Entry and reservations are free
Notre-Dame charges nothing to enter. An official time slot is optional but recommended at busy times. Reserve only through the cathedral website or app; commercial “skip-the-line” cathedral entry is not authorized.
Slots appear close to the visit—commonly the same day, one day, or two days ahead—and the system may restrict repeated searches, VPNs, or attempts from far outside Paris. Walk-up visitors remain welcome but may wait longer. Worshippers do not need a tourist reservation and use a dedicated service queue shortly before Mass.
The reopened interior feels physically different
The April 2019 fire destroyed the medieval timber roof and spire and deposited lead dust throughout the building. The five-year restoration rebuilt the roof and spire, conserved stone, cleaned chapels and windows, restored the great organ, and introduced new liturgical furnishings.
Guillaume Bardet designed the new bronze altar, ambo, cathedra, baptistery, and tabernacle. These contemporary forms deliberately sit within the medieval building rather than pretending to be lost Gothic originals.
What to notice inside
- Nave: pause near the entrance to read the alternating piers, pointed arcades, triforium, and clerestory as one vertical system.
- Three rose windows: the north, south, and west windows survived the fire and were cleaned and conserved.
- Great organ: approximately 8,000 pipes were cleaned and reassembled after lead contamination; listen during an approved service or concert rather than expecting a demonstration.
- Choir and altar: compare the restored historic enclosure and sculpture with Bardet’s new bronze furnishings.
- Chapels: newly cleaned murals and colored decoration show that Gothic churches were never intended as monochrome stone shells.
Crown of Thorns
The Crown of Thorns returned to a new cedar reliquary designed by Sylvain Dubuisson. Current cathedral guidance schedules veneration every Friday from 3:00–6:30 p.m., with first-Friday veneration from 3:00–5:00 p.m. This is a religious observance, not a museum display; schedules can change around Holy Week and major liturgies.
The Treasury is separate and paid
The renovated Treasury presents liturgical vessels, vestments, books, and relic-related objects in the sacristy spaces. Current admission is €12 full price and €6 reduced, with stated free categories. Tickets are purchased at the Treasury desk rather than through the cathedral’s free-entry reservation.
Current hours and access
| Monday–Friday | 7:50 a.m.–7:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 7:50 a.m.–10:00 p.m. |
| Saturday–Sunday | 8:15 a.m.–7:30 p.m. |
| Last entry | 30 minutes before closing |
| Cathedral admission | Free |
| Address | 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris |
The interior and Treasury are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. There are no public restrooms inside; the cathedral lists free facilities on rue d’Arcole and paid facilities on the forecourt. Cité and Saint-Michel are the closest Metro/RER approaches, with several alternatives across the river.
Dress and behave for an active Catholic cathedral. Silence phones, avoid flash or intrusive photography, do not step into worship areas for a better angle, and allow services to take priority.
Book only through the official free reservation page.
Hours, services, reservations, relic veneration, Treasury admission, exterior works, and access change. Details were verified against official Notre-Dame information on July 16, 2026.