Palais Garnier Theater

Address: Palais Garnier, Place de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris, Île-de-France, France

Website: https://www.operadeparis.fr

Hours: Visit hours vary seasonally (see official site)

Admission: Address: Place de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris, France. Museum/visits: tickets sold by the Opéra national de Paris; prices and opening hours vary by season and type of visit (see official site)

The Palais Garnier is a 19th-century opera house in Paris designed by architect Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875, noted for its opulent Beaux-Arts architecture and richly decorated interiors. It remains one of the city’s most famous architectural landmarks and a major cultural venue.

The monumental marble Grand Staircase, the gilded auditorium with its large chandelier and ornate boxes, and richly painted public rooms such as the Grand Foyer. Visitors can join guided tours to see these interiors when the house is not in use for performances.

The palace was commissioned under Napoleon III during the Second Empire and completed after a prolonged construction period that produced a landmark of theatrical architecture. It has housed opera and ballet performances since opening and also contains a museum of the Paris Opéra.

Located in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, the building sits between the Boulevard des Capucines and the Avenue de l’Opéra, within easy walking distance of several central transport hubs.

• Tours and performances: Guided tours provide access to the grand staircase, auditorium and museum; the building remains a working opera house so some areas close during rehearsals or performances.
• Architect and dates: Construction began in 1861 to a design by Charles Garnier and the building was inaugurated in 1875 as the principal Paris opera house of the Second Empire architectural program.

What to See#

• Auditorium and chandelier: The horseshoe-shaped auditorium decorated with red velvet seating and a large crystal chandelier, known for its richly gilded boxes and ornate proscenium (auditorium seating capacity roughly 1,900).
• Grand Staircase and Grand Foyer: A grand double staircase and marble foyer leading to opulent public rooms that were designed for promenading and social gathering after the building’s completion in the 19th century.

Palais Garnier sits on Place de l’Opéra in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. The nearest metro is Opéra (lines 3, 7 and 8) with exits that bring you directly to the square; Chaussée d’Antin-La Fayette (lines 7 and 9) is a short walk away and the Auber RER (RER A) is also within a few minutes’ walk. By car the building faces Avenue de l’Opéra / Rue Auber; Gare Saint‑Lazare is about a 10‑minute walk from the opera house.

• Buy a timed‑entry ticket online or early in the morning to avoid long queues for the public visit routes; timed tickets smooth entry and are recommended during peak tourist months.
• Don't skip the Grand Foyer and the marble grand staircase - many visitors rush to see the auditorium but the richly painted foyer is a highlight and often less crowded.
• If you want to see the auditorium interior, check guided tour schedules (or the official website) in advance - the auditorium is used for performances and access can be limited, so guided tours are the most reliable way to visit it.