How To Visit Notre Dame Today [Updated for 2025]

Paris’ Cathedral of Notre Dame is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and one of the most visited monuments in for many romantics, Paris is a mythical city where stories are made, and certainly Notre Dame is part of this timeless beauty. But despite its devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame has survived to remain an enchanting Parisian monument that travelers still dream of visiting.

But before you begin your trip to the cathedral, here’s a few pointers on how to make the most of your experience.

Where to find Notre Dame of Paris

Situated on Paris’s picturesque island, Île de la Cité, Notre Dame sits quite literally in the heart of Paris. Yes, that is where Notre Dame de Paris resides, but don’t be surprised if you hear tales of other Notre Dames far outside the city limits — in Bordeaux, Rennes, and even tiny villages.

These are not imposters of the Parisian cathedral. Notre Dame de Paris, literally translated, is “Our Lady of Paris.” Notre Dame, therefore, is the name given to the central church in many French cities and towns. So while a visit to Notre Dame de Paris will check the grandest Notre Dame off your bucket list, keep in mind that there’s a whole country’s worth of Notre Dames still waiting to be discovered.

Notre Dame’s transformative history

While any francophile has probably heard about — and possibly shed a tear over — the fire that nearly razed the cathedral in 2019, few are aware that Notre Dame already has a history of reconstruction literally built into its foundation.

When the cathedral’s plot of land was first considered for construction in the mid-12th century, it had already been home to a Roman temple, and later two basilicas that had themselves eroded with time. So when Pope Alexander III ordered the laying of the cathedral’s foundation only years later, the cathedral became the fourth chapter in a long line of religious gems to be erected on that spot.

As the cathedral expanded with increasingly intricate ornamentation over the years, it became one of the architectural darlings of Paris. The stunning cathedral of Notre Dame is still a masterpiece of Gothic architecture today. The bulk of the work on the church was completed from the 13th century to the 15th century.

The history of this monument seeps out at every turn. Damaged during the French Revolution, the cathedral was restored in the 19th century by the architect Viollet-le-Duc. But they kept the damaged statues at the front doors, known as portals, as a reminder of the devastating effects of the French Revolution.

In recent years, its many visitors come to admire its stained glass and rose windows, the towers, the steeple, and the gargoyles. They could discover the Notre Dame treasury and have a go at climbing the towers to enjoy a panorama of Paris, including one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.

The stained glass windows of Notre Dame, particularly the three rose windows, were long considered among the best features of the cathedral. (By the way, if you love stained glass, you should visit Sainte-Chapelle, another Parisian church famous for its windows.)

The fire of Notre Dame

On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame nearly disappeared from Paris in a cloud of smoke. When a fire caught in the cathedral’s attic during routine renovations, it burned for over 15 hours. Among the most damaged parts of the Notre Dame were its roof, of which only a fraction remains, and its spire, which collapsed in the fire.

But in spite of the blaze, which could have crumbled the structures walls had it further damaged the structurally crucial vaulted ceilings, the majority of the cathedral was saved by firefighters. Most of the cathedral’s relics, including its organs, bells, and treasured paintings, survived the blaze as well with minimal smoke damage.

Today, the cathedral rises alongside renovative scaffolding, and restoration plans have been announced to return to spire and (in the face of some backlash) renovate the interior.

How to visit Notre Dame today

While Notre Dame was under renovations from the fire, no interior visits were possible, but luckily, that’s changed.

The cathedral officially reopens Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, with a special reopening ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. The event will include remarks by the French president, a chanting of psalms, organ music, and more.

The first Mass in the newly restored Notre Dame de Paris will be held the following Sunday morning with President Emmanuel Macron attending and a holy water blessing from the archbishop. Masses will be held twice daily for eight days after the reopening, and the public is invited.

Tickets to visit the reopened cathedral are free, but must be reserved in advance online. Meanwhile, to avoid some of the crowds inside, you can continue to visit the cathedral square, which looks onto both the crypt and the cathedral’s entrance.

