palais garnier guided tours

The Bastille Opera

Visit The Palais Garnier

Discover its history, its treasures...

© Marc Walter / OnP

Exceptional closures

• Closed in the morning
• Closed in the afternoon
• Exceptional closure
• Restricted access*

Click on a date to see detailed schedules

*Restricted access: As some areas are partially accessible, the reduced rate applies to individual self-guided visitors over 25 years old.

• Individuals

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Booking is strongly recommended.

Prices, opening hours and conditions of booking

Available with a multimedia guide service

© Charles-Henry Bédué / OnP

GUIDED TOURS

Discover our classic overall tours of the theatre including a presentation of its history, architecture and its different activities. You can also book a themed guided tour, for a unique and unusual visit after opening hours. 

Individual self-guided visits – information

Palais Garnier is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (box office sales from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), except except closures (refer to the calendar below).

Last entry one hour before closing time.

For reasons related to theater activity, the auditorium is regularly inaccessible to visitors and some areas may be closed.

INFORMATION

By phone: 08 92 89 90 90 (0,35€/min) and from outside France: +33 1 71 25 24 23, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm.

BOOKING CONDITIONS Sales are open for the next 60 days.

Book your ticket

• Online by clicking on the button “BOOK” for the visit of your choice. You will be redirected to a page to create your Paris Opera account (or login if you are already registered).
• On the Paris Opera application
• By phone on 08 92 89 90 90 (+33 1 71 25 24 23 if calling from abroad)
• At the Palais Garnier’s desks : open every day from 11 am to 4 pm.   
• At automatic terminals located in the Palais Garnier’s hall (ticketing area). Payment by credit only.

Reduced rates and free tickets are subject to presentation of a valid proof of eligibility and an identity document at the entrance to the Palais Garnier.

Full rate: adult over 25 years old.

Reduced rate*:

• Young people aged 12-25;
• Family offer (for 4 paying tickets including one ticket for a young person aged 12 to 25);
• Reduced partner rate for holders of : ○ a valid Opera subscriber card; ○ a visit ticket for the Bastille Opera (less than one year old); ○ a maximum 8-days old ticket for the Musée d’Orsay or Musée Gustave Moreau*; ○ the Pass Navigo, Pass senior or Imagine’R card, on presentation of a Navigo Certificate of subscription** ;

* The reduced rate for the purchase of a ticket to the Musée d'Orsay or the Musée Gustave Moreau is also offered to holders of a ticket to visit the Palais Garnier, up to 8 days after the purchase of this ticket. **Valid for two persons – Navigo Culture

Free admission*:

• Children under the age of 12;
• Person with disability and one helper (limited to one helper per person with disability);
• The unemployed, recipients of social assistance / RSA / other minimum social benefits (document dated within the last 3 months);
• Free partners for holders of: ○ The Pass’ Jeunes Opéra; ○ A valid Young Adult Opera suscriber card; ○ The AROP Particulier card ; ○ The Carte Culture issued by the French Ministry of Culture (valid for two persons); ○ The Bibliothèque nationale de France’s reader’s card (admission to the reading room of the Opera’s Library-museum); ○ The Bibliothèque nationale de France’s reader’s card (admission to the reading room of the Opera’s Library-museum);
• The French professional tour guide card (rate available on request from the groups and professionals department to prepare a visit : [email protected] ).

ACCESSIBILITY The temporary exhibitions’ area and the shop are not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Revelacio, our multimédia tablet service

MULTIMEDIA TOUR

A magically enlightening 90-minute multimedia voyage, enriched with archival images and interviews with specialists of the Opera and its history. During the tour, thanks to augmented reality, the most emblematic and inaccessible areas of the building, such as the Foyer de la Danse and the Costume Depository, also become accessible. Explore the auditorium, inspect Marc Chagall’s ceiling, the paintings in the Grand Foyer and the façade of the Palais Garnier.

Make your own way around the Palais Garnier or follow a suggested route.

An interactive plan to guide you.

• Device: iPad mini
• Price: €8 ( €7 pre-purchased online)
• Length of visit: 90 mins
• Languages available: French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean

For children (6-13 years, recommended age):

Let Zoé ballerina of the Opera take you on a tour of Charles Garnier’s architectural masterpiece. The legends of the Palais Garnier will hold no secrets for you or your children (6 to 13 years old) thanks to this 1 hour-interactive tour (games throughout the tour).

• Device: iPad
• Price: €6,50
• Length of visit: 1 hr
• Languages available: French, English, Spanish

Accessibility:

Specially designed tours are available for blind or partially-sighted visitors (on audioguide, duration 1h15, available in French) as well as deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors (on iPad mini, duration 1h30, available in French Sign Language).

• Device: audioguide or iPad mini
• Length of visit: 1h15 to 1h30
• Languages available: French, French sign language

At the moment

Exhibition - Rudolf Nureyev

From 21 December 2023 to 5 April 2024 at the Paris Opera's Library-museum - Palais Garnier This exhibition is accessible as part of Palais Garnier tour.

Immersive game tour

Experience an incredible investigation in the heart of the Palais Garnier! Follow in the footsteps of Arsène Lupin and try to unravel the only mystery that has ever eluded him: the secret of Cagliostro...  Prices: from €20 to €28

Further information

Virtual tour.

In partnership with the Google Cultural Institute, discover the theatre and its masterpieces as if you were actually there.  

Chidren games experience

A funny document for the children to explore the Palais Garnier and discover its history, while playing a game.  

