Let's start with the only thing you really need to remember: nobody has to pay to enter Notre-Dame. The cathedral says so in black and white on its official website. Everything that costs money relates to annex spaces or services. This guide breaks down every price so you know exactly where your money goes.
Price summary
| What you're visiting | Price | Booking | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral (nave, chapels, ambulatory) | Free | Free time slot recommended (2 days ahead) | Official website / app |
| Towers (424 steps, terraces, belfry) | €16 | Mandatory, online only | Centre des monuments nationaux |
| Treasury (goldsmiths' work, reliquaries) | €6 | On site, inside the cathedral | Interior desk |
| Audio guide (fr / en / es) | €6 | No | Inside the cathedral |
| Exterior guided tour | from €5 | Yes | Partner operators |
| Interior + exterior guided tour | ~€35 | Yes | Partner operators |
| "Eternal Notre-Dame" VR experience | ~€31 | Recommended | Parvis / online |
Prices observed in 2026 on the official websites (notredamedeparis.fr, monuments-nationaux.fr) and partner platforms; subject to change.
Compared: self-guided, guided or combo?
Self-guided visit — €0 (+ optional €6 audio guide)
Who it's for: independent travellers, tight budgets, families. Book the free time slot and take the audio guide if you want historical depth. You'll see everything essential: nave, rose windows, choir, restored chapels.
Guided tour — €5 to €35
Who it's for: anyone who wants to understand what they're looking at. At €5, the exterior tour decodes the facade, the portals and the restoration project — excellent value for money. At ~€35, the interior + exterior tour adds escorted access to the nave with a time slot already handled by the operator: you take care of nothing. Tour details here.
Combos and experiences — €27 to €165
Who it's for: first trip to Paris, or a wish to go further. The Île de la Cité + Sainte-Chapelle combo (~€27) is the most popular: the island's two Gothic masterpieces in one half-day. The "Eternal Notre-Dame" VR (~€31) brings 860 years of history to life — perfect on a rainy day. Full-day tours like "Paris in a Day" (~€165) string together the Louvre, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle with a single guide.
The towers: the only "real" Notre-Dame ticket
Reopened in September 2025 after restoration, the towers are run by the Centre des monuments nationaux — this is the site's only official paid ticket:
- €16 full price, booking online only (no on-site ticket desk) via the national monuments' official ticketing site.
- Free for under-18s and for 18–25-year-old EU residents (with ID; you still need to book a slot).
- 424 steps, no lift: chimeras, the belfry and the Emmanuel bell (13 tonnes), then a panorama over the Seine and Paris.
- Allow 50 minutes; morning slots = perfect light on the spire and shorter waits.
Audio guide and treasury: €12 well spent?
The audio guide (€6) is rented inside, in French, English and Spanish: a 45-minute commented route, useful if you're not taking a guided tour. The treasury (€6), in Viollet-le-Duc's neo-Gothic sacristy, displays reliquaries and goldsmiths' work — the Crown of Thorns, meanwhile, is displayed free of charge in the cathedral during Friday venerations. If you have to choose: audio guide for a first visit, treasury for lovers of sacred art.
How to save money
- The cathedral is already free — the number-one money-saver is not buying something that isn't for sale.
- Free towers for under-18s and 18–25-year-old EU residents; remember your ID.
- First Sunday of the month (November to March): the towers are free for everyone, as at other national monuments — expect maximum crowds, arrive at opening.
- Paris Museum Pass: it doesn't include the nave (already free) but does cover the cathedral towers, plus the neighbouring Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie — worth it from 3 paid monuments per day.
- The €5 exterior tour: the cheapest guided tour, often bundled with skip-the-line entry to the nave.
Where to buy, in practice
- Nave time slot (free): the official website notredamedeparis.fr or the cathedral's app.
- Towers (€16): the official ticketing site of the Centre des monuments nationaux.
- Guided tours and combos: partner platforms — the offers above can be booked online with flexible cancellation; prices shown are in euros, with instant confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the entry price for Notre-Dame de Paris?
Entry is free for everyone. No ticket office sells access to the nave: only the towers (€16), the treasury (€6), the audio guide (€6) and guided tours cost money.
How much do the Notre-Dame towers cost?
€16 full price, free for under-18s and for 18–25-year-old EU residents. Online booking is mandatory — there is no on-site ticket desk.
Does the Paris Museum Pass cover Notre-Dame?
The nave is free and needs no pass. The pass does, however, cover the cathedral towers, as well as the nearby Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie.
Why do some websites sell "Notre-Dame tickets"?
They are guided tours, escorted time slots or experiences (VR, combos). That's legitimate when the content is clear — but plain access to the nave is never for sale: it's free.
Are there skip-the-line tickets for Notre-Dame?
The fastest lane is the one for reserved time slots (free). Some guided tours include access with a slot already booked by the operator, which gives you the same convenience with zero effort on your part.
Do you have to pay to see the Crown of Thorns?
No. It is presented for veneration in the cathedral, free of charge, on Friday afternoons (3 PM – 5 PM). The treasury, a paid museum space (€6), displays other reliquaries and goldsmiths' work.
Do children pay anything at Notre-Dame?
No: the cathedral is free for everyone and the towers are free for under-18s. Only commercial guided tours apply their own child rates, which are usually discounted.