Museum · Champs-Elysees
Grand Palais
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The Grand Palais is one of Paris's most spectacular Belle Époque monuments, a vast exhibition hall built for the 1900 World's Fair, crowned by an immense glass-and-steel barrel-vaulted roof, the largest of its kind in Europe. Light floods the cavernous nave beneath the dome, which hosts the city's grandest art exhibitions, fashion shows, and major cultural events. Its stone facade, with columns, friezes, and bronze chariots, faces the Petit Palais across an avenue near the Champs-Élysées.
It reopened after a major multi-year restoration, restoring the glory of the glass nave. You typically visit for a specific exhibition or event (book ahead), but the architecture alone, especially the soaring glass roof, is reason enough. Combine it with the free Petit Palais opposite and a Champs-Élysées walk.
Don't miss
- The vast glass-and-steel barrel-vaulted nave
- Grand art exhibitions and cultural events
- The Beaux-Arts stone facade and bronze chariots
- Its pairing with the Petit Palais opposite
- The restored Belle Époque architecture
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Grand Palais
You can visit on your own (access is generally tied to a specific exhibition or event, paid, and best booked online ahead). A tour adds transport and a guide, or combines nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inParis by Night Walking Tour: Ghosts, Mysteries and Legends4.3★ · 962 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$17 per personSee dates →
Most bookedLouvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access4.5★ · 12,892 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$74 per personSee dates →
Top ratedParis Notre-Dame Interior or Exterior Walking Tour4.9★ · 2,293 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$35 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Know before you go
- You usually visit for a specific exhibition or event, check the programme and book ahead.
- The glass-roofed nave is the architectural highlight.
- Pair it with the free Petit Palais directly opposite.
- It reopened after a major restoration, confirm current shows and access.
A bit of history
Built for the Exposition Universelle of 1900 alongside the Petit Palais, the Grand Palais was designed to showcase French art and industry beneath its record-breaking glass roof. After a long restoration completed in the 2020s, it returned as a premier venue for exhibitions and events.
Common questions
Can I just walk in to see the building?
Access is generally tied to a ticketed exhibition or event rather than free general entry, so check the current programme and book ahead.
What's special about it?
Its enormous glass-and-steel barrel-vaulted roof, the largest in Europe, over a light-filled nave, plus its grand Beaux-Arts architecture from the 1900 World's Fair.
What's nearby?
The free Petit Palais is directly opposite, and the Champs-Élysées is a short walk away.
Is it open after restoration?
Yes, it reopened following a major multi-year restoration; check the current exhibition schedule before visiting.
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