At the heart of the Palais Garnier, the Devialet acoustic discovery room showcases wireless speakers, among which the "Gold Phantom Opéra de Paris". Informations: devialet.com , +33 9 63 53 20 79

To discover

Palais Garnier, La Pythie, oeuvre de Marcello (pseudonyme d'Adèle d'Affry, duchesse Castiglione Colonna), située au bas du grand escalier. © Jean-Pierre Delagarde / OnP

Palais Garnier, le grand escalier © Jean-Pierre Delagarde / OnP

Palais Garnier, le grand foyer © Jean-Pierre Delagarde / OnP

Palais Garnier, salon du Glacier © Jean-Pierre Delagarde /OnP

Palais Garnier, la rotonde des abonnés © Jean-Pierre Delagarde / OnP

© BnF/BmO

Jean-Philippe Rameau, un des compositeurs dont la statue orne le grand vestibule du Palais Garnier © Jean-Pierre Delagarde

BASSIN DE LA PITHYE, GRAND ESCALIER

Beyond the Rotonde des Abonnés, the Bassin de la Pythia leads to the Grand Escalier with its magnificent thirty-meter-high vault. Built of marble of various colours, it is home to the double staircase leading to the foyers and the various floors of the theatre. At the bottom of the stairs, a true theatre within the theatre, two female allegories holding torches greet spectators.

SALON DU GLACIER, FOYER

At the end of a long gallery is the Rotunde du Glacier, a fresh and bright rotunda with a ceiling painted by Clairin (1843-1919) and featuring dancing bacchantes and fauna, along with tapestries illustrating different refreshments as well as fishing and hunting. Completed after the opening of the Palais Garnier, this salon evokes the aesthetic of the Belle Époque. The vault of the Avant-Foyer is covered with mosaics of shimmering colours on a gold background. The view of the Grand Staircase is spectacular. The play of light between mirrors and windows in the Grand Foyer further accentuates the latter's vast dimensions. The ceiling painted by Paul Baudry (1828-1886) features themes from the history of music. The lyre is the main element: it reigns over all the decorative vocabulary, be it on capitals, heating grids or doorknobs. A copy of Charles Garnier's bust by the sculptor Carpeaux (1827-1875) is located in the centre of the foyer, near a window looking down the Avenue de l'Opera towards the Louvre. The view can be enjoyed even more from the loggia. The Salons du Soleil et de la Lune offer a symbolic and poetic transition to the other areas.

library-museum of the opera

The collections of the Library-Museum of the Opera (National Library of France) conserve three centuries of the theatre's history. The museum gallery houses a permanent exhibition of paintings, drawings, photographs and set models. After the fall of the Empire, the premises were never completed: in the staircase leading to the temporary exhibition hall, remain the massive stone blocks dating from 1870. Access to the reading room, located in the Rotunde de l'Empereur, is restricted to researchers.

GALERIE DE L'ORCHESTRE, GRAND VESTIBULE

The Galerie de l'Orchestre offers a last glance of the Palais Garnier and an audiovisual exhibition recounting its history. The Grand Vestibule, watched over by the statues of the four composers Rameau, Lully, Gluck and Handel, leads to the exit.

the auditorium

For reasons related to theater activity, the performance hall is regularly inaccessible to visitors.

In the tradition of Italian theatre, the horseshoe-shaped "French" auditorium, so-called for the way the seats are arranged according to their category, was designed for the audience to see and to be seen. Its metallic structure, hidden by marble, stucco, velvet and gilding, supports the weight of the 8-ton bronze and crystal chandelier with its 340 lights. The house curtain was created by theatrical painters Auguste Rube (1817-1899) and Philippe Chaperon (1823-1906), following Charles Garnier's instructions. The curtain was replaced by an identical one in both 1951 and 1996. The ceiling painted by Marc Chagall and commissioned by the Minister of Culture André Malraux was inaugurated on September 23, 1964.

ACCESS  Entrance at the corner of Scribe and Auber streets 75009 Paris

Access to the Palais Garnier

Metro: Opéra station (lines 3, 7 and 8) RER: Auber station (line A) Bus: lines 20, 21, 27, 29, 32, 45, 52, 66, 68, 95 Car park: Q-Park Edouard VII - Rue Bruno Coquatrix 75009 Paris (in front of 23 Rue de Caumartin) Reserve your parking space

CONTACTS Individuals

+33 1 71 25 24 23 (0.35€/min) or on-site, at the desks or automatic terminals.

Guided tours +33 (1) 89 16 83 02 (0.15€/min) or [email protected] https://www.manatour.fr/opera

[email protected]

Prepare your visit

Accessibility.

The Palais Garnier offers a safe access to persons with reduced mobility, in wheelchair or with visual disabilities (except places for temporary exhibitions). 

Information and Booking +33 1 40 01 18 50 (from Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm). accessibilité@operadeparis.fr   

ON-SITE SERVICES

Please note that the cloakrooms are not available for visitors.

The book and gift shop

From Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm and until the end of performances; and from 10:30 am to 6 pm from 17 th July to 30 th August. Access from street Havély or from the theatre public areas. Information: +33 1 53 43 03 97

CoCo Restaurant

Open everyday from 7:30am to 2am (last service at 11pm).

1, place Jacques Rouché - 75009 Paris (at the right of the theatre façade).

Booking: +33 1 42 68 86 80 coco-paris.com      

Visit also the Bastille Opera

The Paris Opera offers you the possibility to discover the backstage world of this modern theatre, whose dimensions are impressive, created in 1989 by Carlos Ott. 

Immerse in the Paris Opera universe

Business Space

Patronage and sponsorship.

