Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris & Don’t Line Up

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has—literally—risen from the ashes and is again open to the public.

If you’re visiting Paris, carve out an hour or so to go inside the recently reopened Notre-Dame de Paris and admire what surely must be the most incredible restoration job in modern history.

In this post, I describe my recent visit to the newly opened Notre-Dame Cathedral. 

If you’re visiting Paris, go. You won’t regret it.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Tickets: Make a Reservation

But before you charge off to the historic center of Paris–the first arrondisement on the Île de cité–make a reservation. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but if you make a reservation, you skip the long lineup of people who did not.

I couldn’t figure out why anyone would visit without making a reservation because doing so was so simple. A few hours before visiting the cathedral, I went to the official website and was given the choice of a 4 pm entry.

Check Your Reservation Time

The reservation is good for just twenty minutes past the allotted time. I arrived at 4:10 and walked straight through the main entrance with zero waiting. 

To my left was a very, very long line snaking around several loops filled with people who hadn’t made a reservation. Maybe I was just lucky to have gotten a same-day one. The website noted that it releases reservations throughout the day. As a result, you may need to check back frequently.

A Miracle of Gothic Architecture

Once inside the cathedral, prepare to be amazed. Seriously amazed. I’ve visited Notre-Dame Cathedral many times since my first trip to Paris way back in 1970, and I’ve always enjoyed it.

But on this visit, I was jaw-droppingly blown away.

To think that only five years earlier in April 2019, the nave was a smoking ruin with portions of the ceiling caved in and the spire collapsed. 

And now? The restored stone is so blindingly white that it looks brand new—which of course it kind of is!

A Brand New Cathedral

Gone is the gravitas imparted by stone columns that have soared to the vaulted ceiling for a thousand years. The new Notre-Dame Cathedral no longer feels ancient.

But, surprisingly, that doesn’t matter as much as I thought it would. I’m so impressed by the skill employed to rebuild the cathedral in less than five years, that I didn’t mind the newness.

Finding Your Way Around the Cathedral

The first challenge upon entering the cathedral is jockeying for position at the start of the nave to snap a picture without heads in the way. Everyone is holding a phone aloft to take the same picture, and of course I do too.

Once the first pictures are taken, it’s time to being the slow shuffle up the left aisle to the front of the cathedral and back down the other side. It’s slow going with plenty of bottlenecks, but whatever. That just provides more time for more snapping of photos of the columns and arches from every angle.

In the side chapels on the left aisle are hung several modern works, most notably one by Matisse. Another highlight are the beautiful stained glass windows. I can’t even being to imagine how they were salvaged and then restored.

At the transept are the two giant rose windows. Both glow with restored vigor, their colors dancing off the white pillars.

What’s That Smell?

As I make the slow progress around the perimeter of the cathedral, I become aware of a lingering scent of burning. Usually, cathedrals smell of old stone.

The “new” Notre-Dame Cathedral smells of fire, a fitting reminder of its trauma.

Restoration Project Displays

After touring the cathedral, take a stroll along the street immediately to the left of the cathedral as you face it. Giant billboards document the restoration work with pictures and enough startling stats to keep you in awe. It’s heartening to witness the results of hundreds of skilled workers coming together with a common purpose.

The “new” Notre-Dame Cathedral restored my faith in humanity’s ability to accomplish great things with astonishing skill and dedication.

Tours of Notre-Dame Cathedral

If you’re not lucky like I was and can’t get last-minute tickets to enter Notre-Dame without lining up, consider one of these GetYourGuide guided tours. You’ll learn all about the history of this iconic cathedral along with information about the terrible fire and the remarkable restoration.

Staying in Paris

My latest go-to place to stay in Paris is the Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris. You can’t beat the location right on the Seine and steps from Boulevard Saint-Michel.

The rooms are almost spacious (by Parisian standards) and include a tiny kitchen and a work area. Free coffee is available 24/7 in the lobby which is staffed with helpful people.

Conclusion

Have you visited Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris since its restoration and re-opening? Drop your suggestions for other travelers in the Comments below.

Love cathedrals? Check out my post on the Best Cathedrals in Europe to Delight the Artsy Traveler.