Notre-Dame de Paris stands on the Ile de la Cite in the Seine, the Gothic cathedral at the historic centre of Paris. After the 2019 fire it reopened to visitors in December 2024. The nave is free to enter; the towers are a separate, ticketed climb.
Entry to the cathedral itself is free. An optional free time slot on notredamedeparis.fr can shorten the queue. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
The tower visit is run by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Tickets are sold online only, not at the door. Hours and prices are on tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr.
The square in front of the cathedral is public. The archaeological crypt under the parvis is a separate City of Paris site with its own hours.
Cathedral nave: free. Towers: paid, online reservation required. Confirm hours and any ceremony closures on the official Notre-Dame and CMN sites.
Notre-Dame sits on the island where Paris grew. Point Zero des Routes de France is marked on the parvis.
Flying buttresses, rose windows, and the rebuilt timber roof are the reason people queue. Restoration work can still appear in places.
You can see the interior without buying a ticket. The towers are the climb for the gargoyles and the city view.
Is Notre-Dame open again?
Yes. The cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024 after the 2019 fire. Some restoration continues. Check the official site for ceremony closures.
Do you pay to enter the cathedral?
No. Nave entry is free. You may reserve a free time slot on the official site to reduce waiting. Towers and the treasury are separate paid visits.
How do I visit the towers?
Book on the Centre des monuments nationaux site. There is no ticket office at the door for the towers.
Which Metro stop?
Cite (line 4) is the closest. Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame (RER B/C) is a few minutes' walk across the river.
Construction of Notre-Dame began in 1163. The cathedral is known for its rose windows, flying buttresses, and twin western towers. The 2019 fire destroyed the 19th-century spire and much of the roof. The building reopened in December 2024.
It remains a working cathedral as well as a visitor site. Mass times and special ceremonies can change tourist access. Use notredamedeparis.fr for the nave and tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr for the towers.