• Your support
• The projects
• Your level of engagement
• The benefits you want to enjoy

Your public relations operations

• Premium tickets
• Business club

Rental of spaces and filming

• Rental of space Garnier
• Rental of space Bastille

Brand license and advertising space purchases

• The programs
• The website
• Show tickets
• The annual brochure
• The “Children dreams” Morning
• The Opening Gala and the “Gala des grandes voix”

Place de l’Opéra 75009 Paris

Place de la Bastille 75012 Paris

Download the application for free Opéra de Paris

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A Worthwhile Guided Tour: Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier)

I much prefer taking guided tours when I travel because the learning is interactive. I often start to daydream when the self-guided audio-tour I’ve been given goes on and on and on. After a while it just becomes boring and I zone out. That’s why I especially liked taking the guided tour of the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), which, according to Tripadvisor, is #4 on the list of top attractions in Paris attracting almost 480,000 visitors a year. 

The in-depth, expert commentary about the building’s creation, architecture, and history was one thing. But being able to ask questions and discuss things with our tour guide made the experience more meaningful and worthwhile and our tour guide really brought the building and history to life. If you’re going to do a guided tour, do it at the Palais Garnier, considered one of the world’s grandest theatres.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I get a small commission at no extra charge to you. It helps support the running of this website and I do appreciate your help.*

1. Palais Garnier Opera House Tour, Paris

About a month before visiting the Paris Opera House, my niece, her husband, and I ordered tickets online for the guided tour. We chose one of the morning, English-speaking tours. In addition to French and English tours, there are also Spanish-speaking tours with a maximum of 30 people. The cost of the guided tour is currently 18.5 €  and the self-guided visit is 14 € where you get access to the public areas and any exhibitions going on.

With the self-guided tour, you can pay an extra 6.5 € to get a tablet which will provide you with a 1 hour multi-media tour through the opera. So it’s actually quite reasonable to take the guided tour.

We arrived 30 minutes before the tour was to start to exchange our voucher for our tickets. We then had to go through security and join the other ticket-holders in a waiting area, the Rotonde des Abbonées.

Consider Booking Tickets To See A Show At The Palais Garnier : Really keen on seeing a ballet, a concert, an opera, or even demonstrations of the Paris Opera Dance School at the Palais Garnier? Check out what’s available and the best prices here: Performances At Palais Garnier .

(a) The Rotonde des Abbonées

The Rotonde des Abbonées is a circular room or vestibule that has pillars on the perimeter, mosaic tiles on the floor, and a very decorative ceiling. Throughout much of the Paris Opera there are symbols of Greek mythology and as you head to the Grand Escalier (Grand Staircase) you pass by La Pythonisse (or Pythia), priestess of the god Apollo greets you.

Interesting fact #1 : the Pythia sculpture was done in bronze by Marcello who was actually a woman, Adèle d’Affry, the Duchess Castiglione-Colonna.

You might also like to read these posts:  – What’s So Special About The Wallace Fountains In Paris? Free Water – Where You’ll See Famous Arches In France   – Best Views Of Paris? From The Pantheon Dome 

(b) Special Headphones

Our tour guide spoke excellent English and explained how the opera house can get very busy and crowded and rather than try to speak over all the voices, she would speak into a microphone and we would be able to clearly hear her using special headphones. These headsets amplified her voice but her words remained very clear. And no matter how close or far we were from her, we could hear her.

We did have to provide her with a piece of identification (ie. license or passport) that she held onto in exchange for the headphones. This is not uncommon when you borrow audio-guides at museums.

During our 90 minute tour, was informative and provided interesting commentary. Of course, she elaborated on the Phantom of the Opera and parts of the story that were true and not true. She took us to various areas and rooms and gave us time to take photos, wander around a bit, and ask questions. 

2. History Of Palais Garnier

She began our tour by telling us some stories about the opera’s history. Napoleon III was on a mission to reconstruct and modernize Paris, adding sewers, creating grand boulevards and more light to the area. This was done with the help of Baron Haussmann.

A competition was established to choose a design for the new Opera House. There would be 2 phrases where applicants would be narrowed down to 7 in the 2nd phase. Architect Charles Garnier was one of 7 finalists and after revising his project, it was finally selected as the winning design. He began construction of the Opera in 1861.

The Paris Opera house was one of the most expensive buildings to be built at a cost of 7.5 million francs.

Interesting fact #2: the Opera House was so expensive that the government had to borrow over half of the money (4.9 million francs) from wealthy entrepreneur, François Blanc, who managed Monaco’s Monte Carlo Casino.

Palais Garnier was finally completed January 5, 1875. Electrical lighting was installed in 1881. Up until then gas lighting was used. The opera house was originally called Salle des Capucines but became known as the Palais Garnier, named after the architect.

Interesting fact #3 : during the construction, water kept seeping into the basement,  and eventually a pond was formed and Garnier decided to create an artificial reservoir or pond to hold the water.

Interesting fact #4 : in 1896, a part of an enormous chandelier—a counterweight—broke free and fell, killing one person. In 1910, author Gaston Leroux used the area of water or “lake” of stores as well as the chandelier incident as inspiration for his famous story, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (The Phantom of the Opera). The story and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name has certainly made the Palais Garnier even more famous.

The Paris Opera House is one of the largest and opulent opera houses in Europe, seating almost 2000 people. It became a national heritage site—“Monument Historique“—  in 1923.

