Reserve Tickets for Notre Dame paris

“the official site says you can only reserve on the day of your visit”

Why would you think the official site was not giving you the correct information?

Actually, if you click through the "book for free" button, you will see that you can actually book a timed entry up to 2 days prior to your visit.

Even without reserving, it usually does not take too long to enter the Cathedral without timed ticket. Generally, early morning has shorter lines than midmorning or later. As the crowds increase so does the noise inside. You can also attend a service with no ticket.

If you want to climb the Towers of Notre Dame, tickets can be purchased now. It is a separate entry for a fee.

Unless you're planning to climb the towers, you don't need a ticket at all. There will be a line, but it moves very quickly. We were there in June, and I think we were in line only about 15 minutes or so, and the line seemed miles long!

The line zips right along buy inside you are shoulder to shoulder -- it is still a pretty unpleasant experience with the center roped off the masses and thus hard to get central to really look at the rose window or just sit and contemplate.

We were there last week of August 2025 and didn’t have tickets. Long queue to get in, but it moved very quickly.

I agree with others and that the line is very short. I wouldn’t worry about reserving anymore

I do not agree with Jane that it was unpleasant experience. I went early in the morning and it was magical. I’ve gone later in the day while it wasn’t magical it still was not unpleasant.

What they accomplished is a inspiring to me. But I know other people prefer it to look much older than it does.

Carol, that was janet, not me! We had a lovely time!

We were there last September and had tickets for the tower. We got in line to go into the cathedral without a timed entry and the line moved so fast we were done about 45 minutes before our tower time. It wasn’t busy so they allowed early entry.

Agreeing with my peeps Jane and Andrea regarding the line moving quickly.

I'll add that in April I did the free and unreservable tour of the cathedral by a CASA volunteer. You meet them outside at the base of the left tower where Rue d'Arcole meets the plaza area. It was about an hour and excellent.

https://www.acck.fr/GuidesCasa-calendrierCasa/

There also is a mobile app you can download but I forgot I had it for the time I stayed in the cathedral after the guided tour. It IS crowded but it is so gorgeous inside, especially for those who had visited prior to the fire. I love that you can do a donation via ApplePay, lol!