Discover the best Scary and Spooky Things to do in Paris
We all love a bit of mystery, intrigue, and, of course, the odd ghost story, and luckily, there are plenty of spooky things to do in Paris.
So instead of strolling down the Champs Elysées, in this article, we’ll be going underground into the Catacombs, visiting Box No. 5 in the Opera House, and enjoying some murder mystery at the Louvre. And that’s just for starters.
Living in the Southwest of France, I’m a regular visitor to Paris, and each time I go, I discover something new and never fail to admire how seamlessly history, art, and mystery intertwine.Ready to dive in and explore the 15 Best Spooky Things to do in Paris that you won’t want to miss? Let’s get to it!
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No 1 – The Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are a network of tunnels and chambers located deep beneath the city with a fascinating history that dates back to the late 18th century.
During this time, Paris was plagued by overcrowded cemeteries that posed significant health risks to the city’s residents. S
o, to combat this issue, authorities decided to transfer the remains of millions of Parisians from overflowing cemeteries into abandoned limestone quarries beneath the city.
This massive undertaking began in 1786 and continued for several decades, leading to the creation of what we now know as the Paris Catacombs.
The dimly lit tunnels, occasional echoes, and chilling silence create an otherworldly atmosphere, making it the perfect place for those who love a touch of the macabre.
The entrance is marked by a nondescript building in the 14th arrondissement. After descending a spiral staircase, you’ll enter a tunnel that sets the tone for the adventure ahead.
The heart of the catacombs is the ossuary, where the neatly arranged bones and skulls of over six million Parisians are on display.
It’s rather a surreal sight, with the bones stacked to create intricate patterns and designs, with some sections featuring sculptures made from skulls and bones.
It’s the stuff Halloween was made of, and I had a weird flashback to the 80s movie, The Goonies, not quite sure why.
The catacombs cover around 200 miles of tunnels beneath Paris, although only a small portion is open to the public. This spooky place also served as a refuge for the French Resistance during World War II.
The best way to enjoy the history and adventure, along with the eerie legends and tales, is to take a VIP behind-the-scenes Guided Tour like this one with over 950 5-star reviews.
Take the 5-star VIP Guided Tour of the Paris Catacombs >>>
No 2 – Opéra Garnier and the Phantom of the Opera
If it’s intrigue and mystery you’re looking for, then look no further than Opéra Garnier and the story of the Phantom of the Opera. The Opera House, also known as the Palais Garnier, is in the 9th arrondissement.
It was built after Emperor Napoleon III and his wife were visiting the original opera house and were nearly killed by an explosion.
They escaped unharmed, but eight of their men were killed. So, in the interests of safety, a new opera house was commissioned.
Its design is a masterpiece of opulence, featuring a grand marble staircase, glittering chandeliers, and a stunning Marc Chagall-painted ceiling. It was the perfect place for the elite society of Paris to enjoy an evening of entertainment and show off their wealth.
But it’s the story of the Phantom of the Opera which made it legendary and why it made it into this list.
This iconic story was popularized by Gaston Leroux’s novel, “The Phantom of the Opera,” and later adapted into numerous films and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world-famous musical.
As a side note, I played violin in the pit orchestra for this musical back in the early 1990s in London. I played in a few of these musicals on London’s Westend over the years, but this one was, without a doubt, my favourite.
The Phantom, known as Erik, is a disfigured musical genius who haunts the depths of the opera house. Living in the labyrinthine catacombs beneath Opéra Garnier, he becomes infatuated with Christine Daaé, a talented young soprano.
His obsession with Christine leads to a series of mysterious events, including musical triumphs, tragic accidents, and a love story that transcends the boundaries of the living and the supernatural.
Visitors to Opéra Garnier can explore the subterranean areas rumoured to be the Phantom’s lair. These catacombs, filled with eerie passages and hidden chambers, add an element of mystery and suspense to the visit.
And, of course, let’s not forget the famous Box No. 5, which the Phantom reserved for every performance and had to remain empty for him.
To truly experience the mysteries of Opéra Garnier, and discover the real story of the Phantom of the Opera, I recommend taking this Private Guided Tour so you don’t miss anything.
Take the Phantom of the Opera Guided Tour at Opéra Garnier >>>
No 3 – Père Lachaise Cemetery
It doesn’t get much spookier than a visit to a cemetery, but this isn’t just any old cemetery. Père Lachaise Cemetery, built in 1804 and named after King Louis XIV’s confessor, Father François d’Aix de la Chaise, is the who’s who of the past.
Its famous residents include Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Jim Morrison and Frédéric Chopin.
Père Lachaise is not just a cemetery; it’s an open-air museum of exquisite sculptures and ornate tombstones, all sitting on beautifully landscaped grounds.
It’s the biggest cemetery in Paris, and it’s easy to get lost due to its sheer size.
The only way to navigate around is to get a map of the cemetery, as it’s all in numbered sections. The newer graves are at the top, so if you’re looking for Oscar Wilde, you’ll find him in Division 89 and not too far away Edith Piaf in 97.
However, Jim Morrison, the most visited grave in the cemetery, is in Division 6.
As you wander around, you might recognise some of the names on the tombs from the street names around the city.
To make the most of the time you have, and to hear stories about the famous residents, I recommend taking a private tour of the cemetery.
Take a Private Tour Père Lachaise Cemetery >>>
No 4 – The Panthéon Crypt
From a cemetery to a crypt, we’re sticking with graves for this next option. The Panthéon, sitting on top of the picturesque Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, started its life as a church in the 18th century.
It was commissioned by King Louis XV to replace the dilapidated Abbey of St. Genevieve and was designed by the renowned architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot. The Panthéon’s stunning neoclassical facade and imposing dome take your breath away.
The interior is just as stunning, with its soaring Corinthian columns, intricate frescoes, and central dome that bathes the space in light.
Hanging from the central dome is a pendulum, used by physicist Léon Foucault in 1851 to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation—a true marvel of science.
It’s gone through various transformations over the years, from being a church to a secular mausoleum, and even briefly serving as a church again during the French Revolution.
But now it’s the final resting place for some of France’s most influential luminaries. From Voltaire, the Enlightenment philosopher, and Victor Hugo, the literary genius behind “Les Misérables” and “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” to Emile Zola, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas, and Louis Braille, to name just a few.
Each grave tells a story of creativity, innovation, and cultural significance.As with many museums in France, entry is free on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November, and December. Otherwise, you can get tickets here >>>
Get Your Tickets for The Panthéon Crypt >>>
No 5 – Take a Ghostly Walking Tour
There is nothing like a ghostly walking tour at night to raise the spookiness stakes. So, I challenge you to ditch the fantasy of love and romance in the City of Lights and, instead, discover the city’s more sinister side with a storytelling guide who knows the sites to visit.
Visit Ile de la Cité, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned, discover how the secret society was executed at the Pont-Neuf and reveal the dark secrets at the Hotel de Ville.
There is so much to the “real Paris” you don’t know that you’ll soon find out on The Darkest Secrets of Paris Tour >>>
Check Prices & Availability for the Darkest Secrets of Paris Tour >>>
No 6 – Witness The Ghosts of Le Petit Trianon at Versailles
The Palace of Versailles has long been a favourite tourist destination, but due to its secluded location away from the main palace, Le Petit Trianon, often goes unnoticed by many visitors.
Originally intended as a residence for Louis XV’s beloved mistress Madame de Pompadour, construction on Le Petit Trianon commenced in 1765.
Unfortunately, Madame de Pompadour passed away before the miniature palace was completed in 1778.
But Marie Antoinette loved the little palace, and her husband, Louis XVI, gave it to her as an escape from the bustling life of the royal court.
Her ghost is said to roam the little palace and can sometimes be seen by those visiting.
But our story isn’t about Marie Antoinette, it’s about two ladies from England, and starts on one hot August day in 1901.
The two English ladies in question, Charlotte Anne Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain, decided to visit the Palace of Versailles whilst on a trip to France.
As they walked around the grounds surrounding Le Petit Trianon, the pair found themselves feeling a little peculiar, so they found a seat in the gardens to take a breath.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, they started to see people and sights that made no sense to them, in the form of spooky figures from a couple of centuries earlier.
The whole place felt eerie and desolate, leaving them both extremely shaken, not to mention a little scared.
It wasn’t until a few months later, when they cautiously broached the topic with each other, that they realised each of them had witnessed the same thing.
They decided to do some research on Le Petit Trianon to see if they could explain what they’d seen and were shocked by their discovery.
It turns out, that what they had seen in terms of the buildings and layout, hadn’t actually existed in 1901 but had existed in the 1700s.
And then, when they later returned to Versailles, what they had seen on their first visit was no longer there. It had completely disappeared.
They were then told that their visit to Versailles on August 10, 1901, coincided with the anniversary of Louis and Marie’s imprisonment during the French Revolution.
And what they had seen on that day matched descriptions of the property documented during that period, aligning perfectly with what they had personally witnessed.
Was it a figment of their imagination? Did they really travel back in time to the 1700s? Or was it a strange hallucination?
As respected academics of their time, it’s hard to believe they made the whole thing up.
But to see for yourself, I recommend taking this Private Tour of the Château of Versailles and Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon >>>
Check Rates & Availability for the Private Tour of the Petit Trianon >>>
No 7 – Rue des Chantre, the most haunted street in Paris
Just behind the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité, next to the Seine River, is the Rue Des Chantre. In 1910, the streets of Paris were disease-ridden. Tuberculosis was rife, and the hospitals had to rent beds in some of the city hotels to cope with all the patients.
One such hotel was Hotel-Dieu, on Rue des Chantre, where an entire floor housed sick children to keep them off the streets and away from Parisian society.
During the day, the children were allowed to play outside the hotel, but at night, they were locked away for their own safety.
One night, the River Seine broke its banks and flooded the city, with the water level reaching a height it had never reached before. The children didn’t stand a chance.
The hotel rooms flooded, and the children couldn’t escape as they were locked in their rooms.
Sadly, they all died, and the hospital, keen to hide the evidence, tried to remove their bodies in the dead of night so nobody would know what had happened.
However, their bodies were discovered the following morning, and to this day, those children haunt the Rue des Chantre.
There have been many sightings over the years, and people claiming to have heard children crying in an apparently deserted street. Are you brave enough to take a trip to Rue des Chantre at night?
No 8 – Rue Chanoinesse and Sweeny Todd
Have you ever heard of the “affaire de la rue des Marmousets“? If you haven’t, you might never look at meat pies in the same way again. Thought by many to be a legend of Fleet Street in London, it turns out that the same legend has appeared in Paris.
The “affaire de la rue des Marmousets” is about Sweeny Todd, a barber in the 14th century who set up shop at No 20 Rue Chanoinesse on the gorgeous Île de la Cîté.
If you don’t know the story, Sweeny Todd was a murderous barber who slit the throat of his clients, or should I say victims, and then cut up their bodies and put them in pies.
He was careful about who he killed and tended to go for out-of-town students as it was less suspicious.
The butcher shop next door, with whom he partnered, did a roaring trade, and people came from all over the city to taste the pies.
Apparently, their reputation had spread so far that it even reached royalty, with King Charles VI supposedly indulging on a regular basis.
It wasn’t until one victim, a student with a devoted dog, didn’t reappear from the shop that the pair were caught. The dog wouldn’t stop barking outside the shop, which led the police to catch Sweeny Todd and his accomplice.
Both shops and the two murderers were supposedly burnt, and the site remained empty until King Francois I allowed construction to start a century later.
A bronze statue of the dog who “cracked the case” remained until the middle of the 19th century, but has now gone.
