Paris Sewer Museum

Museum · Gros Caillou ·

Paris Sewer Museum

Museum · Gros Caillou ·

Walk through active Paris sewers, learn history, see machinery

Information

Esplanade Habib Bourguiba, Pont de l'Alma, 75007 Paris, France Get directions

@noreservations

170 Postcards · 69 Cities

Public Sewer Museum

Paris

Sewers Museum

@nomadicmatt

6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

A Detailed Paris Itinerary for 3-5 Days (Updated 2025)

"I was surprised by the Paris Sewer Museum — an off-the-beaten-path attraction that doesn’t smell and offers a compelling history of how Paris developed a modern drainage system that helped curb disease and enable the city’s growth." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-spend-5-days-in-paris/

Paris Sewer Museum

@nomadicmatt

6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

A Guide to Visiting the Paris Sewers Museum (Updated 2025)

"Going below the city to visit the Paris Sewers Museum (Le Musée des Égouts de Paris) was a surprisingly fascinating, off-the-beaten-path experience: the museum lets you walk through part of the active sewers and even hear the waste flowing beneath you, but it actually doesn't smell that bad. The exhibit is very informative — most signs are in French, German, and English — and begins with pictures and old machines used to clean the system (look out for the large metal balls that were rolled through the sewers to unblock debris). The sewers opened to tourists during the 1867 World Expo, the self-guided tour takes about 45 minutes, and audio guides (English, French, Spanish) are available and recommended since a few displays are only in French. Practical details: it's near the Alma Marceau metro stop (right across the bridge on your left), open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00 with last admission at 16:00, admission is 9 EUR for adults with discounts and free entry with the Paris Museum Pass. I highly recommend the visit — it's unique, there's usually no line, and do bring hand sanitizer when you're done." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/unusual-place-of-the-month-the-paris-sewers/

Paris Sewer Museum

Brittany D.

Google

I’ve wanted to go here for years. While everything is in French (tours and the reading inside the museum) the men at the front desk gave us an English book (that needs to be returned) to walk around with. The staff was so friendly. The museum is really interesting and something unique to do if you have an hour to spare.

bored. R.

Google

Really have to see it to believe it. History buffs/specific interest folks will enjoy. Very well curated with lots of cool facts. It IS indeed in the Paris sewer system, so be prepared for a specific smell. We were NOT prepared for the smell, so admittedly didn’t stay very long.

Igor

Google

We visited the Paris Museum of Sewers, and overall the exhibition was both interesting and unusual. It’s definitely not like a typical museum and gives a unique perspective on the city’s history and infrastructure. However, without a guide, many things were difficult to fully understand, as the explanations alone didn’t always provide enough context. We went there after it had rained, so the smell was not very pleasant—though still bearable.

A B

Google

Very interesting. The smell wasn't as bad as some reviews make out. I was given an English version of the guide so I could understand what everything was. Highly recommended.

Emmett L.

Google

This is a great museum, it is interesting and it is cool to see an active sewer instead of some prop one. The smell is not at all as bad as people describe it, it is a great place for kids and is sooo much cheaper than the catacombs. There are much less people here than at the catacombs and the staff is super nice.

Lawana “Mitchi” W.

Google

Very cool museum. It's an active site, so you get to see how the sewer currently works. They have everything translated into English, too. We really enjoyed the visit, it's definitely worth it. I also appreciated their gift shop - they have upcycled sewer employee uniform jackets that are very cool.

Heiki K.

Google

I'm happy, tha there is this kind of museum. We need the watersystem to live in the city and I think, that we beed this kind of museum also.

Verena N.

Google

An absolutely fascinating and underrated museum! The Paris Sewer Museum offers a unique and immersive look into the history, engineering, and evolution of the city’s underground sewer system. It’s perfect for anyone curious about how a major city really works behind the scenes — from water flow and waste management to the historical development of modern sanitation. The museum is well-organized, educational, and surprisingly engaging, with clear information in both French and English. You actually walk through real sections of the sewer system, which adds an authentic, slightly adventurous feel. It’s definitely not your typical museum, and that’s exactly what makes it so memorable. Highly recommended!!! Shoutout to the staff who are very friendly, kind and knowledgeable.

Kate C.

Yelp

This is a fun little museum and a really interesting way to see a part of Paris history that most people probably miss. It does smell like a working sewer but if you can stand the smell, it's worth a visit. They have a book with English translations of all the exhibits.

Jen K.

Yelp

"Crime, intelligence, social protest, liberty of conscience, thought, theft, all that human laws pursue or have pursued, have hidden in this hole..." (Les Miserables; Jean Valjean, Book II, ch 2). I don't know what possessed me to go on this tour, but guess what, it smells like a sewer. With the imminent release of the long-awaited blockbuster version of Les Miserables, I thought it was the perfect time to see the escape route imagined by Victor Hugo in his novel. And while it is tourist ready, it wasn't terribly interesting. You are basically on a self-guided tour walking through several sections of tunnels under the city streets and along the Seine River. There are exhibits of how the Paris sewer system was constructed and is maintained to this day. Some machinery, a few photos and an artistic rendering of Jean Valjean carrying Marius at one point. Probably my favorite part was the glum staff member at the counter of the miniscule shop at the end of the line with stuffed rats hanging from the ceiling. That must be a fun job. ----- This museum is part of the Paris Museum Pass. Photography permitted.

