© CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSONPOOLAFP
– After five years of renovation, Notre-Dame de Paris will reopen its doors to the general public from December 8.
Five years after the fire that ravaged it, Notre-Dame de Paris will once again open its doors to the public on December 8. Faced with the expected crowds, a free reservation system has been put in place to offer a smooth and pleasant experience to all visitors to the cathedral. Here is everything you need to know to organize your visit and fully enjoy this unique moment.
Entrance to the cathedral remains free and open to all, but it is strongly recommended to reserve a time slot. This approach guarantees you access within a short time and allows you to avoid long queues, particularly during busy periods. By booking, you also ensure that you enjoy your visit in optimal conditions, avoiding long queues on the square.
A mobile application to streamline reservations and enrich the experience
Online reservations open on Tuesday December 3, 2024. You can reserve your place the day before, the day before or the same day of your visit. To do this, you have two options: use the cathedral's official website or the “Notre-Dame de Paris” mobile application, available for free on iOS and Android. Once on the platform, you simply select a time slot from the availability. An instant confirmation followed by a digital ticket sent by email finalizes your reservation.
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In addition to booking, the application offers thematic tours to enrich your experience, such as architectural, spiritual or family-friendly tours. You will also find practical information on concerts, services and other events organized at the cathedral. For visually impaired people, audio description options are available, and several languages are offered for international visitors.
Specific opening hours
During the reopening week, specific schedules have been put in place. During reopening week (December 8 to 15, 2024):
- Sunday December 8: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Monday 9 to Friday 13 December: 3:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December: 3:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
From December 16, 2024: return to usual hours.
- Monday to Friday: 7:45 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (extended closing at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday)
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:15 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Note that the last entry is always scheduled 30 minutes before closing.
For those who do not wish to book, it is still possible to access Notre-Dame without prior registration. A queue will be dedicated to spontaneous visitors, but the waiting time may be significant, particularly during busy periods. If you choose this option, it is advisable to arrive early or choose less popular times.
New features during the visits
During your visit, you will be able to discover several new features put in place for the occasion. Visitors will have access to five immersive courses adapted to different audiences, available in French, English and Spanish. You will also be able to explore the Cathedral Treasury from 2025, a visit which will however require a paid ticket. The restoration work allows us to rediscover emblematic elements such as the spire of Viollet-le-Duc and the frames, now identically redone.
The average tour duration, previously 15 to 20 minutes, is now estimated at 40 to 45 minutes, as visitors want to fully enjoy this beautifully restored place.
