Paris Catacombs Opening Hours
The Paris Catacombs are open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:45am–8:30pm, with last admission at 7:30pm, and closed every Monday. They also close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Following a major renovation, the site reopened on 8 April 2026 with a new route. Tickets are timed and sold online only, so booking ahead is essential.
Timing a visit to the Paris Catacombs is really about two things: turning up on a day they’re open, and holding a booked slot. The site closes every Monday, admits visitors in strictly controlled numbers, and sells its tickets online in advance — so the “opening hours” only matter once you have a timed ticket in hand.
This guide sets out the 2026 opening hours, the last-admission cut-off, the dates the Catacombs close, and what the 2026 renovation changed for planning your visit.
Paris Catacombs Opening Hours at a Glance
| Day | Hours | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday–Sunday | 9:45am–8:30pm | 7:30pm |
| Monday | Closed | — |
The Catacombs also close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Hours can change for events or maintenance, so confirm on the official site when you book your timed ticket.
Daily Opening Hours
The Catacombs open at 9:45am and close at 8:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with last admission at 7:30pm — an hour before closing. They are closed all day every Monday. Because the visit underground takes about an hour and the site stops admitting visitors at 7:30pm, the last realistic entry for a full, unhurried visit is a little earlier still.
The relatively late 8:30pm close is generous for a Paris attraction, and the final slots of the day are among the quietest. If you want a calmer visit, a late-afternoon or early-evening slot usually beats the midday rush — our guide to the best time to visit the Paris Catacombs covers the quietest days and hours in detail.
Last Admission
Last admission to the Paris Catacombs is 7:30pm, one hour before the 8:30pm close. Your ticket is for a specific timed slot, so aim to arrive 10–15 minutes early. Because the 1.5km route and 112-step climb back to street level take time, the site stops admitting new visitors well before it actually closes.
Treat your booked slot, not the closing time, as the deadline that matters. Arrive late and you can lose the slot, since the Catacombs admit visitors in controlled waves to keep numbers underground safe. For how the timed-entry system works in practice, see our guide to skip-the-line tickets.
When Are the Catacombs Closed?
The Paris Catacombs are closed every Monday throughout the year, plus three public holidays: 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. There’s no lunchtime closure — the site runs continuously through its Tuesday-to-Sunday hours. Occasional closures can happen for maintenance of this fragile underground heritage site, so it’s worth a final check on the official site close to your visit.
The Monday closure catches many visitors out, so build your Paris itinerary around it. Pair a Tuesday-to-Sunday Catacombs slot with attractions that open on Mondays, and use our guide on how to get to the Paris Catacombs to plan the trip to Denfert-Rochereau.
Hours After the 2026 Renovation
The Catacombs reopened on 8 April 2026 after a major renovation that closed the site for several months. The works focused on safety and preservation — new air-handling and climate control, redesigned lighting, and modernised fire and security systems — alongside a new visitor route, a new audio guide and improved accessibility for visitors with visual and hearing impairments.
For planning, the practical change is that the experience is now more structured and the timed-entry system stricter, which makes booking ahead more important than ever. What the works changed in full is covered in our 2026 renovation guide; if you’re still deciding, our honest review of whether it’s worth visiting weighs it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Paris Catacombs opening hours?
The Catacombs are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:45am to 8:30pm, with last admission at 7:30pm. They are closed every Monday, and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Tickets are timed and sold online in advance, so the opening hours matter mainly for choosing which slot to book rather than for turning up on spec.
Are the Paris Catacombs open on Mondays?
No. The Paris Catacombs are closed every Monday throughout the year. They open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:45am to 8:30pm. If Monday is your only free day in Paris, plan other attractions then and book the Catacombs for another day. Note that tickets are timed and online-only, so you can’t simply arrive when the site is open without a slot.
What time is last admission?
Last admission is 7:30pm, one hour before the 8:30pm closing time. Your ticket is for a specific slot, so arrive 10–15 minutes early to allow for the security check. Because the underground route and the 112-step climb out take time, the site deliberately stops admitting visitors an hour before it closes, giving everyone time to complete the walk.
How long does a visit take?
Plan for about an hour underground. The route runs 1.5km through the tunnels and ossuary, with 131 steps down and 112 up, and no lift. Allowing for the security check and collecting an audio guide, most visitors are done within an hour to 75 minutes. See our guide on how long to spend and timing your slot for the quietest experience.
Did the 2026 renovation change the opening hours?
The core Tuesday-to-Sunday, 9:45am–8:30pm schedule remains after the site reopened on 8 April 2026, but the renovation made the timed-entry system stricter and the visit more structured, with a new route and audio guide. The practical effect is that pre-booking is now essential. Our 2026 renovation guide explains everything the works changed.
Do I need to book a timed ticket in advance?
Yes. The Catacombs limit how many people are underground at once, so entry is by timed slot and walk-up tickets are very scarce. Official tickets release only seven days ahead at 10am Paris time and sell out quickly, especially in peak season. Booking ahead — direct or through a reseller — is the only reliable way to secure your visit. See how to book Paris Catacombs tickets.
Are the Catacombs busier at certain times?
Yes. Midday and early afternoon are the busiest, while the first slot at 9:45am and the last hour before the 7:30pm cut-off tend to be quietest. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. Since every visitor holds a timed slot, crowding is controlled, but the ossuary still feels more peaceful at the ends of the day. Our best time to visit guide has the full picture.
What’s the address and nearest metro?
The entrance is at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy on place Denfert-Rochereau, in the 14th arrondissement, and the exit is separately at 21bis Avenue René-Coty. The nearest metro and RER station is Denfert-Rochereau (lines 4 and 6, RER B), about 50 metres from the entrance. Full directions are in our guide to how to get to the Paris Catacombs.
