11 Essential Tips for Visiting Notre-Dame de Paris (2025)
The reopened Notre-Dame is stunning, but planning your visit can be frustrating if you don’t know how the ticket system works.
After going through detailed visitor reports, here are the real-world tips you need to make it easy.
1. You don’t need a ticket to get in
Many visitors get in without a reservation, especially early in the morning or later in the day. People have reported walking in at 9:00am, 5:30pm, or even during Mass with little to no wait.
It’s riskier during midday and weekends, but the “no ticket” line is a valid backup.
2. Tickets open just 2 days ahead
New reservations drop daily at midnight Paris time, for dates exactly two days later. They go fast, sometimes gone in under 10 minutes! Refresh the reservation page starting at 11:45pm for the best shot.
Official site only: resa.notredamedeparis.fr
3. Same-day slots drop 4 hours before entry
If you missed the midnight drop, there’s another way. Same-day tickets are released four hours before each time slot (e.g. 5:00am for 9:00am, 5:30am for 9:30am, etc.). Check early and often.
4. Don’t trust third-party websites
Reservations are free and only available from the official Notre-Dame site. Any site selling tickets is fake. Guided tours are not allowed inside until June 9 2025. If someone offers one, it’s unauthorized and likely a scam.
5. Lines can be short – or brutal
Visitors have walked in with no wait on weekday mornings. Others have waited up to 3 hours in peak midday or weekend queues. The busiest hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm, especially Sundays and holidays.
6. Arrive early for the shortest lines
The cathedral opens at 7:50am on weekdays and 8:15am on weekends. While the first official visitor time slot is 9:00am, people often queue earlier.
Mass attendees get priority before that. By 7:45am, there’s already a line forming.
7. Late afternoon and evenings are a smart bet
The line often dies down after 4:00pm, especially on weekdays. Thursday is the best evening option: Notre-Dame stays open until 10:00pm, with the last entry around 9:30pm.
8. You can enter during Mass
You’re allowed inside even when a service is going on, though Mass attendees get priority. Sunday mornings have stacked services from 8:30am to 11:30am, so general visitors usually wait until after 1:00pm.
9. There’s a hard capacity cap
The cathedral holds 3,000 people total, but only 2,500 visitors are allowed in at once. That includes staff, clergy, and volunteers. Entry slows or pauses when that number is hit, even with a reservation.
10. Don’t panic if you miss the ticket drop
Many people report walking up without a reservation and getting in with little wait. One traveler got tickets for the same day by checking the website again at 7:00am. Another queued up at 5:25pm and was inside 20 minutes later.
11. Avoid major holidays if you can
Easter, Christmas, and long weekends bring extra crowds. For example, on Good Friday, people report no visitor slots and long waits due to special services. Unless you’re going to Mass, it’s better to pick another day.
In short
If you’re flexible and know the system, visiting Notre-Dame doesn’t need to be stressful. Use the official site, check early, and avoid peak hours. Even without a ticket, most visitors get inside just fine, especially if they go early or late.