THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COVERED PASSAGES IN PARIS
Categories : Parisian life, published on : 9/21/26
YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
covered passages
In November, when the rain makes the pavements glisten and daylight begins to fade earlier across the façades, Paris’s covered passages offer one of the city’s most beautiful refuges. Beneath their glass roofs, historic mosaics, bookshops, designer boutiques, antique dealers, restaurants and cabinets of curiosities follow one another.
Starting from Hôtel Édouard 7, located at 39 avenue de l’Opéra, this entire itinerary can be explored on foot. It begins in the streets around the Opera district, continues towards the Palais-Royal and then leads to the Grands Boulevards through an almost uninterrupted succession of galleries.
KEY INFORMATION
• Starting point: Hôtel Édouard 7, 39 avenue de l’Opéra
• First stop: Passage des Princes or Passage Choiseul
• Most elegant passage: Galerie Vivienne
• Oldest passage on the itinerary: Passage des Panoramas
• Best stops with children: Passage des Princes and Passage Jouffroy
• Best stop for lunch: Passage des Panoramas
• Best stops for antique books: Galerie Vivienne and Passage Verdeau
• Recommended duration: between two hours and half a day
• Total distance: approximately three kilometres
• Seasonal tip: begin in the late morning to enjoy the light beneath the glass roofs and visit the shops once they have opened
THE COVERED PASSAGES
around the Opera district
The first passages are located just a few minutes from Hôtel Édouard 7. This part of the itinerary gradually leads away from the monumental perspective of avenue de l’Opéra towards quieter streets once bustling with theatres, shops and workshops.
PASSAGE DES PRINCES
A destination for games and toys
Located between boulevard des Italiens and rue de Richelieu, Passage des Princes is a particularly enjoyable first stop for families. Built in 1860, demolished in 1985 and reconstructed identically in 1995, it is now known for its shops dedicated to games, toys, model making and creative hobbies.
Its glass roof, bright interior and proximity to the Palais Garnier make it easy to include at the beginning of a walk, even when time is limited.
Why visit:
• To begin the itinerary close to the Opera
• To discover a gallery that is less well known than Vivienne or Panoramas
• To browse shops devoted to games and collectables
• To plan a stop that children will also enjoy
Practical information:
• Entrances: 5 boulevard des Italiens or 97 rue de Richelieu
• Walking time from the hotel: approximately seven minutes
• Free admission
• Opening hours vary depending on the shop
• Nearest metro station: Richelieu–Drouot
Best for: families, games enthusiasts, collectors and visitors looking for a short walk around the Opera district.
PASSAGE CHOISEUL
A genuine neighbourhood street beneath a glass roof
Approximately five minutes on foot from Hôtel Édouard 7, Passage Choiseul retains the lively atmosphere of a neighbourhood shopping street. Restaurants, small businesses and independent boutiques line a glass-roofed gallery extending for almost 190 metres.
Less formal than Galerie Vivienne, Choiseul offers a glimpse into the district’s everyday life. It becomes particularly animated at lunchtime, when people working in the surrounding offices, theatres and shops gather at their favourite addresses.
Why visit:
• To discover a passage still regularly frequented by Parisians
• To enjoy a quick lunch in a neighbourhood atmosphere
• To continue naturally towards rue des Petits-Champs
• To experience a shopping gallery that remains very much in use
Practical information:
• Main entrance: 40 rue des Petits-Champs
• Other entrances: rue Saint-Augustin and rue Dalayrac
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 8 pm
• Closed on Sundays
• Free admission
Best for: business travellers, curious walkers and visitors wishing to discover a more everyday side of Paris.
AROUND THE PALAIS-ROYAL
mosaics, fashion and architecture
Continuing along rue des Petits-Champs, the atmosphere becomes more refined. Galerie Vivienne and Galerie Colbert offer two very different interpretations of the 19th-century covered passage: one devoted to shopping and leisurely strolls, the other to culture and art history.
GALERIE VIVIENNE
Parisian elegance beneath a glass roof
Built from 1823 onwards, Galerie Vivienne is recognisable for its neoclassical decoration, motifs inspired by Antiquity, mosaics and long glass roof. Natural light glides across the floors designed by mosaic artist Giandomenico Facchina, illuminating fashion boutiques, wine merchants and antiquarian bookshops.
Jousseaume bookshop, located at number 45, still holds thousands of rare and antique books. It is generally open from Monday to Saturday, between 11 am and 7 pm.
What to look out for:
• The geometric floor mosaics
• The neoclassical details of the interior façades
• The light filtering through the glass roof
• The historic shopfronts
• The independent bookshops and fashion boutiques
Practical information:
• Entrances: 4 rue des Petits-Champs, 5 rue de la Banque or 6 rue Vivienne
• Gallery opening hours: daily, from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm
• Free admission
• Recommended visiting time: 20 to 40 minutes
Best for: couples, architecture enthusiasts, fashion lovers, photographers and bibliophiles.
GALERIE COLBERT
A rotunda dedicated to the arts
Located immediately next door, Galerie Colbert offers a quieter experience. Unlike Galerie Vivienne, it is no longer a shopping arcade. It now houses several institutions dedicated to art history and heritage.
Its main attraction is its impressive rotunda, crowned by a glass dome. This almost theatrical architecture recalls the rivalry that once existed between the two neighbouring galleries as they competed to attract the city’s most elegant visitors.
