Skip-the-Line: Paris Catacombs Tour with VIP Access to Restricted Areas

Paris, France

Skip the Line Catacombs of Paris Small Group Walking Tour

Likely to Sell Out

From $141.50

Select Date and Travelers

up to 2 days in advance

2 hours
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover the darker side of the City of Lights with this skip-the-line tour of the famed catacombs of Paris. Explore these fascinating underground passageways lined with the bones of thousands of former Parisians and learn the history of the mesmerizing and macabre labyrinth. Bypass the long lines for this popular attraction and enjoy personalized attention in a small group limited to 19 people.

Small group guided walking tour inside the Paris catacombs
Personalized small group tour (maximum 19 people)
Skip the line to enter the catacombs and avoid two-hour queues
Expert English-speaking guide

What's Included

Skip-the-line access and visit to the Parisian catacombs
Small groups to ensure an intimate experience
Local English-speaking expert guide
Special access to restricted areas closed to general public

Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Catacombs of Paris
1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
Meet at the entrance to the Catacombes de Paris. He/She will be holding a sign. To arrive at the Catacombs by Metro please take Line 4 or Line 6 to the Denfert-Rochereau metro stop and exit using “Sortie 1”; the entrance to the Catacombs can be found directly across the street from this exit.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

The Paris catacombs consist of an extensive underground network of tunnels originally dug as limestone quarries during the building of some of the city’s famous monuments. Beginning in the late 18th century, remains from Paris’ overcrowded cemeteries were exhumed and transported here for storage, with thousands of bones neatly arranged into piles along the walls.

Delve into this eerie underworld with an exclusive small-group tour. Lines to enter the catacombs often exceed 2 hours, but you’ll head to the front of the queue with your knowledgeable guide. A group maximum of 19 people provides a more personalized experience.

Wander through the dimly lit labyrinth that winds beneath the city’s famous streets. Marvel at the stacks of human skeletons that greet you at every turn while your guide illuminates the history of this soul-stirring ‘empire of death.’

The Paris Catacombs

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Not wheelchair accessible.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate pushchairs or strollers on our tours.
Please note that Special Access areas may be closed on some days.
Not recommended for travelers with claustrophobia
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 2 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 2 full days before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

1,003 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 1,003 reviews

Excellent

Denis_K, Apr 2024

Great tour guide and very well organised tour. Being able to go into group only locked bits was awesome.

Paris underground

Jennifer_H, Apr 2024

Carole was a great guide! We had vip access to restricted areas and she had lots of knowledge to share.

Great tour and guide

CHARLES_K, Apr 2024

I learned a lot about the history (limestone quarry) behind the creation of the Catacombs. The guide was very knowledgeable. Having a small group was helpful. Behind the scenes information was fascinating. We don't normally do guided tours but loved this one.

Fantastic experience

Catherine_K, Apr 2024

Fantastic experience with a great guide! Wonderfully small group made it easy to hear and more enjoyable. Lot’s of historic information given! Afterward, Our guide stuck around and was helpful about things to do when not on tour. I would definitely recommend this tour for older teens and adults. Well worth the money!

Unique and interesting for all!

Sarah_S, Mar 2024

Excellent tour of the catacombs. Our whole family loved it. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable and brought the history to life. Having access to the more restricted areas made for a much more complete experience. Note that there are quite a lot of stairs.

A must visit with Sam

Padmaja_P, Mar 2024

The guide Sam was incredible. Very knowledgeable and nice. Would highly recommend a tour with her. Her English was great and she answered all question. Thanks for the great experience .

Saeed was a great tour...

Evelyn_O, Feb 2024

Saeed was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and entertaining! Thank you for the wonderful experience

Overall good but too long

nataliesrosen, Feb 2024

The guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and we had a group of 16. I'm sorry to say we felt the tour was way too long. We are keen to learn history but this was drawn out and double the time it should be. The areas this tour gives you access to are very interesting and worth the value, however- just would prefer the guide to cut some of the talking to a minimum (french language lessons? Not necessary). Tricky to stand still for ages whilst blocking the way for other visitors whilst listening to the guide. Overall we enjoyed the tour but in hindsight would recommend the audio tour at your own pace.

Definitely Go!

jose_m, Jan 2024

Our guide, Addi, was awesome. She was thorough in explaining all that we saw in the Catacombs. She covered all of the history, and interpreted signs for us. The access to exclusive areas really enhanced the experience. Highly recommend!

Intriguing Catacombs

Jean_C, Dec 2023

Melvin was an awesome guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. I learned so much from the tour of the Catacombs because of him.

Not Worth the Money

Christina_M, Dec 2023

First off, the guide was late. A lot of us showed up before she did. As a professional guide you should be on time, if not early. Second, I must admit I was disappointed the guide was not French. I find it hard to listen to someone who is not a native of France speak about the French catacombs. Granted, I'm sure the guide studied up on the catacombs, but there was something not genuine about the whole experience. And at the end of the tour she told us to leave a review, but only if it's good. I know she was joking, but that was in poor taste. The line was not long AT all and the "VIP restricted areas" weren't that special. I could've saved myself a lot of cash doing the audio tour on my own.

Memorable Tour

Sara_C, Nov 2023

Our family had an absolutely fantastic time on this tour! Our tour guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also had a captivating personality that made the experience even more enjoyable. Exploring the history of the quarries in Paris and the fascinating reasons behind the creation of the catacombs was a highlight for me. Learning about the underground world beneath the city was both educational and eye-opening. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Paris. It's not just an opportunity to discover the hidden depths of the city but also a chance to do so with an exceptional guide who brings history to life. Don't miss out on this enriching experience!

Great family activity

April_E, Nov 2023

Having the tour guide was a great experience, especially to keep the kids engaged. Very interesting facts and stories about the history of the catacombs.

Small group tour that was too large

Mark_B, Nov 2023

Group was too large, for a small group there should be 10 or less people. Guide was awesome when we could hear her.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hi Mark_B, We appreciate your valuable feedback on the Skip-the-Line: Paris Catacombs Tour, and we're sorry to hear about the size of the group impacting your experience. Ensuring our guests' comfort is a top priority, and we apologize if the group size exceeded your expectations. We advertise group sizes of 19 or fewer to ensure an intimate and enjoyable experience. We're grateful for your positive comments about the guide and will review our procedures to maintain optimal group sizes. Your insights are crucial in our ongoing efforts to enhance our tours, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another tour in the future. Thank you for your understanding. Best Regards, Edgar J. City Wonders

Catacombs

david_f, Nov 2023

Catacombs was very unique and historical for us. Our tour guide was super and highly knowledgeable. I highly recommend the evening tour.

Amazing tour - Vic is the best!

Damien_Z, Nov 2023

Amazing tour at one of the best and most fun things to do if visiting Paris. Vic was the best guide. She was charming and funny and super knowledgeable. Totally recommend!

Great tour

Kirsten_W, Nov 2023

We had Vic as our guide and she was so great and informative. She taught us a lot. The tour was not rushed and at an easy pace with a lot of walking and steps. I would definitely do it again.

Excellent worth a visit

Julie_S, Oct 2023

Excellent visit,the tour guide Victoire was very informative and knowledgeable and extremely helpful. Would definitely recommend this. Very thought provoking place.

Tour with Victoire was fantastic!

Darrin_S, Oct 2023

Loved this tour and learned so, so much!! Victoire was so knowledgeable, answered all our questions. We were able to visit private areas you can only see with a guide. Really cool!

Excellent experience

Jennifer_R, Oct 2023

Excellent tour and stories provided by Victroix! She provided much more historical context than we had anticipated.

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