It’s hard to imagine it now when you take a walk down Rue Chanoinesse as it all looks so innocent, especially in the Spring, as the shops and houses are covered in gorgeous purple wisteria.
Fact or fiction, you be the judge, but the place where the two shops were supposed to be, is now the Parisian Police Department’s motorcycle garage.
No 9 – Parc Montsouris
How haunted could a park really be? Well, in this case, I wouldn’t argue, as this park is where the original guillotine was tested.
The park, where most of us would think about sitting down for a picnic, is where many poor people lost their heads.
Imagine all those headless souls wandering for eternity through the park.
There have been numerous sightings of guillotine victims over the years, so it’s up to you if you feel brave enough to spend some time there.
No 10 – Murder in the Tuileries Garden
The Tuileries Gardens are said to be haunted by the Red Man, and the most popular story behind this is the one of Catherine de Medici.
If you don’t know the story of the Red Man, it all started when Catherine’s husband died in a tourney (jousting tournament).
Fearing her opponents now her husband was dead, Catherine started to get rid of her political enemies. One by one, she had them assassinated.
She used her own hitman to do this (the Red Man, so called due to the blood on his hands), but soon realised he was now a threat as he knew all her darkest secrets. So she had him killed in the Tuileries Garden.
His body mysteriously disappeared, and the place was pronounced cursed, as his body would haunt the gardens for eternity.
No 11 – The Live Thriller
If you’ve ever fancied trying your hand at some real detective work, you’ll love this immersive criminal investigation in the heart of Paris at night.
You’ll be part of the action helping Inspector Nils and his Deputy Gambale solve a crime.
With real sets out on the streets of Paris, you’ll embark on a thrilling journey meticulously dissecting crime scenes, employing your interrogation skills, and being part of a stakeout with street surveillance. Prepare to be gripped by suspense as you relentlessly pursue a cryptic serial killer.
Guided by seasoned actors, you’ll confront a series of scenarios, each steering you towards one of four outcomes over two gripping hours.
Are you up for the challenge? Find out more here >>>
No 12 – The Museum of Vampires (Musée des Vampires)
If your thirst for blood brings you into the realm of vampires, then this quirky museum, possibly the only one like it in the world, will be right up your street.
It’s run by Vampirologist Jacques Sirgent, and is on the outskirts of the city, far away from all the tourist attractions.
This is not somewhere you can just walk in off the street, it’s by appointment only with the owner himself. It’s eccentricity at its best with both a guided tour and dinner club on offer.
ADDRESS: Pl. 14 rue Jules David TEL: 01-43-62-80-76 WEBSITE: For opening hours & reservations
No 13 – A Ghoulish Visit to Parc Astérix
Who doesn’t love a theme park, especially when its theme is ghouls?
As one of the largest theme parks in France, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good time. From the end of September through to the beginning of November, they host ‘Fear in the Park’ to celebrate Halloween.
It’s about a 40-minute drive outside of Paris, so if you want to avoid the stress of finding your own way, this round-trip tour with the skip-the-line tickets is the way to go.
Get your round trip skip-the-line tickets to Parc Astérix >>>
No 14 – Musée des Égouts
I think it’s safe to say that most of us would consider spending time in the Paris sewers a fairly creepy experience. And Musée des Égouts is exactly that, an underground tour of the Parisian sewerage system.
It is, quite literally, a sewer museum where you can learn about the history of the development of sewer tunnels in Paris.
Slightly odd? Maybe, but then Paris is full of surprising adventures and Musée des Égouts is one of those adventures.
ADDRESS: Place Habib Bourguiba 75007 Paris TEL: 01 53 68 27 84 WEBSITE: For tickets & Reservations
No 15 – The Museum of Magic (Musee de la Magie)
To round up our 15 Spooky Things to do in Paris, we’re finishing off with some magic. Another private museum, it’s filled with magical props and other curiosities dating back through the centuries.
You’ll learn the art of magic from years gone by and understand how an illusionist works.
Choose from a variety of shows and in the summer months, there are magic workshops for the children.