Practical information:
• Address: 4 rue Vivienne
• Free admission
• Open daily
• Visitors should respect the quiet atmosphere of the university spaces
• Recommended visiting time: 10 to 15 minutes
Best for: architecture enthusiasts, art students and visitors looking for a peaceful stop.
THE PASSAGES OF THE GRANDS BOULEVARDS
restaurants, entertainement and curiosities
After visiting the galleries around the Palais-Royal, allow approximately ten minutes to walk to the Grands Boulevards. Passages des Panoramas, Jouffroy and Verdeau follow one another almost without interruption, forming the richest and liveliest part of the itinerary.
PASSAGE DES PANORAMAS
The best stop for lunch
Opened in 1799, Passage des Panoramas is one of the oldest covered passages in Paris. Its name comes from the two large rotundas that once displayed panoramic paintings, creating the illusion that visitors were discovering distant landscapes.
Today, its narrow galleries are occupied by restaurants, stamp dealers, postcard shops, engravers and collectors. Caffè Stern, housed in the former premises of the Stern engraving workshop, retains a historic interior reinterpreted by Philippe Starck.
Why visit:
• To have lunch in the heart of a historic passage
• To explore the windows of stamp dealers and collectors
• To admire the historic shopfronts
• To enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Grands Boulevards
Practical information:
• Main entrance: 11 boulevard Montmartre
• Passage opening hours: daily, from 6 am to midnight
• Free admission
• Metro station: Grands Boulevards
• Booking ahead for lunch at the weekend is recommended
Best for: food lovers, collectors, groups of friends and visitors wishing to combine heritage with lunch.
PASSAGE JOUFFROY
The Paris of entertainment and illusion
On the other side of boulevard Montmartre, Passage Jouffroy forms a natural continuation of the itinerary. Its iron-and-glass structure, pointed glass roof and marble paving create a particularly photogenic perspective.
The passage is home to bookshops, toy shops and several boutiques specialising in antiques and curiosities. The Musée Grévin is located immediately alongside it, making it easy to turn the walk into a complete family outing.
Not to be missed:
• The glass roof’s metal framework
• The marble paving
• The shops selling miniatures, books and curiosities
• The entrance to the Musée Grévin
• Le Valentin tearoom for a sweet break
Practical information:
• Address: 10–12 boulevard Montmartre
• Passage opening hours: daily, from 7 am to 9.30 pm
• Free admission
• Metro station: Grands Boulevards
• Recommended visiting time: 20 to 30 minutes, excluding the museum
Best for: families, entertainment lovers, photography enthusiasts and visitors discovering Paris for the first time.
PASSAGE VERDEAU
A final stop for bibliophiles
Built in 1847, Passage Verdeau continues beyond Passage Jouffroy on the other side of rue de la Grange-Batelière. Quieter than its neighbours, it is home to antique dealers, booksellers and merchants specialising in photographs, vintage cameras and postcards.
Its high, herringbone-shaped glass roof casts a clear light across the shop windows. After the bustle of Panoramas and Jouffroy, Verdeau offers a more contemplative conclusion to the walk.
Practical information:
• Entrances: 6 rue de la Grange-Batelière or 31 bis rue du Faubourg-Montmartre
• Weekday opening hours: from 7.30 am to 9 pm
• Weekend opening hours: from 7.30 am to 8.30 pm
• Free admission
• Recommended visiting time: 15 to 20 minutes
Best for: bibliophiles, vintage photography enthusiasts, antique hunters and visitors seeking a more intimate atmosphere.
HOW TO ORGANISE
your walk ?
A TWO-HOUR ITINERARY
• Depart from Hôtel Édouard 7
• Passage des Princes: 15 minutes
• Passage Choiseul: 20 minutes
• Galerie Vivienne and Galerie Colbert: 35 minutes
• Walk to the Grands Boulevards: 10 minutes
• Passage des Panoramas: 20 minutes
• Passages Jouffroy and Verdeau: 30 minutes
A HALF-DAY ITINERARY
• Leave the hotel at approximately 10.30 am
• Walk through Passage Choiseul before lunchtime
• Spend more time exploring Galerie Vivienne
• Have lunch in Passage des Panoramas
• Discover Jouffroy and Verdeau during the afternoon
• Add the Musée Grévin for a family outing
• Return to avenue de l’Opéra in approximately 15 to 20 minutes
Practical advice:
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring an umbrella for the streets connecting the passages
• Check individual shop opening hours on Sundays and public holidays
• Visit in the late morning to make the most of the natural light
• Reserve a table for lunch when visiting on a Saturday
• Keep an eye on children, as the passages remain busy public spaces
RETURNING TO HÔTEL ÉDOUARD 7
facing the perspective of the Opera
From Passage Verdeau, Hôtel Édouard 7 can be reached in approximately 15 minutes on foot. Its location also makes it possible to continue the day towards the Palais Garnier, the department stores, place Vendôme, the Palais-Royal or the Louvre Museum.
The world of the covered passages naturally echoes the identity of the hotel. Their shop windows, fabrics and architecture recall the Paris of fashion and entertainment that inspires the decoration of its rooms and suites. The hotel celebrates this heritage through materials such as silk, velvet and cashmere, in reference to Edward VII’s celebrated taste for sartorial elegance.
Several room and suite categories offer views of the Palais Garnier:
After a walk through the more intimate Paris of galleries and collectors, Hôtel Édouard 7 brings guests back to the grander setting of avenue de l’Opéra. A way to discover two complementary faces of the capital in the space of just a few hours.