How to Visit Palais Garnier – Home of the Phantom of the Opera in Paris (2006)!

One of the most beautiful theatres I have ever visited is the Palais Garnier in Paris.

It’s a breathtaking, ornate opera house filled with bronze statues, marble staircases, glittering gold walls and sparkling chandeliers. 

Every room is more dazzling than the last, and you’ll leave feeling utterly enchanted. 

It’s also famous for being the setting of Gaston Leroux’s Gothic horror novel, Phantom of the Opera. 

As a spooky girl, I loved my self-guided tour of this famous playhouse. It felt surreal to be standing inside the Phantom’s lair. 

Here is a complete guide for visiting Palais Garnier, home of the Phantom of the Opera in Paris. 

What is the Palais Garnier in Paris?

The Palais Garnier, or Opera Garnier, is the most famous theatre in Paris with a rich cultural heritage.

It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III as part of a grand project to modernise the city. 

It was placed near the Tuileries Palace so that the Emperor and Empress could quickly and safely travel to the theatre. 

Charles Garnier was in charge of the design and created a Neo-Baroque playhouse with room for 2,000 people. 

This ornate building is now one of the most famous opera houses in the world and still hosts a range of theatrical performances.  

It is known for its operatic renditions, but you can also watch artistic displays, ballet and concerts here. 

Home of the Phantom of the Opera 

Did you know that Palais Garnier was used as the setting for Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera?

This grand theatre is the Phantom’s lair, a disfigured musical genius named Erik who falls obsessively in love with the heroine Christine. 

It was also used to inspire Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical and several movie adaptations.

They now have a private box inside the theatre called ‘Loge du Fantôme de l’Opéra ’. 

It’s a must-visit for fans of this twisted Gothic romance while visiting Paris. 

How to visit the Palais Garnier

The Palais Garnier still operates as a playhouse today with an annual calendar of performances you can watch throughout the year.

You can also book a guided tour to learn about the spectacular interiors like the Grand Staircase and Grand Foyer. 

As I like to take my time, I booked a self-guided tour of the Palais Garnier, which included an informative audio guide to follow on my phone. 

You can easily book tickets online. I highly recommend booking around a week in advance to avoid disappointment, as these do sell out.

Opening hours & ticket prices

You can book a self-guided tour of the Palais Garnier typically from 10 am to 6 pm with a last entry of 5 pm. 

But note that sometimes it closes earlier for rehearsals and performances at the playhouse. It is still an active theatre, and plays take priority.  

You can book a self-guided tour time slot online at 30-minute intervals throughout the day.

Adult tickets for non-French/European citizens (EEA) are €25, and French/European citizens pay €15. 

How to get to the Palais Garnier in Paris

Palais Garnier is located in Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It’s a very chic area with five-star hotels and designer boutiques.

Paris is best explored using a mix of public transport and walking. Fortunately, there is a metro station nearby.

You can alight at Opéra station on either Line 3, Line 7, or Line 8 of the Paris Metro. 

From the station, you’ll exit directly in front of the playhouse in Place de l’Opéra. 

You can’t miss this enormous, ornate building decorated with gold statues as it towers over the square.

A warning about security 

You will need to go through strict security at the Palais Garnier before entry, and there are lots of forbidden items like luggage, glass bottles, etc.

I’m not going to lie to you, the security team here is awful and will not hesitate to yell at you if they find something you shouldn’t have.

Despite there being no warnings on the website, tripods are not allowed inside. Not even if they stay inside your bag.

The way the security shouted at me when they found mine, it was like I had committed the most heinous crime of the century. 

I have never been spoken to like that over photography equipment in over a decade of travel blogging. It was so unnecessarily aggressive. 

My friends have also been refused entry for wearing a nice dress or having a DSLR camera, as they suspect commercial photography. It’s nuts.

So, this is a fair warning to leave anything forbidden in luggage lockers before your visit to save being berated.

Things to see in Palais Garnier

Although most people make a beeline for the Grand Staircase at the Palais Garnier, there is plenty to see here beyond that.

Your self-guided tour will take you on a journey through several rooms at this renowned opera house.

Each chamber seems to be more ornate than the last and will take your breath away.

Here are all the highlights and hidden treasures you can find inside Palais Garnier during your visit. 

1. Rotonde des Abonnés

You’ll start your tour in the Rotonde des Abonnés, which is a large circular vestibule.

This was once reserved for subscribers, so it also has the moniker of Subscribers’ Rotunda.

You can see where Charles Garnier’s signed the Opera House ‘Jean Louis Charles Garnier 1861 – 1875’ in entwined letters.

2. Pythia Fountain

As you head towards the Grand Staircase, make sure to admire the hidden treasure of the Pythia Fountain. 

It’s a striking bronze sculpture of the Greek prophetess Pythia, the high priestess and oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

She gained her name after Apollo slew a mythical python. You can admire her sitting on her podium where she channels divine prophecies.

3. Palais Garnier Grand Staircase (Grand Escalier)

In the words of Charles Garnier himself, “the opera is the staircase”.

The Palais Garnier’s Grand Staircase is one of the most famous chambers in the entire theatre.

I feel this grand Neo-Baroque masterpiece cannot be eclipsed. It’s one of the finest rooms I’ve ever seen.  

As soon as you step inside this majestic auditorium and climb the Grand Escalier, you will be utterly captivated and lost for words.

The white stairs and balconies are made of Saravezza Italian marble, while the onyx, green and red marble balustrades originate from Sweden. 

It’s surrounded by 30 marble columns, bronze statues and endless glass candelabras and chandeliers that sparkle. 

If you look up to the domed ceiling, you’ll find ornate frescoes painted by Isidore Pils.

It’s a Gothic paradise that I couldn’t stop admiring. This room really felt like I had stepped into the Phantom’s labyrinth.

4. Grand Foyer / Rotonde du Glacier

The Grand Foyer is the main reason why I booked a visit to the Palais Garnier. 

This dazzling room was designed to resemble the famous Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

It’s an opulent 54-metre-long-chamber filled with gilded details, marble floors and twinkling chandeliers.

If you look up at the 18-metre-high ceilings, you’ll find detailed paintings by Paul Baudry which portray the history of music. 

This mesmerising gold room will bewitch you. I was stunned and couldn’t stop gawking at all the extravagant details. 

At the end, you’ll step inside an airy and small circular room called Rotonde du Glacier. Georges Jules-Victor Clairin painted it in the 20th century. 

5. Phantom of The Opera Box

Of course, most people know the Palais Garnier for being the home of the Phantom of the Opera.

There’s not a lot mentioned about the story throughout the theatre, but they do have a private box you can visit.

You’ll find a sign with ‘Loge du Fantôme de l’Opéra’ on the entry door of box number 5.

This has a great view of the Salle de Spectacle or the main theatre. But this isn’t always open if there are rehearsals (as there was on my visit). 

6. Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra

If the crowds of the Grand Staircase are getting overwhelming, I recommend escaping for a respite in the Opera Library.

It acts as both an archive and a museum and was established in 1866 to preserve the Opera’s heritage.

Louis XIV created the Opera Academy in 1669. So, there are many historic records relating to opera, dance, comedy and circus. 

You can’t handle any of the books, unfortunately. You have to visit the reading rooms, which requires you to be a member.

But sitting inside this library area was an oasis compared to the busier rooms. As a reading lover, I was in my element. 

7. Statue Gallery / Exhibitions

At the bottom of the Grand Staircase, you’ll find a statue gallery with famous directors and composers of the Opera Academy.

There are statues dedicated to Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and Abbé Perrin, and others.

You’ll find the box office and a small gift shop selling a range of souvenirs including books and jewellery. 

They also have a selection of exhibition displays dotted around the theatre with famous costumes, stage props, and compositions.

Is the Palais Garnier worth visiting?

