Grands Boulevards
Grands Boulevards
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Grands Boulevards and nearby attractions
The area
Neighborhood: Opéra / Bourse
The neighborhood around Opéra and Bourse is a belle époque paradise of grand boulevards, refined arcades, and mass-market art-nouveau entertainment. Here, modern day workers continue to take advantage of the legacy that nobility and finance left in the 19th century. Brightly-lit brasseries, theaters, and cinemas sit side by side with French bistros predominating in one area and Japanese restaurants in another. The area is most famous for the Palais Garnier opera house and glamorous department stores.
How to get there
- Grands Boulevards • 4 min walk
- Bonne Nouvelle • 4 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
4,833 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
103 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
54
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
1
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Alfonso C
10 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The hotel l'echiquier Opera Garniè
Excellent central location! You can get around quickly by metro or taxi, which I would say are not expensive. Elegant hotel, comfortable rooms, good and varied breakfast. We had a great time. Friendly staff.
We will be back.
Excellent central location! You can get around quickly by metro or taxi, which I would say are not expensive. Elegant hotel, comfortable rooms, good and varied breakfast. We had a great time. Friendly staff.
We will be back.
Written April 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,770 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This was the place to be in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, a long stretch of boulevards that was lined with theaters and fancy cafes. People strolled and were entertained. Also the route of public transport. Lined with big trees and street furniture. A lot of that is still here, but not as chic as the area once was.
Written August 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loretta R
Hermosa Beach, CA395 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
If you have the luxury of being in Paris long enough to spend a lazy shopping and dining day, then you might want to visit the Grands Boulevards, which is a less high-end but still special shopping district in Paris. Officially the Grands Boulevards is comprised of eight boulevards that form two long stretches (Madeleine, Capucines, Italiens form one stretch and Montmartre, Poissoniere, Bonne Nouvelle, St Denis, St Martin form the other stretch). In other words, these are two streets that change names eight times—typical of Paris. Along the Grands Boulevards, you will find a variety of shopping and dining options. Most remarkable are the nineteenth-century covered arcades with glass roofs and tiled floors. The shops are a little odd and you’ll likely not buy much here unless you have eccentric taste in antiques, collectibles, and books; but it’s fun to shop in these time warp passages (Passage Jouffroy, Passage des Panoramas, and La Galerie Vivienne). The area also has a great mix of restaurants, most of which are a little less expensive than those that are closer to the bigger tourist spots. However, there are some pricey tourist traps here, too, including the Paris Hard Rock Café—which is a good trap, in my opinion, especially if you are travelling with kids who like big noises. There are few major landmarks in this area of Paris, but if you want a little bit of history, you can visit the Art Deco theatre, Le Grand Rex, which is the oldest movie theatre in Paris and still functioning. Nearby is also the famous Folies Bergere. So, if you are able to fit a leisure day of shopping into your trip, I’d recommend a stroll through the Grands Boulevards.
TIP: Many hotels are in this area and are a little less expensive than in the main tourist centers. If your budget is tight, you might consider this area since it will have a lot of after-hours options for food and its a relatively safe district. Plus, most of Paris' main attractions are still in easy walking distance.
TIP: Many hotels are in this area and are a little less expensive than in the main tourist centers. If your budget is tight, you might consider this area since it will have a lot of after-hours options for food and its a relatively safe district. Plus, most of Paris' main attractions are still in easy walking distance.
Written February 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ibadanboy
Nairobi, Kenya5,997 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
The Grands Boulevards is an area where there are many wonderful shopping boutiques. There are also numerous restaurants & cafes as well. Worth visiting for great shopping!
Written January 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandre C
Lisbon, Portugal796 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
Les Grands Boulevards is what can be compared as New York's Broadway or London's West End, but much smaller. There're indeed many theatres in this area but most of them are small! There're also many nice restaurants and shops!
Written February 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sipivu
Paris, France2,036 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
What is called "Les Grands Boulevards" includes the Boulevard Beaumarchais, Filles-du-Calvaire, Temple, Saint-Martin, Saint-Denis, Bonne-Nouvelle, Poissonnière, Montmartre, Italiens, Capucines and the Madeleine boulevards. Sometimes, some add the Haussmann boulevard, but it is not strictly correct.
These boulevards have been developed by the government in the 1700s in order to improve Paris infrastructure and circulation. They were bordered with trees so that people could walk leisurely, when the other streets were not.
