Les Invalides tickets in Paris: Napoleon's tomb and the Army Museum

Les Invalides, founded by Louis XIV for his soldiers

By an edict of 24 February 1670, Louis XIV decided to house the wounded and elderly soldiers of his armies, many of whom had until then been reduced to begging. Libéral Bruant designed the main buildings, put up between 1671 and 1674 around the vast Cour d’Honneur. Jules Hardouin-Mansart then took over to build the royal church crowned by the Dome, a masterpiece of French classicism.

The Dome of Les Invalides and its gilding

Rising to 107 metres, the Dome has been regilded several times, most recently in 1989, using around 12 kilograms of gold. It is one of the most visible landmarks on the Paris skyline, particularly from the Pont Alexandre III.

Two churches at Les Invalides

The complex contains two religious spaces back to back: the Dome, which became a military pantheon, and the Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, seat of the French armed forces diocese since 1986. The Institution Nationale des Invalides still cares for resident veterans, a reminder that the site has never stopped fulfilling its original mission.

Napoleon's tomb beneath the Dome of Les Invalides

In 1840 the “Return of the Ashes” brought back the body of the Emperor, who had died in exile, from Saint Helena. It was not until 1861 that his remains were placed in the red quartzite sarcophagus you look down on today from the circular balustrade, set in the middle of an open crypt. The body lies inside six coffins nested one within another.

What to look for inside the Dome at Les Invalides

• The plunging view of the sarcophagus from the church level.
• The circular gallery of the crypt, decorated with reliefs celebrating the achievements of the reign.
• The side chapels, where other great military figures are buried, including Turenne and Marshal Foch.
• The painted cupola, best seen by looking straight up from the centre.

Photographing the Dome at Les Invalides

The golden light falling from the cupola is softer towards the end of the day. A flash is unnecessary and disturbs the calm of the place.

The Army Museum at Les Invalides: what to see

Created in 1905 by merging two older museums, the Musée de l’Armée holds some 500,000 objects: weapons, armour, artillery, uniforms, emblems and paintings. The route follows the military history of France from Antiquity to the twentieth century.

Armour and early weapons at Les Invalides

The rooms covering the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries are lined with jousting armour, royal breastplates and ceremonial weapons. Children love them, and they are often the most spectacular part of the visit.

From Louis XIV to Napoleon III at Les Invalides

This department spans 1643 to 1870: here you will find the Grande Armée, uniforms from the Empire and some of Napoleon’s personal belongings, including one of his famous hats.

The two world wars at Les Invalides

The modern rooms, covering 1871 to 1945, tell the story of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the Great War and the Second World War. The Historial Charles de Gaulle, below ground, offers a multimedia journey through the general’s life.

Les Invalides tickets: what is included and official prices

The museum ticket covers the permanent collections, the Dome and Napoleon’s tomb, temporary exhibitions, the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which is devoted to scale models of fortified towns. A single ticket is therefore enough for the whole site.

Les Invalides ticket prices (indicative)

Prices checked in October 2026 and given as a guide. Free entry also applies, on proof of eligibility, to teachers and members of the armed forces, among others. At weekends, an offer lets adults accompanying under-18s pay the €12 rate, up to two tickets per child. The official ticket office states that the audio guide is included in the ticket; headphones are available at the welcome desk.

Changing the date of a Les Invalides ticket

According to the official ticket office, a museum ticket can be exchanged for another date; this does not apply to cultural activities. For a booking made through this page, the conditions shown at the time of purchase apply.

Les Invalides opening hours and first-Friday late openings

The site is open every day from 10am to 6pm. It closes on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Check the day’s hours when you book, as some official ceremonies can restrict access to the Cour d’Honneur.

Evening openings at Les Invalides

On the first Friday of every month, the museum stays open from 6pm to 10pm, with a special price and short guided talks of around twenty minutes every hour. It is a lovely way to discover the Dome as night falls, with fewer groups around.

When to visit Les Invalides

In the morning, just after opening, Napoleon’s tomb is calmer. School groups are numerous on weekdays during term time, while weekend afternoons bring more families. On a rainy day the site is an excellent choice, since almost everything can be visited under cover.

Getting to Les Invalides: metro, RER and entrance

The museum’s main entrance is at 129 Rue de Grenelle, in the 7th arrondissement. On the north side, the Esplanade des Invalides slopes down to the Seine and the Pont Alexandre III.

Metro stations for Les Invalides

• Invalides: metro lines 8 and 13, RER C, at the far end of the esplanade.
• La Tour-Maubourg: metro line 8, a few minutes from the Cour d’Honneur.
• Varenne: metro line 13, the closest to the Dome and the Rodin Museum.

Walking to Les Invalides

From the Eiffel Tower, allow about twenty minutes via the Avenue de la Motte-Picquet or the Champ-de-Mars. From the Grand Palais, simply cross the Pont Alexandre III: the head-on view of the Dome is one of the finest in Paris.

Suggested route and visit length at Les Invalides

The complex is huge: visitors in a hurry see the tomb in 45 minutes, while enthusiasts spend the whole day there. For a first visit, plan on two and a half to three hours.

A three-hour route around Les Invalides

1. Enter through the Cour d’Honneur, with its cannons and arcaded galleries.
2. Armour and early weapons rooms, about 40 minutes.
3. Louis XIV to Napoleon III department, about 45 minutes.
4. A break, then the Dome and Napoleon’s tomb, about 30 minutes.
5. If you still have the energy: the two world wars or the Historial Charles de Gaulle.

Les Invalides with children

The armour, the scale models in the Musée des Plans-Reliefs and the figurines on display hold younger visitors’ attention well. The museum offers activities suited to different age groups, which are booked separately. As for bags, travel light and expect a possible check at the entrance, as at most major Paris museums.

Around Les Invalides: the 7th arrondissement and Paris in 2027

The Rodin Museum, with the Hôtel Biron and its sculpture garden, is just a few steps away on the other side of the Boulevard des Invalides. The Musée d’Orsay can be reached in about fifteen minutes along the embankments, and the Eiffel Tower closes the vista to the west.

Music at Les Invalides in 2027

The museum runs a music season, announced from October 2026 to June 2027, with concerts in the Cathedral of Saint-Louis and the Grand Salon: classical, jazz and world music. An evening concert can round off a daytime visit, booked separately.

Shows and the esplanade at Les Invalides

The official ticket office also offers a sound and light show called “Aura Invalides” beneath the Dome. In fine weather, Parisians use the esplanade as a picnic lawn, and it makes a pleasant pause between two museums.

Booking your Les Invalides tickets with our calendar

On this page, a calendar lets you check your tickets for Les Invalides before you travel: choose your date, click “Check availability” and we instantly show whether any entries remain that day. If the date is not yet available, leave your email address and we will alert you as soon as it opens. Payment goes through our partner’s online booking, which displays the day’s price before you confirm.