Free entry & discounts at the Paris Catacombs
Under-5s visit the Paris Catacombs free, disabled visitors and one accompanying carer go free, ages 18–26 pay a reduced rate of around €25, and children aged 5–17 pay a reduced child rate of around €12 (audio guide optional, €5 extra). All discounted and free tickets require valid ID or proof of eligibility, shown when booking or on arrival, and there is no general free-entry day for the Catacombs.
The Paris Catacombs aren’t free, and unlike some of the City of Paris’s own museums, they never have a free day for the general public — but there is a real discount structure underneath the standard €31 adult price. Knowing who qualifies for what, and what ID you’ll need, can save a genuine amount across a family or group booking.
This guide sets out every free-entry and reduced-rate category at the Catacombs, why the site doesn’t follow the free-museum-day pattern some visitors expect, and exactly what you’ll need to bring to claim a discount.
Who Gets in Free
Children under 5 always enter the Paris Catacombs free, and disabled visitors are admitted free along with one accompanying carer. These are the two straightforward free-entry categories that apply to individual leisure visitors; both require ID or proof of disability status, and free tickets are generally issued at the ticket desk rather than bookable online in advance.
The under-5s policy is simple and needs no documentation beyond an ID or passport confirming age if asked. The disabled-visitor allowance covers the visitor plus a single carer, recognising that the Catacombs’ 131 steps down and 112 up, with no lift, mean many disabled visitors need support to manage the route at all — though it’s worth being honest that the physical route itself remains a genuine barrier regardless of ticket price, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. Our accessibility guide covers what the visit actually involves for anyone with mobility, breathing or heart conditions.
Reduced Rates by Age
Visitors aged 18–26 pay a reduced rate of around €25, against the standard €31 adult price, with the audio guide included either way. Children aged 5–17 pay a reduced child rate of around €12, with the audio guide available as an optional €5 add-on rather than automatically bundled in. Under-5s are free, as above.
These age bands are the discounts most visitors will actually use, and they apply whether you book directly through the official Paris Musées ticketing site or a reseller, though the exact reseller price may differ from the official rate. If you’re booking as a family or a small group spanning several of these bands, work out the total carefully — mixing an adult, a couple of reduced-rate 18–26 travellers and a child ticket adds up differently to four flat adult tickets. For the exact booking process and where to enter your visitor details, see how to book Paris Catacombs tickets.
Is There a Free Entry Day at the Catacombs?
Some of Paris’s municipal museums — the ones run directly by Paris Musées, the City of Paris’s own network — offer free access to their permanent collections year-round, and several national museums separately run a well-known free-first-Sunday scheme for their permanent collections. It’s a reasonable assumption that the Catacombs might follow one of these patterns, since they’re also a Paris Musées site. They don’t: the Catacombs, along with the Palais Galliera and the Crypte Archéologique, are explicitly carved out by Paris Musées as paid, ticketed sites year-round, with no free general-admission day. If you’ve seen a “free museums” list mention a first Sunday, double-check it isn’t referring to a different site — the Catacombs aren’t on it.
What ID or Proof You’ll Need
Bring valid photo ID — a passport or national ID card — for any reduced-rate or free ticket, since age-based discounts and the disabled-visitor allowance are checked against it. For the disabled-visitor and carer allowance specifically, proof of disability status (such as a disability card or equivalent documentation) is typically required at the ticket desk rather than only at booking.
It’s worth carrying this documentation with you on the day even if you booked online, since staff may ask to see it before you go through security. Children travelling on a reduced or free rate should also carry ID confirming their age where possible, particularly around the boundary ages of the discount bands.
Booking Discounted Tickets
Reduced and free-entry tickets generally still need to go through the same timed-slot system as standard tickets — you can’t simply turn up expecting a free walk-in even as an eligible visitor, since the Catacombs cap numbers underground and admit everyone by booked slot. Some free and reduced categories are only available in person at the ticket desk on the day rather than online in advance, so it’s worth checking current booking rules on the official site before you travel, particularly if you’re relying on the disabled-visitor allowance. Whichever route you book, our ticket with audio guide guide explains how the standard booking flow works if you want the reseller alternative instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do under-5s really go free at the Paris Catacombs?
Yes, children under 5 are admitted free, with no ticket cost, though it’s worth checking current booking rules since some free-entry categories are issued at the ticket desk rather than bookable online. Bring ID confirming age if you’re asked.
How much do disabled visitors and their carer pay?
Disabled visitors and one accompanying carer are admitted free. Proof of disability status is typically required, so bring the relevant documentation with you. This is separate from the site’s general accessibility limitations — the Catacombs still involve 131 steps down and 112 up with no lift, and aren’t wheelchair accessible, so free entry doesn’t mean the route itself is easier.
What’s the reduced rate for young adults?
Visitors aged 18–26 pay a reduced rate of around €25, compared with the standard €31 adult price, with the audio guide included in both. This band is one of the most commonly used discounts, since it covers most students and young travellers without needing a student card specifically.
How much do children aged 5–17 pay?
Children aged 5 to 17 pay a reduced rate of around €12. Unlike the adult and reduced-rate tickets, the audio guide isn’t automatically bundled in at this rate — it’s available as an optional add-on for around €5, so budget for that separately if you want your child to have their own commentary.
Is there a free entry day at the Paris Catacombs, like some other Paris museums?
No. Some Paris Musées venues offer free permanent-collection access, and separately, several national museums run a free-first-Sunday scheme. The Catacombs are explicitly excluded from free general admission year-round, so don’t plan around a free day that doesn’t apply here.
Can I use the Paris Museum Pass to get a discount instead?
No. The Paris Museum Pass isn’t valid at the Catacombs at all, discounted or otherwise — see our Paris Museum Pass guide for why the site sits outside the pass’s coverage.
What ID do I need to bring for a discounted ticket?
A passport or national ID card covers most age-based discounts. For the disabled-visitor allowance, bring the relevant disability documentation as well, since this is usually checked at the ticket desk rather than only verified when you book online.
Do reduced and free tickets still need a timed booking?
Yes, in almost all cases. The Catacombs control numbers underground by timed slot regardless of ticket type, so a free or reduced-rate visitor still needs a specific entry time rather than turning up on spec. Some free-entry categories are handled in person at the desk rather than through the online booking system, so check current rules before you travel.
