Le Moulin Rouge is without a doubt the most famous cabaret in Paris, and rightly so. Since it opened in 1889, it has staged some of the most iconic shows in Paris, and this is where the cancan became so famous.
If you’ve never been, a visit to the Moulin Rouge is an experience you really shouldn’t miss, and that’s why I created this page. You’ll find all the practical information you need for your visit here, along with quite a bit of history that you probably won’t find anywhere else.
So grab a glass of champagne, and let’s get started!
In short: which Moulin Rouge ticket is right for you?
- The show + a glass of champagne: the cheapest option, and in my opinion the best value if you’d rather eat at a good restaurant nearby.
- The show + dinner: you arrive at 7:00 p.m., dine to the sound of the Moulin Rouge orchestra and don’t leave your seat until the end of the night.
- A package with a Seine cruise, an Eiffel Tower ticket or a sightseeing bus: you book a whole evening in one go (and don’t have to plan any transfers).
- Before you book: prices differ between booking sites, so it’s worth spending two minutes comparing them.
Moulin Rouge tickets
Let’s start with the painful part of the evening: buying Moulin Rouge tickets. There’s no question these tickets aren’t cheap, but as you’ll see, some are cheaper than others.
Tickets for the show itself
-
The cheapest option
Ticket + a glass of champagne
The classic ticket for the Féerie show: the cancan, the costumes, the live orchestra and a glass of champagne in your hand. This is the option I recommend if you want the experience itself without paying restaurant prices for a meal on top.
- Best value: the lowest price of all the ticket options.
- Culinary flexibility: you can eat before or after at one of the restaurants in Montmartre.
- Keep in mind: dinner isn’t included, and the seats aren’t as good as those that come with the pricier tickets.
-
The full experience
Ticket + dinner
You arrive at 7:00 p.m., settle in at your own pace and enjoy a full dinner while the Moulin Rouge orchestra plays. When the show begins, you’re already inside, with a full glass and a good seat guaranteed.
- One evening, one place: dinner and a show without going out and coming back.
- Atmosphere: the Moulin Rouge orchestra plays for you throughout the meal.
- Keep in mind: it costs more than the ticket with champagne only, and you need to be there by 7:00 p.m.
Packages that combine the show with other attractions
-
The most romantic
Moulin Rouge ticket + Seine cruise
A cruise on the Seine before the show, and then the cancan. It’s a particularly convenient package for your first evening in Paris, with organized transportation between the two.
-
Three attractions
Ticket + Seine cruise + Eiffel Tower
Dinner on the Seine, a trip up the Eiffel Tower and a show at the Moulin Rouge: three Paris icons in one evening, with one booking. It’s a great choice if you only have a short time in the city.
-
Moulin Rouge + a Paris sightseeing bus tour
A night tour on a panoramic bus past the illuminated monuments of Paris, followed by a show at the Moulin Rouge. It’s ideal if you want to see a lot without walking a lot.
Please note
Since this is a fairly expensive show, it’s well worth comparing prices on a few booking sites, because prices vary from site to site. To help you compare, I created the Francophile’s Toolkit, where you’ll find all the booking sites I trust and find easiest to use. All you have to do is check the prices on each of them (it takes just a few minutes) and choose the option that suits you best.
Visitor information for the Moulin Rouge
Where is the Moulin Rouge?
The Moulin Rouge’s address is 82 Boulevard de Clichy.
The easiest way to get there is metro line 2, which stops at Blanche station, right nearby. Another option is to take line 13 to Place de Clichy and walk a few minutes along the Boulevard de Clichy until you get there.
If you’d rather take the bus, lines 30, 54 and 80 all stop close to Place Blanche.
What days and hours is it open?
The Moulin Rouge is open every day and has two shows, one at 9:00 p.m. and one at 11:00 p.m. (although the 11:00 p.m. show doesn’t run in winter). If you’ve booked dinner, it starts at 7:00 p.m., and the Moulin Rouge orchestra plays for you throughout.
What’s the dress code?
The days when men came to the Moulin Rouge in three-piece suits and women in elegant evening gowns are long gone. Even so, if you show up in shorts or Crocs, you’ll be politely asked to leave and come back dressed like a grown-up.
A button-down shirt and long pants will get you into the Moulin Rouge, and if you add a jacket, even better.
Is the Moulin Rouge suitable for young children?
