It is widely known that honey is harvested from bees grown on the roof of the Palais Garnier – of all places! Over 300 kg of honey are produced every year and you can buy some in the gift shop as you exit. If you get off at Opera, you’ll get a stunning view just as you exit the station. How to Get to the Palais Garnier?Īs always in Paris – take the metro! The closest stations are Opera and Chaussée d’Antin – La Fayette. Visiting the Palais Garnier can also be a good option for a rainy day itinerary in Paris.

The auditorium may be closed off in the case of rehearsals but there’s no way to plan around that. I visited on a bank holiday Friday morning, and it was quite crowded (but totally manageable). Coming here early or late, on a weekday, is probably your best option. Keep in mind that this is a popular place with both groups and individuals visiting. You can book your ticket in advance, and avoid the queues. If going to a show is not an option, not to worry! The Palais Garnier is open almost every day of the year. I’ll share with you a surprising update at the end of this post – stay tuned! Just make sure the show takes place at Opera Garnier and not Bastille (if you hurry up, you can get reasonably priced tickets). You could be among the lucky 2,000 spectators at one of the shows if you buy tickets to the Opera Garnier in advance. The Palais Garnier is a functioning opera house (the more modern Opera Bastille is nearby). This, along with another incident that I’ll share with you – inspired another classic, The Phantom of the Opera, which takes place in… Opera Garnier! During early construction, it was discovered that the site sat on a mini lake, which had to be drained.

Inside, it just keeps getting better and you’ll have to read further to see why. From the outside, a multi-colored marble facade is topped by golden statues and the names of opera legends. The result is a stunning masterpiece, inspired by Classic Italian architecture but finished off in classic French form. The whole area of the Opera Garnier was completely reconstructed by Baron Haussmann, appointed by Napoleon to modernize Paris but especially to open up this congested medieval city.

This was the time of Napoleon III when much of the Paris we know and love today was built. Built between 1865-1872, it was designed to impress from both outside and inside.

The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opera Garnier, is named after Charles Garnier, the genius who designed this place to house the grand opera of Paris. Paris Itinerary Why Visit the Palais Garnier?

Tour paris opera house