guide will take you on a 2-hour tour of the catacombs beneath Paris. These catacombs are now home to over 6 million once-living humans.

Something that makes these catacombs completely unique is that the skulls and bones, and sometimes full skeletons, are neatly stacked along the walls of these tunnels.

The tunnels were used to quarry limestone that was used to build many of Paris’ most iconic buildings and even bridges. You and just 18 other people will follow your guide through a maze of tunnels, pointing out specific locations within them that are notable.

Perhaps a secret society met there? Maybe they still do? Plus, the remains of those who were once well-known, whether famous or notorious. Underneath the beauty and romance of the City of Lights, these tunnels remind visitors of long-ago times when death was rampant in Europe.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2. best family tour: catacombs of paris private tour for kids & families.

• Departure Point : 15 Pl. du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris
• Departure Time : Variety available
• Includes : Skip-the-line entry to the catacombs, kid friendly local guide

When bringing the family to Paris, you expect them to learn some of the history of the city not to mention their unique culture. After all, Paris is Paris and nowhere else is! However, there is one way you can make the history lessons a bit more fun.

The catacombs in Paris were originally limestone mines. After that, they were used to house the bones of over 6 million people that had been laid to rest in traditional cemeteries. But why?Paris, as with the rest of Europe, was battling against epidemics of many illnesses.

After the catacombs were created, it became much easier for the city to keep streets and houses clean, leading to a huge reduction in sickness and disease. But did they create a macabre reminder of those days with these skull and bone lined tunnels?

Your expert guide will be dedicated to you and your family only. Ask questions and explore. Learn the fascinating history as a family. And ask your expert tour guide to snap some great pictures, too!

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3. best sightseeing tour: skip-the-line paris catacombs special access tour.

• Departure Point : 2 Av. du Général Leclerc, 75014
• Departure Time : 12:30 PM & 5 PM
• Includes : Skip-the-line entry to the catacombs, expert local guide

For centuries, thousands have died in Paris. Many of Paris’ citizens have met their fate during the epidemic of the black plague, the French Revolution, the era of the guillotine, and more.

When cemeteries are full and there’s no room for more cemeteries, what is Paris to do? Their answer was to remove the skulls and bones of many in cemeteries, taking them to the deep, dark limestone quarry tunnels beneath the city.

Who are these people that now call the Paris catacombs their resting place?

Listen to your expert guide tell you of ghost stories, the legends of those lost in the tunnels, and even of secret societies that keep coming back here.

Why? No one knows. But you might get a glimpse into Paris’ underbelly as you view walls and walks of full skeletons as well as skulls and bones used to decorate the tunnels.

Will you feel the chill of a spirit never at rest? Taken from their resting place and used to decorate walls, arches, and even an underground, macabre chapel?

You just might with this skip-the-line access to the catacombs of Paris. Be sure to bring a friend!

Related: Don’t Miss the Eiffel Tower! – Skip the Lines – Find the Best Tour for Your Money With Our Reviews.

4. best semi-private tour: paris catacombs semi-private tour with vip access.

• Departure Point : Café du Rendez-vous
• Departure Time : 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM
• Duration : 1.5 hours (approx.)
• Includes : Expert local guide, skip-the-line access, private tour with a maximum of 6 guests

Paris’ underbelly is home to a unique series of tunnels. These tunnels span hundreds of miles. Follow your local guide, an expert in the catacombs of Paris, as you learn about their history before they were made into catacombs.

You’ll also learn about why and how the catacombs were created. The stories and legends of these underground resting places for over 6 million people will give you the chills as you head from tunnel to tunnel.

This private tour will also give you access to areas of the catacomb tunnels that most people can’t see. Gather around the gate as a guard opens it and ushers you inside.

An underground chapel, decorated with skulls and bones, awaits you. And this is only one of the restricted access areas you will be able to see.

There’s no place quite like the Paris catacombs anywhere in the world. This tour allows you to experience it like most people don’t.

Related: See the World Famous Louvre Museum – Skip the Lines – Find the Best Tour for Your Money With Our Reviews.

5. best small group tour: catacombs of paris semi-private vip restricted access tour.

• Departure Point : 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014
• Includes : Admission ticket with fast track entry, expert guide, access to several restricted areas within the catacombs, a small group of up to 7 people

Viewing the catacombs beneath Paris is an experience in and of itself. The winding tunnels lined with remains both ancient and more recent give a macabre feeling, especially when compared to the beautiful city built above them.

With your expert guide, you will also learn the history behind the catacombs and how they were created. There are stories and legends of those who have been laid to rest here, and also of secret societies that still visit the Paris catacombs today.

This restricted access tour will also allow you to see several areas of the catacombs that most who visit them aren’t allowed access to. Your guide will take you to these places and explain why they are so important and have been closed off to general visitors.

Listen to your guide tell you of the gloomy underground of Paris, some more than 65 feet, below the modern streets of Paris. Watch as your guide unlocks gates to areas of the mine tunnels and catacombs with even more macabre legends.

