Opéra Garnier is one of the most popular and famous theater venues in France. It was built in Paris, and its impressive area and building height attract the attention of not only art lovers, but also those who are interested in architectural construction and ancient monuments. The opera house became famous all over the world thanks to the novel by Gaston Leroux, who described the existence of an «underground lake» in his book «The Phantom of the Opera». A huge amount of groundwater is indeed collected in a reservoir located under the stage of the Garnier theater.
The Palais Garnier building itself is a true masterpiece of architects and constructors. The building of the theater took more than one decade. The predominance of red and gold colors in the auditorium creates a feeling of royal grandeur. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Spectators and guests are surrounded by rich beauty and monumentality from all sides. And the dome of the Opera was painted by Marc Chagall himself in the 20th century. And this combination of heavy gold and the genius light colors makes the main hall incredibly beautiful. Book your ticket in advance here.
Excursions to the Opéra Garnier
You can visit the halls and foyer of the Opera Garnier not only as a spectator, but also as a tourist. You can explore the interiors of the building on your own in the morning. Entrance for guests over 25 years old costs €14 (12-24 — 9 €). An audio guide can be purchased on site for an additional €6,50.
During your visit to the Opera you will see its legendary staircase, a hall with a dome painted by Marc Chagall, a golden gallery, an imperial box and a box of the Phantom of the Opera! From the inside, the opera is similar to Versailles and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican at the same time. This is a wonderful museum, learn more about it with an audio guide.
Here you can buy a ticket for the tour. Or just choose a date in calendar:
How to get to Opera Garnier?
To get to the Opera Garnier you can take the subway station Opéra, or RER line A, station Auber, or bus № 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 42, 52, 53, 66, 81, 95.
By the way, Opera Garnier is very conveniently located. You will find it in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, very close to the Louvre, the Champs Elysees and Montmartre. Right behind the Opera are the shopping galleries Prentham and Lafayette, so it’s also a place of rampant shopping. District 9 is both convenient, safe and there are many hotels at affordable prices.
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Getting a ticket to Paris Opera
Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office, or on the official website of the Opéra Garnier. Regular tickets cost from 10 to 200 euros depending on the type of the seat. The website of the Paris Opera gives the dates when ticket sales are open.
But we must warn you: tickets are sold out at once and often a year before the performance.
But there is a chance to get into the Opera even if you did not buy a ticket in advance. Before each performance, 1 hour 30 minutes prior to the start, returned tickets and 32 tickets «to the gallery» are being sold. These 32 seats cost €5–8 each. Means that even without a ticket, you can come to the Opera 3 hours before the start, take a place in the queue and, if you’re lucky, get a cheap ticket.
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It is also worth noting that the Opéra Garnier now prefers ballet. It is linked with theater acoustics. And if you want to get to the opera, then you should go to the Bastille Opera.
The Opéra Garnier has become a meeting place for people from high society. They still believe in the ghost of Eric, who can appear after the start of the performance, and that is why box number 5 is always empty. They never sell tickets to spectators there.
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