The Opera Garnier: What to see and what to know

The Palais Garnier, located just a 7-minute walk from the Relais Madeleine, offers two types of entertainment: the shows and the tour.  How much does it cost to see a show? How can you buy a discounted ticket? What will you see if you visit the Opéra?

The programming is divided into operas, ballets, and concerts and is mainly geared toward classical performances.

The Opéra Garnier is an Italian-style theater. Spectators are seated facing the stage, and the U-shaped room is structured into several levels. The stage is raised, with a slight incline.

Like all Italian-style theaters, the ease of visibility of the stage varies from one seat to another and the ticket prices vary accordingly. This means that, for an opera, ticket prices range over ten categories, from €5 to €200-250. So seeing a show at Garnier is not necessarily expensive.

If you’d like to see a concert, the ticket price is quite affordable – usually €10 to €30.

Moreover, to enjoy category 1 seats for 50% off, you can visit the La Madeleine booth at 15 place de la Madeleine, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM and Sundays from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Seats are sold for shows taking place the same day.

See the Opéra Garnier program and book tickets: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/ticketing

On the  tour, you can see the library-museum of the Opéra, housed in the former Pavilion of the Emperor. The collection boasts 550,000 documents gathered over 3 centuries of academy history: sheet music, programs, books, letters, photographs, costume sketches, tables, set models, costumes, and more.

Guests also have access to the Rotonde des Abonnés, the Bassin de la Pythie, and of course, the grand staircase, the Grand Foyer and l’Avant Foyer, the Salon de la Lune and Salon du Soleil, and the Rotonde du Glacier and its tapestries.

Admire the performance space and its famous ceiling decorated by Chagall. The room may be closed for technical reasons.

The tour ticket also gives access to any temporary exhibitions the library may be holding.

Buy tickets:

• Opéra Garnier Ticket Counters: open daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and from 10 AM to 5:30 PM from mid-July to early September
• Automated ticket terminals are available across from the Palais Garnier ticket counters
• Online: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier/individuals-2/information-and-booking

Adults €10, students €6, free for children under 10.

Guided tours are available in English or French and include a general tour of the theater with the performance space and the area behind the scenes, as well as the history of opera, its architecture, and more.

Hours:

• Guided tour in English: Every day from Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM
• Guided tour in French: Every day from Monday to Sunday11:30 AM, 2 PM, and 3:30 PM

Buy tickets:

• by email: visites@cultival.fr
• online: https://www.cultival.fr/en/recherche/visites/public_groupe/motcle_garnier 

Length of tour: 1 hr 30 min.