Planning Guide For Your Paris Catacombs Visit

In TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2018, Paris was ranked as the #2 Top Destination in the World. While visiting the City of Lights may not be just as you expect after watching An American in Paris, a vacation in Paris is like nothing else.

With so many tourist spots to explore, you may find it difficult to plan everything you’d like to see and experience into just one vacation. I guess that just means you’ll have to come back to see this beautiful city again.

Our travel guide below can help you plan a vacation to Paris whether you are staying for 2 days or 10 and whether it’s your first visit or fifth.

Airports & Entry

When headed to France, you won’t need to apply for a visa so long as your expected stay is less than 90 days. You also need to have at least three months before your passport expires past the date you expect to leave the country.

An emergency passport will not be accepted unless you also have an approved visa, no matter the length of your stay. There should be at least one page available for a stamp when you arrive.

There are three major airports in the area of Paris, France. The one you fly into will most likely be determined by the airline you are using. That airline will fly into the airport it is contracted with. With that in mind, when flying to France you will most likely land at one of the following airports:

• Paris Beauvais Airport
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
• Paris Orly Airport

Planning Tips

Paris is unlike most other vacation destinations. The French, especially Parisians, live life a little differently. This means that while you’re there, you may have to get used to eating at different times and you may need to plan your attire.

On your first day, taking a guided tour of the city will help you zero in on areas you would like to spend more time in will help a lot.

These are our top 5 tips for visiting Paris. Have you been there and have tips of your own? Let us know!

Tip #1: Wear Comfortable Shoes

You will be going down many stairs to get into the catacombs, and the catacombs extend for miles. Even though you won’t be seeing all 200+ miles of them, it is still a pretty long walk. You will also have to ascend stairs to get out.

Most guided tours take 2 hours or so. This means you will be walking for a while. Be sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes for your visit to the Paris catacombs.

Tip #2: Bring a Jacket, and Maybe Gloves Too

It is usually very damp inside the catacomb tunnels. On top of that, the temperature is 15 degrees Celsius year-round. This equates to less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For most, this is a bit chilly at the very least. Most visitors are comfortable with a light jacket. However, having a thin pair of gloves won’t hurt either.

Tip #3: Invest in a Guided Tour

Because the number of guests in the tunnels at any one time is just 200, the lines to obtain a general admission ticket are usually very long. By purchasing a priority ticket through a guided tour, you can skip the lines at the entrance and go right in.

Another added bonus is that you will have a tour guide that can tell you much more about the Paris catacombs. Some tours even allow you to see areas of the tunnels that most don’t.

Tip #4: If Not, Arrive Early

If you haven’t planned ahead and purchased a tour with priority access to the catacombs, you will have to wait in line. This line can get quite long so be prepared for it. However, if you arrive 30 to 60 minutes before they open, you most likely won’t have to wait quite as long. Sometimes the wait can be hours, so be sure to get there early.

Tip #5: Are you claustrophobic?

There aren’t many restrictions when it comes to visiting the catacombs, except for a few banned items. Even kids can go inside for a look at the more sinister side of Paris. However, if you are claustrophobic and already know this, the catacombs may not be the ideal attraction for you. The good part is that there are always the famous cabarets of Paris, the Seine River cruises, or even guided tours of Versailles.

Tip #6: Stay in a Central Location

Everywhere you’re going to want to go as a tourist in Paris will be centrally located or have provided travel that leaves this area. Most of the hotels, many museums, and a lot of restaurants are all centrally located.

You’ll also find that the pickup and drop-off locations for many tours are located here. It makes things much easier if you find accommodations close to central Paris.

Tip #7: Always Have Euros on Hand

There are many stores and even restaurants that don’t accept debit or credit cards. Some taxis won’t accept plastic either. If an establishment does accept a card, they often won’t allow you to leave a tip on your receipt.

This means it’s important to always have a few euros on hand. Many ATMs in the city will allow you to use a foreign card to withdrawal euros.

Restaurants & Eating Out

The Ciel de Paris is one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. It is located in the Montparnasse Tower with beautiful views of the city. You’ll also find a well-stocked champagne bar available to you. The Polidor is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris.

It dates back to 1895 and the interior decor hasn’t changed much since. This is one of those restaurants that only take cash, so have a few euros on you.

In Paris, it’s hard to find a truly casual restaurant. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that you’re dressed for the occasion. If you’re not sure what you could or should wear to a particular establishment, some will list their dress code online or you can always give them a call.

You should consider taking some French cooking classes while you are in Paris . Learn from the best and make the dishes you love at home!

Nightlife & Entertainment

Harry’s New York Bar was actually once located in New York City. The entire bar, just as it was, was moved over to Paris in the early 1900s. This bar is credited with inventing some of the most popular cocktails we know today, including the Bloody Mary and the Sidecar.

Wine and champagne are something most Parisians are very proud of. If you’re looking for an upscale wine bar, you’ll want to try out Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels. You’ll be able to try nearly every wine and champagne local to Paris. However, there are wine bars located in nearly every corner of the city.

