Notre Dame Outdoor Walking Tour and Entrance to Sainte Chapelle
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Paris, France
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Get glimpses of medieval Paris by visiting the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle. During an outdoor tour of the cathedral, learn about the landmark's history and Gothic architecture, as well as building details you might otherwise miss. At Sainte-Chapelle, save time with prepaid entry and spend more time sightseeing. Upgrade to a private tour for a more personalized experience.
- Take photos as you walk through Île de la Cité, Paris's historic center
- See beautiful stained glass at Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle
- Hear legends, historical insights, and trivia that bring Paris's monuments to life
- Choose from several tour times for flexibility
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Cover two blockbuster churches in one itinerary, more than most Notre Dame tours.
What's Included
- Guide Service
- Entry To Sainte-Chapelle
- Notre-Dame Cathedral outdoor tour
- Bottled water
- Notre-Dame Cathedral access and indoor tour
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Pont au Double, Paris, France
Meeting Point: Join us opposite Café Panis, at the corner of the bridge Pont au Double. Our guide will be wearing a red cap with The Perfect Vacation Logo. We look forward to welcoming you there! Nearest Train : RER B
End point
- Sainte-Chapelle10 Bd du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
This tour finishes at the Sainte Chapelle entrance. Sainte-Chapelle tour is a self guided tour.
Itinerary
1
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Shakespeare and Company
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Sainte-Chapelle
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- 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.
- Every one can participate.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 886 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Sara_Q, Jul 2026
Elizabeth was a wonderful guide! I really enjoyed learning the in depth history of Notre Dame. The first part of the tour was outside walking around Notre Dame and listening to Elizabeth. She had so many fascinating tidbits of info to share. The second part of the tour was a walk over to St. Chappelle. We got a brief history and then Elizabeth walked us through the skip the line to get into St. Chapelle and then the tour ended and we were inside on our own. We had time after to get in line to go inside Notre Dame which worked out well. We didn’t have a chance to get timed entry tickets, but the regular line moved very quickly.
joseph_s, Jun 2026
Elizabeth V was wonderful with the construction a d history of the buildings. Her personal photos really helped with the visualization of the history
Greg_R, Jun 2026
Our guide was very informative, concise, & threw in some humor. It is all standing & listening at different points but, not boring.
Marcin_W, Jun 2026
2nd review. Guide was ok. In all honesty a guide is not needed for this experience as you only stand outside and look at 3 elevations.
You also get access to the Saint Chappell Chapel with this tour. But all in all not worth the money.
The this I really disliked is the forced “good” review you are asked to provide while the guide is watching. Hence the 2nd review.
Nancy_Y, Jun 2026
Our guide Rita provided interesting information about the history of Notre Dame from the original construction to the changes that occurred through the years. She also escorted us to Sainte Chappel so that we would have quick entry on a busy tourist day.
LeeAnn_C, May 2026
Great tour, lots of history told in a fun way of Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle is on your own - go see the inside of Notre Dame for free before or after with a separate timed entry ticket :)
Marlene_Z, May 2026
The tour guide, Sunny, was very knowledgeable. He was warm, polite and solicitous towards us. I appreciated his depth of knowledge and affable personality.
Amy_S, May 2026
Rita was a great guide. She created a fun and informative tour of Notre Dame with both her knowledge and the interesting photos she shared on her tablet. I have been to Notre Dame many times before but actually learned some new things on this tour. I would definitely recommend. We also absolutely loved Sainte-Chapelle. That’s a must see!
Janet_L, May 2026
We learned a lot of information from Elizabeth about notre Dame. Everything about the facade, the details of the history, the fire and reconstruction.
judy_s, May 2026
Elizabeth was fantastic!! The exterior walking tour of Notre Dame was informative and fascinating. Elizabeth has great energy and knows the history inside and out! Five stars!!
Dyane_C, May 2026
Elizabeth was high energy, very, very informative, and warm. She checked in with the group frequently to make sure we were getting the kind of information we were looking for and tapped into our knowledge so we stayed engaged. It was raining off and on but she remained sunny throughout. Loved how she got us into Sainte Chapelle smoothly and quickly!
