Notre Dame Paris 2026: Free Entry, Towers €16, Honest Visitor Guide

Notre Dame reopened in December 2024. Entry is free — and has always been free. But type "Notre Dame tickets" into Google and you'll hit three pages of sites selling "skip-the-line entry" for €20 or more. None of them are legitimate. There is no ticket to buy for the cathedral.

The only thing you need is a reservation. It's free, it takes 30 seconds, and it's on the official site.

In 3 minutes

• Cathedral entry: free, with a free reservation on notredamedeparis.fr. Slots open 48 hours ahead.
• Bell Towers: €16, booked only on the CMN site. 424 steps, no lift.
• Best time: Tuesday or Wednesday before 9:30 AM, or Thursday evening 19:00–22:00.

What to expect from the restored cathedral

The restoration took five years and €700 million. When Notre Dame reopened on 7 December 2024, visitors walked into something almost no one alive had seen — the stone is white. Centuries of candle soot and fire damage came off during cleaning. The new spire is up, the nave is brighter, the acoustics tuned.

Three and a half million people visited in the first three months. Crowds are heavier than before the fire, but the flow is better managed: timed reservations, 30-minute slots, clear door signage.

The cathedral takes about 45 minutes. Towers add 60. Treasury is optional.

What to look for inside

• The cleaned limestone — most obvious along the nave columns and in the ambulatory. This is what the cathedral looked like in the 14th century. No one alive had seen it.
• The new altar by Guillaume Bardet — bronze, 2024. It replaced the marble altar crushed when the spire fell through the vault on 15 April 2019.
• The new spire — a replica of Viollet-le-Duc's 1860 design, topped with the same rooster reliquary that survived the fall into the ashes.
• The three rose windows — the south rose (13th century) still has its original medieval glass. The north and west were replaced in the 19th century after Revolution damage.
• The flying buttresses — only visible from outside. Walk around to Square Jean XXIII behind the cathedral to see the east end. Most visitors skip this and miss the most elegant engineering in Paris.
• The Treasury doorway — if you choose not to go in, at least look at the 13th-century ironwork on the door. The hinges are forged roses.

What do most visitors wish they knew about Notre Dame?

Reservations open exactly 48 hours ahead at midnight Paris time. In peak season (April–October), the best morning slots go within an hour — set an alarm for 23:55 two days before a weekend visit.

Large bags and backpacks are banned, and there is no on-site storage. Drop your bag at a Nannybag or a hotel before you walk to the cathedral.

Towers and cathedral have different entrances. Tower entry: north side (rue du Cloître Notre-Dame). Cathedral entry: west façade. People routinely queue at the wrong one.

Practical info

Frequently asked questions

Is Notre Dame free to visit in 2026?

Yes. Entry to the cathedral is 100% free and always has been. You book a free reservation on notredamedeparis.fr to skip the queue, or walk up and wait. Sites selling "Notre Dame tickets" or "skip-the-line entry" are reselling the free slots — there is no ticket to buy for the cathedral itself. Only the bell towers (€16) and the treasury (€12) have paid entry.

How do I book a Notre Dame reservation?

Go to notredamedeparis.fr and pick a 30-minute time slot. Slots open two days in advance at midnight Paris time. During peak season (April–October) they fill fast, especially weekends — set an alarm if you're visiting on a Saturday or Sunday. Walk-ins are also accepted but can wait 30 minutes to 3 hours in high season.

How much is the Notre Dame tower climb?

€16 for adults, booked only on the official CMN site (tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr). Free for under-18s with an adult, EU residents under 26, Paris Museum Pass holders, and visitors on the first Sunday of each month from November through March. The climb is 424 steps, no lift. Book at least a week ahead in peak season.

Is the Notre Dame treasury worth visiting?

Only if you're genuinely interested in religious art and reliquaries. The treasury is €12, takes 30–45 minutes, and holds sacred vessels, vestments, and the Crown of Thorns. Most first-time visitors can skip it.

What is the best time to visit Notre Dame?

Tuesday or Wednesday before 9:30 AM is quietest. Thursday evening from 19:00 to 22:00 is the best-kept secret — the cathedral stays open late only on Thursdays, and crowds thin dramatically. Avoid 10:00–16:00, especially weekends.

While you're on Île de la Cité

Two paid sites are a two-minute walk from Notre Dame and genuinely worth the detour.

• Sainte-Chapelle — the 13th-century stained glass is the best in Paris. The Sainte-Chapelle + Conciergerie combined ticket is €25 and covers both neighbours of Notre Dame in one slot. Free on the first Sunday of each month, November–March.
• Paris Museum Pass — if you're planning more than Notre Dame's towers, the 2/4/6-day pass includes free tower climb here, plus Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, and Versailles. See our full breakdown.

Skip the paid ticket sites. The only money you'll spend here is on the towers or the treasury if you want them — and the cathedral itself, the reason you came, is free.