Skip the Line Paris Catacombs Tickets

The easy way to skip the long lines and explore Paris’s creepiest attraction on your own

5.00 (23) ·

Travel Flexibly

· 1.00h · Paris, France

Paris Catacombs tickets are a pain to secure, with daily limits and famously long waits leaving many visitors disappointed. Our skip-the-line tickets ensure you don’t miss out—bypass the line and head straight into the eerie, maze-like tunnels. Avoid the stress of sold-out tickets and hours of waiting; instead, dive directly into the Catacombs’ chilling history, saving precious time in Paris for more exploration.

What You Get With This Tour

Skip-the-Line Catacombs tickets
Restricted areas access
Barrel of Passion
Lower Catacombs
The Spiral Staircase to the Well
Max 20 people
Guide gratuity
Hotel pick up or drop off
Wheelchair accessible

Tour Itinerary

1

Receive your ticket
Within 48 hours of booking, check your email for your skip-the-line tickets. Use the barcode for effortless entry at your designated time.
2

Paris Catacombs
Your self-guided tour takes place in the narrow passages under Paris’ bustling streets, where the bones of over six million Parisians rest.
3

The Well
Discover a historic well, the first of its kind for geological drilling in Paris, and gaze at clear waters once used to trick new quarrymen.
4

Barrel of Passion
Taking center stage in the Crypt of Passion, the bone and skull-decorated Barrel of Passion promises to send goosebumps down your spine.
5

Citadel de Mahon
Marvel at the detailed recreation of Menorca’s Citadel of Mahon, carved into stone from memory by Decuré, a veteran of the French army.
6

End inside Catacombs
Explore the harrowed halls of the Catacombs at your leisure. As a self-guided tour, the experience is yours to craft to your liking.

Additional Information

Purchasing these tickets gives you skip-the-line Paris Catacombs entry only. If you'd like a more complete Catacombs experience, our highly-rated guided tour lets you explore with an expert "cataphile" guide, so you can hear the folklore and insights that'll truly bring this place of the dead to life. You'll even get to see inside secret rooms that aren't open to the general public!

Still prefer to explore the Paris Catacombs on your own? No problem! After purchase confirmation, your skip-the-line tickets will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours. The barcode on these tickets can be shown at admission to allow you to enter the Catacombs quickly, however long the line may be. In peak months the wait times have been known to last up to 3 hours!

Skip the Line Paris Catacombs Tickets

Your purchase includes:

E-mail confirmation and privileged skip-the-line ticket
Fast entry to the Paris Catacombs, however long the line

*These tickets are non-refundable. All sales are final, no cancellations.

Catacombs of Paris - The Gateway to Hell

Tunnels have existed under Paris since the 13th century. They were once used to mine the limestone that helped build the city and also as ossuaries for burying human remains. But it wasn’t until the 17th century that the Paris Catacombs we see today really began to take form.

Paris was expanding rapidly and began to build over the now abandoned tunnels. A few major ground collapses later, and something had to be done.

At the same time, the population was growing and the city’s cemeteries were overflowing. So, Louis XVI decided to kill two birds with one stone and approved the reinforcement and extension of the tunnels for use as a burial place for the dead. In an eerie twist, the estimated 6 million bodies buried here actually help to support the structure itself.

Self-guided Paris Catacombs Tour

Once inside, you will be greeted with a sign that will welcome you through the "Gates of Hell." Descend beneath the Paris streets to enter a dark and cool ossuary, lit only by dim lights.

Inside, you’ll be able to explore the labyrinth of tunnels and macabre structures that make up the Catacombs. Many of the structures are made entirely from human bones, and there are some pretty creepy artistic displays to admire here too.

If you're looking to hear all of the exhilarating folklore surrounding the Paris Catacombs, we recommend taking a guided tour instead to get the full experience.

Customer Reviews

5.00 (23)

Leave a review

Benjamin Sisco, 19 March 2025

A Must See!

Carmen Acosta-Bergen, 07 December 2024

Booking ahead of time saved us so much time. This was a self guided tour however we were able to purchase tickets ahead of time allowing us to plan our stay and other tours instead of directly through the Catacombs which only allow you to purchase 7 days ahead

Jody Turner, 05 October 2024

Kathryn Warrick, 25 February 2024

Excellent self guided tour

Howard Scott Mcgregor, 31 January 2024

The device used is like a cell phone that you activate at specified points in tour. Loved it. >130 steps down and back up. Unusual experience and history. Worth the time and money.

Show more reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

We always recommend comfortable walking shoes on all of our tours. The temperature inside the Catacombs is always around 14°C/57°F, no matter what time of year, so it's a good idea to bring a light sweater.

What to bring?

What if I'd prefer a guided tour?

We've got you covered! Check out our Paris Catacombs Tour with Secret Rooms & Privileged Access, where you'll join a small group and expert Catacombs guide.