The crypt at a glance
The Crypte archéologique de l'île de la Cité is a museum below the open space in front of the cathedral, at 7 Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris. It belongs to the city of Paris and its group of municipal museums. It is not part of the cathedral, and it does not hold tombs of the cathedral.
What you see are the remains of ancient and medieval residential quarters of the island, uncovered by excavation under the forecourt. Think of it as the layer of the city below Notre-Dame. This site is an independent guide and is not connected to the museum.
Tickets and hours
As listed on the museum's website in October 2026. Check the website before you go, because prices and times can change.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Adult | €11 |
| Reduced | €9 |
| Under 18 | Free |
| Open | Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00 |
| Ticket desk and last entry | 17:30; rooms are cleared at 17:45 |
| Closed | Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December |
Bring proof of your status if you ask for the reduced price. A cathedral reservation is not a crypt ticket. The two are separate, and no single ticket covers the cathedral, the towers, the treasury and the crypt.
Our picks: around the crypt
An outside tour with a crypt option and a guided tour that starts in front of it.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Notre-Dame guided tour from the crypt square
Starts in front of the archaeological crypt, but crypt entry is not included. History, architecture and the 2019 fire, as a small group or privately depending on the option.
Check availability →
Notre-Dame outside and Île de la Cité tour
A one-hour guided tour outside. Crypt entry and the island walk depend on the option you choose; a guided tour inside the cathedral is not included.
Check availability →Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité tours
Walks and visits around the cathedral and the island, with live prices and availability.
What you see inside
An archaeological site, not a church crypt.
Ancient and medieval streets
The excavated area shows walls and foundations of houses and streets from antiquity and the Middle Ages. The photo on this page shows Roman wall remains in the crypt.
Not the cathedral
Do not expect tombs, a chapel or any part of the cathedral building. The crypt is a museum about the ground the island is built on.
Time needed
Plan your arrival around the 17:30 last entry, and allow time for the security queue at the cathedral if you combine the two.
How the crypt fits with other tickets
Prices in 2026. Each one is a separate offer.
| Place | Adult price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | €0 | Free; online reservation is voluntary |
| Towers | €16 | Timed slot required |
| Treasury | €12 | Separate entry |
| Archaeological crypt | €11 | City museum |
| Sainte-Chapelle | €16 or €22 | Depends on residence; see the guide |
For the cathedral side see the tickets guide. For the stained glass nearby see the Sainte-Chapelle guide.
Getting there
Transport and works nearby.
Metro and RER
The nearest stops are Métro line 4 at Cité and RER B or C at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. Métro line 4 is closed at Saint-Michel until 19 December 2026 inclusive, so plan another way in. A single ticket for Métro, train and RER costs €2.55 in 2026.
Works around the forecourt
The surroundings of Notre-Dame are being redone in stages. The Square de l'Île-de-France has been closed since 24 August 2026. Secured walking routes are planned, but follow the signs on site.
If you combine the crypt with the cathedral, remember the different hours. The cathedral opens at 07:50 on weekdays and at 08:15 at the weekend, and its last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The crypt is shut on Mondays, so a Monday visit to the area has to be cathedral-only.
Notre-Dame crypt: frequently asked questions
How much does the Notre-Dame crypt cost?
€11 for adults and €9 reduced, and entry is free for under 18s. These are the prices on the museum's website in October 2026.
Is the crypt part of the cathedral?
No. It is a separate city museum under the forecourt. A cathedral reservation does not give entry to it.
When is the crypt open?
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with the last entry at 17:30. It is closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Are there tombs in the crypt?
No. You see archaeological remains of ancient and medieval housing, not graves of the cathedral.
Can I book the crypt online?
Check the museum's website for current booking options before you go, and do not assume that a cathedral reservation covers it.