Is the Opera in Paris free to get in? I don't think I neccessarily need a tour. I just want to see the grand staircase and the foyer, etc.

Also, I know the Notre Dame offers free tours at 2 pm on certain days. Does the Opera offer this too?

Last summer it was 9 euros IIRC for entry.

Thanks! Paris - do you think this is a must see when in Paris? I only have 4 days, so I need to prioritize. I have heard it is beautiful.

It's actually called the Palais Garnier now to distinguish it from the opera house at Bastille.

We were able to go into the Palais and look at the lobby without buying a ticket to see the entire house.

Underhill - Oh really? That sounds like what I want to do. I want to see the lobby, grand staircase, etc. How does that work if I want to just spend 10 minutes in the lobby area? Do I just go right in?

If you buy a ticket, you don't have to take a tour. It might be worth it to see the inside of the auditorium, including the ceiling painted by Chagall:

http://travel.sulekha.com/france/par...-garnier-1.jpg

Here's the visitor's info from the website:

http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/liv...ex.php?lang=en

yes, you can go in and "peek"

If I had 4 days I would give the Opera Garnier a miss. It took 6 trips to Paris before I finally went last summer and I thought it was ghastly.

But I am not an Opera fan. Nor am I a fan of Chagall and I found that ceiling completely out of place with the rest of the building.

It all boils down to personal likes and dislikes as I know many here swoon at the thought of the place. But it's not for me.

Rob

Yes, anybody can walk into the lobby if the ticket office is open.

The ticket office has been moved from the lobby to the back of the building for both guided tours and indepentant views. The front doors are closed and you enter from the back after buying your ticket.

I finally was able to get to the Opera House and after paying E9 to see Chagall's ceiling was greatly disappointed because there was a rehearsal while I was there and the auditorium was very dark.

It sounds like the entry has changed, but even before it was just the lobby you could see. You had to pay to go beyond the staircase and even then you only got to go into a box to look up at the Chagall ceiling. I think w/only 4 days I would wait for another trip unless you are a huge fan of the architecture of the building. It is beautiful and I think the tour is well worth it. There is at least one tour a day in English and your are taken throughout the building. It is however 2 or so hours long and with eveything else to see in Paris may not be at the top of your list.

The guided tour is 90 minutes and if you just show up to buy tickets right before the tour they will most likely be sold out for the next time slot or for that day. The English tours are Wednesday, Saturdays, and Sundays at 11:30 and 2:30; daily during July and August. You can order tickets on line. Self guided tours are daily.

http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/liv...x.php?&lang=en

If you scroll to the bottom you will see the ticket entrance location.

IMHO, worth every second. it's my favorite building in Paris. sounds like they changed the entrance, we have always entered thru the front and the ticket office was to the left.