Notre Dame Cathedral

Here are five amazing things you can do at the Notre Dame Cathedral

1.) Enjoy a break in the beautiful garden

Enjoy a break in the beautiful garden on the back side of the Cathedral: Relax and have a break during or after your sightseeing day in the peaceful garden beside the cathedral. Between the beautiful Seine and the amazing cathedral, you will enjoy both the view and the green banks where you can have a picnic or simply sit and chat about the history surrounding this unique place.

2.) Notre Dame and the Heart of Paris Tour

Follow a Parisian guide for a walk around the Notre Dame Cathedral and learn about all the secrets of one of the most romantic places in Paris. Between the two banks, discover the gargoyles and what they represent, the legend of headless Saint Denis, and the greatest love story ever between Heloïse and Abelard… More details here.

3.) Cross the Arts’ Bridge

Cross the Arts’ bridge and follow the tradition: Lovers are used to going on the Arts’ Bridge to hang a lock on the grids of the bridge before throwing the key into the Seine as a symbol of their eternal love! More details here.

4.) Enjoy a Street Show on a Pedestrian Bridge

The bridge between the city island where Notre Dame is located and the Saint Louis island is the place for many concerts and shows during the day since street artists are used to performing on that bridge. You will discover some fun and entertaining shows for everyone! More details here.

5.) Try Some Berthillion’s Ice Cream

Berthillon is considered the best ice cream parlor in Paris! Indeed, it has nothing to see with Ben and Jerry’s. All flavors are unique and amazing in this family company, which has made ice creams since 1954. In the heart of the island Saint Louis, find the tearoom where you can taste this wonderful ice cream and their traditional biscuit cones after having queued up for a while. More details here.

Why it’s worth visiting

• Notre Dame is the most visited monument in Paris and in France. It welcomes more than 13 million visitors a year.
• Every bit of the cathedral is worth discovering: the façade is majestic and impressive as well as incredibly detailed in its “bas-relief” and other statues. The inside is transcending and will enlighten you thanks to the three rose windows and to the wonderful stained glasses.
• It contains hidden mysteries and all kinds of fascinating legends and stories about its construction and its main characters.

How to get there

By Metro:
Line 4, Cité or Saint-Michel Stations, Ligne 1, 11 : Hôtel de Ville Station, Ligne 10, Maubert-Mutualité or Cluny- La Sorbonne station; Lines 7, 11 et 14, Châtelet station.

By Rer:
Lines B and C, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame station

Insider’s Tips

• Don’t worry if you see a long line in front of the cathedral: first, the entrance is free, and then, the waiting does not linger, and finally, it is definitely worth it.
• Be careful with the “Parvis de Notre Dame” (the court in front of it) that is often crowded. Keep an eye on your personal belongings and avoid the disguised beggars (weird costumes).
• Don’t forget that pigeons are not really clean!

Opening Hours

To visit the cathedral (free)
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 6:45 pm

Weekends: 8:00 am to 7:15 pm
To go up the towers (8,50 €)

April – September: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm
October – March: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

Near By

The Hotel de Ville hosts the heart of Paris’ administration and also several free exhibitions on the left side of it.

Left Bank – Latin Quarter Tour: follow an English-speaking local guide to discover this traditional and old-style district of Paris called the Latin Quarter and cherished by Parisians.

Throw a coin into the Saint Michel Fountain: across the bridge in front of Notre Dame, you will see the beautiful fountain of St Michel in which you can throw a coin hoping to come back to Paris soon!