The Paris Sewer Museum May Not Smell Well, But It’s Surprisingly Refreshing
Some museums attract us simply because of their name: for instance, an art museum dedicated to one of the greatest artists the world has ever known, a food museum, or an illusion museum, which sounds “Instagramic” from the start. However, we are in Horror World, and such beautiful museums may seem unappealing to us. Our goal is to present you with the most unique museums, some would say bizarre, that may sound strange on paper but can provide interest and great pleasure in practice. Say, the disgusting food museum in Berlin, torture museums, or dungeons of one kind or another, as found in some of the biggest and most tourist cities across the globe.
The Paris Sewer Museum doesn’t sound like the sexiest museum there is, because sewers are usually something we prefer to be far away from, far underground. But when you examine the characteristics of the City of Lights, you discover that deep down, you can find some of its most intriguing aspects. The Sewer Museum, which showcases the wonders of Paris’s extensive sewer system and its functions over the years (believe it or not, more than just transporting sewage), is a lovely attraction for fans of intriguing and slightly strange museums. Please take a deep breath, cover your nose, and join our review.
How Paris’s Complex Sewer System Was Born
The Paris Sewer Museum (“Musée des Égouts de Paris,” in French) is dedicated, as you may have guessed, to the sewer system of the French capital. It is a very ancient and extensive system, the first development of which was carried out by Hugues Aubriot, one of the mythical mayors of Paris, back in the late 14th century. In the 19th century, engineers transformed the canals into a more modern structure, designed by engineer Eugène Belgrand, whose many works are still in use today.
It is essential to recognize that the system did not emerge from nothing. In the past, several centuries ago, hygiene was far from common in our world, including in Paris. According to the stories, the inhabitants of Paris initially disposed of their urine and feces into the waters of the Seine River, and later even drank the water, which, of course, caused illness.
In the 18th century, people scattered cesspools throughout Paris, but their number was small compared to the large amount of excrement, which caused the cesspools to overflow into the streets of Paris. These conditions were ideal for the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in the city, which claimed tens of thousands of victims and caused a drastic decline in the quality of life of those who survived it (because it is unpleasant to live in a stinking city).
In the 19th century, as the people of Paris recognized the importance of sanitation, they began to work diligently on developing a system suitable for the city’s size and the challenges it presented. This occurred under Napoleon’s leadership. Towards the end of the century, the government passed a law that finally required building owners to connect their properties to the sewage infrastructure.
The Paris sewer system is closely tied to the city’s overall architectural development and, to some extent, has contributed to its cultural significance. In Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables,” for example, an entire chapter is dedicated to the Parisian sewer system. Although it was formed more than a century ago, the system remains efficient and is considered by many to be a significant engineering and cultural marvel.
What Can You See In The Paris Sewer Museum?
On the surface, a sewer system doesn’t sound like a particularly enticing tourist attraction. Still, many people who have visited it claim it is surprisingly engaging and compelling, as the reviews for Paris Sewer Museum are generally positive.
The Paris Sewer Museum bills itself as “the city under the city”. It allows you to explore a significant part of the extensive system, which reportedly extends for approximately 2,600 km and includes around 30,000 septic tanks, transporting some 300,000,000 m² of rainwater and wastewater every year. The water flows through the system’s branched pipes and then reaches the purification plants, where it is ready for its next destination. Of course, alongside history, the system today includes technological tools, such as modern fiber optics.
The museum provides information on everything necessary about the city’s sewage and water systems, from the beginning to the present day, including:
🕳️ The location of the pipes and the various levels – the pipes are parallel to the streets, but do not conflict with the famous Paris metro system
🕳️ The way in which they built the system and maintain it to this day, including the essential role of sewer workers
🕳️ Water purification methods
🕳️ Cleaning methods for the extensive system, including, for example, boats or large balls that move inside the canals
🕳️ Passage near the existing sewer pipes or above active canals
🕳️ Visit abandoned sewers, which can certainly satisfy fans of creepy abandoned places
It is important to note that, at the beginning of the 19th century, in preparation for the 1867 World’s Fair, organized tours of the sewers began to be offered, which even included moving across the system using carts and boats (the men walked, while the women rode in carts). It is clear that, similar to the famous and super creepy catacombs of Paris, today you can only tour a small section of approximately 500 meters of the many kilometers that comprise the system.
The Evolution Of The Sewer Museum
The Paris Sewer Museum has undergone changes and upgrades over the years. It closed in 2018 for several years to undergo extensive renovations and reopened in its current format in 2021. Today, within the Paris Sewer Museum, you can find permanent exhibitions, guided tours, and occasionally other special activities.
The Paris Sewer Museum structures the tour program of its permanent exhibitions as a graduated process. The visitors start in a transparent structure above ground level and continue descending to the “city below the city.” First, the introduction to understanding the Parisian sewer network is presented, and then the visitors enter a route that simulates the work of sewer workers. The route has two main loops: one deals with basic cleaning and maintenance, and the other with regulating water flow and environmental-ecological treatment.