3. The Highlights Of The Palais Garnier

We were brought to various rooms and areas in the building, including the famed auditorium, where you can see the famous painting that Marc Chagall did on the ceiling. The style of the architecture throughout was eclectic with a mix of Greek, Baroque, Renaissance, and Beaux-Arts styles.

(a) Grand Escalier (Staircase)

As you climb the Grand Staircase from La Rotonde des Abbonées, you are presented with additional staircases and landings which take you to the different floors, salons, and foyers. The staircases are made primarily of white marble with additional added coloured marble columns (balustrade) supporting the railings. There are two female sculptures, dressed in robes, on each side of the entrance to the orchestra and balconies.

This whole area was for socializing before the performance. Spectators were surrounded by broad staircases, painted ceilings, and elaborate chandeliers.

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(b) Ceilings

Remember to look UP in the Opera house where ever you are because you’ll see elaborate ceilings and enormous chandeliers. The ceiling above the Grand Staircase was done in 4 panels with scenes from Greek mythology by Isidore Pils (1815-1875).

Interesting fact #5: part way through the painting of the ceiling, Pils became ill and his students (many who became famous in their own right), had to finish his work.

(c) Grand Foyer

The Grand Foyer is quite impressive and ornate. It reminds me of Château de Versaille’s Hall of Mirrors where the light streams through the many windows and illuminates the many chandeliers, gold painted pillars and walls, grand mirrors, and the colourfully decorated paintings on the ceiling by Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry (1828-1886).

(d) Salon du Glacier

The Galleria du Glacier is a long hallway featuring elements and designs of the Belle Époque and it leads to the Salon du Glacier, a rotunda that was opened after the opening of the Opera House. It has another large chandelier and an decorated ceiling painted by Georges Clairin (1843-1919). In this area there are also marble busts, tapestries of hunting and fishing scenes and paintings of dancing Greek Bacchantes.

(e) Library-Museum Of The Paris Opera

Quite surprising to many of us was that the Paris Opera is also a library-museum (Bibliotèque-Musée de l’Opera de Paris). There are many sites that belong to the Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France) including the Richelieu Library which I recommend visiting so you can see the magnificent Labrouste Reading Room (the Salle Labrouste).

This particular library and museum contains hundreds of thousands of documents, paintings, photographs, letters, and other items which date back hundreds of years.

(f) Auditorium: Marc Chagall’s Painting On The Ceiling

One of the items on display in the Library-museum is actually the initial ceiling for the auditorium. It was painted by Jules-Eugene Lenepveu and was called, “The Muses and the Hours of the Day and Night”.

Interesting fact #6: Lenepveu’s painting was considered too old-fashioned and in 1964, French Culture Minister, André Malraux, commissioned artists Marc Chagall to paint a new ceiling. This is the painting that is there today; however, there continues to be controversy about the painting and whether it is appropriate for its surroundings, where many consider it too modern.

The chandelier in the centre has 340 lights, weighs 8 tons, and is made of bronze and crystal. At the time it cost 30,000 francs. Even the chandelier had controversy. There were complaints that the chandelier obstructed the view and Lenepveu’s painting of the ceiling by those sitting in the box seats on the fourth level.

There is NO guarantee that you will have access to the auditorium on the self-guided or guided tours as there could be rehearsals going on. We were fortunate to be able to visit it and sit on the very plush seats.

Our tour also allowed us to “peak” into one of the opera boxes) which are located on the side or facing the stage called loge de côté and loges de face)—-a separate room where 4-6 guests can watch a performance in the privacy of their own “space”. You might also be able to visit box #5, which is the Phantom’s box in the story. The plaque on the door, “Loge du Fantôme de l’Opera” indicates the box is reserved for the Phantom. 

4. Attend A Performance At The Paris Opera House

We didn’t really have much time to gaze around the horseshoe-shaped auditorium; however, many years before this tour, I did attend a ballet with a friend.

When we arrived at the Opera, we couldn’t get a ticket for a tour, but we could get last-minute tickets to see a performance by the American Ballet, so we bought tickets. Our box was very high up and we had it all to ourselves. I will be very honest and say I had to leave early. It was in the summertime and the heat was just too much. (Remember, hot air rises!) I was getting faint! It was a long time ago and there wasn’t air conditioning.

Does the Palais Garnier have air conditioning today? I have heard yes, however, if you are on one of the highest levels it can still get stuffy and hot in those boxes. The only downside of seeing the ballet was that we didn’t really get to see all the salons, rooms, and areas of the Opera House, which is why I did the tour many years later.

5. The “Other” Opera House: Opera Bastille

There is another opera house in Paris. In 1989 the Opera Bastille was constructed and is located at Place de la Bastille. This is now the location for operas. Palais Garnier is primarily used for ballet performances.

Between 1994 and 2007 major renovations were made on the Palais Garnier to modernize the stage, improve the electrical components, and reinforce the structure and foundation. The architecture is stunning and the Opera House Paris tour is well worth the 18.5€ . On the Palais Garnier website you can see that their calendar indicates the number of available spots on the tour and quite often many are available.

6. Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier)

• Visit The Palais Garnier (website) : https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier
• Hours: open daily 10:00-5:00  (and 10-6 pm in the summer) except for afternoons when there are performances
• Most guided tours: are at 2:00 pm.
• Cost for the guided tour tickets : 18.5€*
• Reduced rate: if you have a ticket from the Musée d’Orsay or Musée Gustave Moreau that is not greater than 8 days old you can save a few Euros on the cost of your ticket.
• To check out what shows you can see and the best prices, click here : Performances At Palais Garnier .
• Address : Place de l’Opera

*Prices are subject to change.

