How to Skip the Line at the Palais Garnier
Book your visit online on operadeparis.fr, as the official site says tickets aren't sold on site. Prices changed in February (a full self-guided rate of about €25, with a lower rate for EEA residents). Check the rehearsal calendar first: the auditorium often closes without warning, and some days the building closes early. Go at opening for a calm Grand Foyer.
- Self-guided visit
- About €25 full rate, about €15 for EEA residents (from Feb)
- Booking
- Online only, according to the official site
- Closures
- Rehearsals can close the auditorium or shorten opening hours
- Hours
- Usually 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4:30 pm)
- Best time
- Opening, on a weekday
- Busiest
- Afternoons, weekends and school holidays
- Time to allow
- 1-1.5 hours
How long are the lines at the Palais Garnier?
The Palais Garnier, Paris's opulent 19th-century opera house, is usually less crowded than the big museums. With an online ticket, you'll mostly wait for security. The main frustration isn't queues but rehearsals, which can close the auditorium (with Chagall's ceiling) at short notice.
Before you go, check how busy the Palais Garnier is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for French holidays, school breaks and weather.
Check today’s crowds at Palais Garnier →