Alexander_D, May 2026
Elizabeth was wonderful, it was very engaging and really kid friendly. We had a stroller with us and our 5 year old loved it! It was a wonderful tour of the exterior of notre dame and she helps you cut the line and get into Sainte Chapelle!
Judith_H, May 2026
The tour guide did t bother to show. We arrived 10 minutes early and stayed 10 minutes past. Don’t bother asking for a refund. Viator doesn’t care
Lisa_C, May 2026
Elizabeth was an excellent tour guide and very knowledgeable about Note Dame’s history and the recent fire.
Karen_L, May 2026
To be clear, this is a tour walking around the outside of Notre Dame. It wasn’t very clear to me when I booked it. But it was fantastic and we loved learning about the history. Additionally Saint Chapelle wasn’t really on our radar but I’m glad we didn’t miss it. It is stunning.
Seungyeol_h, Apr 2026
Elizabeth was very engaging and personable. She had a story for everything. We'd been inside Notre Dame but this exterior your was a real bonus. The highlight was Sainte Chapelle. So beautiful!
Leo_Z, Apr 2026
Well thought out. The guide was spectacular. Elizabeth was enthusiastic,entertaining professional,knowledgeable and absolutely fabulous asset to the tour company
Elizabeth_J, Feb 2026
The weather was raining and windy so we couldn't stay the whole time but our guide was kind and knowledgeable
We did learn some interesting history
Kathleen_F, Jan 2026
Elizabeth was the greatest! We learned so much about Notre Dame, but in an interesting & entertaining fashion. Saint Chappell was beautiful, but tiny, so we really were better off for the second half on our own. We then made reservations to go inside Notre Dame following the tour of the outside. All in all a perfect balance
Ruz_T, Jan 2026
Elizabeth was very informative and knowledgeable. She was fun and upbeat.It was great tour. Recommend everyone to take the tour and learn from it.
Jason_W, Jan 2026
I would not recommend this tour. First, the description says the tour is 2 hours, but the guided portion of Notre Dame’s exterior ended after one hour, at which point the guide asked everybody to leave reviews, and walked everyone through the process to leave a review right then and there while the tour was still going on. The second hour of the tour seems to include only a self-guided walk through Sainte Chapelle, which took about 15 minutes to see. Second, the description says the tour includes a 5-minute stop at Shakespeare & Company, but it was not included or even mentioned. Third, the walking tour of Notre Dame covered only the front and one side of the building and did not even walk around (or talk about) the back or other side of the building. On the positive side, the tour allowed us to skip a long line to enter security at Sainte Chapelle. Overall, this tour was not at all worth the money, and I dislike being asked to leave reviews while the tour is still going on.
paula_h, Dec 2025
Really informative and interesting. Worth doing. Our guide insured everyone was engaged and listening
Leslie_C, Dec 2025
Our tour guide Nick was great! Lots of interesting facts and very knowledgeable. He had lots of things for every age group in our tour.
Jennifer_F, Dec 2025
It was a fantastic educational outside tour. Nick was so informative and we enjoyed his information and insight.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
"Thank you so much! 🙏 We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour with Nick and found him informative. Appreciate your kind words – glad you had a fantastic experience!"
The Perfect Vacation
Vickie_B, Dec 2025
June was amazing. So friendly and so knowledgeable! She made my tour excellent!! I would highly recommend her!!😍😍😍
Response from Host, Dec 2025
"Aww, thank you so much! 😊 We're thrilled June made your tour unforgettable with her expertise and friendly vibe! We appreciate your glowing review and recommendation! 🙏"
The Perfect Vacation
Miguel_M, Dec 2025
Well done. All good and interesting.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Well done. Keep up 👍
Lee_F, Nov 2025
The outdoor tour of Notre Dame focuses on historical anecdotes and some pictures in a folder. Our tour guide June, was wonderfully upbeat and kind, but be aware that you cannot bypass the hour long outdoor tour whenever you want to go into St Chapelle because the tour operator holds the tickets electronically. St. Chapelle was exquisite, and that is why I went thinking I could walk around Notre Dame and go. If you don’t want to wait don’t pick this ticket.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you.
So much for your great review.
