The Sainte-Chapelle is Saint Louis’s 13th-century royal chapel on the Île de la Cité, where the upper chapel’s walls are almost entirely stained glass: 15 windows, up to 15 metres high, telling 1,113 Bible scenes in light. As of October 2026 a ticket costs €16 for EEA nationals and residents and €22 for other visitors, and under-18s go free. From October to March it opens daily 9:00–17:00. It sits inside the Paris law courts, so book a time slot, arrive on time and leave anything sharp behind. Allow about an hour, ideally on a sunny morning.
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Tickets and tours for Sainte-Chapelle
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Why the Sainte-Chapelle matters
In 1239 King Louis IX, later Saint Louis, bought the Crown of Thorns from Baldwin II, the Latin emperor of Constantinople, after two years of negotiation; more relics of the Passion followed in 1241. The price, 135,000 livres tournois, was about half the kingdom’s yearly income. To house them he built a “monumental reliquary” in the heart of his palace, finished in under seven years and consecrated in 1248. The upper chapel was reserved for the king and his guests, linked directly to his apartments; the lower chapel served the palace staff.
The Revolution melted down the reliquaries and ended worship here. The Crown of Thorns survived and has been kept by Notre-Dame since 1806. Badly damaged, the chapel became a training ground for 19th-century restoration. Its spire, the fifth since the Middle Ages, rises 75 metres, and the chapel is part of the “Paris, Banks of the Seine” UNESCO World Heritage site.
What you’ll see
- The lower chapel: the sturdy, low-vaulted ground floor that carries the weight of the glass above, richly painted in blue, red and gold. Most visitors walk straight through; take a moment.
- The upper chapel: up a narrow spiral staircase, 670 square metres of glass, two-thirds of it original 13th-century work, the most complete set of its time anywhere. The story runs from Genesis on the north side to the arrival of the relics in Paris, with Louis IX himself in the last window on the south side.
- The rose window: the Apocalypse, rebuilt around 1485 in flamboyant Gothic, 9 metres across, glowing yellow and green where the older windows are blue and red. It catches the late-afternoon sun.
- The statues and carving: twelve apostles on the pillars and more than a hundred different leaf patterns on the capitals.
A restoration programme has been under way for more than twenty years. Since 2025 the Ezekiel window, between the apse and the south wall, has been under restoration, with scaffolding inside the upper chapel; the chapel stays open at its usual times.
Tickets and how to visit
From the official website of the Centre des monuments nationaux, which runs the chapel, as of October 2026:
- Tickets (since 12 January 2026): €16 for nationals and residents of an EEA country, €22 for everyone else. Combined ticket with the Conciergerie next door: €23 or €30. Audio guide €4 on site, in six languages.
- Free: under-18s; EU nationals and non-EU residents of France aged 18–25; visitors with a disability plus one companion; jobseekers; and everyone on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December.
- Hours: 1 October to 31 March 9:00–17:00; 1 April to 30 September 9:00–19:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
- How to book: buy online on the chapel’s official site. Everyone, including children, free visitors and Paris Museum Pass holders, needs a time slot; without one you risk a very long wait or no entry in busy periods. Arrive at your slot time, not earlier. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.
- Free guided tour: in French only, 45 minutes, daily at 11:00 and 15:00 when a guide is available; book the 10:30 or 14:30 slot to catch it.
Security: read this before you go
The Sainte-Chapelle stands inside the Palais de Justice, so its security check is one of the strictest in Paris and can take time; police may check ID nearby. Any sharp object, however small, is confiscated and not returned, including pocket knives, scissors and cutlery. Aerosols, glass bottles, motorbike helmets, scooters, skateboards and bulky luggage are also banned, and there is nowhere to store them. Pushchairs must be small and foldable to pass the X-ray, and cannot go up to the upper chapel; bring a baby carrier.
When to go
The glass needs daylight. A bright morning shows the east windows at their best, and late afternoon lights the rose; on a grey day the colours are far duller. Queues for security peak in the middle of the day and in school holidays. Evening classical concerts are held in the upper chapel by an outside organiser, with separate tickets.
Accessibility
The visit is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The upper chapel is 33 steps up a narrow staircase, but visitors with mobility problems can ask staff to take them up by lift. One wheelchair is available on request. Visitors with a disability and a companion get in free with priority access, though booking a slot is still recommended as the chapel can be full.
Getting there
The entrance is at 10 boulevard du Palais. Metro line 4 stops at Cité, two minutes away; RER B and C at Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame; and lines 1, 7, 11 and 14 at Châtelet, across the Pont au Change. Buses 21, 24, 27, 38, 58, 81, 85 and 96 pass nearby, though the Palais de Justice stop is sometimes skipped for security reasons.
Combine it with
Notre-Dame, where the Crown of Thorns is now kept, is 450 metres away on the same island, and the Conciergerie, the medieval palace where Marie Antoinette was held, is next door on the combined ticket (last entry 17:15, allow an hour or more). The Louvre is under a kilometre away across the river. See our Paris travel guide for a full day on the islands.
Sainte-Chapelle FAQ
How much is a Sainte-Chapelle ticket?
Since 12 January 2026, €16 for EEA nationals and residents and €22 for other visitors, or €23 and €30 with the Conciergerie. Under-18s go free.
Do I need to book the Sainte-Chapelle in advance?
Yes, a time slot is strongly advised for everyone, including Paris Museum Pass holders and free visitors. Without one you may wait a long time or not get in.
Why is security so strict at the Sainte-Chapelle?
The chapel is inside the Palais de Justice, the law courts. Sharp objects of any size are confiscated and not returned, and there is no left-luggage.
When is the best time to see the stained glass?
On a sunny day, in the morning for the east windows or late afternoon for the rose window. Grey weather dulls the colours.
What are the Sainte-Chapelle’s opening hours?
From October to March 9:00–17:00, and from April to September 9:00–19:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Is the Sainte-Chapelle wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The upper chapel is 33 steps up, but staff can take visitors with reduced mobility up by lift, and one wheelchair is available.