Do you need to book for Les Invalides?
What needs booking and what does not
Needs booking: the entry ticket, the guided tours, the Paris Museum Pass. Does not need booking, because it is free: the great courtyard, the moats, the Saint-Louis cathedral. And does not need booking because it does not exist: a slot for the tomb. You walk into the Dôme whenever you like, with the museum ticket.
That is a notable difference from other Paris monuments, where the entry slot governs the whole day. Here a late train costs you nothing.
When the queue is real
It forms at the ticket desk, at the museum entrance, and it has three causes: school groups on weekdays from March to June, coach tours between eleven and three, and rain — a wet July afternoon fills Les Invalides within half an hour. Having your ticket in advance takes you straight to the control point.
The rest of the time, particularly from November to February outside the holidays, you buy on the spot without waiting. I am not going to pretend otherwise.
What works
- No timed slot: complete freedom across the day
- Booking saves the desk queue in high season
- The ticket stays valid if you arrive late
- Guided tours, by contrast, have fixed departures
Worth knowing
- The ticket is non-refundable
- Booking does not skip the security check
- In low season, booking adds almost nothing
- Military ceremonies can close the courtyard without notice
If you are coming between November and February, outside the holidays, and you are flexible about the hour, buying on the spot is perfectly fine. Do book without hesitating for a spring weekend, a public holiday, or if you are travelling with children who do not queue well.
Book now
Day-by-day availability is below. The guided tours, which have fixed departures and fill up more, are on the bookings page.
A reminder: what you book above is the ticket that opens the Army Museum, the Dôme and the tomb. The great courtyard and the Saint-Louis cathedral stay free to enter, with no ticket at all.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time slot to choose?
No. The ticket is valid all day and imposes no entry time.
Can you buy on the spot?
Yes, at the desk. The queue is real in summer and during school holidays.
Is the ticket refundable?
No, the entry ticket is non-refundable. Guided tour conditions differ: see the bookings page.