Palais Garnier - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
This opulent 19th-century opera house is known for its magnificent interiors and the amazing performances by the Paris Opera Ballet.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: 9th Arr. - Opéra
How to get there
  • Auber • 2 min walk
  • Auber • 2 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • karimtajik
    Ghulkin, Pakistan100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Palace
    I had the pleasure of visiting The Royal Palace (Opéra House) in Paris last week and it was truly amazing. The stunning building, both inside and out, left me in awe. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this beautiful palace and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Paris.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 28, 2023
  • Lauren N
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see in Paris
    We did the self guided tour when the auditorium was closed, and I would still give the experience 5 stars. The architecture is simply breathtaking. Next time, I would like to do a guided tour instead of self-guided. Additionally, we planned to purchase our tickets the night before, but Saturday and Sunday dates were grayed out online—not red as in sold out, but just grayed out. We decided to try going in person, and I’m so glad we did. We found the signage to be a bit confusing, as it says you need a ticket to go inside…this is true, but you can purchase inside, and it took 5-10 minutes. We will definitely be back. This is one of the few places that I would love to see on every trip to Paris.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 13, 2023
  • skd22
    553 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exquisite Building!
    We have been to Paris several times and had never had time to visit. This should be on your list with the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musee d'Orsay and St. Chappelle. It is a must see. We did buy tickets ahead of time. It didn't seem to be overly busy so this my not have been necessary. The guided tours were sold out so we opted for the iPad tour. I highly recommend the iPad at a minimum. Next time I will do the guided tour. This building is over the top exquisite! They were rehersing in the actual opera stage area and the lights were off. We kept checking back and eventually the lights were on. I think many people didn't bother to go back and check and this would be a huge miss.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 9, 2023
  • Lynn B
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gorgeous and interesting
    The audio self-tour was perfect, easy to follow, at your own pace, and interesting. The opera house is gorgeous, glittering with lights, mirrors, and gold-leaf. The staircase is impressive, and the guided tour adds details of what a opera night might have been like... and, don't forget the "Phantom of the Opera" legend was born here. Not to be missed.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 15, 2023
  • Mary D
    Calgary, Canada80 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Elegant Evening in Paris
    We attended an evening performance of the Dante Project. While it is not my favorite ballet, it is absolutely the best way to see and enjoy the building in all its glory. Arrive early and spend the intermission(s), with a glass of champagne, exploring the building. Looking forward to returning when exterior renovations are complete and the scaffolding is removed.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 26, 2023
  • XSki007
    New Jersey1,370 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Building
    I guess the thing that I’ll remember most is the high entrance fee. It honestly distracted me, and it was no wonder that there was no line to speak off, with lots of folks outside. Beautiful inside and out. I’d save the fee and apply it to a ticket when the opera is in season.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 1, 2023
  • nctraveler315
    Winston Salem, North Carolina169 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth seeing, but go early
    We had read that the crowds could be heavy and that crowds can be a bit lighter on Sunday. We arrived early, shortly after opening and walked right in. We did not purchase a tour, just walked around on our own. It was not terribly crowded when we arrived but by the time we left, the grand staircase and marble balcony overlooks were packed with people trying to get that "perfect instagram shot". My advice is that it is an incredibly beautiful place but go early or you will be overwhelmed with crowds.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 14, 2023
  • Nicola S
    Kent, United Kingdom79 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wow breathtaking. Beautiful. Elegant. Amazing
    Wow. Breathtaking architecture inside and out. Never seen so much marble - staircases, statues & floors. Defo a must see for anyone visiting Paris for the first time like us. We didn’t see a show just a building tour, can only imagine how magical it would be to attend for an evening performance. On the bucket list. Utterly stunning.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 20, 2023
  • mfilcol2014
    Lisbon, Portugal1,079 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful
    The Paris opera, the Palacio Garnier is the most beautiful opera in the world without a doubt. A must see in Paris. Fabulous interior and exterior. If it is wonderful on the outside, its interior is extraordinary. There are no words to describe so much richness and opulence. Don't miss the visit. I was only sorry for not being able to attend any show
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 1, 2023
  • Elizabeth
    Kansas City, Kansas18 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent opera house
    We visited on a Friday at 3:00pm since we were walking through the neighborhood. Only about a 5 minute wait to buy tickets on site. 15 euro/person >11yo for a self guided tour. This magnificent opera house opened in 1875. It was very beautiful, but we walked through and were done in about 20min. It was very hot & crowded inside. The price seemed high for a self guided tour. I would have rather seen a show but none were available during our time in Paris. Despite the price & heat it was worth seeing.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 2, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles19,966 reviews
Excellent
15,072
Very good
3,874
Average
674
Poor
185
Terrible
162

globalfinder312
Chicago, IL134 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Don't miss seeing the Palais Garnier, even if you never attend the opera or ballet. This is one of Paris' grand buildings, and I enjoyed the experience of learning it's history on a guided tour of it's exceptionally beautiful and ornate architecture, paintings, sculpture and more -- after hours without the crowds.