Check out my post about booking tours in advance for more information: Trip Advice Part 1

TRAVEL RESOURCES Booking.com and Expedia : are the companies I use for finding accommodations. VRBO : is super for booking apartments and houses.  AutoEurope : is the only car rental supplier that I will use–with the best prices, and they will refund the difference if the price goes down.  Trainline : offers an easy way to book train tickets. Get Your Guide and Viator : Both offer tours, city cards, tickets, airport pickups, and so many other things you’ll need at your destination. Orange SIM Card -this is the company I use when I want a physical SIM card Airalo eSIM -offers eSIMS and get great reviews

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I've travelled to France over 35 times and love sharing my tips and unique experiences not always mentioned in travel guides. You can learn more about me by visiting my About Page . Subscribe to join my newsletter. Community members get access to free exclusive content and bonuses.

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The Opera Garnier Guided Tour

Choose your date From 19€/person

• Information

Theatre tour

Recommended for all ages

In French or English

Highlights: The Opera Garnier Guided Tour

Welcome to the most prestigious opera and ballet house in all of Paris! Book a tour with a professional guide to discover the historical and architectural wonders of the ornate Palais Garnier. Should you choose to visit the Opéra Garnier at 5 p.m., after its doors are shut to the public, your guide will take you on a journey following the footsteps of Erik – the famed Phantom of the Opera from Gaston Leroux's novel! Visit the Palais Garnier to uncover the secrets and myths of this palace that seems to transcend time itself…

Story: The Opera Garnier Guided Tour

Built in 1875 by architect Charles Garnier, the Palais Garnier is the largest opera house in Europe, housing more than 2,000 seats under its elaborate roof. As well as being regarded as the most prestigious of Paris' theatres, the Opéra Garnier is also one of the capital's most emblematic monuments, a museum in its own right with a spectacular selection of paintings, sculptures, and fascinating architectural features.

Your tour begins at the Rotonde des Abonnés, a glorious vestibule which once served as the audience entrance. Your guide will then lead you to the fascinating statue of the Pythia, and then to the Grand Escalier - a lavish split staircase with grandiose decor, featuring marble, onyx, copper, paintings, gilding, and mosaics. At its summit, you will then reach the Grand Foyer. You may find that its splendor and captivating use of mirrors and windows are reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles. Technical and artistic conditions permitting, you will also have access to the auditorium.

To make your visit to the Paris opera an exquisitely unique experience, you can choose to visit in the evening (5 p.m.), after the Palais Garnier is closed to the public. Your guide will take you on a tour in the footsteps of the Phantom of the Opera, the titular character from the celebrated novel by Gaston Leroux. As you discover the secrets and anecdotes of this historically and culturally rich palace, you will enjoy the rare privilege of having the entire monument to yourself, and exclusive access to the dressing room number 5 – that of the ghost himself. This tour offers you a rare opportunity to learn all of the facts and secrets about Paris' most revered (and most mysterious!) monument from an insider's perspective. What are you waiting for…?

Book a guided tour for your group of 10+ people!

Fancy sharing your trip to the Opera de Paris with friends? Look no further - Theatre in Paris offers guided group tours of this architectural relic! Indulge in an unparalleled journey through time with your closest companions and marvel as the secrets and surprises of this enchanting edifice unfold before your very eyes… a beautiful experience to share with friends and family. Enjoy reduced rates for larger groups - get in touch!

Contact us at [email protected] to make your reservation! If you are interested in booking for a group of 10 or more people , we ask that you please book at least 45 days in advance . For groups of any size, we strongly recommend booking in advance of your desired dates to guarantee your place. We’ll see you there…!

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Opéra Palais Garnier

One of the most prestigious stages in all of France, the Palais Garnier was constructed between 1860 and 1875, designed by legendary architect Charles Garnier, who was selected among a handful of talented architects in a fierce design competition. The building itself is considered an artful masterpiece, and was one of the most expensive construction projects to come from the Second French Empire under the reign of Napoléon III. The elaborate use of different materials to lend a lavish multicolored facade was typical of many of the works under the rule of Napoléon III, and features sculptures of various figures of Greek mythology. The official inauguration in 1875 was attended by the Mayor of London and Amsterdam, the King Alphonso XII of Spain, and hundreds of members from European high society.

The interior was meticulously designed with intertwining corridors, alcoves and landings to allow for easy movement of large numbers of people; complete with a grand marble staircase and the grand foyer, acting as the drawing room for all of Paris high society and covered in gilded paintings. The auditorium itself is in a traditional Italian horseshoe shape, seating 1900. The stage is the largest in Europe and can accommodate 450 artists, revealed by the opening of the legendary painted curtain. Garnier himself designed the 7-tonne chandelier sparkling above the audience. In 1896, one of the many chandelier counterweights broke free and killed a concierge, the incident that inspired the scenes in the 1910 novel-turned-musical The Phantom of the Opera . The space above the auditorium in the copula dome was once used strictly for cleaning the chandelier, but has since been transformed into a space for opera and dance rehearsals.

The legendary building was initially deemed the Academie Impériale de Musique, yet with the fall of the Second Empire and the start of the Third Republic, this was aptly changed for the Academie Nationale de Musique, which we see written across the exterior facade to this day. Garnier envisioned his design and the transformation of the surrounding area, and to this day the opulence of the Second Empire lives on in this living monument. The avenue de l'Opéra remains the only large Parisian corridor without trees, as Garnier explicitly prevented Haussmann from adorning the street with trees, arguing that his Palais Garnier was to be the main focus. Palais Garnier became the official name in 1989 with the construction of the Opéra Bastille, and the venue now houses primarily ballets.

