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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Admission tickets
from
C$42.95
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Top ways to experience Palais Garnier
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: 9th Arr. - Opéra
How to get there
  • OpĂ©ra • 2 min walk
  • Auber • 2 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • AdventuresofNomNom
    Saint Louis, Missouri364 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Get the audio guide
    My partner and I came to explore the beauty of the palais, but we ended up having a wonderful visual history lesson thanks to the audio guide. It's completely worth the extra fee if you are interested in the storytelling and history. Of course the palais is gorgeous. Mind-blowingly opulent and reminiscent of living your best Phantom of the Opera fantasy.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 20, 2023
  • Brooks D
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania180 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Beauty of Palais Granier
    Enjoyed the beauty of the Opera House, also the information about the tie in to the Phantom of the Opera. Amazing opulence of the Opera House, the mirrored rooms looking on forever. The Box of the Phantom of the Opera.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written November 28, 2023
  • Melanie T
    New York City, New York6,986 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go early to avoid crowds
    Palais Garnier is an opera house that still holds performances today. It was so cool to see all of the intricate details, and over course the grand stairs. Tickets are 15 euros per person and we purchased it on site. We came on a Friday at around noon, and there were a good amount of people there. But it wasn't as crowded as other Paris tourist attractions, like the museums. They have rooms with art pieces so if you are an art buff, you should allot yourself time for that too. Neither I nor my husband are art buffs but we did want to see the architecture. It took us less than an hour to walk through, explore, and take pictures. I wish we came earlier to avoid the crowds, so if you visit, that's what I would recommend.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 1, 2023
  • Abel dit Alaye D
    Romford, United Kingdom4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A glittering masterpiece of lavish splendor
    This magnificent theater is a sumptuous sight to behold. From its glittering chandeliers to its lavish décor, this is one of Paris' most stunning attractions. Whether you're attending a performance or just taking in the grandeur, Palais Garnier is sure to take your breath away.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 6, 2023
  • Mahdi khademimoghadam
    Tehran, Iran135 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful palace
    The Opera Garnier is a stunning masterpiece of architecture and art. The grand staircase, the lavish auditorium, and the magnificent ceiling painted by Chagall are breathtaking. The guided tour was informative and entertaining. A must-see for anyone who loves opera, ballet, or history.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 10, 2023
  • GAR
    970 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent
    This architectural marvel was a real highlight of my first trip to Paris. Entry wasn’t too expensive, and there’s a fair bit to see. The grand staircase is the showpiece but there are a few other rooms and the theatre itself, as well as displays about shows that have been put on there
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written December 17, 2023
  • Haji
    London, United Kingdom12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An ornamental masterpiece!
    This iconic opera house is a must-see when visiting Paris. Its ornamental architecture and grandeur are breathtaking, with a gleaming interior that will leave you in awe. Its monumental size and beauty are a testament to the city's cultural history. A must-see for any traveler!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written December 19, 2023
  • Just Devine
    New York City, New York49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An amazing experience at the Ballet 12/31/2023
    I went here for the 12/31 ballet performance. First of, wow, what an amazing place. I am back in New York and still amaze at the beauty of this place. The performance was great, I really recommend everyone to attend the ballet or the opera at least once in their lives. Although black tie was not required, everyone dressed beautifully which gave it a touch of elegance, and made it more special New Years Eve. I will assume this was because of NYE or because this was the last performance, the few champagne and small snacks were really a very nice touch as well:
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 4, 2024
  • Christina W.
    3 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful place but overrun with “social media creators”
    This building is beyond beautiful . Every room just is breath taking. The self absorbed people making social media content almost ruins it. You simply just can not ignore it. They take up so much space for their photo shoot or even dancing. Theyre ruining the experience for people who are there for the actual history .
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written January 6, 2024
  • Thomas V
    Oakland, California17,813 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take a Tour or Attend a Performance
    This is the 19th Century opera house, a major feature of the renovation of the old city. The outside is ornate and exquisite. There are 2 ways to see the inside: You can take a tour, or you can attend a concert. Most of the performances are of dance, and I recommend attending a show. The staircase is grand and should be walked during an intermission.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 20, 2024
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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles20,012 reviews
Excellent
15,109
Very good
3,885
Average
674
Poor
183
Terrible
165

Scotlandmac
Glasgow, UK14,388 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, Colombia992 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, UK16 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, Serbia19,450 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, MD90 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
TĂĽrkiye137 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.

Andrew Tsui
San Diego, CA282 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
For art/architecture/music lovers and ordinary tourists alike, the Palais Garnier is a must-visit location. The building is filled with accessories and features that will keep any person engaged for hours.

The exterior of the building is decorated with intricate sculptures and figures depicting some of the most notable figures of opera and music, which include the likes of Bach, Rossini, Mozart, and Beethoven. The dome is topped with a figure of Apollo towering over visitors with grandeur and glory.

I would highly recommend pre-booking timed tickets for opera house entry due to the vast quantities of visitors that enter the opera house every day. I would also highly recommend the audio guide service provided. It consists of a headphone-tablet system which will give you an immersive AR and auditory experience that engages you with the history of the opera house's construction and every little secret.

For visitors in a rush, I would suggest entering one of the viewing boxes opened to visitors. This will allow you to have a glimpse at the main auditorium area and the stage, alongside the Marc Chagall ceiling and chandelier which illuminates the ceiling above it. I would also urge visitors to see the Phantom of the Opera's box, the library with books on dance theory and music, the costumes area, and the grand staircase.
Written November 22, 2022
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.

E8224QZgloriam
Bothell, WA47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
The tour was arranged through the Palais Garnier web site and was a guided tour. Rita, our wonderfully knowledgeable guide, made sure we got in to see the theater with Chagall paintings overhead before it closed for the day and told us about the paintings, the artist and the politics of the day. Moving on, there were stories about the famous staircase, galleries, paintings, ballerinas, composers and the role played by the royalty, all of which were educational and entertaining. I had a thoroughly swell time at the opera!
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.

Trelemorele
Warsaw, Poland181 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
1. Palais Garnier is really impressive, but the price is too high.

2. Price for children is reduced (not so much - 10 euro versus 14 euro) but not free (in Paris museums and others places to see are often free for children).

3. I think it's unfair to get full price when there is a rehearsal in the auditorium and you can not see this place in full light. There is no information about it on the site. I'm not even sure if everybody can enter the auditorium during rehearsal because after a few minutes staff told our group to leave the auditorium.
Written September 10, 2021
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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