In this guide
Where to eat near Notre-Dame
| Address | Type | Walk | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole (Rue Chanoinesse) | Traditional French | 2 min | Flower-covered medieval house in the old canons’ quarter |
| Les Deux Palais (Boulevard du Palais) | Classic café-brasserie | 5 min | Between Sainte-Chapelle and the Palais de Justice |
| Le Saint-Régis (Île Saint-Louis) | Café-brasserie | 5 min | Terrace at the tip of the island, all-day food |
| Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis | Alsatian brasserie | 5 min | Choucroute and beer facing the back of Notre-Dame |
| Berthillon (Rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île) | Ice cream | 7 min | The most famous ice cream in Paris (closed Mon–Tue) |
| Shakespeare and Company Café | Café | 3 min | Coffee and cake next to the legendary bookshop |
| La Tour d’Argent (Quai de la Tournelle) | Fine dining | 7 min | Historic restaurant with a view over the cathedral |
Want to taste Paris with a local? Food tours of the Latin Quarter and the Marais combine cheese, wine, pastries and history.
Things to do within 10 minutes of Notre-Dame
- Sainte-Chapelle (5 min): the stained-glass jewel of Saint Louis. Timed tickets are required.
- The Conciergerie (6 min): the medieval royal palace that became a revolutionary prison; Marie-Antoinette’s cell.
- The archaeological crypt (1 min): under the cathedral square, remains of Roman Lutetia and medieval Paris.
- Square Jean-XXIII (2 min): the garden behind the cathedral, with views of the flying buttresses.
- The Memorial of the Martyrs of the Deportation (3 min): a moving memorial at the eastern tip of the island.
- Île Saint-Louis (5 min): 17th-century streets, shops and Berthillon.
- Shakespeare and Company (3 min): the famous English-language bookshop facing Notre-Dame.
- Square René-Viviani (4 min): home of Paris’s oldest tree, planted around 1601.
- The flower market (Marché aux fleurs Reine-Elizabeth-II, 4 min) and the bouquinistes, the green bookstalls along the quays.
- Hôtel de Ville and the Marais (10 min): across the Pont d’Arcole.
From the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame
| Option | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| On foot along the Seine | About 1 h (4.5 km / 2.8 miles) | Free | Via the Musée d’Orsay, Pont des Arts and the bouquinistes |
| RER C (Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel → Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame) | About 20 min | One metro ticket | The fastest option, no change |
| Metro line 6 + 4 | About 30 min | One metro ticket | Useful from Bir-Hakeim / Trocadéro |
| Batobus (river shuttle) | About 30–40 min | Day pass | Hop-on hop-off, scenic |
| Taxi / ride-hailing | 15–25 min | About €15–€25 | Depends on traffic |
Classic one-day itinerary: morning at the cathedral (reserve your free slot), Sainte-Chapelle before lunch, lunch on Île Saint-Louis, afternoon at the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, Seine cruise at sunset and the Eiffel Tower at night.
Live prices and availability:
The Notre-Dame gift shop
The official shop is inside the cathedral, at the end of the visit route. It sells books, rosaries, candles, medals, postcards, Christmas ornaments and souvenirs linked to the restoration. It closes during services. Several bookshops and souvenir stores around the square also sell prints and replicas of gargoyles, but beware of overpriced trinkets.
Read also:Best Hotels Near Notre-Dame Paris (2026): Where to Stay Within Walking Distance
Frequently asked questions
How far is Notre-Dame from the Eiffel Tower?
About 4.5 km (2.8 miles): a 1-hour walk along the Seine, about 20 minutes by RER C, or 15–25 minutes by taxi.
What are the best restaurants near Notre-Dame?
Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole on Île de la Cité, the brasseries of Île Saint-Louis, Les Deux Palais, and La Tour d’Argent for fine dining. Avoid the tourist menus on Rue de la Huchette.
What is there to do near Notre-Dame?
Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, the archaeological crypt, Île Saint-Louis, Shakespeare and Company, the flower market and the Marais are all within 10 minutes on foot.
Does Notre-Dame have a gift shop?
Yes, inside the cathedral at the end of the visit route. It is closed during Mass.