The days are getting brighter and longer, and Paris is ramping up for a new season. Millions of visitors are slated to come to the city in 2025, and perhaps we will break records for the number of people coming from all over the world to see its sights.
With the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral at the end of last year, renewed interest and a desire to see its gleaming interior has taken hold. As a result, it is important to plan your trip accordingly so you can visit with as little hassle as possible. Through Eternity Tours is here to help you out! I have been working for a decade as a tour guide in Paris, and below I’ll share some of my top tips for visiting the French capital to help make sure you get the best out of your limited time in the city.
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Explore the City of Light!
Notre Dame Restoration
With the devastation that took hold of the Cathedral of Paris back in 2019, the area around Notre Dame has been a construction site for five years. Close to a billion euros worth of investment, hundreds of artisans and a deep-seated respect for the history of the church have all combined to create something spectacular. The interior of Notre Dame is gleaming for the first time in centuries, and the color and light of the high gothic style is on show for all to see.
The reopening was a major world news event, and those of us who work around the church are pretty excited to be back. As with any major site in a major tourist destination like Paris, there are lines and hurdles to deal with. There are a few ways to get ahead of the crowds though!
Attend Holy Mass
Notre Dame cathedral is first and foremost a religious site. Seat of the bishop of Paris, it hosts mass every day. There are a few different lines to enter Notre Dame. One is for those who have booked a timed reservation slot, another is for those who have just turned up (this one is unsurprisingly the longest), and the final line is for those who wish to attend mass or services at the cathedral.
If you wish to attend a service, you can skip past the large line at the front; just turn up around ten minutes before the service you want to attend and you will walk right in. High Mass with music is worth attending, even if you are not religious. It is what the building was built for and it’s an extremely atmospheric experience.
Reserve online
In light of the number of visitors expected at Notre Dame this year, the Cathedral authorities have instituted a reservation system. This means you book a timed entrance slot, and it will definitely get you in quicker if you can get one. The system is a bit of a lottery however, and unfortunately you can’t book well ahead of time. Instead you will have to check on the day of your visit to the Cathedral for reservations later in the day.
In my opinion it’s not the most efficient system, but if you plan to visit in the busiest months of the summertime it may be your best option. If you can get a reservation then go ahead and book it, as it will get you inside quicker.
Time your visit
In my experience, it’s always amazing to see the number of people who rock up to major sites at the worst times of the day. We at Through Eternity have been doing this for a long time, and there is one simple thing to keep in mind that will not only reduce the time you spend queueing, but also your experience when you are inside: Timing!
Of course many people have a limited schedule and conflicting things they want to see, but if possible there are some times you should avoid when planning your visit to Notre Dame. The weekend (especially around mid-morning to lunchtime), is probably the most difficult time to get inside the church without a reservation. If you must visit on a Saturday, then if you come right when the church first opens you should be able to get in fairly quickly. Sunday is equally busy, but if you attend Mass you will be able to skip the line.
During the week is an objectively better time to plan your visit. Arrive Monday to Thursday, especially early in the morning, and you won’t encounter much of a line. The church is open from 8am in the morning: come down during the week before 10am and you will probably enter very quickly.
One Last Thing to Remember!
The Church is free to visit. While there is something of a debate going on in Paris right now about the possibility of charging an entrance fee, the Bishop is committed to keeping Notre Dame free for all. If this changes in the future, we’ll keep you informed – so check back here for updates!
Considering the vast popularity of the church, many dodgy operators attempt to sell tickets for Notre Dame, or guaranteeing skip-the-line-entry. Be aware that these are not legitimate. There is only one ticket to get into the church, and that is the free reservation from the official Notre Dame website.
Of course, reputable tour operators like Through Eternity offer detailed itineraries that discuss the history of the church and its legacy in the context of the city, but the only way to skip the line is through the official channels, so avoid companies that attempt to sell entrance tickets to Notre Dame itself.
See below for the range of Through Eternity tours that visit Notre Dame!
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