Frequently asked questions

A skip-the-line, timed slot to climb the towers of Notre-Dame — the 424-step route past the Galerie des Chimères and the great bourdon bell to the rooftop view over Paris. It also includes our concierge monitoring of the scarce release calendar to secure your slot. Entry to the cathedral itself is free and booked separately; we're happy to explain how to do both.

For the towers only — the climb up to the gargoyles, the bell and the rooftop. Entry to the cathedral of Notre-Dame at ground level is free of charge and reserved separately through the cathedral's own system. Many visitors do both on the same day, and our team will explain exactly how to arrange the free cathedral visit alongside your tower climb.

Yes. After the 2019 fire and the long restoration, the cathedral reopened in December 2024 and the towers reopened to climbers in September 2025. The tower route has been reimagined as part of the restoration, and it is once again one of the most in-demand experiences in Paris.

Because the timed climb slots are small and demand is enormous since the reopening — they frequently sell out days in advance, and there are no on-the-day sales. We watch the release calendar and secure your slot, which is the hardest part of the whole visit to get. Booking ahead is the only reliable way to guarantee the climb.

424 steps up a narrow spiral staircase, with no lift, rising about 69 metres above the Île de la Cité. The route goes up the North Tower, across to the South Tower past the bell, and back down. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour, and wear comfortable shoes.

It is a genuinely physical climb. Because of the 424 narrow steps, some passages just 45 cm wide and low enough to stoop, it is not recommended for those with heart conditions or a strong fear of heights, for pregnant women, or for young children under 6. Anyone reasonably fit who can manage stairs should be fine, with a pause or two.

The highlights are the Galerie des Chimères — the gallery of grotesque stone creatures, including the famous pensive Stryge, set among the towers by the 19th-century restorer Viollet-le-Duc — the great bourdon bell 'Emmanuel' in the South Tower, and, at the top, an unrivalled rooftop panorama over the Seine, the Île de la Cité and all of Paris, with the cathedral's rebuilt spire directly below.

Under-18s climb free, and residents of the European Union aged 18 to 25 also climb free with valid ID. Note that the climb is not suitable for children under 6 for safety reasons. Tell us your group when you book and we will make sure any free places are handled correctly alongside the adult ticket.

Yes. We issue an e-ticket that you present on your phone at the tower entrance — there is no need to print it. Just have it ready to show at your timed slot, and our concierge team is on call if anything needs sorting on the day.

The tower entrance is on the north side of the cathedral, outside — separate from the free cathedral entrance on the west front. It's on the Île de la Cité; the nearest Métro is Cité (line 4) or Saint-Michel, with RER at Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame. We send clear directions with your ticket.

No — the 424-step spiral staircase has no lift and cannot be adapted, so the climb is not wheelchair accessible. The cathedral itself, at ground level, is free and largely accessible. If mobility is a concern, contact us and we will explain what can be enjoyed at ground level.

Yes, for personal use. The Galerie des Chimères and the rooftop panorama are the great shots, best in morning or late-afternoon light. A clear day makes an enormous difference to the view, so if your dates are flexible we can help you pick a promising slot.

Your ticket is for a specific date and climb time. If you need to move it, reply to your confirmation email as early as you can and our concierge team will do its best to adjust the booking with the operator wherever the release calendar allows — though, given how scarce slots are, changes cannot always be guaranteed.

Notre-Dame de Paris is the medieval Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, begun in 1163 and one of the most famous churches in the world, renowned for its rose windows, flying buttresses and twin western towers. Damaged by fire in 2019, it was restored and reopened in December 2024, with the towers reopening to visitors in September 2025.

Yes, and many people do. The cathedral visit at ground level is free and reserved through its own system, while the tower climb is the paid, timed ticket we secure for you. Tell us your plans and we will help you line up a free cathedral reservation around your climb slot so the day flows smoothly.

They are different. The Eiffel Tower is far higher and gives a sweeping distant panorama, with the Eiffel Tower itself, of course, out of your own shot. Notre-Dame's towers put you right in the medieval heart of the city, eye-to-eye with the gargoyles, above the Seine and the Île de la Cité, with the cathedral's spire below — a more intimate, atmospheric and historic view that many travellers prefer.