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Notre-Dame Exterior Guided Tour with Entry Assistance (English, Spanish, Chinese)

1 hour and 10 minutes

Easy

Walk around Notre-Dame with an expert guide, then enter for free with our guide’s assistance to explore the inside yourself.

You stand on the bridge and the whole west front of Notre-Dame cathedral rises in front of you: two towers, three carved doorways, a rose window. This is where your tour starts - with the view most visitors photograph first.

For 70 minutes, your tour guide walks you around the outside of the cathedral. You see the three great portals and the rows of carved kings above them. From the riverside, you see the flying buttresses and the gargoyles. Your guide tells you how the cathedral was built, how the 2019 fire damaged it, and how craftspeople restored it.

This is a guided tour of the exterior. Entry to the cathedral itself is free for everyone. After the tour, your guide walks you to the entrance and helps you join the right queue. Your guide does not go inside with you. You then explore the interior on your own, for as long as you like, with the stories from the tour fresh in your mind.

The walk is easy and mostly level, and the tour is open to guests with limited mobility. The tour ends at the cathedral, so plan your day onward from there.

What's included?

    • 70-minute guided exterior walking tour

    • Guide speaking your booked tour language (English, French, or Spanish)

    • Guided walk to the cathedral entrance and help joining the right queue

    Exclusions
    • Food & drinks

    • Guided tour of the interior - your visit inside is self-guided

    • Entry tickets to paid sites (such as the cathedral towers or the Archaeological Crypt)

    • Reserved or timed entry - you join the standard free entry line

    • Meals and drinks

    • Hotel pickup and drop-off

    Please note
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller / pram accessible
    • Public transportation nearby

    • Dress code applies for entry: shoulders covered, no shorts. Entry includes a security check. Large bags and sharp objects are not allowed inside.

    • The cathedral is a place of worship. Opening hours can change for religious ceremonies. Keep voices low inside.

    • This tour is outdoors and runs in all weather. Dress for the forecast, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a bottle of water.

    • This is a shared group tour with other guests, not a private tour.

    • Entry to Notre-Dame Cathedral is free for everyone. This tour is a guided exterior experience; it is independent of interior access. Your visit inside is self-guided.

    • Your guide walks you to the entrance and helps you join the right queue. We cannot control how long the queue is - waiting time is not part of the 70-minute tour.

    • The route is easy and mostly level, and the tour is open to guests with limited mobility.

    • There are no toilet stops during the tour. Use facilities before you arrive.

    • Children 5–17 pay the child rate; infants join free.

    • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

    What to bring

      Comfortable shoes.