They used to be famous a few decades ago and feature in a few movies. Today, outside bars and restaurants, and a few theaters, there is not much else to see. I prefer the left bank, and specially the 5-6-7th arrondissements, that are more "intellectual" and offer more cultural and commercial features, and more small and friendly hotels.
These boulevards have been developed by the government in the 1700s in order to improve Paris infrastructure and circulation. They were bordered with trees so that people could walk leisurely, when the other streets were not.
They used to be famous a few decades ago and feature in a few movies. Today, outside bars and restaurants, and a few theaters, there is not much else to see. I prefer the left bank, and specially the 5-6-7th arrondissements, that are more "intellectual" and offer more cultural and commercial features, and more small and friendly hotels.
Written May 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr Wael G
Cairo, Egypt127 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
Paris has 3 main heavens of shopping lovers , first one is the Champs-Elysee , second one is Saint-Honore street , and the third is the region of Grands Boulevards
Grands Boulevards is a region in the heart of Paris near Opera Garnier composed from the intersection of major streets where I found the most finnset brands of fashion like Zara , Printemps , Lafayette , C&A , Prisunic , Monoprix , ....
The prices are expensive , but even if you will not buy , walking arround is a joy itself.
Grands Boulevards is a region in the heart of Paris near Opera Garnier composed from the intersection of major streets where I found the most finnset brands of fashion like Zara , Printemps , Lafayette , C&A , Prisunic , Monoprix , ....
The prices are expensive , but even if you will not buy , walking arround is a joy itself.
Written September 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Magdalena1984
Santiago, Chile104 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
If you need to buy something this is the place of variety. Not as luxuriant as the Champs Elysees but functional. Also very close the metro station of the same name. Beware of pickpockets here, it can be very crowded.
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,720 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
I often find myself on at least one of the eight Grands Boulevards (Madeleine, Capucines, Italiens, Montmartre, Poissoniere, Bonne Nouvelle, Saint-Denis and Saint-Martin) during my Paris visits. These wide avenues on the Right Bank offer plenty of room for vehicles and ample sidewalk space for pedestrians.They can be found for about three kilometers between Place de la Madeleine and Place de la Republic.
As a history buff, I find it interesting how they changed the city scene in the 17th century when they went in to replace the dismantled Louis XIII wall. In the mid-1800s, they changed the environs again when Baron Haussmann carried out a massive urban renewal program of new boulevards for Emperor Napoleon III. Promenade areas for Parisians, they became known for their shops, restaurants, bars and theatres, which still line the boulevards today. I like to visit their historic sights, such as the Porte Saint-Denis Triumphal Arch in the 10th arrondissement.
The Passages, early forms of shopping arcades that came in with the boulevards, also appeal and are well worth visiting, especially on a rainy day. My favorites include Passage Jouffroy at 10-12 Blvd. Montmartre. It displays splendid iron and glass architecture and marble paving, along with lovely shops.
On my most recent visit, I "discovered" Le Grand Rex, a cinema (largest in Europe) and concert venue at 1 Blvd. Poissonniere. Its art deco-style tower caught my eye and a friendly security man invited me in to discuss the history of this magnificent building.
Walking the Grands Boulevards would likely fail to make a first-time visitor's "must see" list, but those returning to Paris on subsequent trips may enjoy what they have to offer, such as the many Passages.
As a history buff, I find it interesting how they changed the city scene in the 17th century when they went in to replace the dismantled Louis XIII wall. In the mid-1800s, they changed the environs again when Baron Haussmann carried out a massive urban renewal program of new boulevards for Emperor Napoleon III. Promenade areas for Parisians, they became known for their shops, restaurants, bars and theatres, which still line the boulevards today. I like to visit their historic sights, such as the Porte Saint-Denis Triumphal Arch in the 10th arrondissement.
The Passages, early forms of shopping arcades that came in with the boulevards, also appeal and are well worth visiting, especially on a rainy day. My favorites include Passage Jouffroy at 10-12 Blvd. Montmartre. It displays splendid iron and glass architecture and marble paving, along with lovely shops.
On my most recent visit, I "discovered" Le Grand Rex, a cinema (largest in Europe) and concert venue at 1 Blvd. Poissonniere. Its art deco-style tower caught my eye and a friendly security man invited me in to discuss the history of this magnificent building.
Walking the Grands Boulevards would likely fail to make a first-time visitor's "must see" list, but those returning to Paris on subsequent trips may enjoy what they have to offer, such as the many Passages.
Written May 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AOmeiri
Kuwait City, Kuwait4,481 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
The boulevard is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops its a great area to stroll or have a meal. Overall highly recommended to visit
Written August 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing