Pairing the two
The Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle in half a day
Two halves of the same medieval palace, barely two minutes apart — how to see both without wasting the morning.
Check tours and tickets on Viator ↗Two buildings, one old palace
Both are survivors of the Palais de la Cité: Sainte-Chapelle was the palace chapel, built for Louis IX to house relics of the Passion; the Conciergerie keeps the great halls Philip the Fair built in the early 14th century. They stand a couple of minutes apart on the Boulevard du Palais.
Which one first
Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass is at its best in bright daylight and the chapel is small enough to fill up fast, so many visitors start there early; the Conciergerie's great hall is quietest right at opening, so either order works if your morning is tight.
How long each takes
Budget roughly forty-five minutes to an hour for Sainte-Chapelle and an hour to ninety minutes for the Conciergerie, plus the short walk between them and a separate security check at each entrance.
Booking the pair
There's also a guided tour that covers both monuments together — useful if you'd rather have the history explained as you walk than read it beforehand. Each monument's own website covers entry if you'd rather move at your own pace.