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Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 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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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Ile de la Cité
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 travellers are saying
  • Jemille Williams
    Atlanta, Georgia357 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfectly gorgeous venue for concert with perfect acoustics!
    About 20 years ago I read that Rick Steves recommends everyone take in a concert in this amazing chapel. It has the largest collection of 13th-century stained glass in the world! It was a lovely chamber music program and the group was so passionate and even a little humorous at times. They were full of joy and clearly enjoyed playing together for us.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2023
  • Daphne M
    Cardiff, United Kingdom259 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chaotic queues but worth it!
    We bought a timed ticket online as recommended and arrived an hour before our allotted time and boy were we glad we did! The queues are long regardless of pre-booking, there is confusing signage and a lack of helpful staff on hand to assist. Despite all of this the visit was worth it honestly. The chapel is breathtaking! The most stunning collection of stained glass I have ever seen. Once through the airport style security, it was busy but not overwhelmingly so which meant the visit could be enjoyed. Come on Paris! You could do so much better!!!!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 24, 2023
  • Bernadette Leroy
    Montpellier, France7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful experience ac
    found myself in sheer amazement, taking a moment to absorb every intricate detail. The ground floor hosts a charming gift shop, while the second floor unveils the true splendor of the churchClimb a few rounds and you emerge into a literally breathtaking cavern of stained glass. The panels are incredibly high and each tells a story and but the totality of them all together overwhelms.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written October 30, 2023
  • MMCT62
    41 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Total chaos…but worth it
    Beautiful church that can’t be missed. Stained glass is absolutely amazing. Only criticism is how this place is run. Since advanced times tickets are needed I was not expecting a long wait to get in- well I was wrong! The line for ticket holders stretched the entire block. To add to that, there were two lines and it was confusing to know which line to wait in. My husband and I split up- I got to front first only to be told I was in wrong line and to head to back of other line. Thank goodness he was already queued up in the other line. We had 12:30 tickets and eventually got inside a little after 1:00.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written December 1, 2023
  • M | N
    London, United Kingdom5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The splendidly illuminated sacred monumen
    If you're looIf you're looking for a place to be truly awe-struck, look no further. This monument is truly monumental in its splendor and will leave you illuminated! Just don't forget to bring your sunglasses!king for a place to be truly awe-struck, look no further. This monument is truly monumental in its splendor and will leave you illuminated! Just don't forget to bring your sunglasses!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 6, 2023
  • GAR
    967 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful but lacks management
    The sheer beauty of the chapel demands a five star review. It’s the most beautiful stained glass I’ve ever seen, truly magnificent. The information leaflet is also really informative about the long history of the chapel. However, the management is not good. I had to queue for half an hour despite buying a timed entry ticket, and the queuing area was chaos with no clear direction as to where one was meant to actually queue. The chapel itself was also too busy because they let people buy tickets on the way as well
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written December 17, 2023
  • SMLikestoTravel
    Bengaluru, India391 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful but poorly managed
    We reached here early in the morning having booked entry slot for 8:30 am . Though this meant that we had a very early start to our day, it was worth the effort because we managed to get inside without very long queues. Once inside, we got the audio guide and then went upstairs. This is where it started to go downhill. The entire area was filled with crowds. There was no control on how much time one can spend here or how many people can be allowed at once. Seriously, they should learn a tip or two from the likes of Borghese Gallery in Rome. It was not very intuitive to find out the numbering of the stained glass panels as being referred to in the audio guide. So, until we finally figured it out, we were staring at the wrong panels while hearing the description of another panel altogether. The number of descriptive cards in English were very limited so we never got to read one as it was always in use by other groups.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written January 13, 2024
  • Marta Kārkliņa
    Ventspils, Latvia307 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive but should be taken care of more!
    I think it would be better if they would limit the amount of people than can go in at the same time even more because it felt a bit crowded which can make it less enjoyable to appreciate all the beauty around you. Also given that the tickets are not exactly cheap it's a shame that they don't take better care of it because the security check room felt small and outdated and the Chapelle was quite dusty and the windows seemed dirty. But those are just small things compared to the fact that the Sainte Chapelle was just as impressive as I imagined to be!
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written January 24, 2024
  • Victoria
    188 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chapel of light
    This chapel was built by King Louis IX to display the Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore. Its most impressive feature? Those stunning stained glass windows that soar high into the air. There's more glass than wall here, that's for sure. The chapel is located right next to the French courts, so security is tight. Lines to the chapel can get long, so you may want to purchase tickets in advance, or come here first thing in the morning. If you didn't purchase tickets in advance, you'll have to go through security first before proceeding to the chapel to buy your tickets. You can buy a combination ticket for the nearby Conciergerie, so if you plan on visiting that site as well, get the combination ticket.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written February 18, 2024
  • Albry
    Bangor, United Kingdom1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A truly heavenly experience
    Sunlight streams through a kaleidoscope of colors at Sa Sainte-Chapelle, a breathtaking jewel box in Paris. Each stained glass panel tells a biblical story, bathing the interior in a luminous glow. Prepare to be awestruck by the sheer artistry and historical significance of this architectural masterpiece. Don't miss the chance to walk among the clouds at the top chapel - a truly heavenly experience!
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written February 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles28,043 reviews
Excellent
21,116
Very good
4,930
Average
1,423
Poor
352
Terrible
227

JoanneGruodiene
Maidstone, UK172 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, MA26 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, SP277 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, CO1,612 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, UK80 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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, France5,947 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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, France): Hours, Address, Attraction Reviews - Tripadvisor

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