Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Sainte-Chapelle is the finest royal chapel to be built in France and features a truly exceptional collection of stained-glass windows. It was built in the mid 13th century by Louis IX, at the heart of the royal residence, the Palais de la Cité. It was built to house the relics of the Passion of Christ. Adorned with a unique collection of fifteen glass panels and a large rose window forming a veritable wall of light,the Sainte-Chapelle is a gem of French Gothic architecture. Designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open:> 1st March to 31st October: Monday to Friday: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 a.m. and to 2.15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.> 1st November to 29th February: Monday to Friday: from 9 a.m. to 12.45 a.m. and to 2.15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. The best time to visit is in the morning from Tuesday to Friday. Closed:> 1st January, 1st May and 25th December and in case of negative temperatures.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Ile de la Cité / Ile Saint-Louis
Two islands sit in the middle of the Seine at the very heart of Paris. The more majestic one, Ile de la Cité, sparkles with history. This is the birthplace of Paris, the home of the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle, and the site of the prison where Marie Antoinette was held before her execution. Tourists flock to see the iconic Notre Dame and the beautiful bridges that straddle the Seine. Ile Saint-Louis, the more provincial island, welcomes you with cozy traditional eateries, small boutiques, and what some people say is the best ice cream in the city. This is essential Paris from its very beginnings to its modern appeal.
How to get there
  • Cité • 3 min walk
  • Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame • 3 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • Ana V
    Eugene, Oregon610 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The most beautiful holy place in Paris
    The stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle is like no other. The panels tell the stories in the Bible in great detail. It wish they sold a book with detail of the panels because you can't really see it from ground level. This will be one of your most memorable experiences.
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 7, 2023
  • lalida_art
    Bangkok, Thailand28 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    The Stained glasses is really stunning. For entry, you should buy ticket online in advance and reserve time to entry. Otherwise the queue for buy ticket there is really long. Also, Don't be here too early from your reserved time, since you have to wait in line until like 10 mins before your time then security will let you in.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 24, 2023
  • FamilyTime1431
    Weare, New Hampshire97 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see in Paris, just be sure to get in the correct line.
    Once we navigated the terrible line and queueing area and got inside, it was great. They have no signage indicating where to line up to get in, so they just mixed people who needed tickets with people who already had them. All that aside, the stained glass was amazing, a must see in Paris.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 30, 2023
  • beachlovernc2015
    Leland, North Carolina1,948 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Prepare for crowds and security checks- But worth the visit!
    The exterior of this building does not give you any idea of the amazing interior. At first entering you may be underwhelmed as you are seeing some stained glass windows which are lovely but small and some interesting artefacts and history of the place plus the book shop. Don't be deceived- you must go up the spiral staircase to see the most amazing and huge windows. There are cards explaining the story behind each window - those in English hard to come by OR you can just walk around and enjoy their beauty on your own. Even though this is a relatively large space, when packed with people it can be a bit difficult to take a good picture or not get jostled. Pack your patience !!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 14, 2023
  • poltor
    Toronto, Canada224 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning ceilings!
    Stunning ceilings and history. Amazing stained glass and wood carvings. A short walk from the Louvre. Free access with the Paris Museum Pass. Arrive in the early morning or late afternoon yo avoid the crowds.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 30, 2023
  • FedoraOnTour
    Sidcup, United Kingdom211 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ILLUMINATING!
    Do not miss this - built to hold the relics belonging to the Royal family. It has magnificent stain glass windows. Make sure you visit BOTH levels. An hour should cover this - it is near Notre Dame - well worth the visit
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 31, 2023
  • Bob G
    Middletown, Maryland146 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Georgeous!
    I made the mistake of not purchasing skip-the-line tickets, so had to wait a while to gain entrance. This church and its magnificent stain glass windows is not to be missed, simply extraordinary! It is hard to believe such a beautiful structure was completed in the 1200's.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 11, 2023
  • Glenn40768
    Tampa, Florida7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazingly beautiful!!
    Book an early timeslot and use a Paris Museum Pass to beat the crowds and lines. But the stained glass there is breathtaking. We used the Rick Steves Paris book as a guide here and it worked great.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 26, 2023
  • Katie H
    36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking!
    Absolutely breathtaking! I visited with my partner whilst on a trip to Paris recently and it is so hard to express hpw beautiful this place is! I would definitely recommend a visit to anyone who is going to Paris! It was definitely a highlight of our trip! We got there early and it was already very busy so my tip would be to go first thing or last thing in the day. I gather there are concerts held at Sainte-Chapelle on some evenings. Unfortunately, none were scheduled during our time in Paris but I would imagine that would be a fantastic experience!
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 10, 2023
  • nctraveler315
    Winston Salem, North Carolina169 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    Absolutely stunning! It does get crowded. We purchased a combined ticket for Sainte- Chapell and Concergerie. Get the earliest timed entry ticket you can as the lines are long. We booked the earliest entry, and on arrival 30 minutes before our time the line was fairly long with others who had a 9:00 ticket. We were told the doors don't actually open until 9:30 but the 9:00 tickets would be admitted first. We did use the audio guide but be aware it has options for "extended detail" and they are very detailed. The windows are incredible telling the entire Bible story from beginning to end. We stayed about an hour and it was getting crowded when we left.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 15, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles27,970 reviews
Excellent
21,078
Very good
4,923
Average
1,414
Poor
343
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217

JoanneGruodiene
Maidstone, UK162 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We pre booked tickets for this chapel, since Notre Dame is closed following the unfortunate fire, we were informed that this was the next best thing.

