---
title: Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/france/paris/tours/paris-catacombs-tour-with-restricted-areas/
type: tour
city: Paris
country: France
price: 209
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.7
reviews: 90
duration_minutes: 90
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
guidekin_pick: Timed ticket and two chambers
rank_in_category: 4 of 6 (Catacombs Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-01
data_updated: 2026-10-08
canonical: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/tours/paris-catacombs-tour-with-restricted-areas/
---

# Paris Catacombs Tour with Restricted Areas

**Guidekin's take:** Explore the lower Paris Catacombs, two restricted chambers and the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion. Timed entry and an English-only guide are included; long stairs and uneven underground passages require moderate fitness. 4.7 from 90 reviews at €209 per person for 1h 30m.

In our comparison: #4 of 6 in Catacombs Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

The Paris Catacombs release only a limited number of tickets each day, making them one of the hardest sites in the city to enter. This tour solves that with pre-reserved timed entry, so you can head inside without a worry.

An expert, English-speaking guide leads the way through a labyrinth of bone-lined tunnels, sharing the dark history of how forgotten limestone quarries became the resting place for millions of Parisians.

Along the route, walk past walls of skulls and femurs arranged into crosses and archways, and you stand before the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion.

The highlight is privileged access to two restricted chambers, closed to the general public, where a guard unlocks the iron gates for your small group.

With reserved entry, eerie legends, and rooms most visitors never see, this is one of the most memorable ways to experience underground Paris.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: Please Arrive 10 Minutes Early.
- Starts 12:15, 16:45, 17:15: 3 departures a day
- Children from €74: ages 0 to 6

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €209 per person
- Duration: 1h 30m
- Rating: 4.7/5 from 90 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Likely to sell out
- Operator: The Tour Guy
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Start times: 12:15, 16:45, 17:15
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-01

## Reviews

4.7 from 90 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
92% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 83 of 90.

- 5 stars: 80 (89%)
- 4 stars: 3 (3%)
- 3 stars: 1 (1%)
- 2 stars: 2 (2%)
- 1 star: 4 (4%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides and restricted rooms; the stair climb back to the surface can be tiring.

**Praised:**
- Guides explain the history behind the tunnels and the bones
- Access to restricted rooms adds sights beyond the public route
- Skipping the general admission queue
- Engaging stories, humour and enthusiasm for the subject

**Complaints:**
- Steep staircases and a tiring climb back to the surface
- Some find the meeting point easily, while others struggle with unclear instructions or signs
- Unanswered support calls or emails when the guide cannot be found

Written by Guidekin from the 88 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2018-06-20 to 2026-09-15); last checked 2026-10-03.

## What's included

- Expert, English-speaking guide
- Visit to the Barrel of Passion in the Crypt of Passion
- Timed-entry Paris Catacombs tickets
- Access to 2 restricted chambers
- Exploration of the lower Catacombs

## Not included

- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities

## Itinerary

1. **The Paris Catacombs** (1h 30m; admission included) - Meet your guide near the Catacombs entrance at Denfert-Rochereau and get ready to head far below the city. Descend the long spiral staircase into a maze of tunnels first carved as limestone quarries in the Middle Ages, later used as burial chambers when the city's graveyards...

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 12:15, 16:45, 17:15
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-01
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

Please Arrive 10 Minutes Early. Your guide will meet you in front of Café Oz (3 Place Denfert-Rochereau), near the exit of the Denfert-Rochereau Metro. A representative will be there holding a sign with ''The Tour Guy'' on it.
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJvz3Ntrlx5kcRCylrI3QARlw

## Good to know

- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The Catacombs are confined and lined with human bones, so the atmosphere may feel unsettling for guests who are claustrophobic or sensitive to enclosed spaces.
- This tour involves descending and climbing a long staircase and walking through uneven underground passages.

## Compared with other Catacombs Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #4 of 6** | €209 | 1h 30m | 4.7 (90) | shared |
| [Paris Catacombs Semi-Private Max 6 People Guided Tour](/france/paris/tours/paris-catacombs-semi-private-max-6-people-guided-tour/?format=md) | €209 | 1h 30m | 4.96 (251) | shared |
| [Catacombs of Paris Small Group Restricted Access Tour](/france/paris/tours/catacombs-of-paris-small-group-restricted-access-tour/?format=md) | €190 | 2h | 4.87 (322) | shared |
| [Paris Catacombs Guided Tour](/france/paris/tours/paris-catacombs-guided-tour/?format=md) | €139 | 1h 30m | 4.86 (266) | shared |

Ranked #4 of 6 in Catacombs Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €139 to €209, median €190; typical length 1h 45m. 0 of 6 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/catacombs-tours/?format=md

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