5 Best Performing Arts Venues in Paris, France

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Jennifer Ladonne

The performing arts scene in Paris runs the gamut from highbrow to lowbrow, cheap (or even free) to break-the-bank expensive. Venues are indoors and outdoors, opulent or spartan, and dress codes vary accordingly. Regardless of the performance you choose, it's probably unlike anything you've seen before. Parisians have an audacious sense of artistic adventure and a stunning eye for scene and staging. An added bonus in this city of classic beauty is that many of the venues themselves—from the opulent interiors of the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Royal de Versailles to the Art Deco splendor of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées—are a feast for the eyes.

One thing that sets Paris apart in the arts world is the active participation of the Ministry of Culture, which sponsors numerous concert halls and theaters, like the Comédie Française, that tend to present less commercial, though artistically captivating, productions. Other venues with broader appeal are known for sold-out shows and decade-long runs.

Most performances are in French, although you can find English theater productions. English-language movies are often presented undubbed, with subtitles. Of course, you don't need to speak the language to enjoy opera, classical music, dance, or the circus.

Philharmonie de Paris

La Villette Fodor's Choice

Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, this enormous silver spaceship of a building contains one of the world's finest and most expensive auditoriums. It can accommodate 2,400 music lovers, and the adjustable modular seating means you'll be able to see the stage no matter where you sit. Because the hall is home to the Orchestre de Paris, concerts are mostly classical; however, programming includes guest artists and an eclectic program of dance, pop, jazz, and world music performances that appeal to patrons with more diverse tastes—and smaller budgets. There are also excellent programs for kids. Part of the same complex (formerly known as the Cité de la Musique), Philharmonie 2 features a 1,000-seat concert hall and a 250-seat amphitheater and presents an eclectic range of concerts (some of which are free) in a postmodern setting. The newly opened restaurant L'Envol, with to-die-for views, is designed to provide "healthy, straightforward" gourmet meals pre- or post-performance by a former Top Chef candidate. There's also a café for snacks, coffee, or drinks. The Philharmonie de Paris is a 45-minute métro ride from downtown, and 600 parking spaces are also available.

Days Off Festival

Eastern Paris
Held over 10 days in early July at the Philharmonie de Paris, this festival focuses on pop-rock, with some jazz and electro thrown in for good measure. Headliners like Rufus Wainwright and Blur frontman Damon Albarn lure Parisians away from their offices. Tickets can cost as much as €50.

Festival d'Automne à Paris

Since 1972, the Paris Autumn Festival has featured a packed program that includes contemporary dance, theater, music, the visual arts, and film. From September to December, 100,000 fans attend 50 productions from more than a dozen countries. They're staged in assorted venues in and around the city, and tickets cost €8 to €35.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Fête de la Musique

Also known as World Music Day, Fête de la Musique is an international festival founded in 1981 by French minister of culture Jack Lang. On June 21 (the summer solstice), free concerts by amateurs and professionals alike are performed on city streets and in village squares throughout France. In Paris, it's an all-night party (literally, noise regulations are overlooked) and a great opportunity to join in the fun, hear some great music, and blend in like a Parisian.

Grand Palais Ephemère

Eiffel Tower

This soaring two-and-a-half-acre structure—a stand-in for the original while it undergoes massive renovations—was designed by Paris uber-architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte as a contemporary, and temporary, rendering of its namesake. Taking pride of place at the foot of the Eiffel Tower's Champs de Mars, the wood-and-transparent-plastic edifice is home to everything from blockbuster art exhibitions and fairs to concerts, fashion shows, and sporting events, and will also host some of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic sporting events.