Watch ballet in a Baroque palace, visit a wax museum and peruse stalls in the bohemian former red-light district.

Vast boulevards sweep across the 9th Arrondissement, with hotels, shopping galleries and department stores. The Paris Opera is among the cultural highlights in this zone of business and affluence. Climb to the roofs of the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps for panoramic views of Paris complete with the Eiffel Tower.

Many activities lie in the southern part of the arrondissement. Gaze up at the elegant 19th-century Palace Garnier, which contains the Paris Opera. Watch a ballet performance in the 1,979-seat hall. Explore the Paris Opera Library and Museum for thousands of documents, programmes and designs relating to operatic history. A few streets away is Olympia Hall, another popular theatre with large neon letters enticing the public to watch a concert.

Walk along the Grands Boulevards area in the southeast of the arrondissement to find clusters of department stores in 19th-century buildings. Amble along the covered walkways to avoid rain while you shop. Nearby, find the lifelike wax sculptures of the Musée Grévin.

In the zone’s northern part is the South Pigalle region, which has many restaurants and bars with relaxed and bohemian ambiance. Purchase baguettes and other typical French bread and pastries from the bakeries and patisseries along the famous Rue des Martyrs. The fading red-light district is in this region. To the west, visit the National Museum of Gustave Moreau to see the Symbolist works of the 19th-century artist.

Continue north of the arrondissement’s boundaries to find the artistic Montmartre area, made famous by many French films. Stroll through the market, where artists create impressive works before your eyes. Climb to the top of the hill to visit the iconic Sacré Coeur Cathedral.

Travel north from the city centre on the metro past the 1st and 2nd arrondissements to reach the zone. Arrive at one of the many stations, such as Opéra and Grands Boulevards.

With its palace, museums and bohemian alleys, the 9th Arrondissement is a fascinating bridge between the city centre and the heights of Montmartre.