Things to do in Paris

5-step guide on how to skip the line at the Paris Catacombs

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Explore the darker side of the ‘City of Lights’ by walking through the large underlying passageways of the Paris Catacombs. The catacombs are decorated in the remains of several million Parisians, stacked with human femurs, bones, and skulls. The attraction recalls the history of the Parisian and allows visitors to go on a timeless journey like never before.

Bypass the long queues for this popular attraction by opting for skip-the-line entry, which allows you to beat the rush and wander through the maze of galleries and tunnels at your own pace. Discover the history of the mesmerising and macabre labyrinth, while exploring the passageways lined with the formidable world of the dead.

Paris Catacombs: Skip The Line Tickets


Buy your Paris Catacombs tickets in advance!

Needless to say, you’d benefit greatly from booking your tickets in advance. Choose skip-the-line tickets and you’ll be at the front of the line, guaranteeing a quicker entry into the eerie attraction. The choice is yours:

Wait Time At The Paris Catacombs


The Paris Catacombs can be seen all year-round. The burial site consists of close to 6 million skeletons placed all over the tunnel walls. This is quite a sight to witness and is sure to give you the cold creeps.

The typical wait time at the attraction can take 3 hours during the holiday season and a minimum of 1 hour during the rest of the year. It is recommended to buy your tickets much in advance to skip the line. The best time to visit the catacombs Is from September to mid-December and from January to May.

5 Tried & Tested Ways To Skip The Lines at the Paris Catacombs


1. Be An Early Bird, Pre-Book Your Tickets Online

Paris Catacombs are quite popular and the tickets tend to sell out quickly. Since the attraction is quite unique compared to the other places in Paris, the catacombs can get flocked with a lot of visitors. You don’t want your experience to be ruined with swollen crowds while you walk through the tunnel.

The Paris Catacombs allow only 200 people to enter during a particular time slot. So, if you want to avoid missing out on this experience, ensure you book your tickets a few weeks in advance. You can choose your preferred time slot and confirm your booking.

2. Book Skip-the-line Tickets for the Paris Catacombs

Waiting in long dreadful lines can get exhausting. You will have to wait for long hours till you get your turn to enter the Paris Catacombs. Booking your tickets online in advance can help you skip the rush. Tour through the underlying passageways and go on an archaeological adventure of catacombs.

Now, if you book your tickets online, you may not be lucky in entering the attraction with ease as you need to wait in a line with 199 others in the same slot. Make your trip less chaotic, by purchasing skip-the-line tickets to Paris Catacombs and bypassing the rush, and head straight ahead.

3. Do Your Research

It is necessary to be prepared beforehand to avoid any delays before your visit to the Paris Catacombs. Here are a few hot tips to follow before your trip to the attraction:

  1. The closest parking facility to the venue is 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris.
  2. Visit the space from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
  3. Purchase the audio guide from the entrance of the Catacombs. You can also receive it online while you are purchasing your tickets.

4. Fancy a guided tour of the Paris Catacombs?

You can skip the long lines and go 20 metres underground to witness the ancient burial grounds with a tour guide. Through guided tours, you get easy access to regions of the Catacombs which are not often accessible by most of the public. To get an in-depth understanding of the history and unknown facts of the attraction, we recommend you opt for a guided tour.

Walk past the skulls and bones as your guide provides you with an insight into the stories of the Catacomb’s past. Enjoy access to the locked gates and listen to the creepy tales about the tunnels and understand how the complex underground network impacts the city of Paris.

5. Plan your day ahead of time

You don’t want your whole trip to be spent waiting in long lines now, do you? It is very important to plan your day before visiting any popular attraction in Paris. The Catacombs in Paris are well-known for their long waiting hours. Well, you can head to the attraction either early in the morning, before 9 am, or sometime later in the evening before the closing time to beat the chaotic environment.

But no matter how early you go, you will end up waiting for a while for your turn to enter. It is recommended to visit Wednesday through Friday after 5 pm as you can get the shortest lines.

Perfect Time To Visit The Paris Catacombs


Paris Catacombs skip the line
Descending 130 steps and land on a gravel pathway.


People visiting Paris get very curious to explore the Paris Catacombs because it is very different from the other attractions in the city. A lot of tourists visit this place to discover and can get quite packed at times. The best time to visit the place during the day is early morning or late in the evening. If you wish to skip the busy days, avoid visiting on weekends and visiting only during the weekdays. You don’t want to feel cramped up under a dingy tunnel, do you?

The ideal time to visit the Paris Catacombs is during the off-season, between October to May. During the month of December, the space can get crowded due to the festive rush flowing in.

Tips To Skip The Line At the Paris Catacombs


  1. The Paris Catacombs allow only 200 people per time slot. It is suggested to hence pre-book your tickets online before time to ensure that you can get easy access to the attraction and get access within your desired time slot.
  2. Make sure you book the skip-the-line tickets in order to not have to wait in line with the others who have booked with you on your chosen slot. By purchasing this ticket, you can bypass these lines and head straight into the venue.
  3. We recommend you book all your tickets before time, much in advance to simply be able to choose your preferred time slot. Since the attraction is a popular one, you can run out of tickets quite quickly.
  4. If you want to learn all about the history of the Paris Catacombs, we recommend you to go for a guided tour.

FAQs: Skip The Lines at the Paris Catacombs


How do I skip the lines at Paris Catacombs?

You can purchase the skip-the-line Paris tickets well in advance if you wish to get ahead of the rush. 

Is it worth purchasing skip the line tickets to Paris Catacombs?

Now, who would want to spend most of their trip waiting in long queues for their turn to arrive. The skip-the-line ticket gives you a chance to have a hassle-free entry into the catacombs and gives you an ample amount of time to explore the space at your own pace. 

What is the wait time at Paris Catacombs?

If you do not have a skip-the-line ticket, during the peak time, the lines are really long making your wait time a minimum of 3 hours. 

What is the best time to visit Paris Catacombs?

You can visit the attraction early in the morning as the rush is slightly less in comparison to the rest of the day. Late evenings are also equally good if you aren’t too afraid of going late. 

Should I opt for a guided tour to the Paris Catacombs?

There is a lot down there to discover, therefore, we recommend you to opt for a guided tour of the Paris Catacombs as you get an in-depth understanding of the history and lesser-known facts of the structure. 

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Paris Catacombs Skip The Line Guide