Begun in 1163 and largely complete by the mid-14th century, Notre-Dame de Paris is the great Gothic cathedral of France. On 15 April 2019 a fire destroyed its roof and spire. After a five-year restoration involving hundreds of craftspeople, it reopened on 7 December 2024: the spire has been rebuilt to Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century design, the stone inside cleaned to a pale gold, and the chapels restored.
Entry to the cathedral is free. The towers, with their gargoyles and views over Paris, reopened to visitors in September 2025 as a separate, paid, timed visit; the treasury and the archaeological crypt under the square in front are also ticketed.
Top things to do at Notre-Dame de Paris
Visit the restored interior
The nave, the medieval rose windows and the new liturgical furniture are best seen early or late in the day. Queues move quickly, but you can book a free time slot on the official website or app to skip the line.
Climb the towers
The climb of more than 400 steps brings you among the chimeras of the Galerie des Chimères and to a view over the Seine and the Marais. Tickets are timed and sell out; book ahead.
Take a guided tour
A guide explains the fire, the restoration and the sculpture of the portals — well worth it given how much has changed. See the options on our best tours page.
Combine with Sainte-Chapelle
Five minutes away, Sainte-Chapelle’s 13th-century stained glass is one of the wonders of Paris. Timed tickets are essential.
How to get to Notre-Dame de Paris
- On foot from the Place des Vosges: about 25 minutes via Rue Saint-Paul, the Pont Marie and the Île Saint-Louis — the prettiest route.
- Métro: Cité (line 4) or Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (line 4 and RER B/C). From the Marais, take line 1 from Saint-Paul to Hôtel de Ville and walk across the Pont d’Arcole (10 minutes).
Insider tips
- Dress respectfully and expect security checks at the entrance. Masses and services continue throughout the day.
- Early morning and early evening are the calmest times; opening hours are extended on some evenings — check the official website.
- Photograph the apse and the new spire from the Île Saint-Louis quays or the Square Jean-XXIII garden behind the cathedral.
Best tours & tickets for Notre-Dame de Paris
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Notre-Dame de Paris:
Guided tour from €21 Paris: Notre-Dame Cathedral Interior and Exterior Guided Tour
An hour with a guide inside and around the reopened cathedral: the Gothic architecture, the 2019 fire and the extraordinary restoration. Rated 4.7 by well over a thousand guests, at a very fair price — the cathedral itself is free, so you pay only for the guide.
- The fire and the restoration explained
- The portals, rose windows and new spire
- Inside and outside the cathedral
Guided tour with tickets from €75 Paris: Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie & Notre-Dame Guided Tour
The three great medieval sights of the Île de la Cité in two hours: Sainte-Chapelle’s wall of stained glass, the Conciergerie where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned, and Notre-Dame. Tickets are included, which saves queueing for timed slots.
- Entry tickets to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie
- Notre-Dame explained by your guide
- The medieval heart of Paris in one visit
River cruise from €17 Seine River Sightseeing Guided Cruise by Vedettes du Pont Neuf
The classic hour-long Seine cruise, leaving from the Square du Vert-Galant beneath the Pont Neuf — about 30 minutes’ walk or a short Métro ride from the Marais. It passes the Île Saint-Louis and Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. Great value, and lovely after dark.
- Live commentary on the monuments
- Departs from the tip of the Île de la Cité
- Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower from the water