Contrary to what many people think, the Moulin Rouge stopped being an adults-only show a long time ago, and children aged 6 and up are allowed in. Keep in mind, though, that the show includes scenes with partial nudity, so personally, I’m not sure it’s the right show for young children (too bad there’s no professional farter on stage anymore, as there once was, because I’m sure your kids would have loved that).
Have you been to the Moulin Rouge, and do you recommend it?
Yes, I went in 2018 with a good friend and really enjoyed the impressive production and the variety of the show, which includes a lot more than “just” cancan dancing. So if you’ve never been to a show in Paris before, the Moulin Rouge is not a bad option at all.
If you’d like to read a more in-depth review, you’re welcome to read my article Moulin Rouge: a must-see show or a tourist trap?
What alternatives do you recommend?
The two best-known alternatives to the Moulin Rouge are:
Paradis Latin
This cabaret actually predates the Moulin Rouge by several decades, and it’s still going today. In my eyes, its show has more variety than the Moulin Rouge, and personally, even though I liked the Moulin Rouge, I enjoyed this one more.
Crazy Horse
This is the show Parisians themselves like to go to, and they don’t see it as a “tourist trap”, the way they see the Moulin Rouge (fairly or not). It’s more erotic than the Moulin Rouge, so it isn’t suitable for children, but if you want something more Parisian, this is the show for you.
If you’d like to look at more options, including lesser-known cabarets and shows that might suit you, take a look at my page on cabaret shows in Paris.
What do you recommend doing before the show starts?
I recommend visiting the Montmartre page on my site, where you’ll find information on attractions close to the Moulin Rouge (for example, the Montmartre Cemetery) and walking routes you can do before the show. And if you decided not to book a show with dinner, you’ll also find recommendations there for good restaurants in the area.
Moulin Rouge FAQ
How much is a Moulin Rouge ticket?
What time is the show at the Moulin Rouge?
How do I get to the Moulin Rouge by public transportation?
What’s the dress code at the Moulin Rouge?
Is the Moulin Rouge suitable for children?
Should I book tickets in advance?
What are the alternatives to the Moulin Rouge?
The history of the Moulin Rouge
Okay, you’ve bought your tickets and you have all the information you need for a magical evening at the Moulin Rouge. Excellent! So what’s left to do?
My advice is to take a few minutes and read a little about the history of the place. Not just because it’s super interesting, but because I believe that when you know even a little about the history of a place you’re going to, the whole experience gets better.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to read pages and pages of the books written about Montmartre’s legendary cabaret. I’ve already done that for you and written the article below. All you have to do is read it, enjoy it and start counting the days until your evening at the Moulin Rouge.
The story of the Moulin Rouge: from the cancan to a musical farter
The red windmill, La Goulue, Toulouse-Lautrec, the plaster elephant and the road from 1889 to the show you’re about to see.
And finally, a few things you may not know about the place
Lit by electricity from day one
The Moulin Rouge was one of the first buildings in Paris to run on electricity. That’s how the sails of the windmill turned, and the whole building was lit with electric bulbs.
The elephant in the back garden
There was an elephant in the back garden! Okay, not a real elephant, but a giant plaster one (you may have seen it in the 2001 movie). And not only was there an elephant, its inside was put to use: it was a private club for men willing to pay one franc for a private belly dance, and there were dressing rooms in it too.
The cancan wasn’t invented here
The cabaret made the cancan famous, but it wasn’t invented at the Moulin Rouge. The dance started out as the Quadrille Naturaliste, which probably goes back to around 1820. Originally, it was danced by both men and women and included high kicks and jumps.
A Guinness record: 29 kicks in 30 seconds
The Moulin Rouge cancan is in the Guinness Book of Records: in 2014, the Moulin Rouge dancers performed 29 consecutive high kicks in 30 seconds and set a world record.
Who performed on this stage
Many famous artists have performed on the Moulin Rouge stage, among them Édith Piaf (1915-1963), Josephine Baker (1906-1975), Ginger Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and even Elton John.
If you want to dig deeper
You’ll find more information about the Moulin Rouge on its official website.
Ready for your evening at the Moulin Rouge?
If you’ve read this far, I’m guessing you’ve already made up your mind (and rightly so). Don’t forget to compare prices on a few sites before you book, and bring a jacket.
Related reading