From backroom speakeasies to modern nightclubs, Paris has a little bit of everything for everybody when it comes to nighttime entertainment.

Getting Around

There’s no shortage of ways to get around in Paris. The most popular, effective, and affordable way is the Metro. You may find it a bit intimidating at first due to the sheer number of lines and routes, but after a few trips to an attraction or restaurant, you’ll be riding the Metro like a pro.

You can purchase single ride tickets or a batch of 10. If you’re going to be in Paris longer there are also ride passes.

While traditional taxis can be quite expensive in the city, Uber offers some fairly inexpensive ways to get around town if traveling by car is best.

Walking between destinations is very doable in Paris but if you’d like to ride a bike instead, there’s plenty of kiosks that rent them. In fact, this can be a great way to tour the city and do some sightseeing on your own.

Accommodations

You’ll find everything from small and inexpensive hostels too large, luxury resorts in Paris. There are even small boutique hotels with spas and other amenities. Where you decide to stay while visiting Paris will largely depend on the type of experience you’re looking for.

If you wish to spoil yourselves, the Le Roch Hotel & Spa is perfectly located between restaurants, the Louvre Museum, and many tourist pick up spots. If you’re looking to meet other tourists, learn more about the city from those who’ve been here several times, and have a quieter stay, one of the many hostels around town are ideal. We recommend The Generator Hostel Paris.

On average, July is the warmest month in Paris. While the weather is much better during the summer months, there are usually more crowds. If you don’t want to have to fight the crowds and don’t mind cooler weather, traveling in late winter or early spring might just give you the blend of comfortable weather and fewer crowds. January is the coldest month, on average, with temperatures in the low 40s Fahrenheit.

Attractions

Paris is full of attractions. The Louvre Museum is a popular stop for tourists. The Mona Lisa exhibit here can be quite busy, however. Use your limited time at this world-famous museum by taking in the many other exhibits, many of which are quite interesting and just as important to French history.

If you like to visit museums, you might want to try the Musee d’Histoire de la Medecine. You might just learn more about how modern medicine came to be. The Museum of Modern Art is a popular stop as well.

Thinking of taking some day trips?

If you enjoy Champagne, then do yourself a favor and take a day trip to Champagne and do some tastings while exploring the countryside.

Visiting the Palace of Versailles , exploring the Paris catacombs , taking a river cruise down the Seine River , and making it to the top of the Eiffel Tower usually top most tourist’s lists of attractions . Remember that traveling to or visiting these places can be much easier if you go as a group on a tour.

You may get priority access, free souvenir photos, and more, just for traveling with a tour group. This is often the most affordable way and makes it easier to plan the days you’re planning to spend in Paris.

The catacombs beneath the Paris streets are unique, intriguing, and maybe even a little bit creepy. But that’s exactly why they are so popular. If planning on visiting the Paris catacombs during your stay, keep these tips in mind.

Last but not least, while you are in the city of lights be sure to take a walking tour and do a wine tasting tour !

Disneyland Paris

Also outside the city, despite its name, is Disneyland Paris, 20 miles to the east. This famous theme park is the most visited attraction in France. If you’re visiting Paris with children, you’ll probably want to devote two days to Disney because there are two separate parks here: Disneyland Park opened in 1992 and Walt Disney Studios Park opened in 2002. Inside both, you’ll find thrill rides for all ages as well as classic attractions, like actors dressed up as your favorite Disney characters and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. The easiest way to get to Disney Paris is with a shuttle and entrance ticket deal .

Tour Guides

The Catacombs of Paris: Restricted Access Tour is our Editor's Choice as the best Paris catacombs tour with its combination of expert tour guides and sites seen.

Krysha Thayer

Related articles, the 5 best stonehenge tours from london [2024 reviews], the 5 best wine tours from florence [2024 reviews], the 7 best vatican tours ⛪ [2024 reviews], the 5 best seine river dinner cruises [2024 reviews].

• Catacombs of Paris

Paris Catacombs tickets and tours

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• Highest price

Paris Catacombs tour with access to secret rooms

On this unique storytelling tour, you'll visit the Paris Catacombs to see the remains of millions of Parisians.

Catacombs guided tour with skip-the-line ticket and access to restricted areas

Get your skip-the-line tickets to the Catacombs of Paris and explore the mysterious labyrinth filled with skulls and bones of more than 6 million Parisians.

Skip-the-line guided tour of Paris Catacombs

Explore the mysterious underground world of the Catacombs in Paris on this 1.5-hour guided tour!

VIP Catacombs of Paris restricted access tour

Skip the long lines and unlock gates to hidden rooms in the Catacombs on this small group tour. Explore the world's largest ossuary and discover the buried secrets of underground Paris

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The inside story

The Catacombs of Paris contain the bones of more than 6 million Parisians, transferred from different cemeteries of the capital for safety issues between the late eighteenth century and the mid-nineteenth century. This underground labyrinth is housed in the old quarry galleries (whose stones were used for the construction of the city). To get into the catacombs, visitors must go down the 213 steps reaching 20 meters underground to travel the almost two kilometers of tunnels open to the public (less than 1% of all the catacombs). The temperature is constant: 14 °, all year round.

