Paris Comedy Show in English: How to Become a Parisian

What Makes a Parisian Act Like a Parisian? One Hour of Comedy Answers It

You spend one hour in a historic Opéra theatre watching a comedian break down how Parisians actually behave (from taxis to restaurants to the metro) all in English. The show includes your ticket, a seat in your chosen category, and a photo with the performer afterward. It's a night out that doubles as a crash course in reading the room.

Step-by-step itinerary

Attend comedy show in Paris

• Arrive at historic Paris theater
• Choose seating category
• Watch Olivier Giraud's comedy show
• Learn Parisian life tips through humor

The experience

What if you could learn how to order coffee like a local, navigate the metro without looking lost, and understand why Parisians walk the way they do? All in one night, while laughing the whole time? That's the premise of Olivier Giraud's one-man show in the Opéra district, and it's been running long enough that over 800,000 people have sat in that 600-seat theatre to find out. The New York Times called it "Learning to be French through comedy," which is a fair summary, though it undersells how much of the show is just him doing a taxi driver, then a waiter, then a metro passenger, each one more exaggerated and funnier than the last.

The show runs for one hour and covers the things that actually trip up visitors: how to order in a restaurant without sounding like you're reading from a phrasebook, what the unwritten rules are for the metro, why shopping here feels different, how to handle a nightclub. Giraud performs in English, so you don't need French to get the jokes, though the theatre fills with a mix of locals and tourists, which means half the audience is laughing at themselves. The theatre itself is a century old, which adds a layer of authenticity that matters more than you'd think when you're sitting in a historic room watching someone teach you how to be Parisian through pure comedy.

You'll get your ticket to the show, a seat in one of three categories (you pick the price point), and a photo with Giraud after it's done. The venue is near public transport, and the dress code is casual, which is fitting, given the whole thing is about learning to blend in. Latecomers do get seated, but it's at management's discretion, so arriving on time keeps your seat in the category you paid for. The show isn't recommended for kids under 16, and kids under 10 aren't allowed in at all, which tells you something about the humour level.

What’s included

Your ticket to the one-hour comedy show, a seat in your chosen category within the 600-seat theatre, entry to the historic Opéra district venue, and a photo with Olivier Giraud after the performance. Public transportation is available nearby, and you can use an e-voucher to book.

Options for this experience

9 options

7 pm show with Category 2 seatsGuide in English · 19:00Back rows of the orchestra (ground floor) plus back rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

8:30 pm show with Category 2 seatsGuide in English · 20:308:30 pm show with Category 2 seats: back rows of the orchestra (ground floor) plus back rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

8 pm show with Category 2 seatsGuide in English · Available from 9 Sep 2027Back rows of the orchestra (ground floor) plus back rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

See 6 more options

7 pm show with Category 1 seatsGuide in English · 19:00Orchestra center and side seats, excluding rows 3 to 8 (ground floor), plus central rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

Show at 8 pm with Category 1 seatsGuide in English · Available from 9 Sep 2027Orchestra center and side seats, excluding rows 3 to 8 (ground floor), plus central rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

8:30 pm show with Category 1 seatsGuide in English · 20:308:30 pm show with Category 1 seats: orchestra center and side seats, excluding rows 3 to 8 (ground floor), plus central rows of the Mezzanine (first floor)

Show at 7 pm with premium seatsGuide in English · 19:00The finest seats in the center of the orchestra (ground floor), rows 3 through 8 included

Show at 8:30 pm with a premium seatGuide in English · 20:308:30 pm show with Premium seat: the finest seats in the center of the orchestra (ground floor), rows 3 through 8 included

Show at 8 pm with premium seatsGuide in English · Available from 9 Sep 20278 pm show with Premium seats: the finest seats in the center of the orchestra (ground floor), rows 3 through 8 included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 1h 10m, runs every day at 19:00 and 20:30, from € 24 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Saturday: 19:00Sunday: 19:00 and 20:30Last departure this season: 10 Jan 2027

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 78 years) · Senior (80 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by How to Become a Parisian in One Hour?

Is this one for you?Right for anyone spending an evening in Paris who wants a night out that's actually about Paris, not just a show that happens to be there. The one-hour format fits between dinner and late drinks, and the English-language performance means you don't need French to get every joke.

Traveler reviews

4.56★★★★★★★★★★

403 verified traveler reviews

5 ★306

4 ★55

3 ★15

2 ★15

1 ★12

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Top questions

Is the show really 100% in English?

Yes. Olivier Giraud performs entirely in English, though the audience is mixed with locals and international visitors.

How long is the show?

One hour.

What's included in the ticket?

Entry to the show, a seat in your chosen category, and a photo with the comedian after the performance.

Where is the theatre located?

In the Opéra district of Paris, in a century-old building with nearby public transport.

Can children go?

Not recommended for children under 16. Children under 10 are not permitted.

What if I arrive late?

Latecomers are seated at management's discretion based on accessibility, which may not be in your chosen category.

What's the dress code?

Casual.

How many people have seen this show?

Over 800,000 spectators since it started. It holds a Certificate of Excellence with over 2,500 reviews.