Visiting Notre Dame interior and roof

Kay, I believe that this is the most current thread about the Notre Dame Tower:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/notre-dame-tower-visits-to-resume-sept-20#bottom
Tickets will not be released until sometime in early September for Sept. 20.

This is the website that I use for ND Cathedral tickets:
https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/visit/reservation/
The tickets are released at midnight French time for that day and the next two days. Since I live in the EDT zone, that is 6:00 p.m. for me. I think once September arrives and children return to school, it will be easier to gain access to ND Cathedral. I'm hopeful that Kim and/or Emily will see your post and respond. They are very knowledgable.

We visited Notre Dame interior June 25. I did not get tickets ahead of time. We got in line at 10:50 and entered the cathedral at 11:10. The line moves quickly.

Don't worry about getting tickets to Notre Dame. If you aren't able to book your tickets online 2 days in advance, you can still visit the Cathedral. Join the long line on the left of the entrance with those without a reservation. It may look daunting, but moves fairly quickly.

You can also attend one of the services at Notre Dame. No pre booking. The line is to the right of the main entrance.

The Towers of Notre Dame are scheduled to open September 20. A separate admission is required. The Towers are managed by the Centre de Monuments Nationaux. I do not know what the ticket prices will be.

There is a pass, Passion Monuments Subscription that will include the Towers. Depending on which other Monuments you plan to visit, it may save you both time and money. In Paris alone, admission to Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon and Panorama and Hotel de la Marine are included. The pass also provides a substantial discount on concerts at Sainte-Chapelle and other discounts. The pass also gives you priority in the various security lines. Especially useful for Sainte-Chapelle.

I just wanted to thank jeanm for posting about the Passion Monuments Subscription!

(It will be very useful on our road trip (from Bordeaux to Paris, through the Dordogne, Loire, and Normandy) next summer :).)

I have my towers tickets for mid-October already. I think I'd see the interior while you were there since you'd be right there. I was inside Notre Dame twice in April this year. It's so beautiful.

My husband and I climbed ND's Tower on Sept. 24th at 16 Euros each. It was a wonderful experience. You could tell that those working inside the tower were so proud of it and for good reason. It is 424 steps, but there are large "landings" with displays that you stop and look at and receive a short talk about. The woodwork is breathtaking, especially the spiral staircases. We felt impelled to reach out and touch the beauty of the wood. Only @18 people are allowed on the tour. There were several times that we had to wait for the tour ahead of us to clear so that there was no congestion. It was well organized. When we reached the very top, we were allowed five minutes to walk around it and take photos. On the way down, there is another level that we could walk outside and take more photos. From the time that we went through security to make the climb until we walked out of the tower was exactly one hour.

Lyndy,
Thanks for your very organized, clear, complete and detailed description of your tower visit. It will be very helpful to many.

Lindy, thanks for sharing your first hand experience.

aaw71 You're welcome. The Passion Monuments Subscription seems to get little love here. But, under the right circumstances, it can be a real money saver.

I did the Tower Tour today (south), using my Passion Monuments subscription. Yes, there a lot of steps. But, I moved at my own pace and managed fine. The views from the top are incredible, especially on a clear day..... like today. I loved the timber structures in the tower and for the support of the bells. The joinery and timber sizes are very impressive. FYI, you can only see a small portion of the "forest" and that view is through plexiglass. I can understand why. I am glad that I got to see the tower and the freshly refurbished interior. Well done!!

I don't know what the passion monuments subscription is, but you get your tickets to the circular staircase to the roof from CMN paris. They are 16e and are for reserved times. I just got mine and they were almost out. I would try immediately for them. Getting into the cathedral is easy with or without a reservation. sue

On Monday 9/29, we pretty much just walked right in at about 9:15 am. No tickets. A bit crowded inside but manageable. The Sachristy/Treasury was uncrowded. People avoid paying the admission for that.

We had walked by ND somewhere about 5 pm on Sunday 9/28 and the whole square in front of the cathedral was a crowded mass of humanity. So bad we did not want to even cross over from the left bank to Ile de la cite.

I avoided trying to get tix b/c the website never seemed to have tix available unless you try shortly after midnight, two days in advance. And b/c reports suggested no problem if you arrive in the early morning.

lakertone40, I was there on October 1, also (also using my Passion Monuments subscription). Perhaps our paths crossed? My entry time was reserved for 9:15, but my daughter and I entered a little bit later than that, due to the guy at the entrance to the lineups telling us to wait in the wrong lineup. (We switched after we realized it.) What time were you there?

I agree, the views were spectacular that day.

Hi BB, my reservation was for 9:30. I got there early and went inside the church at about 8:30. I entered the tower check in area about 9:15 and had a purple backpack on, easy to notice. We waited a while at the gargoyle queue to enter the tower view area, so plenty of areas where we could have crossed paths. I loved the City views. I didn't need to go to the top of the Arc d' Triomphe after that. Sometimes it seems like a small world.

Oh, wow. Small world, indeed. I was wearing this coat: https://katehewko.ca/collections/outerwear/products/pop-art-denim-jacket?variant=45115768996004

Belated "bonjour."

I surely would have noticed that jacket!

Wishing you safe travels.

We have paid tickets for the 10:15am Tower Tour in December. I have a few questions: Are there 3 separate lines for those with Tower Tour tickets, those with interior tickets, and those with no reserved tickets? After the Tower Tour, can we then check out the interior or does the Tower Tour exit you outside? I'm just trying to figure out if I need to stress about securing interior tickets 2-3 days prior to our Tower Tour or if by having those tickets already, we will be able to get in to Notre Dame and see everything. Thanks!

tracy, after touring the Towers you will exit to the outdoors. If you wish to see the interior of the Cathedral you could tour before or after your Tower reservation.

I wouldn't stress out about tickets for the Cathedral. Even those without reservations have been admitted within 10-15 minutes of arrival in the line.

Thank you-I appreciate your response!