How to Buy Tickets for Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

The Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most fascinating and unmissable attractions in Paris. This magnificent chapel, located on‘Île de la Cité, is famous for its extraordinary stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes. If you’re planning a visit to Paris and want to admire this architectural marvel, it’s important to organize your ticket purchase in advance to avoid long lines and ensure access to the chapel at your preferred time.

For those in a hurry. How to buy tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle: Unless you enjoy spending your vacation waiting in long lines, we highly recommend that you purchase your entrance ticket for the Sainte-Chapelle in advance here.

Best ways to buy tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most popular attractions in Paris, and as a result, attracts a large number of visitors. To ensure a stress-free and line-free experience, there are several options for purchasing tickets. Below, we’ll explain where to buy tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle based on the different options available, so that you can choose the best approach for you.

1. Purchase directly on site (Not Recommended)

Buying tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle directly on site can be inconvenient and time-consuming. The lines can be very long, especially during peak tourist seasons. Furthermore, you might not find available entry times for your preferred slot, forcing you to wait until entry becomes possible. Although this option is available at the ticket office in Place du Châtelet, we highly recommend avoiding this choice in order to save valuable time during your visit to Paris.

2. Online purchase (Recommended)

To save time and make organizing your visit easier, we recommend buying your Sainte-Chapelle tickets online. This option lets you skip the entrance lines and plan your visit for the reserved time slot. You can buy “skip-the-line” tickets for the Sainte-Chapelle through the official website of the chapel. However, these tickets are neither changeable nor refundable. We therefore suggest that you purchase tickets through this link so you can cancel them for free up to 24 hours before your booking and receive a full refund.

3. Booking a guided tour

If you want to enrich your visit with an expert guide, you can book a guided tour of the Sainte-Chapelle. The guided tour will allow you to discover all the secrets of the chapel, along with a visit to the nearby Conciergerie. Unfortunately, guided tours are only held on certain days of the week, so you’ll need a bit of luck for the timing to fit your plans.

4. Purchase of a Paris City Pass

If you plan to visit as many Paris attractions as possible during your trip, you might consider purchasing a Paris City Pass. With this pass, you’ll have free access to a wide selection of attractions throughout the city at a much better price compared to buying individual tickets. Paris offers two types of passes: the Paris Museum Pass, which includes access to many of the city’s top attractions and museums, including the Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, and the Paris Pass, which includes the Paris Museum Pass, a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus tour and access to other attractions and tours, such as the Eiffel Tower and a river cruise on the Seine.

Useful Information for Visiting the Sainte-Chapelle

The Best Time to Visit Sainte-Chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most popular attractions in Paris and can get very crowded at certain times of the year. If you want to avoid the crowds during your visit, it is advisable to carefully plan the best time to go. The chapel tends to be busier during the summer and on public holidays, when more tourists are in the city. If you plan to visit Sainte-Chapelle during these times, we recommend booking your tickets well in advance.

As for the time of day, the best period is during the week and early in the morning. Visitor numbers are higher from Thursday to Sunday, so you might want to avoid this period. Going early in the morning is a great idea if you want to admire the chapel in a quieter moment, although the light through the stained glass windows is better in the late afternoon. However, keep in mind that there may be more visitors at that time.

Sainte-Chapelle Opening Hours

Sainte-Chapelle is open every day of the week, except for the public holidays on January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. During the high season, from April to September, the chapel is open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, while during the rest of the year, from October to March, it is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The last admission is always 40 minutes before closing time, while access to the wider Palais de Justice de Paris complex closes 45 minutes before closing time.

How to Get to Sainte-Chapelle

Getting to Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is quite easy thanks to its central location and the many available public transportation options. However, if you are in the 1st arrondissement or the Latin Quarter, you might find that the best way to reach Sainte-Chapelle is on foot. The best metro line to get to Sainte-Chapelle is line 4, getting off at Cité station, or you can head to Châtelet station, which is a short walk away and offers access to lines 1, 7, 11, and 14. You can also get to the chapel by train, taking RER lines B or C to the Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame station, on the other side of the river. A final option is the bus, with lines 27, 38, 47, 75, and 96 stopping at various stops on the island and other bus lines stopping nearby.