Fast facts Capacity: 1,979 Handicap Accessible: Yes – in order to guarantee access to specific locations, we ask that you make your reservation at least 15 days before the performance. Air conditioning: Yes Heating: Yes Coat Check: Yes (free service)

How do I get to the venue?

The Palais Garnier is accessible by the metro station Opéra (Lines 3, 7, 8) and Auber (RER Line A). Our hotline can be reached in case of difficulty finding the venue weekdays from 10 am to 7pm Paris time. For details, we invite you to consult the map above.

What do I do when I get to the venue?

We invite you to arrive 30 minutes before the beginning of the tour. Once you have entered the building, the meeting point with your guide is located at the Rotonde des Abonnés. Please present your voucher to the guide upon your arrival.

How long does the tour last?

The guided tour of the Palais Garnier Opera House lasts 1 hour 20 minutes.

Is it a guided tour of the Palais Garnier for tourists or French people?

Both! The Palais Garnier is an iconic monument of Paris, visited as much by travelers as by the local public. Tours are offered in French or English, usually at different times. The language is indicated in the price list after you select a day and time to visit when you make your reservation, so be sure to check your choice.

Is it possible to visit the theatre and backstage?

Visitor's Guide to the Opera Garnier in Paris

19th-Century Historic Building

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Seating 2,200 people, the imposing Opera Garnier in Paris —also known as the Palais Garnier or simply the Paris Opera—is an architectural treasure and essential spot for the city's ballet and classical music scene.

Designed by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 as the Academie Nationale de Musique—Theatre de l'Opera (National Academy of Music–Opera Theater)—the neo-baroque style Opera Garnier is now the home of the Paris ballet. This does create some confusion for many tourists (ballet in the opera theater).

For anyone hoping to enjoy a Parisian Opera rendition of La Traviata or Mozart's The Magic Flute,  the city's official opera company relocated to the starkly contemporary Opera Bastille in 1989.

Location and Contact Information

The Palais Garnier is located in Paris's relatively central 9th arrondissement, more or less directly north of the Tuileries Gardens and the adjoining Louvre Museum. It's one of the crowning attractions of the Opera-Haussmann neighborhood; one of Paris's most coveted shopping districts and the hub of major department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

To make a morning or afternoon of it, you can visit the Opera, take a stroll around the old department stores, and have lunch in one of the gorgeous old 1900 brasseries in the vicinity (such as Cafe de la Paix, right across from the Opera). Then wander through the grand old streets in the vicinity—an area that's considered one of the crowning jewels of Haussmann's remodeled Paris. 

• Address: 1, place de l'Opera, 9th arrondissement
• Metro: Opera, Pyramides or Havre-Caumartin
• Website : https://www.operadeparis.fr/en

Access, Opening Hours, and Tickets

Visitors can tour the main premises of the Opera Garnier during the day and visit the site's museum, either on an individual basis or as part of a guided tour.

Opening Hours

10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (September 10th to July 15th); 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (July 15th to September 10th). Closed January 1st, May 1st. The cashier closes 30 minutes before the official closing time.

Ticket prices for ballet and other performances vary. Current performances at the Opera Garnier change so be sure to check to see what is upcoming.

Food and Dining

A recently opened restaurant situated on the Palais Garnier's eastern side (simply called "L'Opera") offers good-quality cuisine for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Fixed-price menus are available at limited times.

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Music fans of all persuasions will love the Philharmonie de Paris, the latest newcomer to the city's art landscape and offering an eclectic program of musical performances, from classical to the world to rock. Meanwhile, if you want to enjoy contemporary opera in Paris, check out the boldly modern charms of the Opera Bastille. 

Finally, for traditional French "chansons," dance, and late-night reveries check out our guide to the best traditional cabarets in Paris, from the Moulin Rouge to more avant-garde (and less expensive) revues like the Zebre de Belleville. 

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Experience Parisian Opera Culture at the Palais Garnier

Things to do in Paris Palais Garnier

Palais Garnier, also known as the Opera Garnier Paris or simply the Paris Opera is an architectural jewel in Paris with a fascinating history and prime status in Paris’s ballet and classical music milieu. An ode to Parisian architecture, the Palais Garnier is an enchanting inspiration for many and undeniably one of the most distinguished and grand opera houses in the world. The Palais Garnier is home to the Paris ballet, so anyone hoping enjoy a Parisian rendition of La Traviata or Mozart's The Magic Flute, you know where to head!

Before you set off to tour the opulent Palais Garnier, here are a few quick things you’d like to know. A brief history of the Palais Garnier, how to get the best Palais Garnier tickets , whether a guided tour or self guided tour works better and other details about the location, timings and how to get there.

Quick Jumplinks to Navigate the Guide

Palais garnier history, palais garnier tickets, inside palais garnier paris, palais garnier tour, self guided tour, expert guided tour.

• All You Need To Know About Visiting Palais Garnier - Hours & Directions

Palais Garnier Visitor Tips

Palais Garnier’s history dates back to 1860, under the auspices of Emperor Napoleon III as a part of civic planner Baron Haussmann’s plan to renovate and transform all of Paris. A contest was organised to attract proposals for the construction of the Palais Garnier. Out of the 171 proposals submitted, Charles Garnier a little-known 35-year-old architect won the comission to build Paris’s Opera House.

