What is the LEAST expensive way to see the interior of Opera Garnier?
 

Will be in Paris May 6 - 13 and would LOVE to see the interior of Opera Garnier. Can one buy a tour ticket just to VIEW the Grand Foyer, Staircase, and auditorium, or must one have
a guide? Would possibly want to do this on Wednesday May 7.
Can you just "walk up" and get a ticket or must it be reserved in advance? The website is a bit confusing. Where would you buy the ticket and the price?

Thanks so much.

I bought a self guided ticket since the tour tickets for the time I was there were sold out. I waited in line about 10 to 15 minutes for the tickets. It looks like the tickets are E10 and there are options to print at home.

http://www.fnactickets.com/processre...D23750874A5655

If you want to wait until you get there you can do that too since you're not interested in a tour. I think I went in the left side entrance but there had to have been a sign for me to know where to go.

Sorry - that link doesn't work. Go to the web site, visiting times, tickets and the info is there. You can also buy the tickets at FNAC.

Thanks adrienne. If your wait in line was short, we will just get them when we are there.
We plan to go on Wednesday. I would think that they give you a sort of map to follow?
Can you get into the Grand auditorium with this ticket?

Get a friend to pay your way.

We picked up a ticket and took the tour without pre-booking. The young woman who led our tour was fantastic - a highlight of our trip. I forget how much it costs, but it certainly wasn't very expensive. We sat in the auditorium while she spoke about the Chagall ceiling, etc.

I've never taken a tour in there except a special one that was in French in the afternoon, not one of the ones run by the building. It isn't difficult to get in with a ticket and walk around without a tour. Last time I was there, they had a special exhibit in the "library" I wanted to see so I mainly went for that. I don't remember any line, it was in the morning when it opened. Their website tells you what you can see with a regular ticket and where to go to buy it. YOu are not guaranteed to see the auditorium, if they are rehearsing in there or something.

info in English
http://visitepalaisgarnier.fr/en

I'm really interested in doing a tour at the Opera when we're there in Oct. Are there English language tours?

If you're planning to go to the Musee d'Orsay, go there first-- your ticket gives you reduced rates at the Opera Garnier.

We took an English language tour last fall. Seems it was 12euro or so, one of the highlights of our trip. We were told the English tours fill up quickly, so you might want to reserve ahead of time.

<< I would think that they give you a sort of map to follow? >>

A map of what? The opera house? No - there's no map.

You can go into the auditorium. There was a rehearsal when I was there and the auditorium was dark so it was very difficult to see the ceiling.

I did the self-guided tour, was able to see the Chagall ceiling in all its splendor, didn't need a map (it's not that complicated a building!), and had to wait about 1/2 hour (as I recall) in line to get my ticket on a day in mid-May. Enjoy!

We had self guided tickets because a tour was not available. While we admired the Chagall ceiling a rehersal was going on and it was very interesting. Two guys and a table with some crew members also on stage. In the lower level there was an exhibit of jewelry and head pieces worn during performances over many years. And maybe in the library there were many sketches of ballerinas. I think we just hit it at the perfect time.