You will learn the challenges of its design, about the architect (and how and where Garner became the first to memorialize his creation); about the history at its inception, followed by its opening after France had become a republic. I am not a devout Phantom of the Opera fan. Yet it was amazing to hear the story told where it took place.

The 90-minute guided tour that begins at 5pm sells out so it would be best to reserve a space and pay for your tickets ahead of time. Easily done on the website. Bring a copy of your receipt and convert it into tickets at the box office. Our delightful tour guide Karen lead an informative and enjoyable tour, and was exceptionally kind to children in the group.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mlbpafan
Loveland, CO1,632 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Ah, the famous Opera house in Paris. We waited in line for about 30 minutes because the security is lacking personnel and are very slow. There were no signs AT ALL outside, but once we entered, we were advised the main auditorium was closed for the day. This was a HUGE disappointment. There was no play here and we heard no practice in session, but it was indeed closed. There was no discount for the ticket (€12,00) but we were told that we would have access to the infamous box #5 even though the auditorium was closed. We got an audio guide and headed in. The audio guide was just OK, but the Opera house was magnificent! It was amazing and had all the charm we expected. Unfortunately, the visit was tainted by three things. The auditorium being closed was major. The lie that we could have access to the Phantom's box (we could only get a glimpse through a small window) felt like a ploy to get us to still buy the ticket after we discovered the main feature was closed. But, by far, the biggest disappointment was the lack of information. There was plenty of opportunity, both by personnel and by signage, to let us know of the closure. They failed to notify anyone outside and I feel this was very deceitful. It is worth a visit, but we probably won't return because of the problems.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Horus13
West Jordan, UT166 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
I have always wanted to attend the opera at the Palais Garnier. It is the best venue on earth - just flat out gorgeous. La Traviata was done with a contemporary set and costume but was wonderful. My favorite new soprano Pretty Yende was the star of the night.

My only disappointment is that like in the United States, the audience wore mostly street clothes. It saddens me because this is the one opportunity for people to dress up and celebrate not only the beautiful performance but also give due respect to the artistry of the building.

The seating, like most older venues, has smaller seats than I'm used to. Also, if you want to attend a performance be sure to plan well in advance. Unless you want to donate to become a member you have to wait and buy the tickets when they become available to the public. Unforturnately, the only tickets availabe were the most expensive seats. But it was still worth it. I love everything except for charging 25 euros for the program, I passed on that - it should be included with the price of the ticket.

Plan to spend at least an hour for viewing this magnificent treasure.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scotlandmac
Glasgow, UK13,907 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Wonderful building on the outside and inside it is truly gorgeous, in an OTT, ostenatious way. More space is devoted to the ancillary spaces than the auditorium itself and these - the Grand Foyer et al - are driping with gold ornamentation, painted ceilings, sculptures (with a theatrical/classical theme). Everything has it's own meaning. We made the mistake of NOT taking the tour for an extra 6 euros each but I was so impressed I bought the book after our visit and read up on what we'd seen.
Chagall's ceiling was painted over the original ceiling decoration and looks superb.
Even when the Palais first opened in the late 1800s, people were booking tickets for performances not even knowing what was on, simply because the building itself was such a wow from Day 1. Praise indeed!
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Luisguiper
Bogota, Colombia1,016 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Rather kind staff when access allowed. I saw people entering with shorts and sneakers, though I had read a dressing code was to be required by the staff; a good thing anyway because there are many people walking around the whole day dressed like that, and they could not go back home / hotel to get dressed. Astonishing building, amazing in- and outside. Due to the ticket category I purchased I could not see some areas inside the building, but I got to see some of the magnificent halls and artwork, like the main staircase and the Grand foyer, which was impressive. As per the event I went for, I got one Cat 4 ticket (first side box 2 - seat 7) that was available on the Theater’s website. Though the room was next to the stage, I could not see it due to the heads in front of me and mainly due to the room’s wall. Thus, I just could see half of the orchestra playing, and how the conductor gestured; ah, and I could watch the public who could watch the stage at all. The music and the singing were wonderful with the acoustics, I barely could see the artists when they approached to the very front edge of the stage. As probably opera lovers would say what matters is what you listen at the opera house, and that the stage might be of less importance, but I felt like I would have preferred a better seat, but the show was sold out. I sat and listened, or I left...
Written April 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cherrywhirl
Worcestershire, UK15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
The visit that I'm reviewing was during the covid crisis but unlike some visitor attractions in Paris, it is still possible to pay at the door here but only by card and an automated thermometer takes your temperature on arrival.

