One of the most beautiful buildings in the French capital is, without a doubt, the Paris Opera, whose most famous venue is the Palais Garnier, not forgetting the Bastille. It has taken me five trips to this same destination to discover it and, after doing so, I can only tell you not to make the same mistake and to include a visit to the Paris Opera on your list of priorities of what to see in Paris.
The Paris Opera is not only a temple of music and dance, but it is also an architectural monument of immense value. Here I am going to tell you all the details surrounding this emblematic Parisian building: from its history to how to plan a visit, including its architecture, the differences with the Bastille Opera, prices and ticket types, schedules, how to get there, and the gems you can discover inside.
Paris Opera, centuries of history
To fully appreciate the Paris Opera, it is necessary to take a look at its history. The current building known as the Palais Garnier replaced the 17th-century Royal Academy of Dance after Napoleon III decided to include it in his great project for the renovation of Paris led by Baron Haussmann.
Napoleon III launched an international architectural competition for its design and, finally, a young architect named Charles Garnier was selected to carry out the task. The building is named after him in honor of his brilliant vision.
The construction of the Palais Garnier began in 1861 and was completed in 1875, after 14 years of work. This delay was due to a series of events, including the Franco-Prussian War, the fall of the Second French Empire, and the Paris Commune. During all these events, the Paris Opera remained a beacon of hope for the future of the city.
The Paris Opera or Palais Garnier is an impressive display of opulence that, personally, left me speechless. Charles Garnier designed the building in a neo-baroque style, characterized by its excess of detail, its dramatic ornamentation, and its grand scale. Every aspect of the building was designed to astonish and delight the visitors who came to the theater.
Before entering the Paris Opera, admire it from the outside
The exterior of the Palais Garnier already hints at the impressiveness of the place. The majestic marble facade of the Paris Opera with large Corinthian columns has a wide staircase leading to the main entrance flanked by two gilded bronze statues representing Poetry and Music.
Higher up, you will see eight bronze busts representing the great composers of the time: Beethoven, Mozart, Spontini, Meyerbeer, Halévy, Auber, Rossini, and Daniel Auber. If you continue looking up, you will come across the pediment of the Paris Opera, which is a masterpiece in itself. The central sculpture, called “Poetry,” is the work of Charles Gumery and is surrounded by allegorical figures.
The side facades are equally beautiful and continue to be reminiscent of great Greek temples, despite the fact that Napoleon himself claimed it was his own particular style.
- Unfortunately, if you visit the Paris Opera now you will not be able to admire the main south facade since it is in the middle of a restoration process to restore the splendor it was losing due to car pollution and certain structural problems. This large advertising banner completely covers the most recognizable and photographed facade of the Palais Garnier.
What you need to know to visit the Paris Opera
How much does it cost to enter the Paris Opera?
Here are the ticket prices for the Paris Opera. Please note that visiting prices have just increased and currently, as of July 2023, they are as follows:
-€15 for adults for entrance to the Palais Garnier
-€10 for young people between 12 and 25 years old. You can also benefit from this reduced rate if you have a monthly or annual Navigo Pass transport card
-Free for children under 12 years old, people with disabilities and unemployed people, including those from Spain. That is, if you are unemployed and provide proof of your unemployment status at the ticket office, you pay nothing.
Here you can buy your entrance to the Paris Opera in advance
-Note that, contrary to what you might read on other sites, I warn you that entrance to the Palais Garnier is NOT included in the famous Go City Paris Pass, even though this tourist card now includes even the climb up the Eiffel Tower.
Audio guide
If you want to go on your own, but don’t want to miss any details, I recommend adding the multimedia tour to your general admission, which costs 6.50 € and is only sold at the ticket office. This audio guide is an iPad mini that offers a 90-minute guided interactive route through the interior of the building, including extra audiovisual material and using augmented reality.
Guided tour
Check the official website if you want to book a ticket for one of the guided tours in Spanish organized by an external operator. Currently, they are only available until August 22, 2023, but they will likely schedule new ones from October or November. Depending on the day you choose or availability, the guided tour in Spanish of the Paris Opera will be at one time or another. The price per adult is €22.50 and it lasts an hour and a half.
Combined ticket with Seine River cruise
If you intend to take the classic boat trip on the Seine, which I definitely recommend, a good idea is to take this combined ticket for the Paris Opera and the Seine cruise lasting one hour for €33.90. The good thing is that you will save on the queues at the Opera, although keep in mind that you will still have to go through the security check like everyone else.
With children
If you are going to Paris with children, seeing the inside of the Palais Garnier is also a good plan. Since it’s a relatively quick visit, it won’t be tiresome for them; you can suggest finding objects in the ceiling paintings of the Grand Foyer, making up stories about the works, and even suggest they search for the famous Phantom of the Opera. Remember that children under 12 enter for free.
A good idea to enjoy if your children are older is to book this Mystery Game that includes entry to the Paris Opera. It’s a very fun way to visit the Palais Garnier as a family, overcoming challenges, following clues, and solving the mystery they present in pure Lupin style as a team.
How much does it cost to attend a show at the Paris Opera?
For those interested in opera and ballet, ticket prices to see a show at the Opéra Garnier vary depending on seating location and, of course, what is being performed on stage.
Prices range from 25 euros for the cheapest category seats with restricted visibility to 200 euros for premium seats known as Optimas. Just like what happened to me with the Vienna Opera, I was left wanting to attend a performance. I recommend you plan ahead if you’re excited about sitting in the stalls of this impressive auditorium.