Charles Garnier’s winning architectural plan devised mounting a spectacle a within a spectacle, in lieu with Napoleon III ‘s bourgeoisie tastes. The intention was to keep the Palais Garnier as a place for the wealthy and powerful where the rich would aspire to be spotted. This was keeping in mind France’s late 19th century, post-revolutionary, industrialized society. The Palais Garnier is a blend of architectural styles and the freedom endowed on Charles to experiment with a totally atypical dimension allowed this to manifest. In the late 19th century French society, one did not go to the Opera to view the mastery and grace of artists but to show off your wealth and power; to be aroused.

After 15 years of construction plagued by setbacks like the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War and Siege of Paris, the Paris Commune, ultimate fall of France’s second Empire, and an 1873 fire the Palais Garnier was inaugurated on Januray 5, 1875. At the time it opened, Palais Garnier was the world's largest theatre and opera house. The Opera Garnier was part palace, part temple, part administrative center; a space where money was the new king, the new power, the new god.

The Palais Garnier till today remains an iconic symbol of Paris, not just for its magnificent façade and lavish interior, but for the era it represents: a France that had weathered a century of disruption and revolution. Viewed through this lens, Palais Garnier sure feels like a ‘sign’ of its time.

If you're looking for discounted tickets to the Palais Garnier, simply click on the Tickets tab below and book them via Headout. You can opt for a guided tour or simply purchase entry tickets and experience the Opera culture of Paris. A definite must while in the City of Lights!

Self Guided Tour of the Opera Garnier

• The Museum of the Opera • The sun and moon salons • Step over the grand staircase • Access the temporary exhibits of the Opera

Price - €12

Guided Tour of the Opera Garnier

• 90-minute tour of the Opera Garnier with access to the different areas. • English guided tour with official guides allowing a more interactive and educative experience.

This spectacle of this crowning attraction of the Opera-Haussmann neighborhood starts long before the curtain for the ballet rises. Here’s a summary of the emblematic areas at the Palais Garnier and a short glimpse of its elegant interiors.

The Exteriors

The exteriors of Palais Garnier is your coup d'œil into the realm of pomp and refinement that Charles Garnier manifested. Every inch of the building’s facade is a unique harmony between the sculpture, painting and architecture. The building dazzles with its balconies in onyx, golden statues of Apollo, smooth marble pillars, its delicate frescoes and rich gilding. To get the best view of its exteriors, walk further from the front steps to Avenue de l’Opéra till you can consume the whole of Palais Garnier, from top to bottom in all its glory.

Grand Staircase

The Grand Staircase is the first thing that commands your attention upon entrance. It is an exquisite piece of engineering marvel endowed in pink, green and white marble. Charles Garnier said it best when he proclaimed, “The opera is the staircase”. The staircase is flanked by 30 large single piece marble columns. Follow your eyes from the columns to the ceilings and meet the stunning fresco painted by Isidore Pils.A real high point of the visit, this staircase brings undeniable modernity to the building and contributes to making it an outstanding monument.

While you can’t go onto the stage, you can access the auditorium and take in a splendid views of the horseshoe shaped theatre. The Paris Opera stage is the largest in Europe and can accommodate as many as 450 artists. While the auditorium on the whole is overwhelmingly beautiful, the show stealer is the Marc Chagall ceiling and 8-ton chandelier hanging down from it.

Grand Foyer

The Grand Foyer boasts of an 18 meters high, 154 meters long and 13 meters wide hall, covered in gold and gold paint. A space intended to take stroll, take a break and mingle, the foyer is strategically located right outside the highest paying boxes. Amidst the gold and glitter, is an impressive ceiling fresco painted by Paul Baudry. Each of these frescos have some connection to art and music. The central painting is an allegory of Music flanked by smaller paintings in oval frames on either sides, one representing Comedy, the other Tragedy.

Those of you who have been to the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles , may see a resemblance. However, the Grand Foyer is definitely more visually appealing and far less crowded than the Palace of Versailles.

Opera Library-Museum

This well stocked library holds a vast collection of items stockpiled from years even before the Palais Garnier was fully constructed. Artefacts mainly pertain to opera and dance, but you will find a fine collection of , paintings, drawings, sketches, costumes, props and 3D models of stage sets. If you’re interested in knowing about the early years of Opera in Paris, a visit to this Library Museum will take you down the history lane.

If you choose to independently tour the Palais Garnier, we’d suggest going for an audio guided tour. The audio guide will help you learn in depth about the building, with anecdotes, documents and lesser known secrets, enriching your experience better. The audio guide points out features that you may have overlooked if you were to be walking without a guide or the audio device, hence ensuring that you get the best out of the Palais Garnier tour. A few things you should know before going for the Self Guided Audio Tour.

• The audio guide device costs an extra 5 Euros ( over and above the entry fee) but is completely worth the money ( and way cheaper than the guided tour).
• The audio guided tour lasts for 1 hour
• Be sure to have 5-7 Euros in cash for the audio guide as the counter accepts only cash. You are also required to leave an official photo id as a deposit while you buy the headset.
• Note, the basic self guided tour does not give you access to the auditorium.
• The Audio Guide is multilingual and available in French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Self Guided VIP Palais Garnier Tour

This “Behind the curtain” informative tour takes you through areas usually prohibited to the public. One can walk through the Foyer de la Danse, explore the auditorium, inspect Marc Chagall’s ceiling, the paintings in the Grand Foyer, the façade of the Palais Garnier and chart Palais Garnier’s history through the interactive timeline, all at your own pace.

• The VIP audio tour is offered on an iPad mini.
• The costs are higher than the basic tour. 7 Euros for a single person and 12 Euros if two tickets are bought together. This cost is over and above the entrance fee.
• This tour lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes and is available in French, English and Spanish only.