Ivor_R, Nov 2025
We recently took the combined Notre Dame Outdoor Walking Tour and Entrance to Sainte Chapelle, and it was an absolutely essential experience for any visitor to Paris. This tour provided a perfect balance of deep historical context and breathtaking architectural beauty, all centered on the Île de la Cité.
The Notre Dame Walking Tour (5/5)
Our guide, June, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making the history of Notre Dame come alive. While the interior of the cathedral remains closed for reconstruction, the walking tour expertly navigated the exterior, teaching us about the gargoyles, the flying buttresses, and the profound cultural impact of the 2019 fire. June handled the sensitivity of the reconstruction effort with grace, offering hope and historical perspective. It provided a powerful, emotional, and deeply informative look at a monumental structure currently being reborn.
Sainte Chapelle: A Symphony in Glass (5/5)
The highlight of the entire experience was undoubtedly the visit to Sainte Chapelle. Having the pre-booked, skip-the-line entrance was invaluable, saving us significant time. Once inside, the experience was transformative. The lower chapel is beautiful, but ascending to the upper chapel is truly like stepping into a jewel box.
The sheer scale and vibrancy of the 15 massive stained-glass windows, depicting over 1,000 scenes from the Bible, is overwhelming in the best possible way. We were lucky to visit on a sunny day, and the light filtering through the glass cast a spectacular, ethereal glow across the space. It is a masterpiece of Gothic art and easily one of the most stunning interiors in the world. This visit alone justifies the cost of the tour.
Final Verdict
If you want to understand the history of Île de la Cité and witness one of the world's most stunning examples of medieval stained glass, book this tour. The organization was seamless, the commentary was excellent, and the combination of the exterior history of Notre Dame with the quick, guaranteed access to Sainte Chapelle made for a perfect, memorable
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Wow, thank you for this incredible review! We're thrilled you had a life-changing experience with June's guided tour and the stunning Sainte Chapelle visit. The combination of history, architecture, and art truly makes for an unforgettable experience in Paris. Appreciate your kind words about our organization and June's expertise – we'll pass them along!
Luann_P, Oct 2025
I travel a lot. Nick is one of the best tour guides i have ever had. He was personable and knowledgeable. The tour was fun and Nick timed everything very well.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
"Thanks for your review! We're thrilled to hear Nick exceeded your expectations as a tour guide. Appreciate your kind words about his personable approach, knowledge, and time management – we'll pass them along!
Billlie_O, Oct 2025
I have used aviator for many years in many different countries and have been pleased. I have never had the difficulty I had yesterday. The meeting place was really far from the site. The meeting location changed from the first time I saw it. We were at the site outside where you go in and waited for an hour for the group. Was told she was in a red hat. Never came by. Tried to call the number and it would not work. Finally, thankfully the folks at the site let me use the email (not the actual ticket) to enter at our appointed time. However we had to pay all over again. In my mind that was the best compromise since this site (Sainte Chapelle) is extremely busy and we could have had to wait for several more hours to get in. I know all Viator vendors are individual but I would beware of this one. Steer clear to avoid issues.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Sorry for the inconvenience. The meeting point is just 50 meters away from the tour site. I think you have misunderstood with another tour.
From $77.01
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Notre Dame Outdoor Walking Tour and Entrance to Sainte Chapelle
886
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$77.01
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Paris, France
- Barbizon Tours & Tickets
- Montparnasse Tours & Tickets
- Musée du Luxembourg Tours & Tickets
- Palais du Luxembourg Tours & Tickets
- Giverny Tours & Tickets
- Paris Catacombs (Catacombes de Paris) Tours & Tickets
- Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin) Tours & Tickets
- Basilique du Sacré-Coeur Tours & Tickets
- Carnavalet Museum (Musée Carnavalet) Tours & Tickets
- Canal Saint-Martin Tours & Tickets
- Bastille Opera House (Opéra Bastille) Tours & Tickets
- Jardin des Plantes Tours & Tickets
- Louis Vuitton Foundation Tours & Tickets
- Chapelle Expiatoire Tours & Tickets
- Les Halles Tours & Tickets
- Pierre Hermé Pâtisserie Tours & Tickets
- Buttes-Chaumont Park (Parc des Buttes-Chaumont) Tours & Tickets