Religious site · Île de la Cité, 4th arrondissement, Paris, Île-de-France

Notre-Dame de Paris

The Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, restored and reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire

Photo: HANVIN CHEONG (@hktram0311) / Unsplash

Discover Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame stands at the eastern end of the Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine where Paris began. Its west front, with three carved portals beneath a gallery of kings and two square towers, faces a broad square, while the sides and apse show the flying buttresses that allowed its builders to raise high walls filled with stained glass. Inside, the long nave leads towards the choir under rib vaults, lit by the north and south rose windows.

The restoration that followed the 2019 fire has left the interior brighter and cleaner than it has been for generations, with stone walls cleaned and the new spire, a replica of the 19th-century original, rising again above the crossing. Visitors can enter the cathedral free of charge, and a separate paid visit climbs the towers for close views of the gargoyles and chimeras and across the rooftops of Paris.

Don’t miss

01The west front with its three carved portals and twin towers
02The north and south rose windows
03Flying buttresses around the apse, best seen from the riverside gardens
04The restored interior and the rebuilt spire
05The 424-step climb up the towers past the gargoyles

History & culture

The story of Notre-Dame de Paris

Work began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully, and the cathedral was largely complete by the mid-13th century, although additions and alterations continued for many decades. It hosted great ceremonies of French history, among them the coronation of Napoleon as emperor in 1804. Damaged and neglected after the Revolution, it was restored between 1844 and 1864 by Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added the tall spire and many of the sculptures seen today.

On 15 April 2019 a fire destroyed the spire and much of the medieval timber roof. A national restoration campaign followed, the new spire was set in place in December 2023, and the cathedral reopened with ceremonies on 7 and 8 December 2024. Notre-Dame lies within the riverside area that UNESCO lists as Paris, Banks of the Seine.

Local life & traditions

The Île de la Cité is home to the Palais de Justice, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie as well as the cathedral. The neighbouring Île Saint-Louis is a quiet residential island of 17th-century townhouses, known for its ice-cream shops and small restaurants. On the Left Bank opposite, the Latin Quarter has bookshops, students and cafés, and the green bookstalls of the bouquinistes line the quays along the river.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Visitors can walk around the nave, ambulatory and side chapels, where restored stonework and stained glass are well lit, and attend mass or services, which continue throughout the day. A time slot can be booked online to skip the queue at busy times. The tower visit, run separately by the Centre des monuments nationaux, climbs the spiral staircases to the gallery of chimeras and the top of the south tower. Afterwards, the square in front and the Square Jean-XXIII garden behind the apse give good views of the exterior, and the quays of the Left Bank offer the classic view across the river.

When to go

The cathedral is open daily throughout the year. Early mornings on weekdays and the Thursday late opening tend to be the least crowded; weekends and summer bring the longest queues. Religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter are special occasions to visit, but expect large congregations and some restricted access.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Entry: Access to the cathedral is free. Booking a time slot online (via the official website or app) is not required but is recommended at busy times. Source: notredamedeparis.fr ↗
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7:50 to 19:00 (Thursday until 22:00); Saturday and Sunday 8:15 to 19:30. Entry stops half an hour before closing; hours can change during religious events. Source: notredamedeparis.fr ↗
Towers visit: €16, booked on the official towers website; free for EU residents under 26. The visit climbs 424 steps. Source: tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr ↗

Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Book a free time slot online to shorten the wait at the entrance on busy days.
Remember that it is an active cathedral: dress respectfully and keep quiet during services.
Book the towers visit separately in advance; it is not included in cathedral entry.
Go on a Thursday evening for a quieter visit thanks to the late opening.
Walk round to the gardens behind the apse for the best view of the flying buttresses.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Notre-Dame de Paris: food, markets & places to stay

The Sainte-Chapelle, with its 13th-century stained glass, and the Conciergerie are a few minutes' walk west on the Île de la Cité, and the Île Saint-Louis is across a footbridge to the east. On the Left Bank are the Latin Quarter, the Musée de Cluny and Shakespeare and Company bookshop, while the Louvre lies a short walk downstream along the Right Bank quays.