Palais-Royal
A former palace for the Parisian aristocracy, the Palais-Royal now houses state institutions and a peaceful garden.
Palais-Royal
A former palace for the Parisian aristocracy, the Palais-Royal now houses state institutions and a peaceful garden.
The Palais-Royal is a former royal palace in central Paris with an annexed Garden. The Palais is now the seat of the Ministry of Culture , the Conseil d’État and the Constitutional Council . The garden, the Jardin du Palais-Royal, is a public park, and several shops can be found along the arcade houses.
The Palais-Royal is a popular stop along the routes taken by Paris hop-on hop-off buses. We recommend getting a tour with one of the two most well-known and reliable companies, Tootbus and Big Bus .

Completed in 1639, the Palace was initially called Palais-Cardinal, after Cardinal Richelieu, for whom it was built. After the passing of the cardinal, the Palais-Royal was passed from one noble to another, until it became the home of several state institutions.
The Palais-Royal’s Garden is a peaceful space, ideal if you’re looking for a relaxing stroll along shaded alleys, curated hedges, and small trees.
Location
Rue de Montpensier 8, 1st arrondissement.
Tickets and price
Access to the Palais-Royal is free for everyone.
Schedule
Days |
---|
Every day |
Days | Opening time | Closure |
---|---|---|
Every day | 8:00 am | 8:30 pm |
Transport
Paris hop-on hop-off buses all make a stop in the area by the Palais-Royal and the Louvre. The most recommendable and popular of these bus companies are Big Bus and Tootbus. You can get a Tootbus hop-on hop-off bus tour here or book a Big Bus tour here .
Otherwise, you can always take public transport, using the following lines.
Nearby sights
Louvre Museum - 300 m (almost 0.2 miles) south, 4-minute walk.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs - 350 m (0.2 miles) west, 5-minute walk.
Jardin des Tuileries - 500 m (0.3 miles) west, 7-minute walk.
Place Vendôme - 900 m (over 0.5 miles) northwest, 11-minute walk.
Musée d’Orsay - 1.3 km (0.8 miles) southwest, 17-minute walk.
Ile de la Cité - 1.3 km (0.8 miles) southeast, 17-minute walk.
Musée de l’Orangerie - 1.4 km (almost 0.9 miles) west, 18-minute walk.