Gothic Chapel · Île de la Cité · 1st Arrondissement
Sainte-Chapelle & the Paris Museum Pass
Fifteen stained glass windows, 15 metres high, built in 1248. Covered by the Museum Pass — but timed entry is mandatory and slots sell out weeks ahead.
Individual ticket
€22
With Museum Pass
Included
Timed slot
Required — book immediately
Open
Daily
Hours
9am–5pm (Jan–Mar, Oct–Dec) · 9am–7pm (Apr–Sep)
Last updated: February 2026 · Prices and details verified
Quick Answer
Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers entry to Sainte-Chapelle, saving you €22 per person. A timed-entry reservation is mandatory for all visitors including pass holders — and slots sell out fast. Book at sainte-chapelle.fr as soon as you confirm your travel dates. Sainte-Chapelle sits inside the Palais de Justice security perimeter — arrive 30 minutes early to account for strict security checks.
Is Sainte-Chapelle Included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes — Sainte-Chapelle is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. Entry costs €22 per person without the pass; with the pass it’s included at no extra cost. The pass covers both the Lower Chapel and the Upper Chapel — the Upper Chapel is the main event with its extraordinary stained glass.
Booking Your Timed Entry Slot
A timed-entry reservation is mandatory for Sainte-Chapelle — all visitors including Museum Pass holders must book a slot before arriving. Each slot is 30 minutes; you must enter within your allocated window.
Reservation required — do not arrive without one. Slots sell out fast — sometimes days ahead in low season and weeks ahead in peak season (April–September). Book at sainte-chapelle.fr the moment your travel dates are confirmed. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot time to allow for the Palais de Justice security queue.
Note: Sainte-Chapelle is inside the Palais de Justice (Paris law courts) security perimeter. All visitors pass through full airport-style security. There is no elevator to the Upper Chapel — narrow spiral staircase only. Strollers are not permitted in the Upper Chapel.
What to See — Collection Highlights
Sainte-Chapelle was built in 1248 by King Louis IX as a royal reliquary chapel to house the Crown of Thorns. Its genius is architectural: stone reduced to a minimum so walls could be almost entirely replaced by stained glass.
Highlight 1
The Upper Chapel — 15 windows 15 metres high depicting 1,113 biblical scenes. On a sunny afternoon, the effect is unlike anything else in Paris.
Highlight 2
Two-thirds of the windows date from the original 13th-century construction — among the oldest intact stained glass anywhere in the world
Highlight 3
The Lower Chapel — more austere, with the original polychrome stonework and a statue of the Virgin Mary; often rushed through but historically significant
Suggested Itinerary — 1 Hour (inc. security)
Sainte-Chapelle is a short, intense visit. The chapel itself takes 30–45 minutes; budget the rest for security queuing.
Slot − 30m
Security queue — Palais de Justice entrance
Arrive 30 minutes before your booked slot. Join the security queue on Boulevard du Palais — full airport-style security including bag X-ray. Have your pass and reservation QR code ready.
Slot time
Lower Chapel
Ground-floor chapel — take 10 minutes to appreciate the original polychrome stonework before climbing. Your eyes need to adjust.
Slot + 15m
Upper Chapel — the stained glass
Climb the narrow spiral staircase to the main event. Stand in the centre and turn slowly — the 15 windows create a near-complete enclosure of coloured light. Allow 20–30 minutes.
Practical Tips
Tip 1
Book an afternoon slot (2–4pm) in spring or early autumn — the setting sun streams through the west windows and the colours are at their most intense.
Tip 2
Arrive 30 minutes before your slot time — the Palais de Justice security queue takes 20–30 minutes on busy days. Missing your slot window means being turned away.
Tip 3
Combine with La Conciergerie next door — both are on the Île de la Cité, 3 minutes apart, both pass-covered. Book both reservations at the same time.
Getting There
Sainte-Chapelle — Fast Facts
Address
10 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
Nearest Metro
Cité (Metro 4) — 2 min walk (Metro 4)
RER
RER B/C — Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame — 8 min walk
Bus lines
21, 24, 27, 85, 96
Opening hours
Daily 9am–5pm (January–March and October–December) · 9am–7pm (April–September) · Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Yes — a timed-entry reservation is mandatory for all visitors including Museum Pass holders. Without a reservation you will be turned away. Book at sainte-chapelle.fr as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Slots sell out quickly — days ahead in low season, weeks ahead during peak season.
Sainte-Chapelle sits inside the Palais de Justice (the active Paris law courts) security perimeter. All visitors go through full airport-style security — bag X-ray, metal detector, and possible police identity checks. The queue routinely takes 20–30 minutes on busy days. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your booked slot time.
The afternoon light through the west windows is the most spectacular — aim for a 2–4pm slot in spring or early autumn. Morning visits are beautiful in the east-facing windows. Overcast days reduce the effect but the windows remain extraordinary.
Yes — both are on the Île de la Cité, 3 minutes apart, both pass-covered. Both require separate timed-entry reservations — book both at the same time. Allow approximately 1 hour for Sainte-Chapelle (including security) and 1–1.5 hours for the Conciergerie.
No — access to the Upper Chapel requires climbing a narrow spiral staircase. There is no elevator. Strollers are not permitted in the Upper Chapel. The Lower Chapel on the ground floor is accessible without climbing.
The chapel itself takes 30–45 minutes — 10 minutes in the Lower Chapel and 20–30 minutes in the Upper Chapel. Factor in 20–30 minutes for the security queue and budget around 1 hour total. Most visitors find the quality of the stained glass significantly exceeds their expectations.
Combine Sainte-Chapelle With These Museums
Sainte-Chapelle sits at the heart of the Île de la Cité museum cluster. All three venues below are within 10 minutes on foot.
