Sainte-Chapelle: how to see it, and whether to go inside
Louis IX built this royal chapel in the 1240s to hold the Crown of Thorns. From the street it hides behind the walls of the Palais de Justice, but inside, fifteen stained-glass windows fill the upper chapel with colour. A ticket costs €22 and needs a time slot; allow about an hour including security. Our Paris bike tour stops outside it on the Île de la Cité.
Sainte-Chapelle at a glance
- What it is
- A Gothic royal chapel built by Louis IX in the 1240s, inside today's Palais de Justice
- Address
- 10 Boulevard du Palais, Île de la Cité, 1st arrondissement
- Getting there
- Métro Cité (line 4)
- Ticket
- €22, with a time slot; free for EU residents under 26; a combined ticket with the Conciergerie is available
- Open
- October to March 9:00 to 17:00, April to September 9:00 to 19:00; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December
- On our tours
- Paris Bike Tour
Price checked on sainte-chapelle.fr on 10 November 2026. Hours and prices change, so check again before you book.
What you see with us
The Paris Bike Tour crosses onto the Île de la Cité after the Musée d'Orsay. We stop at the spot with the best view of the chapel's spire above the Palais de Justice, and always leave time to take photos and look around on your own.
While you look, your guide tells the story of the place: the king who paid more for a relic than for the building made to hold it, the palace that became a court of law, and the facts and anecdotes behind the windows inside.
We don't go inside: entry isn't part of the tour. Seeing it with a guide first is a good way to decide whether you want to, and to know what you're looking at when you do.
- Eiffel Tower
- Pont Alexandre III
- Musée d'Orsay
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Notre-Dame
- Louvre
What our guides tell you here
A relic worth more than the chapel
Louis IX bought the Crown of Thorns in 1239 and built the chapel to hold it. He paid far more for the relic than for the building itself.
Walls of glass
The upper chapel has fifteen stained-glass windows that rise almost from floor to vault, with more than a thousand scenes from the Bible. On a sunny day the whole room glows.
Two chapels, two worlds
The lower chapel was for the servants and officials of the palace; the upper chapel, reached by a narrow staircase, was for the king and his family. Climbing those stairs is the moment most visitors remember.
A palace turned court
The chapel stood in the heart of the medieval royal palace. When the kings moved out, the palace became the seat of justice, which is why you still pass courtroom security to get in.
Rescued after the Revolution
During the Revolution the chapel was damaged and later used for storing archives. A long restoration in the 19th century brought it back, and much of the medieval glass survived.
Visiting the inside
- Book a time slot. Tickets cost €22 and are sold for a time slot on the official ticketing site. EU residents under 26 go in free.
- Expect security. You enter through the Palais de Justice, with airport-style checks for everyone. Leave large bags behind: there is no cloakroom.
- Pick a sunny moment. The windows are at their best when the sun is out, so check the forecast if you can.
- Combine it with the Conciergerie. The medieval palace halls next door share a combined ticket.
- Allow about an hour, including the security queue.
Combining it with the bike tour
Ride first and go in later, and you will know what you are looking at.
- Morning tour at 10:15, back at 13:15: book an afternoon slot, before the 17:00 winter closing.
- Afternoon tour at 13:30: visit in the morning, from 9:00.
- Notre-Dame is a five-minute walk away, so the two fit easily into one morning.
“Alex was so sweet and informative. He was very knowledgeable. I would def recommend. Seeing the city and hearing quick facts about the city was wonderfully I think Alex had a great touch with photos of what it once was at each stops was visually wonderful to push the imagination and history. Great touch Alex! Thank you!”
Paris Bike Tour
Three hours from the Eiffel Tower along the Seine to Notre-Dame and the Louvre. Small groups, guides in English or French. ★ 4.8 from 223 reviews on GetYourGuide.
About Sainte-Chapelle
How much is a Sainte-Chapelle ticket?
€22, sold for a time slot. EU residents under 26 go in free. A combined ticket with the Conciergerie is also available.
When is Sainte-Chapelle open?
From October to March, 9:00 to 17:00; from April to September, 9:00 to 19:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Is Sainte-Chapelle worth it?
For most visitors, yes: the upper chapel's stained glass is one of the most beautiful interiors in Paris. Go on a sunny day if you can.
Why is there security at the entrance?
The chapel stands inside the Palais de Justice, a working courthouse, so every visitor goes through airport-style checks.
Can I see Sainte-Chapelle on a bike tour?
Yes. Our Paris Bike Tour stops outside it on the Île de la Cité, with the story behind it from your guide. Entry is not included.
Last updated 10 November 2026.