Sainte Chapelle in Paris was built to house priceless Christian relics, including Christ’s crown of thorns.
The Holy Chapel has 15 stained glass windows, each 15 meters (49 feet) high. Together, they depict more than 1100 scenes from the Old and New Testaments, narrating the world’s history.
More than a million tourists visit this chapel annually, which is also known as the Holy Chapel. Sainte Chapelle is religiously significant for believers.
This article covers everything you must know before booking Sainte Chapelle tickets.
Top Tickets
# Guided tour with reserved access
# Combination ticket to Sainte-Chapelle and the ConciergerieIt’s highly recommended to book your Sainte Chapelle tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.
What’s ahead
Things to know before booking tickets
Tickets for the Sainte Chapelle are available online and at the attraction. Online ticket prices are usually cheaper.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters. You also get your preferred time slot.
As some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
Once you purchase Sainte Chapelle tickets, they get delivered to your email address. There is no need to get printouts of the ticket. Show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction and enter.
Sainte Chapelle tickets
Discover Sainte-Chapelle’s stunning Gothic architecture and vibrant stained glass windows. Visit the Conciergerie, a former revolutionary prison, and explore its medieval and revolution-era rooms with the HistoPad, which features augmented reality and 3D reconstructions. The ticket is valid for one day and has multiple start times.
Book NowWhich Sainte Chapelle ticket is best for you?
If you are looking for the cheapest and most popular option
Book this combination ticket to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie to enjoy the best value for your money. This popular ticket guarantees entry to both iconic sites, allowing you to dive into their architectural beauty and rich cultural history. Skip the hassle of separate bookings and make the most of your visit with this convenient and affordable option.
If you have less time and want a quick tour
Experience the iconic Sainte Chapelle in Paris on a guided tour with reserved access and a dedicated entrance, allowing you to skip the lines. In just one hour, benefit from in-depth insights as you admire the stunning stained glass windows, explore numerous relics, appreciate intricate murals, and more.
If you want to combine the Chapelle visit with a cruise
Book the Île de la Cité Tour, Cruise & Sainte Chapelle combo to experience the best of Paris in just three hours. Enjoy a guided tour of Île de la Cité, marvel at the ongoing restorations of Notre Dame, and explore the Latin Quarter. Skip the line to visit the stunning Sainte Chapelle and see the Conciergerie, including the prison that once held Marie Antoinette. Finish your adventure with a relaxing River Seine cruise through the heart of Paris.
Opening hours
Sainte Chapelle opens daily at 9 am. During the peak season of April to September, the attraction closes at 7 pm, and during the lean season of October to March, it closes at 5 pm.
Every day from 1 pm to 2.15 pm, Sainte Chapelle shuts down for lunch.
Duration of visit
The tour of Saint Chapelle takes around 30 to 60 minutes.
As the tickets are not timed, visitors can stay as long as they want.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Sainte-Chapelle is at 9 am when it opens, allowing for a leisurely exploration with minimal crowds. Sunset is another beautiful time to visit, but it can be crowded. Sunset times vary: around 4 pm in winter and 9.30 pm in summer. A sunny weekday morning is also ideal, as sunlight streams through the stained glass and crowds are sparse.
Thursdays are typically the busiest. Avoid visiting during peak times like Christmas, Easter, and the weekends of July 14 and August 15. From May 15 to September 15, Sainte-Chapelle stays open until 9.30 pm on Wednesdays, offering a peaceful evening visit.
Recommended
How to reach
The Sainte Chapelle is located in Palais de la Cité, the medieval royal palace on Ile de la Cité, an island in the Seine. It is half a kilometer (one-third of a mile) from Notre Dame.
Address: 8, Boulevard du Palais, 750001. Get Directions. You can reach the monument by using public or private transport.
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Best time for photography
Visit the Holy Chapel about an hour before sunset to capture the light through the windows as the sun sets. If sunset isn’t possible, choose a sunny morning. Avoid midday when the sun is overhead, as the light won’t enter at an angle. Flash photography is prohibited, so relying on natural light is better.
Dress code for Sainte Chapelle
There is no specific dress code for Sainte-Chapell. However, it is a religious place, and visitors must dress modestly.
Halter tops, shorts above the knee, t-shirts showing cleavage, hats, etc., aren’t recommended. Also, it is better to avoid t-shirts with words such as “I hate God” or “I am GOD!”
What to expect at Sainte Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is a stunning example of Gothic architecture.
Upon entering, you first see the lower chapel with its starry night sky ceiling. Climb the spiral staircase to the Upper Chapel, used by royalty, and be amazed by the 40-meter high ceiling and 600 square meters of stained glass.
There are 15 large stained-glass windows and a rose window, added 100 years later, which shimmer beautifully in sunlight.
Show DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions visitors usually ask before visiting Sainte Chapelle.
Yes, you can purchase tickets at the entrance, but be prepared to stand in long queues. To avoid such troubles, it is better to book online tickets.
Visitors are not allowed to bring items such as motorcycle helmets, aerosols, knives, forks, sharp objects, scissors, glass bottles, bulky luggage/bags, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades.
The Sainte Chapelle in Paris allows free entry on the first Sunday of every month. Visitors under 18 and European Union residents younger than 25 can enter without tickets if they show a valid ID card with a photograph or official proof of residence.
Yet another way to enter Sainte Chapelle for free (well, almost) is by buying one of the Paris discount Passes. The Paris Museum Pass helps you save money and time (because you can skip the line at most places). Buying the pass makes sense if you have been visiting Paris for over three days. The Paris Museum Pass helps skip the line at Sainte Chapelle, and the access is free as well.
The Sainte Chapelle of Paris was one of the highest achievements of the Rayonnant Gothic architecture period. Construction began after 1238, and the building was consecrated on 26 April 1248.
King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) commissioned the construction of Sainte Chapelle. Historians believe that the King commissioned the chapel to architect Pierre of Montreuil.
Sainte Chapelle was built for King Louis IX of France to house his passion relics, which he had purchased from Baldwin II, the Latin Emperor of Constantinople. These Passion relics included the Crown of Thorns, the image of Edessa, and some thirty other items.
At the time of the deal, the Latin Emperor had pawned these relics to a Venetian Bank. They were retrieved and sold to the French King for 135,000 Livres. The construction of the Holy Chapel cost the King around 40,000 Livres.
The last entry to the Chapelle is 30 minutes before the closing time.
Yes, you can bring strollers, but they must be small and foldable to fit into the X-ray screening machines. Strollers are not allowed in the upper chapel.
Sainte Chapelle in Paris remains closed on the 1st of January, the 1st of May, and the 25th of December.
Since the Chapelle provides free entry on the first Sunday of every month, the waiting time on such days is around 45 minutes or more.
OMG, this place is next-level! The ground floor is already stunning, but then you climb the spiral stairs and get hit with this insane view when you reach the top. It was so cool seeing everyone’s reactions when they came out of the stairs. The stained glass windows are absolutely mesmerizing! Pro tip: Grab your tickets ahead of time because the line to buy them on-site was seriously just so so long!
Once we finally got through the chaotic lines and confusing queue, it was awesome inside. No signs to show where to line up, so everyone was mixed together. But honestly, the stained glass was incredible—definitely worth the hassle and a must-see in Paris!