The Opera Garnier, simply known as “The Opera” before the construction of the new Opera at Bastille, represents the height of Napolen III’s vision for a re-designed Paris. Charles Garnier was 35 and unknown when picked from 171 contestants and awarded the contract to build the new Paris opera house. Inside, it is covered with red velvet, gold leaf, nymphs and cherubim; the main hall is crowned by a 6-ton chandelier, and the concert hall's ceiling is decorated with a Chagall painting, inaugurated under De Gaulle in 1964. As impressive as it is, it almost didn’t get built: as soon as construction started, a lake and a stream were discovered underground. These subterranean bodies of water were part of what inspired Gaston Leroux to write his world-famous novel The Phantom of the Opera.

The Garnier dominates an area predominantly given over to luxury and shopping. The back of the Opera is bordered by the Boulevard Haussmann, the site of Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, two famous department stores. The Boulevard des Italiens and the Boulevard des Capucines in front of the Opera, are dotted with large cafes, restaurants, and crowds of pedestrians.

The Rue de la Paix sidles up from the most famous Place Vendôme, host to the world's most reknowned jewelers. Facing the Garnier, the Avenue de L’Opéra, vast and impressive, has a wide array of stores, restaurants, and travel agencies.

Some of the best shopping is off behind the Rue Scribe on the Rue Caumartin, around the Olympia music hall, while the Rue Daunou is famous for after hours entertainment with a restaurant given over to celebrity look-alikes at the corner of Boulevard des Capucines, and Harry’s New York Bar at number five. Cinemas and famous cafés line the Boulevard des Italiens to the east, and on weekends the action is non-stop. Shopping tapers off down the Rue du Quatre Septembre, however, ending as it approaches the Bourse.

For all these reasons, the Opéra quartier is a tourist hotspot. It’s also convenient: practically every major site in the city can be reached from here by bus or Métro.