Guided tour

Paris Catacombs: VIP Skip-the-Line Restricted Access Tour

Activity provider: Memories France
Guided tour

Paris Catacombs: VIP Skip-the-Line Restricted Access Tour

Activity provider: Memories France
Likely to sell out

From US$ 126.86 per person

Likely to sell out

Skip the long lines and unlock gates to hidden rooms in the Catacombs on this small group VIP tour. Explore the world’s largest ossuary and discover the buried secrets of underground Paris.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 7 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy official fast track access to the Catacombs and avoid the long entry lines
  • Benefit from special access to parts of the Catacombs closed to the general public
  • Learn about the fascinating history and stories behind this unique site
Full description

Beneath the streets of Paris, there is another, darker side to the city that few get to see. Twenty meters (and more) below street level, the galleries of the Paris Catacombs extend for over 200 miles - a subterranean maze that many are unaware of as they stroll along the streets above.

Initially quarried to provide limestone for the construction of the famous Parisian buildings and bridges, the Paris Catacombs are now home to the bones of more than 6 million former Parisians. 

Their remains were carefully moved here in the 18th century, in a discreet operation to transfer them from the unclean and overflowing cemeteries of the city center. 

Overcrowding in these cemeteries led to improper burials, open graves, and unearthed corpses, spreading disease (and a few horror stories) into the surrounding areas.

Nowadays, wall after wall of stacked bones, and some more slightly macabre compositions, await you as you follow an expert local guide into "The Empire of Death". Fans of the film "As Above So Below" will recognize these never-ending gloomy tunnels.  

Along with millions of ordinary Parisians, it is said that the Man in the Iron mask lies here, as do both executioners and their victims, guillotined during the French Revolution.

Your guide will lead you through the underground passages and into some very special rooms. Only 200 people are allowed in this remarkable site at any one time, ensuring that you get the most out of this extraordinary place and spend more time enjoying the rooms and interacting with your guide.

This special tour also allows you access to parts of the Catacombs that are closed to the general public.

Have underground gates unlocked especially for you and your group, and learn the intriguing stories of those who worked, visited, and have been laid to rest here over the centuries, including the secret societies who still visit today.  

Past and present Paris and its inhabitants come to life as you explore the city’s gloomy entrails concealed below the surface.

Includes
  • Official fast track entry
  • Entrance tickets
  • Guided visit of the Catacombs
  • Special access to closed areas
  • Live guide
  • VIP small groups of 6 people or fewer
  • Hotel pickup or drop-off
  • Tips (optional)
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People with claustrophobia
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Outside the main entrance gate to the Catacombs on Place Denfert Rochereau. 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Roi-Tanguy, 75014 Paris. Do not wait in the line, go straight to the entrance door where your guide will be waiting for you. Nearest metro station: Denfert Rochereau (lines 4 and 6). Exit at Sortie 1 and you will see the Catacombs entrance directly across the street.

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Important information

Not allowed

  • Luggage or large bags

Know before you go

  • There are 130 steps to enter the Paris Catacombs and 112 steps to exit. This tour is not accessible to wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
  • The Catacombs are 20 meters/65 feet (and more) underground and the tunnels are narrow in places. This tour is not suitable for those with cardiac or respiratory problems, or suffering from claustrophobia.
  • The tunnels can be slippery and remain at a temperature of around 14°C/57°F, even in summer. Guests are advised to wear sturdy shoes and bring warm clothing.
  • Only 200 visitors are allowed in the tunnels at any one time. If numbers reach a maximum the Catacombs staff reserve the right to hold the entry lines until there is sufficient space. Any delay should not be higher than 5 minutes for our small group.
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 208 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    5/5
  • Value for money
    4.6/5
  • Service
    4.9/5
  • Organization
    4.9/5

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Star rating:

Be ready to go down a long spiral staircase and be isolated deep under the city. The rooms are packed with bones and if you are lucky maybe a spirit or two. Take pictures in the darkness in all the locked passages and unlit tunnels to see what you find. It was a great experience, I just wish we went into more off limits areas.

January 3, 2023

Leo was wonderful! If you can find a way to book her and the tour without the useless and horrible Get Your Guide, please do so. The tour was exciting and much less morbid than I anticipated but we were late and GYG was no help. The people working at the venue, however, were wonderful and allowed us to go because we’d already paid. Great tour! But GYG stinks. Luckily, they have nothing to do with the activities and are just a useless third party.

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November 10, 2022

This was a great tour with lots of stories and interesting facts. Our guide Leo was very passionate about the catacombs. Allthough the ceilings are low and the lights are dim we felt save the entire time. This tour is worth its money and we recommend it to everyone who visits Paris.

October 16, 2022

Product ID: 160007