Paris Catacombs Tour with VIP Access to Restricted Areas
Description
Venture below the avenues and Metro tunnels of Paris and into the Catacombs, whose population of skeletons far outnumbers the living city above. This small-group tour includes access to areas of the Catacombs that are normally closed to the general public, giving you a deeper and more immersive experience. Exclusive sights include the Sacellum Crypt, where bones were blessed before beginning their rest in the tunnels.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide, an English-speaking local expert, will lead your group into the 200-mile labyrinth of bone-lined galleries and former quarry tunnels. At the entrance, an inscription reads, “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la mort” – “Stop! Here lies the empire of death.” Here, you’ll see remains of dignitaries like Rabelais and Robespierre, among over 6 million former Parisians. While standard visits stick to public routes, your guide takes you beyond the usual path. Discover hidden sites like Gilbert’s Tomb and the Port Mahon Gallery, where an 18th-century quarry worker secretly carved sculptures over five years before a tragic cave-in. You’ll also see the Quarryman’s Footbath and the Sepulchral Lamp, whose flame reassured workers that the air was safe. As you explore, your guide brings to life the history, legends, and mysteries of this underground world. After this journey 65 feet beneath Paris, you’ll never see the city the same way again.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not wheelchair accessible.
- We regret that we are unable to accommodate pushchairs or strollers on our tours.
- Please note that Special Access areas may be closed on some days.
- Not recommended for travelers with claustrophobia
Reviews(1,096)
Great experience! Saeed D was one of the best tour guides we’ve had! He was Phenomenal. He told us the stories and details in an interesting way and one we will actually remember. Patient, kind, and answered all questions. He seemed excited and interested in everyone having a good time. The catacombs themselves are a unique experience that you will not regret.
Saeed was my tour guide. He was really good at explaining things and telling us about the catacombs. His English is great.
The Paris Catacombs tour with Saeed is a very unique experience for those who like the macabre. The experience starts with learning how the rock was quarried to build the great monuments of Paris, moves to the burial and cemetery crisis around the time of the 1789 revolution, and the unique solutions that were put in place. Be prepared to go down and up spiral staircases. There are no lifts.
Saeed was a wonderful guide. We loved exploring the Catacombs and learning about Paris history. Highly recommend this tour!
Saeed was a wonderful tour guide. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the tour very much.
Sayeed was an absolutely brilliant tour guide and deserves real recognition. His knowledge of the Catacombs, passion for the history, professionalism, and friendly approach made our small-group tour truly unforgettable. He was attentive to everyone’s questions, happy to help with translations whenever needed, and turned the 2-hour experience into something genuinely memorable and fulfilling. Thank you Sayeed and City Wonders for a fantastic experience. Highly recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ BKS 🙌
My family including boys ages 16, 14 and 10 thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Our guide Michelle was so knowledgeable and full of such interesting facts and anecdotes.
This is was incredibly interesting! The history of how this place came to be including what was here before was honestly kind of mind-blowing.
I've always wanted to visit the Catacombs, so when I was planning a visit, I did not think a tour guide was necessary. Thankfully I opted to go with the guide, which made the experience that much more interesting and memorable. Our tour guide, Saeed, was awesome. He was very friendly and explained everything to expect on the tour. He was very knowledgeable and kept me engaged the whole time. Truly a fascinating experience. Thanks again Saeed.
Saeed was an excellent guide. Very informative and gave lots of detail. Very cool experience.
