The best churches in Paris in 2026 are Notre-Dame, reopened since December 2024; the Sainte-Chapelle for its stained glass; the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre for the view; Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Eustache for their scale and organs; Saint-Germain-des-Prés for its restored painted nave; and the Basilica of Saint-Denis, burial place of the French kings.
Most Paris churches are free to enter; the exceptions are the Sainte-Chapelle (a state monument), the towers of Notre-Dame, the Sacré-Cœur's dome, and the royal tombs at Saint-Denis. They are active places of worship, so visits pause during Mass, and shoulders should be covered. Free organ recitals and concerts — especially at Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Eustache and the Madeleine — are one of the city's great bargains. For the city's synagogues, see our best synagogues in Paris.
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1. Notre-Dame de Paris — Île de la Cité (4th)
The Gothic cathedral, restored and reopened after the 2019 fire.
Best for First-timers · History · Architecture
Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after five years of restoration following the 2019 fire, with its rebuilt spire, cleaned stone and brighter interior. Entry to the cathedral is free.
Climb the towers (ticketed) for the gargoyles and views, and walk around the back to the gardens for the flying buttresses.
Good to know: Reserve a free time slot online to skip the line; book the towers separately.
6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris
A 13th-century royal chapel made almost entirely of stained glass.
$BudgetBest for First-timers · Art lovers · Couples
Louis IX built the Sainte-Chapelle in the 1240s to hold the Crown of Thorns. Its upper chapel is enclosed by 15 vast windows of 13th-century stained glass telling Bible stories, among the finest in the world.
It sits within the Palais de Justice, so there is airport-style security at the entrance.
Good to know: Book a timed ticket and go on a bright morning; evening concerts are held in the upper chapel.
The white basilica atop Montmartre, with one of the best views of Paris.
Best for First-timers · Views · Couples
The Sacré-Cœur, completed in the early 20th century, crowns the hill of Montmartre. Inside, a vast apse mosaic of Christ dominates; outside, the steps look over the whole city.
Climb the dome (ticketed) for an even higher view.
Good to know: Take the funicular from Square Louise Michel and come at sunset; watch for pickpockets and bracelet sellers on the steps.
A colossal church with Delacroix murals and one of the world's great organs.
Best for Art lovers · Music · Architecture
Saint-Sulpice is one of the largest churches in Paris, with Delacroix's murals of Jacob wrestling the angel in a side chapel, a famous brass meridian line (the gnomon) and a monumental organ.
The square outside, with its fountain, is one of the Left Bank's most elegant.
Good to know: Come on Sunday for the organ at Mass.
A Gothic-Renaissance giant beside Les Halles, with France's largest organ.
Best for Music · Architecture
Saint-Eustache is a huge church with a Gothic structure and Renaissance decoration, standing next to the old market district of Les Halles. Its organ is one of the largest in France.
Look for Keith Haring's altarpiece in a side chapel.
Good to know: Check its site for free Sunday organ recitals.
The oldest church in Paris, with a dazzlingly restored painted nave.
Best for History · Art lovers
The abbey church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés has origins in the 6th century and a Romanesque bell tower from around the year 1000. A recent restoration revealed the colorful 19th-century painted decoration of its nave and choir.
It is right on the boulevard, opposite Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore.
Good to know: Pair it with coffee on the square afterward.
7. Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis — Saint-Denis
The birthplace of Gothic architecture and burial place of the French kings.
$BudgetBest for History · Architecture
The Basilica of Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, is where Gothic architecture began in the 12th century. Its crypt and nave hold the tombs of almost all the French kings and queens, with remarkable sculpted effigies.
It is one of the most underrated sights of greater Paris and rarely crowded.
Good to know: Take Métro line 13 to Basilique de Saint-Denis; the church is free, the royal necropolis ticketed.
The Dôme des Invalides, with its golden dome, is a royal chapel built under Louis XIV that now holds Napoleon's red quartzite tomb. It is part of the Musée de l'Armée.
Your ticket also covers the army museum's collections of arms and armor.
Good to know: Allow time for the Musée de l'Armée, included in the ticket.
A church built as a Greek temple, with concerts under its domes.
Best for Music · Architecture
La Madeleine looks like a Greek temple, surrounded by 52 Corinthian columns, and its interior is lit by three domes. Napoleon originally planned it as a temple to his army's glory.
It hosts regular classical concerts and is surrounded by luxury food shops on Place de la Madeleine.
Good to know: Check the concert program; the acoustics are excellent.
A church with the only surviving rood screen in Paris, beside the Panthéon.
Best for Architecture · Film fans
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, next to the Panthéon, has the only surviving Renaissance rood screen in Paris, with spiral staircases of carved stone. It holds the shrine of Saint Geneviève, the city's patron saint.
Fans of 'Midnight in Paris' will recognize the steps by the side door.
Good to know: Combine with the Panthéon and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
A Flamboyant Gothic church with a famous twisted pillar.
Best for Architecture · History
Saint-Séverin is one of the oldest churches on the Left Bank, with a Flamboyant Gothic double ambulatory whose central pillar twists like a palm tree, and modern stained glass by Jean Bazaine.
It is a calm stop in the busy lanes of the Latin Quarter.
Good to know: Walk around the ambulatory behind the altar to see the twisted pillar.
Yes. Notre-Dame reopened to visitors in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, and entry to the cathedral is free. Booking a free time slot online can save queuing; the towers require a paid ticket.
What is the most beautiful church in Paris?
For stained glass, the Sainte-Chapelle, whose upper chapel is almost entirely glass. For grandeur, Notre-Dame. For a view, the Sacré-Cœur.
Do you have to pay to enter churches in Paris?
No, most are free. You pay for the Sainte-Chapelle, the Notre-Dame towers, the Sacré-Cœur dome and crypt, the royal necropolis at Saint-Denis and Napoleon's tomb at the Invalides.
Where can I hear organ music in Paris?
Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Eustache have two of France's greatest organs, with recitals and Sunday Masses featuring them; check each church's site for the schedule.
Is the Sainte-Chapelle worth it?
Yes. Its 13th-century stained glass, in 15 huge windows, is unmatched. Go on a sunny morning and book a timed ticket.