Paris Opera opening hours
The Palais Garnier is open for visits every day from 10:00 to 17:00, with the last admission at 16:30. Between July 17 and September 23, 2023, the closing time is extended until 18:00.
However, times may vary depending on rehearsals, performances and other events, so it is best to check the schedule on the official website before planning your visit.
- Tip: Find out the best time to visit the Paris Opera as the official website shows the peak visitor hours. According to this info, it is best recommended to avoid long queues by going between 12:00 and 13:30 or after 15:30
Reserve at least one hour for the visit to the Paris Opera, although you can see it more calmly and try to take photos without hordes of people if you have an hour and a half or even two hours.
Planazo gratis perfecto para completar la visita A la espalda del Palais Garnier se encuentran las Galerías Lafayette. Sube hasta la última planta donde hay un mirador gratuito con unas vistas preciosas de París. Además de admirar la torre Eiffel, tendrás una panorámica diferente del cercano edificio de la Ópera de París.
En esta terraza, también hay unas letronas gigantes de París para hacerte fotos y una terraza para tomar algo si tienes la cuenta corriente a tope. Si vas con personas con movilidad reducida, sillas de ruedas o carritos de bebé, hay un ascensor escondido en un lateral que puedes usar para bajar hasta abajo y ahorrarte el tramo de escaleras que hay para el público en general.
How to get to the Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is located in the heart of the city, at Place de l’Opéra. Several of the city’s main arteries converge here: Boulevard Des Capucines, Boulevard Des Italiens, and Avenue de L’Opéra.
You can get there by metro; the closest station is Opéra, where lines 3, 7, and 8 pass.
You can also arrive via RER by taking line A and getting off at the Auber stop.
If the bus suits you better, lines 20, 21, 27, 29, 32, 45, 52, 66, 68, 95 are the ones that stop at the Paris Opera.
In case you have decided to take the Paris sightseeing bus, remember that there is a stop right on the side of the building, on Rue Auber, exactly where the entrance to visit the Palais Garnier is located. Here is an article about the sightseeing bus and here another different company in case you want to compare.
However, the Palais Garnier is right in the center, so you can arrive on foot walking from other tourist attractions such as the Louvre museum, Place de la Concorde, or the nearby Galeries Lafayette.
- Here is a useful tip so you don’t waste time looking for where to enter: The entrance access for visiting the Paris Opera is at the corner of Rue Auber and Rue Scribe. The main entrance at the grand staircase is reserved for performances.
What to see at the Paris Opera
Once you pass through the majestic doors of the Palais Garnier, a world of sheer opulence awaits that will leave you speechless. Here are the most famous and precious corners of the Paris Opera:
–The Subscribers’ Rotunda. As soon as you enter the interior after the ticket control, you will find yourself in this circular space where spectators arriving by carriage at the Palais Garnier were received. In addition to its mosaic floor, the small and delicate sculpture of the Pythia (Phytonisse) sheltered in a sort of grotto, which is actually the lower part of the staircase, will catch your eye.
–Grand Foyer. This sumptuous room, 18 meters high, is often compared to the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Decorated with golden mosaics, sculptures, and oil paintings, this room is fascinating and makes you imagine, for a moment, what it would have been like in the past with nobles and illustrious people wearing their best attire there.
–Auditorium. The central heart of this gigantic Parisian theater is another of the building’s most impressive spaces. With a capacity for 1,900 people, you are looking at one of the largest auditoriums in Europe.
The colorful ceiling frescoes, painted by Marc Chagall in 1964 when the artist was 77 years old, are a true masterpiece that, at the time, caused much controversy by representing a total aesthetic disruption to the architectural and artistic style of the Palais Garnier.
An impressive six-ton crystal chandelier provides the extra touch of sumptuosity that an auditorium of this caliber needed.
–Grand Staircase. The 30-meter-high white marble double staircase is the backbone of the Paris Opera and makes you forget you are in a theater, transporting you to a luxurious palace. The elegant balustrade that complements it is made of green and red marble.
It overflows with Baroque details everywhere you look and is the centerpiece of a truly impressive lobby worthy of a palace. Look up to admire the ceiling painted by Isidore Pils and finished by his own students after his death.
-Library and museum. Honestly, you don’t expect to find an old floor-to-ceiling wooden library here, but it’s another delightful detail to add to the list of beautiful spots to see at the Paris Opera. Upon leaving, a small museum awaits you that hosts exhibitions with costumes, props, and documents from works performed at the Palais Garnier.
What about the Bastille Opera?
Although they are often used interchangeably, the Paris Opera and the Bastille Opera are two different buildings with unique characteristics. Both make up the Paris National Opera institution, but they are very different.
The Bastille Opera is a modern building designed by Canadian architect Carlos Ott, used mainly for operas. Inaugurated in 1989 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution, it is known for its contemporary architecture and excellent acoustics. The main auditorium has a capacity for around 2,700 people and features modern technology for stage productions.
If you want to visit the Bastille Opera inside, keep in mind that you cannot go on your own. You can only do so by attending one of the shows, taking advantage of the open day, or with one of the guided tours they offer. However, keep in mind that they are exclusively in French. They last an hour and a half, cost €17, and can be booked on the official website. On September 1, 2023, the visiting season, currently paused for the summer, will resume.
It is located in the Place de la Bastille, which you can reach via metro lines 1, 5, and 8, getting off at the Bastille stop.
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