A journey of rebirth, ruins, and remembrance

Notre Dame Outdoor Walking Tour With Crypt Entry

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For an immersive Notre Dame experience, take a guided Notre Dame tour with a local. On this outdoor walking tour around the intricate facades of the restored Notre Dame, you will learn about this monument and its rich history.

You can also go inside the archeological crypt — or the “Crypte archéologique de l’île de la Cité” — located below Notre Dame. This underground crypt shows you layers of the city’s history in fascinating ruins, a poignant contrast to the cathedral being rebuilt above ground.

Restoring Notre Dame: A project complete

In total, it took almost five years and eight months to restore this massive church that is truly more than just a church.

While it was being restored, one adorable highlight of the cathedral’s work-in-progress state was the collection of drawings made by local children who imagined what an ideal Notre Dame could contain. During the reconstruction, the site displayed a variety of creative Notre-Dame-themed artwork on the fence surrounding the structure. My personal favorite was a waterpark that some clever kid suggested be installed inside Notre Dame’s new interior.

They decided not to do the waterpark, but the restored cathedral is truly beautiful.

When will Notre Dame reopen?

People are naturally still asking this question, but Notre Dame is reopening this weekend! After being heavily damaged in the fire of April 2019, it took over five years to complete restorations. The church is officially set to reopen Dec. 7, 2024. For those visiting Paris for Christmas, this will be a special opportunity to be among the first to see the restored cathedral.

However, you should expect crowds during the first few months of opening. January and February are low season in Paris, but December is a popular travel period. The secretary general for Notre-Dame de Paris estimates 15 million visitors per year after the cathedral reopens (that’s up from 10-11 million in previous years).

Things to do near Notre Dame

After a visit to Notre Dame, don’t forget to make the most of its historical neighborhood. Just across the river you’ll find an Instagrammable anglophone bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, named for the original Shakespeare & Company lending library headed by the likes of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway.

The cathedral is also ideally placed for those who love museums. Just down the river, you can visit the l’Orangerie, my favorite Paris museum. Walk 20 minutes down the river and you’ll find yourself at my second favorite art museum in Paris, the Musée d’Orsay.

Even closer, head to the Jardin du Luxembourg, just 15 minutes away. Our Latin Quarter Selfie Tour (where you will take the most incredible, envy-inducing photos) meets here and starts right after our Notre Dame tour. Visiting the garden and the rest of the scenic Latin Quarter is the perfect follow-up to your Notre Dame experience.

Visiting Notre Dame since the fire

Voilà! Now you have all the background and inside tips you need to visit Notre Dame as she stands today.

One interesting fact if you’ve never visited Notre Dame — the exterior of the church has no steps. Maybe you’ve watched “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” on loop and had the same question I did: If there are no steps, then where did Quasimodo’s mother die? It’s an existential question that will continue to haunt me.

That aside, if seeing Notre Dame when you visit Paris is your dream, you should know that it’s still possible, whether you visit outside or inside. You can always attend a service to hear the organ during Mass as the light filters through the rose windows.

But if you want to discover the history, architecture, and magic of Notre Dame or hear firsthand accounts of the night it caught fire — in other words, if you want to learn more about what makes this Paris landmark so unique — then our Notre Dame tour is for you. Be sure to check out our other tours of Paris too!

After you’ve seen Notre Dame, you’ll want to explore the rest of Paris. Our Eiffel Tower tours and our expert-led tours of the Louvre cover the two most famous attractions.

But truly, the City of Love has a veritable smorgasbord of cultural treasures, including some amazing Parisian architecture. Might I suggest going off the beaten tourist path (a bit) by discovering the lovely Marais neighborhood?

Feel like a local in this hip Paris neighborhood

Le Marais Walking Tour

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There’s so much here to see and do, but whether it’s your first trip or your 15th, we’d love to help you make the most of your visit to our beautiful city — with its famous cathedral restored to its full glory!