The Palais Garnier is the most dazzling building in Paris. Designed by the young architect Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875, the opera house was the showpiece of Napoleon III’s Paris – a palace of marble, gold and velvet built for the city’s high society to see and be seen.
What to see inside
The grand staircase
The grand staircase of white marble and coloured stone is the heart of the building – a theatre in itself, where the audience once made its entrance.
The Grand Foyer
The Grand Foyer is a long gallery of mirrors, chandeliers and painted ceilings that rivals the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Chagall’s ceiling
In the auditorium, the red-and-gold horseshoe of seats sits under the colourful ceiling painted by Marc Chagall in 1964. The auditorium can close without notice for rehearsals.
The Library-Museum
The Opera Library-Museum shows costumes, models and temporary exhibitions about the history of the opera and ballet.
The Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux set his novel *The Phantom of the Opera* (1910) here. The “underground lake” really exists: it is a water tank built under the stage to stabilise the foundations.
How to visit
- Self-guided visit of about 1.5 hours, with an optional multimedia tablet.
- Guided tours, including shorter and after-hours options.
- Or see a ballet or opera – the most memorable way to experience the building.
Tips
- Book online: visit tickets are not sold on site.
- Go in the morning for calmer rooms.
- Combine with the rooftop terrace of the Galeries Lafayette, just behind the opera.