It is such a spectacular building both inside and out that it's worth a trip if you are in Paris. It costs approximately 12 euros for an adult (August 2020) for an autonomous tour without audio guide. It's possible to make the trip brief, if you are in a hurry as we were on this occasion, and appreciate the spectacular surroundings in less than one hour. The main sights are the Grand Escalier, Le Grand Foyer with the chandeliers as well as the auditorium. Viewing of the latter is made possible via access from a booth, During my most recent visit, this was on a lower level but previously it has been higher up. It's worth stepping outside and observing 'la Place' below and taking a look in the library. At various points there are costumes from past performances on display with basic information about the productions involved. There's a nice souvenir shop with lots of dance related gifts as well as a cafe. It's a lovely place to visit with many photo opportunities. Recommended.
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia17,797 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Standing striking on the same name sq, the Paris Opera is the world's most magnificent one. From the moment you spot it's unbelievable exterior your jaws will drop.
I could only imagine attending a performance here, which I hadn't chance to do, but therefore I suggest everyone to do a guided tour.
Although the groups are large and moving quickly for my taste, they're informing and best of all, you're inside to admire that opulence at the cheapest price (performance tickets are skyrocking). Be sure to reserve your spot on time online.
The Grand staircase with the terrace above will blow you away, the Chagall's ceiling with chandelier is unbelievable, the craftmanship of details,...etc makes every Euro well spent.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

theclarken
Gaithersburg, MD67 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The good things about the opera house is it is spectacular. The attention to details is flawless. The craftsmanship from large staircases to minute details is phenomenal. Highlights include the lower entryway, the grand staircase, the seating area + Chagall ceiling, and the salon are amazing.

The bad is the tour we took through the Palais Garnier. We bout tickets well in advance to make sure we could get in. Apparently we didn't need to since they allowed an additional people to buy tickets to our 'sold out' tour that morning. The group was just too big and when the guide talked about something smaller, if you were in the back of the group, that meant you were 15 yards away and couldn't see. As the group moved on you could either try to view the object or keep up with the group. The guide wasn't very good either.

I would rate the building 5 stars and the tour 3 stars [maybe 2 stars].
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JAB
Billings, MT19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
Ask for Rita when booking a tour. She was very helpful and informative. Know when you tour the Palais Garnier opera, you will not be seeing anything behind the scenes unless your tour explicitly says so. Often, even the auditorium is closed during the day for rehearsals, so make sure and ask, if there is something specific you are wanting to see. Evening tours are sometimes limited on what you can see, if there is a concomitant performance.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zeynep T
TĂĽrkiye141 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
After many disappointments following the cancellation of performances at the Paris Opera Ballet due to strikes during December and January, I finally was able to see a performance of Giselle at the Palais Garnier at the beginning of February. It was a magnicicent occasion with a wonderful cast including Dorothée Gilbert, Mathieu Ganio & Valentine Colasante. The past month has seen no performances due to the strike against the government's planned pension reforms. I was lucky because the strike, which had started on December 5th, had caused the Paris Opera an estimated €67 million (73 million) in losses for the duration of the strike with many performances cancelled. The ballet was sold out but I managed to get a ticket from the Official Bourse of the Paris Opera, so do not dispair if you cannot get tickets. The bourse is there to help people who can't use their tickets to people who can't find a ticket. The Palais Garnier is magnificent and I was surprised to hear there is an underground lake under the Opera House. Apparently, the architect Charles Garnier, hit an arm of the Seine while digging the foundation and although they tried to pump out the water it kept coming back. Therefore, Garnier had to create an artificial lake to control the water.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Palais Garnier - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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