Lift to the Summit
The one to book. Take the last slot before sunset and come down after dark.
Eiffel Tower — Worth it?
What to Book in Paris
Paris has two tickets that genuinely run out and four that people panic about for no reason. Here is which is which, how far ahead each one needs booking, and what you can leave until the morning of.
6 experiences rated Updated today
Decide in 30 seconds
Book ASAP
Book Ahead
Worth Booking
Can Wait
The Eiffel Tower summit and the Catacombs are the real constraints. Both cap numbers, both release slots on a schedule, and both are gone within hours of going on sale in summer. The Louvre needs a time slot but almost always has one. Everything else in this city rewards deciding late: the boats run every twenty minutes, Orsay lets you in on the day, and the best hours in Paris cost nothing at all.
Every attraction, rated
Sorted by Booking Score
Book ASAP Eiffel Tower
Sunset slots vanish. Book about two months out.
From €15 Worth it? →
Book ASAP Catacombs of Paris
200 people at a time. Book the moment slots drop.
From €29 Worth it? →
Book Ahead Louvre Museum
Time slot required. Rarely sold out.
From €22 Worth it? →
Book Ahead Palace of Versailles
Timed palace slot. Never go on a Tuesday.
From €21 Worth it? →
Worth Booking Musée d'Orsay
Book a couple of days out. Rarely a problem.
From €16 Worth it? →
Can Wait Seine River Cruise
No urgency. Turn up and take the next boat.
From €16 Details →
DON'T OVERTHINK IT
Our top picks for Paris
We do not show you 47 options. We help you choose between the three that matter.
Timed Entry with Audio Guide
Reseller allocation with a fixed slot. Costs more than official and is usually still available.
Catacombs of Paris — Worth it?Guided Highlights Tour
Two hours, roughly a dozen works, and someone else doing the navigation. The sensible first visit.
Louvre Museum — Worth it?Common questions about booking in Paris
What sells out first in Paris?
The Catacombs, then the Eiffel Tower summit. The Catacombs let 200 people underground at a time and the official site releases a rolling week of slots that disappear the same morning. The tower opens booking about 60 days out and the sunset lift slots go in the first few days.
Do I need to book museums in Paris in advance?
The Louvre, yes: entry is by timed slot and you cannot simply walk up. Orsay, Orangerie and most of the rest, no. Three days is plenty for those, and same-day usually works outside August.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
Only if you are doing three or more paid museums in two days and you understand that it does not replace the Louvre reservation. It is a payment method, not a queue-jump. Most four-day trips break roughly even, which is not a good enough reason to reorganise your itinerary around it.