Visit the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral area

Notre Dame de Paris - a majestic cathedral built in the 14th century - is located in the Île de la cité in the heart of the 4th arrondissement. Even though this monument is very popular with tourists, we cannot forget that it is also a place of worship as it still is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris in the heart of the catholic spiritual life.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral: Representative of French Gothic architecture

As one of the greatest monuments of the French capital, listed on the World Heritage list, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most remarkable masterpieces of gothic architecture. Designed by Maurice de Sully, the construction of this cathedral began in 1163 and took nearly two centuries to complete; it was finally finished in 1345.
Notre Dame cathedral underwent a restoration in the 19th century, led by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc, during which the great spire was rebuilt, and after the façade was restored in 2000, the Notre Dame now looks just as magnificent as it did when it was first built. 

Situated in the historical and geographical center of Paris, right on the edge of the Île de la Cité, the Notre Dame is the symbolic center of Paris; you cannot be closer to the heart of France than when you are on the doorstep of the Notre Dame. The layout of the cathedral was innovatively modern, with its nave with 5 transepts. Notre Dame de Paris is the proud owner of many stained glass windows, including rose windows, two of which are 13m wide across the diameter, which puts them amongst the largest in the whole of Europe. The towers, which stand at 69m high and house many gargoyles and bells, inspired one of Victor Hugo’s most famous tales, "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame", the story of the famous bell ringer, Quasimodo.

Open 7 days a week, visiting is completely free. However, there is a fee for a tour of the cathedral's great towers, one which consists of an almighty 422 steps. The view from the top is beautiful and is the only one of its kind, offering a view of the River Seine and its many bridges, as well as a great number of other Parisian gems, such as la Saint-Chapelle, the Tower of Saint-Jacques and the Sacré-Cœur. 

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is an important monument part of the tourism of the City of Lights. It attracts every year millions of tourists eager to see its towers and the gothic façade from the parvis, to enter and admire the broken-arch vaults and be marveled by the play of the light cast through the stained glass.

With Paris City Vision, organize your guided visit to the Notre-Dame Cathedral thanks to the various tours proposed by experimented guides or the tickets allowing you to have audioguides. The best information and the most unusual anecdotes about this emblematic monument will be told during your visit. You will discover in the parvis the marvelous sculptures, treasures of this building.

Visits are possible from Monday to Friday, so you can get to know this almighty Christendom place through its history, sculptures, towers, and crypt. 

Visiting time to discover Notre Dame

Are you planning a visit to Notre Dame de Paris? Discover our tips to find out exactly how much time you'll need for each stage of your visit to this extraordinary medieval monument.

Time to visit Notre Dame de Paris

The time allowed for the visit will depend on your speed:

• Minimum duration: 1 hour:
• Average length: 2 hours
• Average length of Tour des Tours: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Average length Notre Dame Crypt: 1 hour

Practical tips to optimize the duration of your visit

The duration of a visit to Notre Dame varies according to the time you devote to contemplating the various remarkable architectural elements and works of art on offer.

Choose the right day and time for your visit

The length of your visit may be considerably longer if the building is very busy. Security measures in force since the events we are all familiar with have led to longer average waiting times. This can affect the time you spend exploring the monument. If you don't have much time, read our article on the crowds at Notre Dame de Paris to choose the right time slot.

A minimum of two hours to admire the Treasure

The Trésor de Notre Dame is a collection of rare items, donated by both the anonymous and the powerful: kings and emperors, pontiffs... These treasures, like the silver bust of Saint-Louis, are well worth your time. You'll need at least two hours to admire the most beautiful pieces in this treasure trove, and probably a little more if it's very busy.

Average length of the Tours de Notre Dame tour

The time it takes to visit the Towers of Notre Dame depends on the number of visitors. Indeed, if many visitors are present, your time on the third level will be limited to 5 minutes. You won't be able to enjoy an unobstructed view of the capital, its rooftops and monuments for long - the long-awaited reward after a strenuous physical effort: climbing the 422 steps is no mean feat! Remember to book a time slot in advance, ideally early in the morning during the low season, or alternatively on a day of the week when Notre Dame is less busy.