Best for
Art exhibition visitors, especially those seeking Pompidou-affiliated shows
Time needed
1.5–3 hours depending on the exhibition
Worth it?
Yes, particularly given its current role hosting major touring shows
Skip if
The current exhibition doesn't interest you
About Grand Palais
Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle alongside its smaller neighbour, the Petit Palais, the Grand Palais was designed by a committee of architects to showcase the era's most advanced iron-and-glass engineering: its central nave, topped by the largest glass roof in Europe at the time, spans an interior space large enough to host aviation shows and equestrian events in the decades that followed.
The building underwent a major renovation completed in 2025, restoring the glass nave and updating the exhibition spaces, and reopened in time to become one of the primary venues hosting Centre Pompidou-owned exhibitions during that museum's own 2025–2030 closure, under the 'Constellation' loan programme — meaning the Grand Palais has effectively absorbed part of the Pompidou's modern art programming for the rest of this decade.
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Beyond visual art, the Grand Palais nave regularly hosts major cultural and sporting events — it served as the venue for Olympic fencing and taekwondo during the 2024 Paris Games — alongside recurring events like the Art Paris fair.
Admission and exhibition prices vary considerably depending on what's showing at any given time, from around €13 for a standard exhibition ticket up to significantly more for major retrospectives, so checking the current programme before visiting is essential.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Europe's largest glass roof structure when built for the 1900 World's Fair
- 2Currently hosting major Centre Pompidou-affiliated exhibitions during that museum's closure
- 3Hosted Olympic fencing and taekwondo during the 2024 Paris Games
- 4A fully restored glass nave following the 2025 renovation
- 5Directly across from the Petit Palais on Avenue Winston-Churchill
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Insider Tips
Check the current exhibition programme before visiting — pricing and content vary considerably
This is currently the best place in Paris to see major modern-art shows while the Pompidou is closed
Friday evening openings (until 10 or 10:30pm) are a good quieter option
Combine with the Petit Palais directly across the avenue
Book major touring exhibition tickets well ahead — they can sell out
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Getting There
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro 1 or 13 to Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau or Metro 9 to Franklin D. Roosevelt, both a short walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
Is Grand Palais worth visiting?+−
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see major art exhibitions while the Centre Pompidou is closed
- You appreciate Beaux-Arts glass-and-iron architecture
- You're already exploring the Champs-Élysées/Grand Palais area
- A specific current exhibition draws your interest
Skip if...
- The current exhibition doesn't appeal and you have limited time
- You've already seen the same touring show elsewhere
- Your budget is focused on the free Petit Palais next door instead
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Paris
Centre Pompidou
France's national modern art museum, instantly recognisable for its inside-out 'high-tech' architecture — closed for a five-year renovation until 2030, with the collection touring partner venues in the meantime.
Petit Palais
Paris's free fine arts museum, built for the 1900 World's Fair, holding a broad collection from antiquity through the 19th century inside an elegant Beaux-Arts palace with its own interior garden.
Pont Alexandre III
Paris's most ornate bridge, dripping with Art Nouveau lamps, cherubs and gilded winged horses, connecting the Champs-Élysées area to the Invalides and Eiffel Tower.