Notre Dame Cathedral Guided Tour with Flexible Options
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paris, France
- 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover one of the most important landmarks in Paris from both inside and out–and take the guesswork out of sightseeing–on this tour of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. Explore the outside to uncover the history of the building, discover its architectural highlights, and learn about its restoration from your guide. Inside, continue independently at your own pace and appreciate the sights more deeply thanks to your new knowledge.
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris with entrance ticket included
- Guarantee your access to this top city attraction in advance
- Go beyond simple sightseeing with insights and stories from your guide
- Step inside and explore the monument without any time pressure
What's Included
- Expert English speaking Tour Guide
- Small group for a comfortable experience with the Interior Option
- Exterior Guided Tour with exterior Option With Self guided Interior Visit
- Interior tour with a licensed Guide if Interior Option Selected
- Private transportation
- Food and Drinks
- Skip the line access
- Access to Cathedral Towers
- Guided tour inside Notre-Dame if the EXTERIOR option is selected
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Statue de Charlemagne et ses leudes75004 Île de la Cité, France
Meet us in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in front of statue of Charlemagne on horseback (Green Statue). Our guide will be holding a black sign saying 'Bonjour'. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of your tour.
End point
- Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
Itinerary
1
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- The entrance to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is free and open to all. The services offered are independent of access to the interior of the building.
- To access the cathedral, you have the option to book a free time slot on the cathedral’s official website. You may also walk in without a booking; however, please be aware that queues can be long during peak times and seasons.
- Shoulders must be covered; shorts and skirts must be knee-length to enter the cathedral.
- Group size: Interior tours are limited to 5 guests
- Religious services: During Mass, guiding inside the cathedral is not permitted. Please consult the official Notre-Dame schedule, as services may impact your visit.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Late arrivals risk missing the experience entirely.
- Exceptional closures: Notre-Dame Cathedral may close without prior notice. Please check the official website in advance. If the interior is unavailable, an extended exterior guided tour (approximately 1 hour) will be provided instead.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 244 reviews
Ann_W, Apr 2026
A wonderful tour of Notre Dame. Our guide Leo was very knowledgeable, personable and entertaining. Best tour we have had!
Karen_T, Apr 2026
Terrible guide. 25 minutes long...supposed to be 2 hours. Fast talking with limited knowledge. Worse tour we've ever done
Response from Host, Apr 2026
The tour you booked is clearly listed as a 1-hour experience—not 25 minutes and not 2 hours. Your guide delivered the full tour as advertised and covered the experience accordingly.
It’s also worth noting that another couple on this same tour, with this same guide, left extremely positive feedback about their experience. While we respect all opinions, reviews should accurately reflect what was actually booked so future guests aren’t misled.
Terry_K, Apr 2026
This tour of Notre Dame only covers the outside. While you’re given time to see the inside, you don’t gain that much knowledge about the construction, the statues, the stained glass windows. The guide was fine, but it’s not worth $30.00. One can find the same info in a book
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your review. To clarify, this tour is explicitly advertised as a guided experience with independent time provided to explore the interior at your own pace.
Our guide’s role is to bring the history, architecture, and symbolism of Notre-Dame’s exterior to life before you enter—something that’s difficult to fully appreciate from a guidebook alone. That said, we understand this format may not have matched your expectations, and we appreciate your feedback.
Najwa_S, Apr 2026
Diana was delightful, articulate and knowledgeable . She was smart to send us inside the cathedral first on our own at 9am because when we came out, the line was endless. Highly recommend buying the audio tour. She shared information about the cathedral's history and showed pictures of the damage before all the reconstruction. She guided us through the many interesting details of the facade sculptures and historical context. She's wonderful.
Frances_A, Apr 2026
I was 5 minutes late and the tour guide did not wait for us . We went in the church ourselves it was a waste of money 136 euros for a free entry church .
Response from Host, Apr 2026
This review is not accurate.
You informed us you would be 5 minutes late, and we agreed to extend the meeting time accordingly. Our guide waited a full 10 minutes past the scheduled start, in addition to the 15-minute early check-in window—meaning a total wait time of 25 minutes. As you did not arrive within this timeframe, you were marked as a no-show.
Entry to the church has always been free, as clearly stated in our description. Your booking was for a guided tour experience, not an admission ticket.
We made every reasonable effort to accommodate you. Unfortunately, this situation stems from a misunderstanding of the product rather than any shortcoming on our part.
Chris_C, Apr 2026
This is a self guided tour inside. Arrive early to give yourself as much time as you want inside. You will meet outside after to meet your tour guide, if you are lucky it will be Leo. They will give you insight to the history of Paris, the commissioning of Notre Dame to its current state through the years.
