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Need a little advice about timing for St. Chappelle and Notre Dame

Posted by (Birmingham, AL) on

HI,

For those of you who have been there more recently, I am wondering about timing for reservations. On the day we are planning on going (first Monday in June), the earliest reservations for St. Chappelle are now at 11:30, which I would expect to be an extremely crowded time. I am thinking it would be better to go at the end of the day - hopefully less of a backup in getting through security. So I am wondering - I know for Notre Dam a prebooked time is not necessary but can be helpful. If I book a reservation at St. Chappelle for 17:30 and want to visit Notre Dam first, what time should I try to set up for visiting Notre Dame, considering the amount of time I need to allow for getting through security at St. Chappelle and walking from Notre Dam (which is admittedly a very short distance).

Posted by
1796 posts

I think the security lines for Sainte Chapelle always take a long time, so I do think going to Notre Dame first is a good idea. BUT, I'd spread it out with enough time to enjoy Notre Dame at your leisure and with enough time to then go get coffee/French pastry in between. Just so you aren't stressed about timing. I like to stroll through Marche aux Fleurs de Paris in between the two.

Our last visit was two years ago, so hopefully still current, but you line up outside for St Chapelle at the sign with your entrance time. (The signs are shoulder height, and easy to miss.) Then at their leisure they start to move your line to begin the slow security process. Once through security, you can explore St Chapelle. (In case you haven't been, it's not like you have a 17:30 ticket and get to go through security before that time. Hope that makes sense. Or helps with your planning!)

Posted by
129 posts

So, to be clear, if I have a ticket for 17:30, that is (theoretically) the time I would begin the process of getting through security. So not much advantage of showing up much before 17:30. Correct?
I am thinking of allowing an hour at Notre Dame. Does that seem reasonable?

Posted by
1796 posts

davidfox, correct, that was our experience at St. Chapelle. But Notre Dame was still closed for constructionon our last visit, so we were relegated to sitting on the outdoor bleachers watching the cranes move about and ponder the goings on. So I can't say if an hour is enough in Notre Dame.

I'm sure someone will chime in with more recent experience.

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