Getting There and Restroom Tips

Notre-Dame sits in the middle of the Île de la Cité, the birthplace of Paris and the very heart of the city, so there are plenty of ways to get here. By metro, Line 4 to Cité is the closest stop. You can also get off at Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall) on Line 1 or 11, or at Maubert-Mutualité on Line 10, and enjoy a short, romantic walk along the Seine. If you are taking the RER, which links central Paris with the suburbs, Line B or C to St-Michel Notre-Dame puts you right on the doorstep. Many bus lines pass nearby, and there are Vélib' bike-share stations all around.

There are no public restrooms inside the cathedral for regular visitors. It helps to know in advance where the free public toilets on Rue d'Arcole, to the left of the main west entrance, and the paid toilets on the square are. The paid toilets do not accept cards. If the line for the free toilets is long, you might be better off stopping at a nearby café for an espresso.