Emma W.

Yelp

Looking for something else to do that probably won't have a line?? Try hopping into the sewers and learning an underground history. Now this is probably more well suited for some than others, but I found it fascinating. The history of getting clean water to the city -- to prevent disease and plague -- the the problems with the waste water. The design was genius and ahead of its time. 50 years to complete it... And now working just fine. And of course the inspector who was friends with Victor Hugo, who mapped the sewer system... Wow... Crazy. And that scene in Les Mis... Yup it was from a first hand account... Ok. So it is a working sewer. So it is stinky.... And they should you the tools to dredge the canals... And the protective gear... And the big ball that they push through the sewer to effectively unclog it... And you see all the trash that comes in just from the rain water --- really??? Put it in a trash can!!! So there's a ton of history. Machinery. And stories. So depends if you want to see another side of Paris... FYI hop on a metro and go to the Perfume museum right after this tour ;)

Dave S.

Yelp

What happens to all that good Parisian food at the end of the day? It ends up here in the sewers. I really wanted to like this place as an antidote to the overflowing architectural beauty along Quai d'Orsay. It sounds like a great idea, to see the sordid underbelly of Paris as made famous by Victor Hugo. Unfortunately the museum is oddly laid out and the signage is difficult to read in some cases. The place could use a few more large schematics illustrating exactly how the large machinery works. There are washrooms at the end, which seems a bit redundant. It is a bit stinky in some sections since you are walking on platforms overseeing flowing sewage. The tour in its entirety should take no more than 30 minutes even if you linger over every water reclamation placard.

Andrew C.

Yelp

An interesting look into the history of the Parisian sewer system accompanied by a very real stench. All I could think about the entire time was the possibility of someone falling in.

David E.

Yelp

When I first heard about this museum during our Paris trip planning I really wanted to visit because it was so unique. Glad that we did not skip this. The museum is interesting and requires a lot of reading for those that want to learn everything. It covers how and way the Paris sewers were established and how they work. Very interesting stuff. You even get to see some swords that were found in the sewer (really cool), learn about an alligator that was found in the 80s, and did I say that the museum is actually in the sewer? Yes, the place stinks a bit (what do you expect?) and breathing in the smell isn't fantastic but hey, it's authenic! It didn't bother me a whole lot after a while. The sewer museum is covered by the Paris Museum Pass and is worth a visit. It takes about an hour to do the museum and read everything.

Bryan S.

Yelp

Easy to find on the left bank side of the Pont de l'Alma. Not as extensive as I had envisioned. Some good displays (e.g., huge iron ball they roll through sewer tunnels to unclog the mess) and areas where you see the raw sewage running below your feet. Though not over-powering, there was a sewerish smell down there. You'll definitely want to take a shower after you visit.

Qype User (.

Yelp

The initial smell as you descend the stairs soon becomes normal.A strange tour but well worth it.the tour is limited to a small area as the sewers are vast. There is some old machinery from the last century that used to power the pumps.It is remarkably clean and there is a gift shop where i bought a t shirt that says i visited the sewers of Paris.before the tours visitors used to ride along in boats, which i dont really fancy.Just imagine if you capsized!

James T.

Yelp

Was in France about 9 months ago and took a tour with this company around the city of Paris... Was not impressed. The guide was supposed to speak English, but it was very difficult to understand him. Many of the people in France were rude to our small group of Americans even when we were minding our own business. Not sure what the deal was with that

@noreservations

170 Postcards · 69 Cities

Public Sewer Museum

Paris

Sewers Museum

@nomadicmatt

6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

A Detailed Paris Itinerary for 3-5 Days (Updated 2025)

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-spend-5-days-in-paris/

Paris Sewer Museum

@nomadicmatt

6,682 Postcards · 1,172 Cities

A Guide to Visiting the Paris Sewers Museum (Updated 2025)

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/unusual-place-of-the-month-the-paris-sewers/

Paris Sewer Museum

Brittany D.

Google

bored. R.

Google

Igor

Google

A B

Google

Very interesting. The smell wasn't as bad as some reviews make out. I was given an English version of the guide so I could understand what everything was. Highly recommended.

Emmett L.

Google

Lawana “Mitchi” W.

Google

Heiki K.

Google

I'm happy, tha there is this kind of museum. We need the watersystem to live in the city and I think, that we beed this kind of museum also.

Verena N.

Google

Kate C.

Yelp

Jen K.

Yelp

Emma W.

Yelp

Dave S.

Yelp

Andrew C.

Yelp

An interesting look into the history of the Parisian sewer system accompanied by a very real stench. All I could think about the entire time was the possibility of someone falling in.

David E.

Yelp

Bryan S.

Yelp

Qype User (.

Yelp

James T.

Yelp

Paris Sewer Museum

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Postcards

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A Detailed Paris Itinerary for 3-5 Days (Updated 2025)

A Guide to Visiting the Paris Sewers Museum (Updated 2025)

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A Detailed Paris Itinerary for 3-5 Days (Updated 2025)

A Guide to Visiting the Paris Sewers Museum (Updated 2025)