Seating 2,200 people, the imposing Opera Garnier in Paris -- also known as the Palais Garnier or simply the Paris Opera-- is an architectural treasure and essential locus for the city's classical opera and ballet scene. Designed by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 as the Academie Nationale de Musique -Theatre de l'Opera (National Academy of Music - Opera Theater), the neo-baroque style Opera Garnier remains an important spot for the operatic arts, although the city's official opera company relocated to the starkly contemporary Opera Bastille in 1989.
The Opera Garnier is located in Paris's relatively central 9th arrondissement, more or less directly north of the Tuileries Gardens and the adjoining Louvre Museum. It's also one of the crowning attractions of the Opera-Haussmann neighborhood, one of Paris's most coveted shopping districts and the hub of major department stores like Galeries Lafayette.
Address: 1, place de l'Opera, 9th arrondissement
Metro: Opera, Pyramides or Havre-Caumartin
RER: Auber
Telephone: +33 (0)1 40 01 80 52
Visit the official website
Visitors can tour the main premises of the Opera Garnier during the day and visit the site's museum, either on an individual basis or as part of a guided tour. For more information, click here.
Opening Hours
10am-4.30pm (September 10th-July 15th); 10 am-5:30 pm (July 15th-September 10th). Closed January 1st, May 1st.
Cashier closes: 30 minutes before closing time.
Tickets
Ticket prices for ballet, opera and other performances vary. To consult current and upcoming performances at the Opera Garnier and book tickets in English, consult this website.