Janellen_S, Apr 2026
Our guide was wonderful. She was very knowledgeable and had a great command of English. She had photos of the Cathedral before the fire so that we could compare the exterior and interior. She was excellent
Andrea_M, Apr 2026
We met Leo at 9am and he sent us directly into Notre Dame to beat the crowds and explore the cathedral in our own. We missed the gift shop because it opens at 10 and we had to meet Leo back outside at 9:30. He had some very interesting historical facts to share, engaging and very enjoyable. Although I have been to Notre Dame twice before, I learned so much more. Well done, Leo.
Gail_R, Apr 2026
Time changed and not shown on viator app. Did not get tour guide email in time. Had to leave. Not enough time to get to pier for cruise.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re sorry to hear about your experience, but we’d like to clarify a few important points.
The schedule change was communicated via email approximately 12 hours prior to the tour start time. We made every effort to notify you in advance and also offered a rescheduling option to accommodate your plans. When that did not work for you, we proceeded with a full refund.
We understand travel schedules can be tight, but it is the responsibility of guests to check their communications and respond accordingly, especially when updates are sent well in advance.
We always aim to be fair and proactive with our guests, and in this case, we believe we handled the situation responsibly and professionally.
KrisztaK_T, Apr 2026
Leo was very knowledgeable and able to share the history and interesting factoids in a fun and breezy pace. His tour included back and forth dialogue and even had a few quizzes to make it interactive. He spent time explaining the impact of the fire in 2019 and the Herculean effort to rebuild the cathedral. Good pacing and we left with a better understanding of the history and importance of Notre Dame to Paris and France.
JosephJ_T, Apr 2026
Was not small group. A huge crowd outside the Cathedral with little information and delivered by a guide with a high pitched heavily accented voice. You can go on your own tour for free. Do that instead. Possibly the worst Viator tour we ever took.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
To clarify, you booked our exterior tour, which allows groups of up to 20 guests. Our small-group format applies only to the interior tour, as stated in the description.
Our guides are professionals who consistently receive excellent reviews. While delivery style can be subjective, comments about a guide’s accent are not a fair reflection of the quality of the tour.
This is a guided experience designed to share the history of the cathedral. Guests who prefer to explore on their own are free to do so, but that is a different experience from a guided tour.
Stanford_L, Apr 2026
Tatiana was our guide. Did a great job on the history as we walked around. The interior was amazing. Arrive early as the lines were getting long for entrance
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the experience and that Tatiana brought the history to life during the tour. The interior truly is incredible, and you’re absolutely right—arriving early makes a big difference with the lines.
We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon!
Ellen_S, Apr 2026
Exterior only, but still thorough. really enjoyed this history of the site and decoding of the exterior features. Please give your guide a mic - it was hard for her to be heard over the crowds. Much LESS crowded than an hour later - your tour was well timed and that’s significant because we were able to see the interior before the lines grew too long and before she began the exterior discussion. Well done - I doubt there is a better way to see it!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the thoughtful review!
We’re really glad you enjoyed the depth of the exterior tour and the storytelling behind the details—it’s exactly what we aim to deliver. Great to hear the timing worked in your favor as well, that makes a big difference with the crowds.
Thanks again, and we hope to see you on another tour soon!
Marilyn_F, Apr 2026
We thought the tour would go outside first, then inside-which worked for us because we wanted to stay for mass. Instead the itinerary was reversed. We could not hear the tour guide very well and could not understand. We were not happy with this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t meet your expectations, but we’d like to clarify a few important points. The itinerary is carefully designed to provide the best possible experience for our guests, including optimized entry timing to help avoid long queues inside the cathedral. Our guides are trained to manage this flow efficiently and ensure comfort for the group.
Regarding the mass, it takes place at a fixed time, and you were absolutely free to re-enter the cathedral after the tour concluded if attending it was your priority.
As for the difficulty hearing or understanding the guide, we always encourage guests to stay close to the group and follow the guide’s instructions to get the most out of the experience.
We kindly ask that feedback reflects the full context of the experience rather than misunderstandings.
Ken_A, Apr 2026
Our group were very impressed with our guide, Jan, who was very knowledgeable, competent, and very friendly. We would recommend this tour and especially Jan, our guide. It helps to give an excellent view of the cathedrals history and recent restoration.
Greg_K, Apr 2026
I enjoyed the information that Cidy provided. She was informative and animated in her delivery of information. I was grateful she had us go into the cathedral first as it got really, really busy after our tour of the outside.
Rudolph_K, Apr 2026
Great tour guide. Taught us a lot about history of Notr Dame. Basilica is amazing. A must see if you visit Paris.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and learned more about the history of Notre-Dame Cathedral. It truly is a must-see—hope to welcome you again soon!
