Paris · Île de la Cité · Cathedral
Notre-Dame Cathedral: Free Entry, the Restoration and What to See
Reopened in December 2024 after the devastating fire, Paris's cathedral is once again the heart of the city — and entry is still free.
By the AllTrips Editorial Team ·
Notre-Dame at a glance
Area: Île de la Cité, 4th arrondissement. Allow: 45–75 minutes inside; add 1–1.5 hours for the towers. Entry: free, with an optional free timed reservation online; towers require a paid ticket. Nearby: Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, Shakespeare and Company, the Latin Quarter.
Notre-Dame de Paris is the cathedral of Paris and one of the great achievements of Gothic architecture. Built between 1163 and 1345 on the Île de la Cité — the island where Paris began — it has crowned kings, survived revolutions and, after the fire of April 2019, risen again in a restoration many thought impossible.
What is there to see?
The restored interior is the revelation: cleaned stone that glows honey-gold instead of the pre-fire soot-grey, a re-gilded choir, and the three great rose windows — the north and south roses date from the 13th century and survived the fire. Look for the new liturgical furniture, the reliquary of the Crown of Thorns, and the chapels ringing the apse.
Outside, the west façade with its twin towers, Gallery of Kings and three sculpted portals is the classic view from the parvis. Around the chevet, the flying buttresses are best seen from the riverside Square Jean XXIII. The towers and gargoyle gallery — the famous chimères leaning over the city — reopened in September 2025 with a separate paid ticket and a climb of around 400 steps.
Tickets and booking
Entry to the cathedral is free. You can walk up and queue on the parvis, or reserve a free timed slot on the official website — recommended at weekends and in high season, when the walk-up line can stretch across the square. The towers are a separate paid visit with timed entry, managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux.
Official website
Free timed entry reservation, mass times and visitor information direct from the cathedral.
Reserve free entryGuided tours on Tiqets
Guided tours of Notre-Dame and the Île de la Cité with a local guide — context on the fire, the restoration and the island's history.
See tours on TiqetsSome links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cathedral entry itself is always free.
The fire and the restoration
On 15 April 2019, fire broke out in the roof timbers during renovation works. The 19th-century spire collapsed through the vault, the medieval roof — "the forest" — burned away, and the world watched live. The great bells, the rose windows and most of the structure survived, and the Crown of Thorns was rescued that night.
The rebuild that followed was extraordinary: medieval oaks were felled across France for new roof timbers, carpenters and stonemasons revived traditional techniques, and the spire was reconstructed as Viollet-le-Duc had designed it. The cathedral reopened on 8 December 2024, and the towers followed in September 2025 — the first time in six years visitors could again stand among the gargoyles above Paris.
Planning your visit
The cathedral is open daily, roughly 7:45–19:00 (later on Thursdays), though services and special events can alter access — check the official site. Dress respectfully: it is a working church, and silence is expected during Mass. Large bags are not admitted, and there is no cloakroom.
For the quietest experience, come at opening or in the last hour before closing; mid-morning to mid-afternoon is busiest. The closest métro is Cité (line 4); Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (RER B and C) is across the Petit Pont. If you plan the towers, book the timed ticket well ahead — slots are limited and the climb has no lift.
Notre-Dame in photos
What is nearby?
You are on the historic island at the centre of Paris: Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie are five minutes west, Shakespeare and Company is just across the river, and the Panthéon and Musée de Cluny lie up through the Latin Quarter. See how it all fits together on our Paris attractions map.
Frequently asked questions
Is Notre-Dame Cathedral open again?
Yes. Notre-Dame reopened to the public on 8 December 2024, five and a half years after the April 2019 fire. The cathedral's interior, including the nave, chapels and rose windows, is fully open for visits and services.
Do you need a ticket for Notre-Dame?
No — entry to the cathedral is free, as it always has been. You can simply join the queue on the parvis, or reserve a free timed slot online through the cathedral's official website to shorten the wait at busy times. Paid options are for guided tours and special experiences, not for entry itself.
What are Notre-Dame's opening hours?
The cathedral is generally open daily from early morning (around 7:45–8:00) until 19:00, with later closing on Thursdays. Hours can change for services and special events, so check the official website before you go.
Can you climb the towers of Notre-Dame?
The famous towers and the gargoyle gallery reopened to visitors in September 2025, with a separate paid ticket and timed entry. The climb is around 400 steps with no lift. Tickets are managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux and can sell out — book ahead.
How long do you need at Notre-Dame?
Allow 45–75 minutes for the cathedral interior at a relaxed pace. Add 1–1.5 hours if you also climb the towers, and extra time for the archaeological crypt under the parvis if you visit it.
Which metro station is closest to Notre-Dame?
Cité (line 4) is the closest station, on the Île de la Cité itself. Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (RER B and C) and Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 and 11) are also a short walk away.
Official sources
Reviewed September 2026. Opening hours and access arrangements can change; check the official website before travel.