Verdict
Destinations
Attraction · Paris

Panthéon

A neoclassical mausoleum for France's great minds, with Foucault's pendulum swinging beneath the dome.

Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →
The verdict

Who it's worth it for

Great for
  • Travellers on a budget
  • If you've only got a day
  • Couples
  • Solo travellers
  • History & culture buffs
  • The genuinely curious
  • Photographers
Depends
  • Families with kids
Not for

—

Worth it for travellers on a budget, if you've only got a day and couples.

Why we say this

Insider secrets & local vibes

A replica of Foucault's 1851 pendulum still swings beneath the dome, visibly tracing the rotation of the Earth — the main draw for many visitors.
paris-pantheon.fr
The crypt holds over 80 of France's giants — Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Dumas, Marie Curie and Louis Braille.
en.wikipedia.org
Climb 206 'vertiginous' steps to the colonnade for a 360° panorama that's less known and far less crowded than the city's marquee viewpoints.
secretsofparis.com
The colonnade panorama is open only April 1–October 31, so a winter visit misses the best part.
secretsofparis.com
Last entry for the panorama is 4:30pm — earlier than the building itself — so a late-afternoon arrival can shut you out of the climb.
francetraveltips.com
What it feels like

Reading the room, traveller by traveller

  • For history

    France's secular temple to its great minds; the crypt reads like a roll-call of the Enlightenment and the Republic.

  • For photos

    The colonnade gives a quieter, more intimate skyline than the Eiffel or Arc, with the Latin Quarter's tangle of streets right below.

    “the views from the dome's colonnade stunning”

    secretsofparis.com
  • First-timers

    An underrated stop in the Latin Quarter — pendulum, crypt and dome view in one calm, rarely-crowded building.

  • On a budget

    EU citizens under 26 enter free; the dome panorama adds only a few euros on top.

What people say

Straight from the reviews

“There are 206 steps to get to the panorama, which don't feel particularly exhausting because there are several places to stop and rest.”

secretsofparis.com

“The panorama is only open from April 1st until October 31st.”

secretsofparis.com
Good to know

Before you go

Cost
€13 (dome +€3.50, seasonal; free under 18 / EU under 26)
Time
1–1.5 hrs
Last verified
2026-06-17
Best time
Clear day for the dome; come early or an hour before close. Panorama April 1–Oct 31 only.
Hours
Open daily; last panorama entry 4:30pm.
Booking
~€11.50 adult plus a few euros for the dome; free for EU under-26.
Accessibility
206 steps to the colonnade with rest points; the crypt and nave are at ground level.
Alternatives

If it's not your thing, try

the student quarter it sits in — pair them
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Sources

What we checked

  • Built 1758–1790; converted to a secular mausoleum during the Revolution
  • Crypt interments include Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie and Alexandre Dumas
  • A working replica of Foucault's 1851 pendulum hangs from the dome
Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →