Will be doing a return trip to Paris in October. Planning some different experiences other then the normal tourist activities since this will be my 3rd and my wife's second trip to Paris. One thing I have bought tickets for is the opera La Boheme at the Opera National De Paris. My question is getting there and returning in the evening since it starts at 7:30PM. We are staying out near Disney Paris and do have a rental car. Would we be better off (1)Taking train there and back considering it will not end until at least 10:00PM; (2) Driving into the city and parking near Opera; or (3)Some other transportation option such as Uber. Appreciate anyone's thoughts.
Posted by
Green Bay
22526 posts
Life would be easier if you just took the RER A to Gare de Lyon. It is about a half mile walk from there, or you could take the Metro No 1, one stop to Bastille. There is a Metro entrance/exit right in front of the opera house. Takes about 1 hour each way and costs 2.50 EUR pp each way.
Posted by
Chicago
9267 posts
We are going to Boheme as well and stay on the opposite side of Paris near the western edge. (and looking forward to the 'Outer space Boheme' -- we love it when they really make use of the technical stage and do something weird.) We always take the train. The trains are hopping till they close and there will be many others returning from dinner or concerts or operas at that time. If your lodging is served by the metro and RER, that is what I would do. We have returned across Paris when the opera ends near midnight more than once. Boheme is not a particularly long opera so I would think it would not be that late.
The metro stop is actually right at the opera house and on arrival you go. underground and come up on stairs next to the main entrance -- after the show that is blocked off and you go down the entrance right out and to the left as you exit. We take the 1 to the 13 -- you would take the 1 to the RER A. Since it is quite crowded when the opera gets out, we have taken to getting the train to a stop in the other direction and then getting on the direction we need there so we have seats before it picks up the hoards at the opera stop.
FWIW, it is quite normal to take snacks or if you didn't have a chance to get dinner -- sandwiches -- which you nibble during intermissions. Many others will be doing that. On opera days we tend to have a more substantial lunch and then just have something like small sandwiches, cookes and apples for 'dinner' at the opera. Lines for drinks are long so water is also a good thing to bring.