Notre-Dame Tower Tickets 2026: Climbing the Bell Towers, Prices, Hours and the New Route

The cathedral is free, but the best view of Notre-Dame is from the top of Notre-Dame itself. After almost six years of closure, the bell towers are open again, with a redesigned route that takes you past the great bell Emmanuel, face to face with the chimeras and out onto a terrace overlooking the new spire. Here is how to get a ticket and what to expect.

How to book Notre-Dame tower tickets

1. Use the official seller

   Tickets are sold only on the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) website, tickets.monuments-nationaux.fr. There is no ticket office at the tower entrance.

2. Pick your date and time slot

   Slots are timed. From April to October they sell out early, especially sunset and weekend slots: book one to three weeks ahead.

3. Book even if you go free

   Children, EU residents under 26 and Paris Museum Pass holders pay nothing but must still reserve a slot online.

4. Arrive a few minutes early

   Go to the tower entrance outside the cathedral, to the right of the façade. Bags are screened and must be small (max. 40 × 40 × 20 cm).

The new route: what you see on the way up

The route reopened in 2025 is longer and better designed than the pre-fire visit. You climb up one tower and come down the other, so you never cross people on the narrow stairs.

1. A small exhibition room at the foot of the tower tells the story of the building and the restoration, with casts of sculptures.
2. The spiral staircases: stone steps worn by eight centuries of feet, now with handrails, better lighting and counters showing how many steps are left.
3. A new oak staircase built during the restoration, a double spiral where the way up and the way down never meet.
4. The south belfry, home of Emmanuel, the great bell cast in 1686, which weighs about 13 tons and only rings on major occasions.
5. The Gallery of Chimeras, where the famous stone creatures added in the 19th century stare out over Paris (more in our guide to Notre-Dame’s gargoyles and chimeras).
6. The summit terrace, 69 m (226 ft) above the square, with views of the rebuilt roof, the new spire, the Seine, the Panthéon and the Eiffel Tower. Groups go up in small batches and stay a few minutes.

Is the tower climb hard?

424 steps is a real climb, but people of average fitness manage it comfortably with short pauses. The difficulty is less the number of steps than the narrow, winding stone staircases, sometimes under 50 cm wide. The towers are not suitable for wheelchair users, children under 6, pregnant women, or anyone with heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia. Wear flat shoes (no flip-flops or high heels) and leave large bags, tripods, drones and strollers at your hotel.

Best time to climb the towers

Sold out? Your options

• Check again daily: unused slots and cancellations are released regularly on the CMN site.
• Visit off-season: from November to March slots are much easier, and on the first Sunday of the month (November to March) entry is free for everyone, first come, first served.
• Join a guided tour that includes the towers: some tour operators hold tower slots for their groups. Check the inclusions carefully before you book.

Read also:Notre-Dame Reservations & Tickets 2026: Free Entry, Time Slots and What Costs Money

Combining the towers with the rest of your visit

Give yourself half a day: the cathedral itself (free, 45–60 minutes), the towers (about an hour), then the archaeological crypt under the square or a walk to Sainte-Chapelle five minutes away. If you climb in the evening, have dinner on Île Saint-Louis first: our guide to restaurants and things to do near Notre-Dame has addresses. For the free cathedral reservation, see our Notre-Dame reservations guide.