Underground Paris is open to visitors and offers a very surprising spectacle: more than 6 million human bones strewn along the length of the tunnels, profane poems and texts scattered along the way, which will make the most curious hold their breath. A unique place in the world that offers the most courageous journey beyond time.

The Catacombs of Paris are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 8:30 pm and most holidays (except January 1st, May 1st, and Christmas).

How to get there

To See One of Paris’s Top Attractions, Go Underground

In paris, the streets show off domes, spires, and monuments that attract millions of visitors every year. but beneath this architectural splendor, there’s an entire subterranean world..

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An estimated 6 million people are buried in the Catacombs—more than the entire population of Paris.

Photo by Skreidzeleu/Shutterstock

The Paris underground has long been romanticized in books and on the screen . (Remember the police chase scene in the Netflix hit Lupin ? ) There’s such mystery and intrigue that certain habitants can’t ignore the siren song luring them to descend into these secret—and illegal—places. The so-called cataphiles notoriously engage in clandestine activities; urban legends abound of underground cinemas, all-hours parties, and galleries tagged with street art . These contemporary explorers aren’t the first. In the 19th century, abandoned tunnels were used as mushroom farms and breweries; during the Second World War, French Resistance fighters hid in a maze of old quarries stretching 200 miles. (The very buildings so admired on the surface of Paris today were built with limestone excavated from these quarries.)

Today, the only legal place to visit this underground realm is the Paris Catacombs, a nearly mile-long stretch in the 14th arrondissement that takes its name from the famous ossuary housed there. The circuit is lined with walls of skulls and bones, the adjacent stone plaques (etched with the names of old cemeteries) indicating the skeletons’ provenance. Scientists estimate that some 6 million Parisians are buried in the Catacombs: more than the current living population of Paris. With over 500,000 annual visitors, it’s a very popular tourist site.

What is the history of the Paris Catacombs?

It all started with a sinkhole. On one ill-fated day back in 1774, a stretch of the former rue d’Enfer (“Hell Street,” near today’s Place Denfert-Rochereau) caved in and swallowed the houses in a billowing cloud of dust. To avoid another catastrophe, King Louis XVI appointed the first ever Inspector of Quarries, who was to explore, excavate, and map the potentially dangerous underground quarry system. Charles-Axel Guillaumot reinforced the galleries and created what historian Graham Robb, in his book Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris , called “the largest architectural ensemble in all of Europe” in the Paris underworld.

At the same time that Guillaumot’s cartographers methodically worked, there was chaos in the market area of Les Halles. The neighboring Cimetière des Innocents—the largest cemetery in the city—was overflowing with decomposing bodies after nine centuries of burials had saturated the graveyard. The king ordered the closure of the city’s unsanitary cemeteries, declaring that new ones should be created outside the city limits. And so Guillaumot proposed the creation of an ossuary within the medieval quarries beneath the old Enfer customs house, at the time located at the Paris periphery.

Thus began the nightly transfer of bones, in candlelit processions led by chanting priests, which required 15 months alone to empty Les Innocents. The human remains from other deconsecrated graveyards were also carried in carts, shrouded in a black veil, to their final resting place in the old quarries. From ground level, they were unceremoniously dropped down a well, resulting in shattered bones and skulls missing mandibles. They were then meticulously arranged in artistic walls of femurs, humeri, and tibias.

Who is buried in the Paris Catacombs?

The creation of the ossuary wasn’t only about sanitation and public health. It also reflected changing cultural practices and philosophical perspectives. “During this age of Enlightenment, the idea of death was pushed from people’s thoughts and views, literally put underground,” says Hélène Furminieux, the director of communications at the Catacombs. Since the Middle Ages, devoutly Catholic Parisians had thought of life as merely a transitive passage before the afterlife. Funerary rites echoed this in their anonymity (there were no individual names on tombstones; mass graves were often used). Despite this fact, historians have still been able to name individuals buried in the Catacombs by studying parish archives.

As a result, we know that nobles like Jean-Baptiste Colbert and Madame de Pompadour, the favorite mistress of King Louis XV, are buried next to le petit peuple . The bones of such famed writers as François Rabelais, Jean Racine, and Jean de La Fontaine mingle with those of the sculptor François Girardon and Louis XIV’s architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. And following the French Revolution, both the guillotined victims and their executioners (like statesman Maximilien Robespierre, the infamous architect of the Reign of Terror) now lie together in eternity. One of the largest necropolises in the world, the Paris Catacombs thus represents a massive mélange of humanity, regardless of class or birthright.

Why are the Paris Catacombs famous?

The Catacombs are built in the underground quarries of Paris.

Photo by Heracles Kritikos

Underground tourism began in 1809 when Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, the subsequent Inspector of Quarries, redesigned the ossuary to receive visitors. Not meant to be macabre nor ghoulish, the circuit was a contemplative meditation on death, the walls engraved with thought-provoking poetry by the likes of Lamartine and Horace. The entrance to the ossuary itself is inscribed with the words: “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la mort.” (“Halt! This is the empire of death.”) Taking inspiration from ancient Rome, the Catacombs features classical references and Doric columns. The site was so popular it attracted famous visitors like Emperor Francis I of Austria in 1814 and Napoleon III in 1860, and concerts have even been staged there.

