Opera Garnier and Covered Passages Guided Tour

Itinerary

Set off on a 3-hour walking guided tour accompanied by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide who will lead you to the Palais-Royal. Here, you will set foot in the palace’s arcades, once residence of Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister of King Louis XIII during the seventeenth century. He is represented in numerous films including The Three Musketeers.

Saunter around the Colonnes de Buren located in the Cour d’Honneur, one of the inner courtyards of the “Palais-Cardinal” and discover the Jardin du Palais Royal, the palace's beautifully looked after garden. Continue your visit in the nineteenth-century Covered Passages of Paris, one of the first shopping arcades built in the city, including the renowned Galerie Choiseul and Galerie Vivienne. These richly decorated arcades are considered hidden gems, unknown to most tourists.

While you amble through Galerie Vivienne, the most famous gallery, admire the floor mosaics and the splendid window displays of high fashion boutiques, wine cellars, book shops and other traditional French stores in this practically secret shopping arcade.

The next stop will be the Palais Garnier, the majestic opera house in Paris, commissioned by the Emperor Napoleon III in 1875. Follow your guide through the most striking rooms, including the grand staircase, the impressive “Grand Foyer” and the concert hall, while you learn about the history and secrets of this architectural masterpiece.  

Finally, head to the rooftops of the Galeries Lafayette for an incredible panoramic view of the City of Lights.