Notre Dame Cathedral Small-Group Interior & Exterior Guided Tour
Description
Step inside the story of Notre-Dame Cathedral with a licensed guide leading a small group of no more than 9 guests. Explore the cathedral inside and out as you discover its Gothic masterpieces, hidden symbolism, and remarkable history, from medieval Paris to the dramatic events of the 2019 fire and restoration. With scheduled group access and expert commentary throughout, experience Notre-Dame in a more meaningful and memorable way.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start our tour with a short stroll across the beautiful Ile de la Cite, an island in the River Seine which is home to some of the best medieval and gothic architecture in Paris, including of course Notre Dame Cathedral.
Ile de la Cité sits on the Seine River, in the heart of the city. We'll cross the river on our way to Notre Dame Cathedral.
Discover the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in the company of an expert local guide. Begin outside with an introduction to the cathedral's magnificent Gothic façade, where your guide will reveal the stories behind its sculpted portals, flying buttresses, gargoyles, and centuries of history. Learn how Notre-Dame became the spiritual heart of Paris and one of the most celebrated monuments in the world. You'll then enter the cathedral with your group's scheduled access. Using individual headsets, you'll continue to follow your guide's commentary as you explore the interior together. Inside, admire the soaring vaulted ceilings, towering stone columns, and the spectacular stained-glass windows, including the famous Rose Windows. Discover the cathedral's remarkable journey through the centuries, from medieval craftsmanship and royal ceremonies to the devastating 2019 fire and the extraordinary restoration that has returned Notre-Dame to its former glory.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
- Please note Notre-Dame is a church, please dress accordingly. Ensure your shoulders are covered and that shorts and skirts are below the knee. The staff at Notre-Dame reserve the right to refuse entrance to visitors not dressed appropriately.
Reviews(11)
A must see! Knowledgeable guide! Some questions were not able to be answered and a bit hurried! Thank you France for restoring this treasure!
Hello Susan, Thank you for the stars and the feedback, which we will look into. We care about your time here in Paris and want to provide a top-notch experience. We do love questions, and welcome them as they help us to shape that experience to your particular frame of reference and your specific interests. Nevertheless it can happen that even with the many years of study required to be a Memories guide and all their expertise, there are simply some unknowables when dealing with the deep past. We do promise to deliver the knowable, whether about Gothic architecture or the cathedral’s restoration, with passion and style and a human touch into the bargain. It is a joy and an honor. Thank you again for letting us know!
Our tour was incredibly interesting. We had a perfect tour guide. This was the highlight of our trip!
Hi Rosemary! "Highlight" is a high honor indeed and we are most proud to have unlocked it; Sharing with you our insight on the Gothic glories of the cathedral was a delight for us and we're so glad to know we hit a bull's eye!
Remy was one of the best guides we have met so far in europe, he explains everything really good, he even has graphic materials to aupport the tour which was fantástic.
Hello James and thank you! We are not at all surprised to hear that Remi is one of the best in Europe. We pride ourselves on offering the crème de la crème of guided experiences and were so happy to be able to share that with you. Thanks again!
My wife and I booked this semi-private tour and we were the only participants so we had a private tour with Mika. She was very knowledgeable and informative about the history, architecture, the inside contents, and the restoration of Notre Dame. It was a great tour and experience. We’d highly recommend this tour.
Hello Grant and thank you for the great recommendation, which we'll be passing on to Mika! We are so pleased and proud to present the newly restored cathedral and share our understanding of her past, present, and future!
My wife and I booked this semi-private tour and we were the only participants so we had a private tour with Mika. She was very knowledgeable and informative about the history, architecture, the inside contents, and the restoration of Notre Dame. It was a great tour and experience. We’d highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for the great recommendation, which we'll be passing on to Mika! We are so pleased and proud to present the newly restored cathedral and share our understanding of her past, present, and future!
Learn so much about the history behind Notre Dame. Guide was super detailed and narrated all the aspects like a story. Making it easy to follow and understand. We had an amazing time. Will highly recommend the tour. The place is beautiful and it’s wonderful to have someone bring it to life for u.
Hello Jody and thank you so much for letting us know we knocked it out of the park - we're all about story-telling the past back to vibrant life, here at Memories and it's just fantastic to know that we could do that for you for Notre Dame. Let's hope our paths cross again!
4 of us could not find our guide and none of the officials/ushers could help us. We did not get the tour we paid for. We asked for a refund but they refused. Very disappointed in their communications both before and after our bad situation.
Our small group tour ended up being a private one, which was such a pleasant surprise. Fanny was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. We even got a short walking tour around the Notre Dame area before going inside, which made the experience even better. We’ve been looking forward to seeing the inside of Notre Dame for a long time, and I’m so glad it’s finally open. Having someone like Fanny to guide us through the church made it even more special. Highly recommend this tour!
The pleasure was ours, Francis, being able to tell you the tale, indeed show you the tale, of the cathedral and her glorious rise from the ashes through the love and dedication of those devoted to her the world over. Fanny will be so delighted to read your high praise and loved having you for the tour. Thanks so much for letting us know that our mission was well accomplished, and for choosing us to lead your Gothic expedition to begin with!
Fantastic walking tour to Notre Dame & inside Notre Dame. Amelie was an amazing guide. She was extremely knowledgeable and informative and very happy, cheerful and amiable. A great tour all around of an amazing building I would highly recommend touring inside the building with a guide and especially with Amelie!!
A Memories guide is an expert guide, as you saw with the lovely Amélie. We will transmit your high praise to her directly and she'll be over the moon. Thank you so much for joining us and for leaving such a rewarding review and warm recommendation!
Fabienne gave an excellent tour. Very informative, friendly and respectful of people’s time. Would do this one again!
Thank you Chelsea for the lovely review! Fabienne will be delighted as is the whole Memories family - we would love to see you again, so fingers crossed that our paths meet in the future!