The ossuary itself is 800 meters of the circuit. As you walk, you can see the markings of a medieval mason’s chisel, engraved inscriptions of the street names above, the initials of the various Inspectors of Quarries who have verified the strength of walls. (The most recent is beneath the exit pavilion’s boutique, which was unveiled in 2017 as part of a massive renovation of the site.)

The coolest part of all? The black painted line on the ceiling that Furminieux calls “Ariadne’s thread.” Before electricity was installed in the Catacombs in 1972, visitors were equipped only with a candle, often getting lost at intersections. To find their way out of the labyrinth, they could follow the black line. Even today there’s a labyrinthine feel to the Catacombs, with twists and turns sometimes dead-ending into doors or locked iron gates.

It’s a sensory experience: You can hear dripping water, the wind from a ventilation fan, the rumbling of the RER train. And if you look closely at the stone walls, you’ll encounter marine fossils embedded in the rock, a testament to the period 45 million years ago when Paris was covered by a tropical sea—the enormity of geological time dwarfing the brief lives of the humans whose skeletons adorn the Catacombs.

How to visit the Paris Catacombs

The catacombs of Paris are old limestone mines—the materials were used to create some of Paris’ most iconic buildings above ground.

Photo by Alex Guevara/Shutterstock

The full-rate ticket price is 29 euros (around US$32), with last-minute tickets priced at 15 euros (about US$17). Tickets for children age 5–17 years are 5 euros (US$6), but keep in mind that the ossuary may not be appropriate for young children. With narrow passageways and stairs, this site is not wheelchair accessible.

The visit is one hour and the temperature is 57 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so dress appropriately with footwear meant for walking. (Book a guided tour via the group booking form on the website and you’ll be privy to parts of the Catacombs that are usually off limits to other visitors.) These include the replica of a Roman tomb where Catholic mass was once celebrated, a well of turquoise water, and stunning sculptures carved into a wall by a quarry worker depicting the Menorca fortress where he was kept prisoner as a soldier in the army of Louis XV.

A notorious line used to wrap around the custom house for visitors waiting their turn to descend the 130 steps into the darkness. This is no longer the case. When Paris cultural sites reopened after the pandemic lockdown, new health restrictions were imposed requiring reservations to be made online in advance for a particular hour. “As a result, the visitor experience is streamlined and more fluid,” Furminieux says.

Last but not least: The ossuary is a place of repose for centuries of deceased Parisians, and it’s important to visit with respect. There have been stories of badly behaved tourists stealing bones; sometimes they’ve been mailed back, along with letters of remorse. Bags are thus searched at the exit.

See more information on how to visit the Paris Catacombs .

>> Next: AFAR’s Guide to Paris

Paris Catacombs Underground Tour

Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award: Top 25 Experiences – Worldwide

• Delve deep below Paris’ Metro lines to discover the City of Light’s darker side. With Skip-the-Line Access , descend into Paris’ eerie past as you explore the city’s Catacombs . Made up of a series of intricate tunnels, these somber Catacombs are the resting place of over six million people.
• Our tour includes privileged access to restricted areas of the Catacombs that are closed to the general public, such as; Port Mahon Gallery, Quarryman's Footbath, Sacellum Crypt, Sepulchral Lamp and Gilbert's Tomb.
• Explore the dark underworld of Paris as you venture below ground to these truly captivating Catacombs, in the company of an expert, English-speaking guide .
• Choose between a Semi-Private tour with 6 or fewer people , or a normal tour with  group size limited to 19 people or fewer , this tour promises to be a highlight of your vacation in Paris.

Tour Description

What's included.

• Special access to restricted areas closed to general public
• Expert, English-speaking tour guide
• *Small groups of no more than 19 people or Semi-Private group of 6 people or less
• Entrance ticket and reservation fee for the Paris Catacombs

Sites Visited

• Paris Catacombs
• Restricted areas: Port Mahon Gallery, Quarryman's Footbath, Sacellum Crypt, Sepulchral Lamp and Gilbert's Tomb

Discover the Underside of Paris

Beneath the sun-soaked streets and stunning architecture lies a darker side to Paris. Descend deep below Paris’ Metro lines and into a parallel city, a city that over 6 million skeletons call home on a tour of the Paris Catacombs. Stretching across an area of 200 miles of former quarry and made up of an intricate series of tunnels, this macabre site is one of the most fascinating places you’ll visit during your stay in Paris.

One of Paris' Most Popular Must-See Attractions

Explore the City of Light’s darker side on our Paris Catacombs tour.  Lurking below the city’s romantic tree-lined boulevards, public gardens, and cafés, this mysterious sight has become one of Paris’ unmissable tourist attractions.