Esmeralda_T, Apr 2026
Leo did a fanatic job providing the story of Norte Dame. Highly recommend to a group and early arrival.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the great feedback! We’re delighted to hear Leo made the story of Notre-Dame Cathedral come alive. Appreciate the recommendation!
Alex_L, Apr 2026
Tour covered just the external part of ND.
Note: you don’t actual need a ticket to enter the cathedral.
Tour is really a 45 min lecture on the history, from the exterior.
Get there early for opening time as get very busy.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback!
We’re glad you found the tip about arriving early helpful—it can indeed get very busy!
Jenny_S, Apr 2026
This tour has you walk through Notre Dame by yourself for about a half an hour. Then, you stand outside looking at a binder full of picture's for another hour while they tell you about the church.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi there,
Thanks for your review. Just to clarify, this experience is a guided exterior tour focused on the history and architecture, along with free time to explore inside Notre-Dame Cathedral on your own.
The outdoor explanation—with visual aids—is a key part of the experience and what the tour is designed around.
This format is ideal for guests interested in learning about the cathedral’s story and details beyond what a self-guided visit offers.
Erika_S, Apr 2026
We had such a great experience—the weather was cold, but the tour was perfect and very well organized. We’re not religious, but the history was fascinating
Samantha_W, Apr 2026
Excellent tour with our guide Leo. So informative and interesting in his approach. Really recommend this tour and Leo the guide
Barbara_K, Apr 2026
Excellent and entertaining leader, good talk about the exterior. We received no significant info about the interior, which was too bad since we were told at the start to go inside and look around. Overall, the experience was informative but quite overpriced. We’ve had many similar tours in large cities that were far less expensive. Obviously, that is the fault of Viator, not the guide.
Liam_R, Apr 2026
Denise was knowledgeable, fun and easy to understand. She made the experience much richer and more interesting than just visiting the cathedral and without having to figure out if I was in the right place on each self-guided stop.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback.
We are delighted to hear that Denise made your experience enjoyable, engaging, and easy to follow. It’s great to know that her knowledge and fun approach helped make the visit much richer and more interesting for you.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again on another tour soon.
Best regards
Pam_S, Apr 2026
Very disappointed. Trip was advertised as 1 hour tour of Notre Dame including entrance.
What we had was a 30 minute introduction from our guide, Siri, we were then taken to join the public queue for free entry to Notre Dame, no ticket required. Our guide then departed.
Misleading and over priced!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations.
We would like to politely clarify that the option selected at the time of booking was for the exterior guided tour of Notre-Dame. As clearly mentioned in the voucher and tour description, the visit inside the cathedral is self-guided and is not included as part of the guided tour.
It is also clearly stated in the voucher that entry to the cathedral is through the standard public entrance and is not a skip-the-line access.
Our guided service focuses on the exterior history, architecture, and surrounding landmarks of Notre-Dame. We are sorry if this was perceived differently at the time of booking.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Best regards
Nanette_Z, Apr 2026
A very wonderful person with a great personality that did the best she seemed to be trained to do. She could to much better with some training to learn to be more organized and put ALL her pictures on ONE item, her iPad (which is larger for viewing), instead of constantly switching back and forth between her iPhone and iPad. Also, on her phone she had some difficulty finding the pictures when she wanted to show a particular one. The pictures need to be put IN ORDER on the iPad so they are easily able to be presented as she talks. Also, the screen on the iPad needs to be put on a brighter setting- or if already on the brightest setting - brighten the pictures digitally. Her company should train her better! Much time was wasted looking for pictures.
Gwen_E, Apr 2026
We arrived at 9:00. Our tour guide suggested we go into Notre Dame first. Good idea. We got in before the hordes arrived. Our guide, Jan, provided us with all kinds of interesting tidbits about Notre Dame, its history and its recent restoration. Really enjoyed the tour. I saw Notre Dame in 2004 so was excited to see it restored. I watched in horror in TV when the roof burned. I watched documentaries on its restoration. It was so wonderful to see the fresh refurbishment.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
We’re thrilled to hear that Jan’s guidance and insights made your visit to Notre-Dame so enjoyable. It’s wonderful that arriving early allowed you to see the cathedral before the crowds, and that you could appreciate its restored beauty after following its journey over the years.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Best regards
Lisa_N, Apr 2026
Excellent tour educating on history and architecture. Very knowledgeable guide with excellent English
Gemma_M, Apr 2026
Guide “Sugar” was very knowledgeable and funny. He made the tour interesting and enjoyable. He also gave info about another church and local pastry shop.
Chuck_R, Mar 2026
The tour guide did the best she could during a rainy morning. Was well informed and was at the meeting place on time.
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$31.06
per personWas $34.51
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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