Strasbourg Hemicycle Visits – Plenary 

The Hemicycle can seat all Members of the European Parliament. During plenary sessions, the most important European debates and votes take place here. It also provides the setting for formal sittings by official guests addressing the European Parliament, such as heads of state, Sakharov laureates or other major public figures.

Visits are free of charge. Advance booking is required for groups, but no reservation is needed for individual visitors.

A valid identity document (ID card or passport) is required to access European Parliament buildings.

Please note that the European Parliament is closed on Sundays, office closing days and public holidays. In 2019: from 23/12 to 04/01/2020 included. In 2020: 23/03, 09/04, 10/04, 11/04, 13/04, 01/05, 05/05, 09/05, 21/05, 22/05, 27/05 (PM), 28/05, 29/05, 30/05, 01/06, 10/06, 11/06 (AM), 14/07, 15/08, 02/11 and from 24/12 to 04/01/2021 included.

During a plenary session, it is possible to follow the plenary sit in the visitors’ gallery and to visit the parlamentarium Simone Veil. Groups of fewer than 10 people are considered as individual visitors and no prior booking is needed for individual visitors.

Individual visits are available in any of the 24 official European Union languages. A limited number of places are available for individual visitors to follow the session for up to an hour. As such, entry is based on a first come, first served basis.

Visits of the Hemicycle in Strasbourg can be organised for groups of 10 to 100 people and should be booked 2-3 months in advance.

Groups receive a personalised briefing held by European Parliament staff member in one of the 24 official European Union languages, covering the role and powers of the European Parliament, a  question and answer session and a one-hour visit to the Hemicycle visitors’ gallery to follow plenary debates.

Groups are welcome to visit the parlamentarium Simone Veil before or after the Hemicycle visit without prior booking.

A valid identity document (ID card or passport) is required to access European Parliament buildings.

All visitors and bags are subject to airport-style security checks before entry. Firearms, explosive or inflammable substances, pepper sprays, sharp items and other objects that could be considered weapons are prohibited. In accordance with French national legislation, certain prohibited items may be handed over to the police.

Photography and filming are permitted inside the visitors’ area, but are prohibited in the security area and in the Hemicycle gallery during plenary sessions.

The European Parliament is committed to constantly improving access for people with disabilities. Should you or someone in your group require special assistance, please notify us in advance:

Individual visits

Group visits

There is a cafeteria with refreshing beverages and tasty snacks and a gift shop in the visitors’ area. The visitors’ canteen is available to groups on reservation.

A cloakroom, located at the visitors’ entrance just after the security control point, is only available during plenary sessions. There is no cloakroom service available outside of plenary sessions.