Yes, the Palais Garnier was easily one of my favourite attractions in all of Paris. 

The sheer opulence and extravagance of this incredible theatre took my breath away, and I left feeling utterly enchanted.  

As a huge fan of Gothic horror and a lifelong lover of Phantom of the Opera, a tour of this famous playhouse felt surreal.

Don’t skip a tour of the Palais Garnier in Paris; the Phantom is hiding here in wait for you!

When is the best time to visit?

For a self-guided tour, I would visit Palais Garnier as soon as they open if you want a more peaceful experience.  

The Grand Staircase and Grand Foyer can be packed full of people during the day. It’s almost uncomfortable at times.

I kept escaping to the library area and lower statue foyer for a bit of a break. 

Visiting at opening is especially important if you’re here for photography or video, as there will be fewer people first thing. 

Alternatively, you could visit before the last entry and wait for the crowds to thin out. 

How long do you need to visit?

I would say you need around 1-2 hours to visit the Palais Garnier if you’re on a self-guided tour. 

There is an audio guide to follow during your visit. This has lots of fascinating information about all the areas I mentioned above. 

But the main reason you may need more time is due to the sheer number of people inside, especially on the Grand Staircase.

There are constant bottlenecks, and if you’re trying to take nice photos, you will need some patience. 

It’s one of the most popular attractions in all of Paris, and it will be heaving all day. 

Things to do near Palais Garnier

After you have finished exploring Palais Garnier, there are many attractions near the opera house worth seeing.

Here are some of the enchanting places I would recommend.

Starbucks Opera

I rarely write about café chains on my blog, but I feel that Starbucks Opera Paris has to be the exception.

Mere inches away from the majestic Palais Garnier, you can treat yourself to a coffee in a setting made for royalty.

The setting is filled with marble columns, colourful murals, gold-gilded walls and sparkling chandeliers. It’s utterly majestic.

Galeries Lafayette & Rooftop

One of the best free rooftop views in Paris can be found at the very top of Galeries Lafayette.

If you weren’t aware, it’s a very famous luxury department store in the city that has an iconic glass dome inside.

If you head up to the 7th floor, you’ll be treated to a panoramic terrace with views over the Palais Garnier and Eiffel Tower. 

There is a restaurant up here called Créatures as well. In the summer, they usually have a pop-up bar, deckchairs, and events.

Galerie Vivienne

Galeries Lafayette is extremely busy, but a hidden gem you may prefer is Galerie Vivienne, which doesn’t see as many crowds.

It’s a stunning shopping arcade and passage that was constructed in 1823 and is completely free to browse.

The interiors are stunning, and you can explore many gorgeous boutiques and art galleries.

At the very least, visit the famous Librairie Jousseaume bookshop.

Palais-Royal

Palais-Royal is a beautiful former royal palace that was built for Cardinal Richelieu from 1633 to 1639 by architect Jacques Lemercier. 

Yes, that’s the same guy from Alexandre Dumas’s 1844 novel, The Three Musketeers! 

Today, the palace is now a series of government buildings, but the park that lies within it is free to visit.

As part of your visit, you can see the shopping arcades, Palais Royale courtyard, and the controversial black and white columns.

The Louvre

Just next door, you can visit the Louvre. The most famous art museum in the world. 

Inside, you can see masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and Vénus de Milo.

Even if you don’t go inside the museum, the courtyard is worth seeing for the incredible architecture and is free.

You can visit the top of the iconic Louvre Pyramid, have coffee at Café Marly, or admire the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.

Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries sits between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. It’s another free public park.

It was ordered to be created by Catherine de Medici as an Italian garden for Tuileries Palace in 1564. 

It then acted as a French formal garden for Louis XIII and Louis XIV, and it eventually opened to the public in 1667. 

This was at the request of Charles Perrault, author of Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Puss ‘n’ Boots and other fairytales.

Since the French Revolution in the 18th century, Parisians and tourists have visited this park to meet friends, walk dogs, stroll, and relax.

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