How can I choose my time of visit to avoid the crowds at the Paris Catacombs?

Plan your day: It's important to look at the best time to visit Paris Catacombs if you're looking to avoid long lines. Book time slots in the mornings or late evenings, since crowds are generally smaller than busy time slots during the afternoons and evenings.

1. What is the best time to visit the catacombs in Paris?
2. How long do you need at the catacombs?
3. Can you get lost in Paris catacombs?
4. Are there catacomb tours?
5. Can you touch the bones in the catacombs?
6. How much does it cost to visit Paris catacombs?
7. How deep do the catacombs go?
8. Has anyone ever died in the catacombs of Paris that wasn't already dead when they were moved there?
9. How many bodies are in the catacombs?
10. Do the catacombs smell?
11. Has anyone got lost in the catacombs?
12. Why are the catacombs so dangerous?

What is the best time to visit the catacombs in Paris?

I highly recommend that you go as late as possible because it will be around dinner time. The last entrance is around 7:30 PM, so aim to get there around 7 PM and you might be surprised to find yourself inside with only a few other people!

How long do you need at the catacombs?

The tour of the Catacombs is deep underground. The walking route is about 2km, about 1.25 miles and the average independent visit takes around 45 minutes. You will first descend 130 steps down to the Catacombs and then at the end it's an 83-step climb to street level.

Can you get lost in Paris catacombs?

The Paris Catacombs are not safe to explore for the solo traveler. There have been instances of people getting lost or trapped. Someone even died while inside the Catacombs.

Are there catacomb tours?

Discover the Paris Catacombs with a deaf guide who speaks using French sign language. These tours provide an in-depth visit to the site and give access to the sculptures of Décure, the Quarriers' Footbath, the Sacellum Crypt, the Sepulchral Lamp and the tomb of Gilbert.

Can you touch the bones in the catacombs?

To ensure preservation of the site, you must not eat or drink on the site circuit, and animals are not allowed. Any kind of alcohol is prohibited. And, of course, you must not touch the bones, which are the fragile remains of millions of Parisians.

How much does it cost to visit Paris catacombs?

If you rather buy the tickets on site, it will cost 13 euros for adults, 11 euros for people aged between 18 to 26 years olds, and 5 euros for the children. On site, if you want an audioguide, an extra five euros will be charged.

How deep do the catacombs go?

The depth of the Catacombs is equivalent to a five-story building. The area is 2 kilometers long. It takes at least 45 minutes to explore the Catacombs. The constant temperature in the Catacombs is 14 Celsius.

Has anyone ever died in the catacombs of Paris that wasn't already dead when they were moved there?

This isn't the first time that people have been lost in catacombs. According to Buzzfeed, legend has it that Philibert Aspairt died after getting lost in the underground maze of the Paris catacombs in 1793 — and his body wasn't found until eleven years after his death.

How many bodies are in the catacombs?

The Paris Catacombs

What were once mines stretching for miles underneath Paris, now holds an estimated six million dead bodies throughout its tunnels.

Do the catacombs smell?

However, the strong smell of the Paris catacombs is apparently what all the initial signs were warning sensitive visitors about. At best, it could be likened to the dusty, incense-infused scent of old stone churches, but with an underlying malaise that can only be attributed to the contents of multiple cemeteries.

Has anyone got lost in the catacombs?

Most deaths occur when people get lost because they got into the catacombs fot a party and tried “exploring”. But it's really rare, and doesn't happen more than once a year.

Why are the catacombs so dangerous?

As said by Dupontel there's also the danger of a collapse as those old tunnels are not safe, except for those open for tourist visits, falling in holes or wells, getting electrocuted when touching the amateurish light systems put up by the people coming to have fun. There's also drowning.