The stained glass windows were simply beautiful, the pictures do not do it justice. It does get overcrowded and they clearly let too many people in at once considering it is not the biggest of places.

Note: go to the left hand side when you go to the entrance and also if you’ve brought skip the line tickets then go to the entrance of the chapel once you get pass security as otherwise you could be queuing a while. We made this mistake. It’s not very clear if you don’t go to look.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matt K
Bryan, TX11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Sainte-Chapelle is unlike any of the dozens of churches/cathedrals I've seen in Europe. If you love stained glass or unique spaces, it's a must see, especially while nearby Notre Dame is out of commission. The admission is a bit steep (about 12 Euros) for what is probably a 20-30 minute activity for most people, but I'm glad I saw it.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Doug W
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
Beforre Notre Dame burned this lesser known gem was not a primary site for first time visitors in Paris. The high sunlight stained glass windows are best in the afternoon of a Sunny Paris day. November was dreary, but I enjoyed the history and as a repeat visitor would recommend Sainte-Chapelle to most people.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

abbey a
19 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The Sainte-Chapelle was absoloutely gorgeous inside, the lower level was a little underwhelming and the entry price was unexpected as all other churches and chapels we visited were completely free. The stained glass windows were just stunning, it was an incredible sight. While it was a long wait, I do recommend going, the glass on the upper level were just gorgeous! I have never seen something so beautiful.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hiddenyum
Boston, MA29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Breathtaking and beautiful church. Definitely a must see if visiting Paris and you have a little bit more time after hitting the classic sights like the Eiffel Tower. The sunlight coming through the stained glass windows is absolutely stunning and I believe the entrance fee is pretty cheap and can be paired with other sights.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maira Toledo
Sao Paulo, SP276 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Solo
In some months of the year there are classical music concerts at night, mostly during the Christmas season. It’s an unforgettable experience to listen to Bach while admiring the stained glasses windows. The tickets can be bought online.
For regular visits during the day also buy online to avoid lines and program your visit for the morning to avoid crowds. The earliest in the morning the better.

Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mlbpafan
Loveland, CO1,632 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Wow, this place is gorgeous! Not at all what I expected. After going through security, you are herded around the corner to the ticket line. The line was a little wait, but we had pre-purchased tickets online so we didn't wait. When you first get in, you are in the lower area with the gift shop. The main attraction is up the stairs to the left. Going upstairs to where the royalty worshiped you see the stained glass that has made this place famous. The guards here aren't as strict as the ones at the Sistine Chapel, but they will tell you to be quiet if it gets too noisy! It does get crowded up top and the stairs down are a little tight, but take your time and it does calm down occasionally. A must see for me and well worth the visit.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hugh D
London, UK64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Solo
An absolutely stunning example of stain glass windows from the time of King Louis, really awe-inspiring. Would highly recommending using the QR code at the start to download the app for full information about each window (I used the hard sheet version at the start which gave far less information). Busy with lots of tourists but it is a small area so that is to be expected. Buy a timed ticket online as this saves a huge amount of time queueing and made the process much easier and note there is security to go in so don’t take anything you wouldn’t be able to take onto a plane with you (except water). Would recommend getting the combined ticket with the Conciergerie next door as that was really interesting as well.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Philippe B
Toulouse, France5,775 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
This Church can’t be seen from the street because it’s set within Paris Courthouse. Built during the 13th century by Louis 9th to host holly relics, this church is strangely designed in two different stages. On the ground floor a low chapel dedicated to the staff of the former Palace, on the first floor the main chapel where the King and the Queen were the only authorized worshipers.
The Church has been fully renovated at the beginning of the decade. The result is amazing with first class sculptures, paintings and, first of all, stained glasses.
Due to the pandemic it’s mandatory to book online but you can do it in front of the access door by scanning a QR code. 11€50 for a short visit (45’) + 3€ for the audio guide. It worths every cent.
A must see in Paris.
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MJ P
5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The short, tight spiral-staircase climb to the upper chapel, where the stained-glass windows are, is worth it, but just be aware that you will probably only need about ten minutes to feel you have seen the place, and it is super crowded so you won't necessarily have a spiritual feeling the way the pictures of the empty chapel make you think you will.

This ticket is combined with the Conciergerie, a former prison next door to it, so I will review that as well. Conciergerie is essentially a tourist trap. It has Marie Antoinette's prison cell, but it doesn't look like a prison cell or have anything in it reminiscent of her. If you want to see Marie Antoinette memorabilia, Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna has many items from her childhood. While we were at Conciergerie in December 2019, there was a Marie Antoinette temporary exhibition that I did quite like.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

Frequently Asked Questions about Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $22.22, while a popular guided tour starts around $3.33 per person.




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