Buy Palais Garnier Self Guided Tour Tickets and save €5 on your first booking with Headout when you use promo code GOPARIS

These expert guides on guided tours unveil mysteries and give keen insights into the culture and history that led to the construction of the Opera Garnier Paris and are always more than happy to answer your doubts and queries. The guided tour even involves a 20 minute session in the auditorium where you will be seated while listening to stories about the ballet artists, elaborate decorations, French society elites who used to attend the Opera, design of the auditorium etc. Listen out for tales of Phantom of Opera in particular on the guided tour. Peering into his opera box is an all time highlight of the guided tour!.

• There are daily expert English guided Palais Garnier Tours which departs at 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM.
• The guided tour takes about 90 minutes and gives you access to all parts of Opera Garnier - the auditorium, gilded balconies, even up close the stage ( the self audio guided tour lacks access to the auditorium ).
• If the tour group size is big, you will be given headsets in order to listen to the guide clearly.
• Palais Garnier Guided tours in other foreign languages are available and details for its timings and departure can be checked on the official website.

Buy Palais Garnier Expert Guided Tour Tickets and save €5 on your first booking with Headout when you use promo code GOPARIS

All You Need To Know About Visiting Palais Garnier

Palais garnier hours.

• The Palais Garnier is open all days of the week - From September 10th to July 15th - 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM - From July 15th to September 10th - 10:00 AM to 5.30 PM • The Palais Garnier remains closed on January 1st and May 1st • The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the said day's closing time

Getting to Palais Garnier

Palais Garnier is on the corner of Rue Scribe & Rue Auber.

• By Metro - The closest Métro station is Opéra, which you can reach via Lines 3 (pea-green on the official RATP Métro map), 7 (pink), and 8 (lavender).
• By RER - If you're traveling by RER, the nearest RER stop is Auber on Line A.
• By Bus - Routes 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 42, 52, 53, 66, 68, 81 and 95 stop a short walk away from the Paris Opera.
• You can take a Palais Garnier Tour for free on the 1st Sunday of each month. Note, this also happens to be the most crowded day of the month!
• English tours are on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM. In July and August, English tours run every day at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
• If you have the Paris Pass, you can take a free English speaking tour on a first-come-first serve either at 11:00 AM or 2:30 PM.
• Since the ticket counter selling tickets for tours and theatre is combined, the lines can be slow moving. For quick entry, we’d suggest purchasing tickets for both tours and theatre online in advance. If this is a last minute plan and you are unable to buy tickets online, there is an automated ticket machines which can help you gain entry quicker.
• Admission to the auditorium may be restricted or forbidden at times for technical or artistic reasons. If you want guaranteed access to the auditorium, opting for the first tour in the morning is suggested. That way, you can avoid any potential rehearsal conflicts.
• For a sedate independent tour of the Palais Garnier, keep aside 2 hours of your day. This is including the stringent security check which will take about 30 minutes on a crowded day.
• If you're interested in seeing an Opera show, you can pre-book your tickets here . Try timing your visit such that you can squeeze in a tour and an opera show.
• The Palais Garnier roof has a honey bee hive and over 300 kgs of honey is harvested every year. You can pick up a tiny bottle from the gift shop as you exit. No better souvenir, we say!

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Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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Visiting the Palais Garnier (Insider’s Guide)

On my latest visit to Paris, I finally made my way to the Palais Garnier, also known as Paris’ famous Opera House. While I’ve been visiting Paris for years now (it is after all my favourite city in the world), for one reason or another, I was still yet to step foot inside. But visiting the Palais Garnier has long been on my Paris to do list, and here’s why it should be on yours, too!

About the Palais Garnier

For a little back story, the Palais Garnier is a master piece of 19th century theater art architecture. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful architectural structures in Paris, and one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe.

There are 1,979 seats inside the opera house at the Place de l’Opéra. While it is still operational today, tickets can be hard to come by for ballets and operas (not to mention expensive!) If you are interested in the architecture itself like I was, you can visit during the day for a guided tour. This is a great way to roam the interiors and learn the history of the opera house, without the expensive ticket price.

The Palais Garnier was built as the official Paris Opera House from 1861 to 1875. It was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III. It gained international notoriety when it was used as the backdrop for Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera.

Visiting the Palais Garnier

I visited the Palais Garnier as a day guest given my interest was more in the building itself than seeing a show. This is the best way to roam the interiors at great length, as well as learning the history. In the evening there are performances, however you can expect more crowds before and after shows.

Visiting in the morning is the best time to see the Palais Garnier. There are fewer crowds and a beautiful morning light pours in through the massive windows.

The best way to see the Opera House is to join a guided tour. We opted for a private two-hour tour to really get to know the ins and outs of the building. After all, I feel like I owed the Palais Garnier at least that after taking so long to finally visit!

This is easily one of my favourite tours I have booked in the city of Paris. While I love seeing the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, I really felt like I got a better history of the city itself on this tour. There’s so much to learn every time I visit Paris that it just never gets old! You will also learn more about the boulevards and grandeur of the city while on the tour.

Plan your visit

Opening hours:.

From Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm and until the end of performances. Access from street Havély or from the theatre public areas.

Ticket Prices:

Full rate: €14  (€12 outside exhibition periods) Reduced rate: €10  (€8 outside exhibition periods) Free admisssions  (children under 12, unemployed)

We booked a private tour of the Palais Garnier for the full Opera House experience. You can book yours here through the Paris Opera House official website.

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Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

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The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.