Six people, one guide, skip-the-line entry and two areas off the public route, in 90 minutes.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Duration1.5 hours
- Starting timesShown when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish
The small-group Paris Catacombs tour costs $234 per person and caps the group at six people, the smallest group of any Catacombs tour with real review volume. In 90 minutes a professional local guide takes you in through a separate skip-the-line entrance, along the ossuary route and into restricted areas that standard ticket holders do not see. It is run by LivTours, meets in front of the main entrance at 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, and has 4.91 out of 5 from 205 reviews on GetYourGuide, the highest score of any Catacombs tour with more than ten reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Book Catacombs TicketsKey facts
small-group-tour- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Starts
- Shown when you check availability
- Meeting point
- In front of the Catacombs main entrance; the guide holds a LivTours sign
- Price
- $234 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- 6 people (rarely more, to keep a travelling party together)
- Accessibility
- Not suitable for wheelchair users: 130 steps down and 112 up, with no lift.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Included
- ✓ Skip-the-line entry through a separate entrance
- ✓ Professional local guide
- ✓ Access to restricted areas
- ✓ Group of 6 people at most
Not included
- ✗ Audio guide
- ✗ Hotel pickup
Meeting point
1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
Nearest transit: Metro lines 4 and 6 or RER B to Denfert-Rochereau
Why six people changes the visit
Six people means everyone stays close to the guide in the narrow passages and can ask questions the whole way. The listing allows a rare exception to keep a travelling party together, but six is the rule. The next-smallest restricted-access tour takes seven, and the most-booked guided tour takes up to fourteen. All ten of the latest reviews praise the guide, several by name.
Restricted areas and the route
The tour includes access to restricted areas off the public route; one recent reviewer counted two of these 'secret places' as the bonus of the visit. The listing does not name them. The rest of the 90 minutes follows the main ossuary: the descent of 130 steps, the old quarry galleries, the gate inscription and the walls of bones, with the guide covering the 1780s cemetery transfers that filled them.
Getting in
Entry is through a separate entrance, so you do not stand in the queue of timed-ticket holders. Meet the guide in front of the main entrance at 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, opposite Denfert-Rochereau station; the guide carries a LivTours sign. You come out at the exit on avenue René-Coty, about 700 metres away.
What to bring and wear
The tunnels stay around 14 °C year-round and can be slippery, so bring a warm layer and wear shoes with grip. Leave luggage and large bags at your hotel: they are not allowed underground and there are no lockers. The visit is not suitable for anyone who cannot manage 242 steps in total.
Is the premium worth it?
At $234 this is the most expensive tour on this site, $22 more than the restricted access tour, which caps at seven and lasts two hours instead of 90 minutes. Pick this one if the smallest possible group matters most; pick the restricted access tour if you want the extra half hour for less money.
What reviewers consistently say
- 10 of the 10 latest reviews praise the guide
- 2 of the 10 latest reviews mention the restricted areas as a highlight
- 1 of the 10 latest reviews says the tour sold out and to book ahead
Who should not book this
- Budget travellers: the audio-guide ticket shows the main ossuary for $43
- Wheelchair users and anyone who cannot manage the stairs
-
Paris Catacombs Restricted Access Tour
$2124.9 533 reviews
if seven people and two hours for $22 less suits you better
Read the full page -
Paris Catacombs Guided Tour with Special Access
$1564.7 1,025 reviews
if you book the 1:30, 4:30 or 5:30 pm departure, which is also capped at six, for $156
Read the full page
How to book
Choose a date and start time and book; you can reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. Meet the guide in front of the main Catacombs entrance. This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How many people are on the small-group Catacombs tour?
Six at most. The listing allows a rare exception so a group travelling together is not split.
Does the tour visit restricted areas?
Yes. Access to restricted areas is included, though the listing does not name them.
How long is the tour?
About 90 minutes.
Is the Catacombs ticket included?
Yes. Skip-the-line entry through a separate entrance is part of the price.
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