# Galeries Lafayette, Paris > Galeries Lafayette is the most famous department store in Paris, on Boulevard Haussmann steps from the Palais Garnier. Even if you're not shopping, come for the huge 43-metre glass dome of 1912, the Art Nouveau staircases and the free rooftop terrace with views of the Opéra, the Eiffel Tower and the whole city centre. Its 70,000 square metres hold fashion from high street to haute couture, beauty and gourmet food. At Christmas a giant tree hangs beneath the dome. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/galeries-lafayette - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 50/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, rooftop terrace too - Hours: Daily, day and evening - Dome: 43 m, 1912 - Floor space: 70,000 m² - Duration: ≈ 1 hour without shopping - Location: 9th arrondissement, metro Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette - Coordinates: 48.87363, 2.33197 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1912** — the dome opened (source: English Wikipedia) - **43 m** — height of the dome (source: English Wikipedia) - **70,000 m²** — floor space (source: English Wikipedia) - **1976** — first tree beneath the dome (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Galeries Lafayette Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is the flagship of the French department store chain, in the 9th arrondissement near the [Palais Garnier](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/opera-garnier). It began in the 1890s, when Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn opened a small fashion shop on the corner of Rue La Fayette and Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin. The business grew fast, and in the early 20th century the company bought the neighbouring buildings on Boulevard Haussmann. Today it's a **70,000-square-metre** store with clothing for every budget, from everyday wear to haute couture, plus beauty, jewellery, homeware and gourmet food. But what draws visitors most is the architecture and the rooftop view. ## What to see - **The dome** — glass and steel, 43 metres high. - **Art Nouveau stairs and balconies** — gilded tiers beneath the dome. - **The rooftop terrace** — a free view over central Paris. - **The Christmas tree** — suspended under the dome every winter. - **The fashion show** — a weekly show for visitors, by booking. - **The food hall** — delicacies and sweets. ## The dome and architecture The Boulevard Haussmann building was remodelled by the architect **Georges Chedanne** and his pupil **Ferdinand Chanut**. Chanut designed the famous **neo-Byzantine dome** of glass and steel, **43 metres** high, inaugurated in October **1912**. Beneath it rise tiers of balconies with gilded ironwork and **Art Nouveau** staircases, one of the most beautiful interiors in Paris. In 1932 part of the store was updated in Art Deco style by the architect Pierre Patou. From the centre of the main hall, crane your neck to admire the dome's coloured stained glass, the store's most photographed spot. > **Reaching the rooftop** The rooftop terrace is free for everyone: take the escalators or lift to the top floor of the main building. In summer there's a bar and restaurant. The best time is near sunset. The store is very busy at weekends and in December, so for a calm look at the dome come on a weekday morning. Non-EU visitors can claim a tax refund on purchases; ask at the information desk. ## The rooftop view The **rooftop terrace** offers one of the best free panoramas in Paris. Right beside you are the green dome and gilded statues of the Palais Garnier, and beyond them the Eiffel Tower, the Tour Montparnasse, the golden dome on the Left Bank and Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre. The roof has seen some drama: in 1919 the pilot Jules Védrines landed a plane on it, a publicity stunt that made every newspaper. Today you can have a coffee or a glass of wine up top with the city at your feet. ## Christmas and events Every year at Christmas a huge **Christmas tree** is suspended beneath the dome, a tradition begun in **1976**. The store's windows on Boulevard Haussmann are dressed with animated figures, drawing thousands of families with children. Exhibitions run all year, and the cultural space shows contemporary art. A **fashion show** for visitors is held regularly; you need to book in advance. ## What's nearby Next door on the same boulevard stands another famous department store, **Printemps**, with its own rooftop terrace, and around them the Grands Boulevards with shops, cafés and theatres. Together they form the main shopping district of Paris. From here it's five minutes' walk to the Palais Garnier and ten to [La Madeleine](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/la-madeleine) and the [Place Vendôme](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/place-vendome). A store visit pairs easily with a tour of the Opéra. ## How to get there 1. Metro lines 7 and 9 to **Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette**, exiting by the store. 2. RER A to **Auber** or RER E to **Haussmann – Saint-Lazare**, 3–5 minutes. 3. From the Palais Garnier, a 3-minute walk. 4. The main entrance is on Boulevard Haussmann. ## Tips for your visit Without shopping, an hour is enough: stand under the dome, go up to the roof and browse the food hall. If you plan to shop, allow half a day. Watch your belongings, as the sales floors and boulevard are crowded. Photographing the dome is fine, but don't block the aisles. Combine the store with the Palais Garnier and a stroll along the Grands Boulevards, with plenty of cafés nearby for a break. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Stand beneath the dome - [ ] Go up to the rooftop terrace - [ ] Photograph the Opéra from above - [ ] Browse the food hall - [ ] Ask about the tax refund ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Eiffel Tower](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/eiffel-tower) — YesGo score 65/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · Timed ticket, lift or stairs - [Arc de Triomphe](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/arc-de-triomphe) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Roof on a ticket - [Sacré-Cœur Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/sacre-coeur) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Basilica free - [Montmartre](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/montmartre) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · Free - [Tour Montparnasse](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/tour-montparnasse) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Observation deck ticket - [Pont Alexandre III](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/pont-alexandre-iii) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Galeries Lafayette](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/galeries-lafayette) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free, rooftop terrace too - [Trocadéro](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/trocadero) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Esplanade and gardens free - [La Défense](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/la-defense) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 40 min · Esplanade free, arch rooftop ticketed - [Champ de Mars](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/champ-de-mars) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Fondation Louis Vuitton](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/fondation-louis-vuitton) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Timed ticket, book ahead - [Seine river cruise](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/seine-cruise) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 1-hour cruise, dinner costs more ## Don't mix it up Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann is the chain's main store; Printemps is the neighbouring department store of another company, with its own rooftop terrace. ## Tips - Free entry. - Free rooftop. - Quieter mornings. - The Opéra next door. ## Questions ### Can I go up to the Galeries Lafayette rooftop for free? Yes, the rooftop terrace is free for everyone. ### How old is the dome? It opened in 1912 and stands 43 metres high. ### When is the Christmas tree up? At Christmas, usually from November to early January. ### How long do I need without shopping? About an hour. ### How do I get to Galeries Lafayette? By metro line 7 or 9 to Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Opening hours and rooftop access weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Galeries Lafayette - Store official website, haussmann.galerieslafayette.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.