Make the most of your precious vacation time on our Paris Catacombs tour. With Skip-the-Line Access you’ll be whisked straight passed the long lines waiting outside and marveling at Paris’ dark, yet alluring, underbelly within minutes.

Top-Rated City Wonders Guide

In the company of an expert, English-speaking guide and in a small group of either 19 or 6 people*, you’ll embark on your journey into Paris’ underworld. With your guide’s help you’ll navigate your way 65 feet below street level, below Metro lines and sewers and into the Catacombs.

As you cross-over into the city’s dark side, you’ll be greeted by the words “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la mort”, or "Stop! Here lies the empire of death". This inscription is a fitting warning for the eerie sights that lie within.  Explore tunnels and macabre galleries decorated entirely with skulls and bones on your journey through Paris’ colorful past. Watch as these spine-chilling remains are brought back to life before your eyes, as your expert guide recants the tales of a Paris gone-by and a dark past time wishes we forgot.

Tour Benefits

Our tours benefit from the privilege of special access to parts of the Paris catacombs that are closed to the general public. Gates to two halls will be opened especially for you to marvel at the devastatingly captivating sculptures chiseled out of the rock in the Port Mahon Gallery, where a quarry worker spent five years in secret toil from 1777, until a cave-in crushed him to death.

Other restricted areas you’ll visit on your tour include the Quarryman's footbath, the Sacellum Crypt or altar, where bones were blessed before being "archived," the Sepulchral Lamp, which constantly burned to show there was enough air in the tunnels, and the elusive Gilbert's Tomb.

Get ready to "rub bones" with the likes of Rabelais and Robespierre on this intimate voyage into a Paris’ dark underbelly, a voyage that few have experienced.

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Important Notes

• Please note that Paris will host the 2024 Olympics from July 26th to August 11th, followed by the Paralympics from August 28th to September 8th. This may have an impact on our travel plans. While we are committed to minimizing any sort of inconvenience, please be aware that unforeseen issues may arise. We will make every effort to navigate challenges and ensure a smooth experience for you.
• Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' access.
• Please note that Special Access areas may be closed on some days.

Cancelation Policy

This tour is subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time.

• Book with Confidence: Free cancellations up to 24 hours before the experience begins (local time).
• Multilingual Customer Service: Talk to us, we are here to help.
• No Hidden Costs: All taxes and fees included.

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Paris tours, paris catacombs tours, get to know city wonders.

A City Wonders tour is the product of meticulous research, detailed planning, and a passion for providing customers with travel experiences they will cherish forever.

With City Wonders it's not just facts, our passionate guides tell you the stories that bring the sights to life.

• All of our guides are experts in their field
• We only hire fluent English-speakers so nothing is ever lost in translation
• We focus on the little details and anecdotes that make City Wonders so special

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Skip-the-Line Paris Catacombs Tour with Special Access

Why take this tour?

• Submerge yourself beneath the surface of the city streets
• Explore the intricate network of tunnels which comprise the Paris Catacombs
• Learn more about the events which led to the creation of one of Europe's largest communal burial grounds
• Step inside parts of the Catacombs rarely seen by the public
• Immerse yourself in the 'Empire of the Dead' and hear the story behind the structure
• Choose 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM time for a smaller group size (6 guests)
• Sites Visited
• Paris Catacombs
• Tour Includes
• Local English-speaking guide
• Expertly guided walking tour
• Skip-the-line ticket for Paris Catacombs

Take a (special access!) walk through Paris's eerie City of the Dead

Total customer reviews: 632, latest reviews.

Meeting Point

Meeting Point 2 avenue du General Leclerc. Meet your guide in front of Café du Rendez-vous. They will be holding a green Walks sign.

Please meet 15 minutes prior to the tour start time.

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The Paris Catacombs are commonly known as the “World’s Largest Grave”. Below the ground, millions of bodies and bones are laid to rest here. Centuries ago, Paris lacked sufficient cemetery space, and as a result this underground burial area was created. With a circuit of underground tunnels, the Catacombs keep you on their feet with every twist and turn. Not to worry though, your official Paris Catacombs guide knows the way and will show you all of the highlights of the tombs, complete with the myths and legends that surround the site.

Explore the Paris Catacombs where more than six million people lie beneath the incredible city of Paris. This Paris Catacombs tour allows you to skip the line, which sometimes lasts up to three hours! Listen to a true "Cataphile" (Catacombs afficianado) unravel the incredible folklore associated with the darkness beneath the City of Light. Find out why this burial site was created and discover Paris Catacombs facts that you'd never guess. The Paris Catacombs are commonly known as the “World’s Largest Grave”. Below the ground, millions of bodies and bones are laid to rest here. Centuries ago, Paris lacked sufficient cemetery space, and as a result this underground burial area was created. With a circuit of underground tunnels, the Catacombs keep you on their feet with every twist and turn. Not to worry though, your official Paris Catacombs guide knows the way and will show you all of the highlights of the tombs, complete with the myths and legends that surround the site.

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Paris Catacombs Tour | Semi-Private Underground Experience

What to expect.