How Sainte-Chapelle Tickets Work

Buying tickets for Sainte-Chapelle is quite simple and straightforward. Unlike other attractions with different types of tickets and options, there are only two types of tickets for Sainte-Chapelle to choose from. Visitors can purchase a general admission ticket for the chapel or a ticket that also includes entry to the nearby Conciergerie.

When booking tickets, you will need to choose a scheduled time for your visit from those available. Entry times are every half hour. Tickets booked online can be presented on your smartphone or printed out.

Sainte-Chapelle Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for Sainte-Chapelle are very clear and straightforward. Here are the prices as listed on the official chapel website: €11.50 for general admission to the chapel and €18.50 for combined admission to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

However, there are some categories of people who can access Sainte-Chapelle for free, so it’s worth checking if you fall into one of these categories. Young people under the age of 18, EU or European Economic Area citizens between the ages of 18 and 25, and people with disabilities and their companions are entitled to free admission.

The best hotels for Sainte-Chapelle

When you’re looking for a nice area in Paris to stay, you could do much worse than the area around the Sainte-Chapelle. TheÎle de la Cité, where the chapel is located, enjoys a central position in the city, close to many of Paris’s main attractions. Although there are plenty of accommodations to choose from, here are some of our recommendations to start your search.

You’ll be excited to spend your stay in Paris if you choose to stay at the luxurious Hôtel D’Aubusson. Set within a private 17th-century mansion, this gorgeous five-star hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the Sainte-Chapelle and features a jazz bar, a wellness center, and an indoor pool. For more fantastic hotels in the city, take a look at our Paris hotel guide.

For a good balance between comfort and costs, we suggest considering the Hotel Cluny Square. With this three-star hotel in the Latin Quarter, you will get cozy and inviting rooms at a reasonable price, and you might even snag a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

Budget accommodation is scarce in this part of the city.The People – Paris Belleville (Ex Les Piaules), a hostel located three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the Sainte-Chapelle, is one of the best options. There you’ll find dormitories and clean rooms, friendly staff, a library, a bar, and a rooftop terrace.

Safety rules at the Sainte-Chapelle

To ensure a good start to your visit, it’s helpful to know the rules in place for visitors. In addition to the security at the chapel’s entrance, there is also a security perimeter for the entire Île de la Cité. Only visitors with tickets and scheduled visits will be allowed past this first checkpoint. At the second security check outside the chapel, visitors will be screened for prohibited items, including but not limited to knives, scissors, glass bottles, and aerosol cans.

Suitcases, luggage, and large bags are not allowed inside the Sainte-Chapelle and there are no cloakroom services on site, so make sure to store such items before you arrive. Only small, foldable strollers are permitted. While personal photography is allowed inside the chapel, the use of tripods and selfie sticks is prohibited.

Visiting the Sainte-Chapelle with disabilities

Support and information for visitors with disabilities at the chapel are limited, but some accessibility features are available onsite to facilitate visits. The chapel is a wheelchair-accessible attraction and is equipped with an elevator. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed for visually impaired visitors, and audioguides are available.

Curiosities about the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

What is the Sainte-Chapelle?

The Sainte-Chapelle is a Catholic chapel within the former French royal residence of the Palais de la Cité.

When was the Sainte-Chapelle built?

Construction of the Sainte-Chapelle began in 1242 and was completed in 1248.

How old is the Sainte-Chapelle?

In 2022, the Sainte-Chapelle turns 774 years old.

Who built the Sainte-Chapelle?

King Louis IX of France ordered the construction of the chapel during his reign.

Why was the Sainte-Chapelle built?

King Louis IX wanted a chapel to be built to house his collection of religious relics, including the crown of thorns worn by Christ, which now resides in the cathedral of Notre-Dame.

Where is the Sainte-Chapelle located?

The Sainte-Chapelle is located within the Palais de la Cité on the Île de la Cité on the Seine, in the center of Paris.