During the tour, other vital topics are revealed, including the history of Paris’s sewer infrastructure, its technical and social aspects, as well as the stories of the lives and work of sewer workers over the years. Finally, the Aubriot Gallery showcases models and technologies that demonstrate the engineering expertise and professional tradition of sewer workers.
You can definitely expect strong odors, which may be unpleasant in some cases. The specific odor also depends on external factors, such as the weather.
How Can You Visit The Paris Sewer Museum?
Unsurprisingly, since you are not a bloody Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, you can’t just enter the sewer system of Paris from the street. Visiting the Paris Sewer Museum must be after choosing and purchasing the right activities for you, and the main options are:
Enter The Permanent Exhibitions
The first option is to visit the Paris Sewer Museum independently, with the experience’s prices being quite reasonable, and in most cases, no booking in advance is required.
As of 2025, the prices on the official website are:
🎟️Adult: 9 euros
🎟️Reduced price (families and adults): 7 euros
🎟️ Children under 18 enter free of charge! For visitors from the European Union (EU), only people aged 26 and above have to pay
Audio guides in English, French, or Spanish can be picked up at the entrance, subject to availability.
Paris Sewer Museum Tour
Groups can book guided tours lasting about an hour, which depart (depending on demand) between 10:00 and 15:30. The tours are in groups of up to 25 participants, with the price per participant depending on the number of people booking: for between 7 and 15 participants, the total price you will pay for the tour is 120 euros. For groups of 16-25 participants, the total cost is € 200. For more details and to book a guided tour, please visit the museum’s website.
Please note that, depending on the number of visitors and the availability of the guides, free guided tours may also depart on the date of your visit.
On Sundays (10:30-11:30), tours of the Parisian sewer system are offered that are tailored for families, featuring relevant content such as the network of canals, the wildlife found in the depths, the lifestyle of canal workers, and more. The primary issue, which renders the tour less relevant to the average tourist, is that it is only conducted in French.
Combined Attractions Tickets
You can visit the museum with tickets that combine dozens of attractions, including museums, from an extensive variety of Paris. The Paris Museum Ticket, valid for two, four, or six days, offers you entry to about 60 museums and attractoins in and around Paris, including: the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Arc de Triomphe, the Palace of Versailles and of course the Sewer Museum, otherwise we would not mention this ticket here.
Another option is to purchase the Paris Pass Plus, which offers entry to even more attractions – for a higher price. You can choose from various ticket options, ranging from two to six days, which include some of the must-see sites. In addition to the Sewer Museum, the card offers, among other things, a visit to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, a cruise on the Seine, a tour of the Palace of Versailles, a ride on the tourist bus, a Parisian breakfast, French wine tasting, and a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.
The Paris Sewer Museum Opening Hours
Since 2021, the museum has been open every day of the week except Monday. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00, with the last admission at 16:00. A typical visit to the museum lasts between 45 and 75 minutes.
The museum is closed on May 1, December 25, and the first 15 days of January.
Who Can Visit The Museum?
If you visit the Sewer Museum, you may be pleasantly surprised by the number of tourists who come here. The museum is aimed at a broad audience, but not everyone is suited for it.
An adult must accompany children. The official recommendation is not to visit with children under the age of five, as they may be frightened by the underground environment, the smells, or the enclosed space. The visit is less suitable for pregnant women, people with claustrophobia, or those who are sensitive to smells or humidity.
Please note that the museum is fully accessible to people with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs, thanks to an elevator. The services are adapted for individuals with physical limitations, and there is also designated on-site parking for them.
How To Get To The Paris Sewer Museum?
The Paris Sewer Museum is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, specifically on the left bank of the city, near the Pont de l’Alma, which spans the Seine River, and opposite the 93rd Quai d’Orsay. It is also a short distance from the Eiffel Tower, another symbol of Paris, which has many creepy sides.
Since it is easy to miss the entrance to the museum, we recommend navigating to it using a suitable app (such as Google Maps) and paying attention to the signage.
The location of the museum is relatively accessible, and you can reach it pretty easily using Paris’ excellent public transportation:
🚇Metro: Line 9 to Alma–Marceau station, or lines 8 and 13 to Invalides station
🚊 Suburban train (RER): Line C to Pont de l’Alma station
🚌 Bus: Lines 42, 63, 82, and 90 to Bosquet-Rapp station
Some Important Notes Before Visiting The Sewer Museum
🕳️ Sometimes, the museum is closed due to rising sewage levels or operational problems. In such cases, you will not be able to receive a refund, but you can send a request to schedule an alternative time to visit the museum
🕳️ The ground may be damp, so there is a risk of falling. It is essential to be careful and come with comfortable walking shoes, preferably closed ones
🕳️ Eating or drinking is not allowed in the museum. Considering the unpleasant smell that is expected during the visit, it is likely that it is not a good idea anyway
🕳️ The visit to the museum is conducted at a temperature of about 15-20 degrees Celsius and with relatively minimal lighting
🕳️ It is strictly forbidden to leave the tour route, cross checkpoints, touch items in the “Wet Gallery”, and so on
🕳️ Have you left the museum? Be sure to wash your hands. After all, you are visiting a sewage system