LivTours Paris Catacombs Tour is a semi-private tour that takes you beneath the dazzling lights of modern Paris to the underground world of the catacombs. This stunningly  macabre 200-mile maze houses the painstakingly arranged remains of 6 million Parisians. On this tour, you will get to see all the ghoulish sites without waiting in line. Enjoy the added bonus of LivTours VIP access to usually restricted chambers.

Why book this tour

• Admire millions of intricately arranged bones in the Catacombs on a semi-private tour
• Hear the fascinating tales of the Catacombs’ history, wartime use & resident ghosts
• Savor the luxury of priority access into the Catacombs with an expert local guide
• See the legendary crypts where beheaded revolutionaries were laid to rest
• Explore restricted Catacombs chambers with LivTours’ special access with your guide

Semi-Private tours and experiences are guaranteed six participants max.

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

Read more about your Paris Catacombs tour

Your Paris Catacombs Tour begins with a bone-chilling descent down 133-steps. These tunnels were used in the 13th century to quarry limestone for buildings as grand as Notre Dame. As you make your way through the narrow tunnels, you will learn what forced Parisians to bury their dead here.

During your tour, you will have plenty of time to admire the Catacombs’ disturbingly detailed bone decorations. From religious iconography to hearts, workers found many ways to “beautify” the bones housed in this complex. There is, however, one decoration that will really set your spine a-tingling. Inside the popular Crypt of the Passion take a few moments to admire “The Barrel,” constructed out of various skeletal remains.

Paris Catacombs in History

In addition to housing the dead, the Catacombs played an important role in many historic events. Your guide will tell you tales of the German Wehrmacht and the French Resistance who both used part of the Catacombs as wartime bunkers. Pay homage to monuments dedicated to people who died fighting during the French Revolution, and pass by some of the cemeteries, such as the Magdalena Cemetery, where beheaded revolutionaries were laid to rest.

Resident Ghost

If you are not afraid of ghosts, then ask your guide about the grave of the doorman Philibert Aspairt who passed away in the Catacombs in the 18th century. According to legend, Aspairt’s spirit rises up every November 3rd to spook unsuspecting tourists.

Keep in mind, only 200 people are allowed into the Catacombs at any given moment. With LivTours, however, you will enjoy VIP access to all of the Catacombs’ major highlights without waiting in line. The LivTours Paris Catacombs Tour will also take you to areas that are restricted to the general public. Although we can’t take you through all 200 miles of the Catacombs, our Paris Catacombs Tour will lead you to some of the most exclusive areas in this Parisian underworld.

This tour includes

• Skip-the-line tickets to Paris Catacombs
• Access to secret Rooms of the Catacombs
• Fully guided experience

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Semi-Private tours

All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility .

Paris Catacombs are truly mesmerizing

This was an unreal experience. Such big limestone tunnels originally made to make Paris as beautiful as it is and then it was filled with millions of skeletons that couldn't be buried at cemeteries. This was my first time experiencing something like this. It is great that LivTours only allows up to 6 people in a group because it makes the tour super personalized. Their high quality tour guides (I have also had their guides in Italy) and their VIP access to sites makes such a large difference. These tours provide a remarkable experience for a very good price. Go LivTours!

Tour Catacombs

We toured the catacombs with Kaitlyn and had a wonderful experience. She was very well informed and added light humor to a dark subject matter. The access to some of the less travelled area was very special.

VIP Catacombs Tour

We had a great time with Kaitlyn! Very knowledgeable about the history of the catacombs and was humorous as well. Enjoyed our time a lot.

Two Thumbs Up!

Caitlin was the best tour guide for the Catacombs. She is very funny and is a beautiful story teller. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who hadn't been to the Catacombs with a tour guide. We learned so much!

While in Paris, my husband and I booked a tour of the Paris Catacombs with LivTours. We were the first to arrive and had extra time with our amazing tour guide, Kaitlyn. We loved her humor, her passion, her knowledge which made the tour more special. It was so worth it to get access to the VIP Tunnels, and we were so happy to only be with a small group. Absolutely amazing tour and tour guide!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

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10 Catacombs & Ossuaries Around The World To Visit

• The Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic features works of art made from human bones and is part of the oldest Cistercian monastery in the region.
• The catacombs of Paris are home to an exceptionally large amount of skeletons, with around 6 million skeletons in total.
• The Valley of the Kings in Egypt is a fascinating catacomb that provides insight into the rituals of ancient Egyptian civilization, housing tombs of pharaohs such as King Tutankhamun.

Catacombs and ossuaries can be rather creepy places to visit, but they also tell an important part of a place's culture and history. The most famous catacombs in the world must be the ancient catacombs of Rome , but there are plenty more around Europe and beyond.

Some catacombs are likely still lost to history, waiting to be rediscovered (new underground cities are still being discovered today, like the lost city of Matiate in Turkey ). Here are some of the most remarkable catacombs and ossuaries around the world to visit.

Related: Here Are 10 Roman Ruins & Structures Still In Use

Sedlec Ossuary

The Sedlec Ossuary is one of the greatest attractions to visit outside of Prague in the Czech Republic. The Seldec Ossaury is in the Cemetery Church and is part of the oldest Cistercian monastery in the region (and was founded in 1142).

Here, visitors can see human bones arranged into works of art adorning the church (including a remarkable coat of arms made from human bones).

• Location: Sedlec, Czech Republic (Near Prague)

Paris Catacombs

The catacombs or ossuaries of Paris are some of the most famous catacombs in Europe. The ossuaries occupy only a small part of the vast quarries under Paris and are home to some 6 million skeletons (an exceptionally large amount for any ossuary in the world).

The Paris Catacombs are open to the public, and there are public tours available.

• Location: Paris, France

Related: The Paris Catacombs Are The Final Resting Places Of Six Million People, And You Can Visit Them

Capuchin Catacombs

The Capuchin Catacombs are some of the most remarkable in Europe . Here, visitors can see many fully dressed mummies in the catacombs under the church in Sicily.

The first mummy was placed there in 1599 and the last in 1939, and there are some 8,000 corpses and 1,252 mummies organized into men, women, virgins, children, priests, monks, and professionals.

• Location: Palermo, Sicily

Valley Of The Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a series of rock-cut tombs built during the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt over a period of 500 years. This is where many of the ancient Pharaohs were built (including King Tutankhamun), and the latest tombs found here were discovered in 2008.

The Valley of the Kings is one of the best catacombs in the world to visit to get a glimpse of the rituals of the ancient Egyptian civilization, and they date from after the Egyptians built the pyramids.

• Location: Thebes (Modern Luxor), Egypt

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Egypt's Mystical Valley Of The Kings

Mummy Museum Guanajuato

The Mummy Museum Guanajuato is one of the most unusual attractions in Mexico. The Mummy Museum Guanajuato has a number of naturally mummified bodies of people who died in an epidemic in the city in 1833.

Today, there are 59 mummies on display out of a total of 111 mummies.

• Location: Guanajuato, Mexico

Catacomb Of Callixtus

The Catacombs of Callixtus is perhaps the best known of the Catacombs of Rome. It is located along the Appian Way and is home to the Crypt of the Popes (dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries).

The Catacombs of Callixtus was only rediscovered in 1854, and they are open to the public today and are one of the best underground attractions of Ancient Rome.

• Location: Rome, Italy

Catacombs Of San Sebastiano

The Catacombs of San Sebastiano may be one of the smallest of the famous catacombs of Rome, but it is also one of the most accessible of Rome's catacombs. It once had four floors and was a Christian cemetery (although the fourth level is now almost completely destroyed).

It is also located along the Appian Way and is one of the few Christian cemeteries to have always been accessible.

Brno Ossuary

The Brno Ossuary is another remarkable ossuary in the Czech Republic. It was founded in the 17th century and expanded in the 18th century, and then forgotten about. It was only rediscovered in 2001 in the historic center of the historic center of the Czech city of Brno.

It is thought to have around 50,000 people interred (which would make it the second-largest ossuary after the Paris Ossuaries).

• Location: Brno, Czech Republic

Catacombs Of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa

Not all of the ancient historic archeological attractions of Egypt is from the Ancient Egyptian period. The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa are located in Alexandria and date from the Roman period.

These are made up of 3 levels and have some 300 bodies. They have a maze of passageways and rooms and represent a blend of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian elements.

• Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Related: See The Ancient Roman Catacombs Of Kom El Shoqafa In Egypt

Old St. Patrick Cathedral's Mini Catacombs

New York City's Old St. Patrick Cathedral offers a rare opportunity to see incredible catacombs in the United States. Old St. Patrick's Cathedral was consecrated in 1815 and is one of the historic attractions of Manhattan.

Underneath the cathedral are mini catacombs currently made up of 35 family crypts and 5 clerical vaults.

• Location: Manhattan, NYC, United States

Individual rates

• Full rate: 29€ (audioguide included)
• Reduced rate: 23€ (audioguide included)
• Child rate (5 to 17): 10€ (audioguide not included)
• Children under 5: free admission
• Audioguide: 5€

Concessions

Reduced rate (upon presentation of a valid ID) :

18 to 26 year olds, students, holders of the "Paris Pass Famille", members of : la Sauvegarde de l'Art Français, la Société de l'Histoire de l'Art Français, la Société francaise d'archéologie, la Société nationale des Antiquaires de France.

Free Admission (upon presentation of a valid ID) :

Disabled and their personal care attendant, job seekers and beneficaries of the following income support supplements : RSA, allocation parents isolés, allocation personnalisée d'autonomie et aide sociale de l'Etat pour les réfugiés, city of Rome inhabitants (Paris twin City), city of Paris employees and councillors in activity or retired, professional visual artists with written evidence, Art World professionals : International Association of Art Critics, museum guides, French and foreign curators, « la commission du Vieux Paris », ICOM and ICOMOS members, journalists, art press reporters and federations.

Guided Tours

Guided tours on tuesdays at 6 pm and thursdays on 1 pm.

Duration : 2 hours

Available in French only

20 pax maximum