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The Ultimate Paris 2024 Olympics Pre-Arrival Guide

Everything you need to know before coming to the 2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics (July 26 to September 11) will bring a special kind of magic to the City of Lights. While the world’s eyes are on the athletes, savvy real estate hunters will also have their sights set on another prize: finding the perfect Parisian home.

As you stroll through picturesque neighborhoods in central Paris in search of an Olympic event, a good restaurant, or the perfect apartment to buy, you’ll be immersed in a truly festive atmosphere. Paris is being transformed into one enormous athletic stadium—a rarity for the center of a bustling metropolis filled with some of the world’s most iconic monuments.

For this reason, the city will be a bit more challenging to navigate than usual, not least of which is because over 10 million tickets (and growing) have already been purchased for the many events. Plus, between ever-changing zoning restrictions and a slew of metro and street closures, you’ll need to plan wisely for getting from point A to point B.

To help you avoid any unexpected surprises, PPG has designed this Ultimate Paris 2024 Olympics Guide to ensure you have a wonderful and productive stay in our beautiful city.

10 Tips for Making the Most of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

1. Tickets

Buy your tickets only on the official Paris 2024 website. Do not buy them from unrecognized third parties to avoid getting scammed. Every Thursday at 10am CST—and right up until the eve of the Opening Ceremony—additional tickets will be released for a slew of the most anticipated sporting events. Although these tickets are quite scarce by now, if you register on the site, you’ll be one of the first to know the minute a new batch of tickets gets released.

2. Restricted Zones, Games Passes, and Security

Paris has put a number of urban zoning regulations in place for the entirety of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games—including a specific set of regulations from July 18-26 in the lead-up to and during the Opening Ceremony along the banks of the Seine River.

To make it easier for visitors to understand the ins and outs of the zoning restrictions at a quick glance, the city has created a color-coded zoning system (red, blue, and gray). Each zone has its own rules and regulations at various stages of the Olympic Games:

Opening Ceremony (July 18-26)

Around Olympic and Paralympic Venues (July 26-September 11)

If you’re staying in a hotel or private apartment within a “controlled access” zone, you will need to request a Pass Jeux (aka, “Games Pass”) in advance to be able to go to and from your accommodations. Use this handy interactive map to check if an address is within a restricted area or if there will be any public transportation closures that might directly affect you.

If you do need a Pass Jeux, you’ll want to request that now via the online form provided.

3. Transportation

Taxis

Anticipate longer transit times by taxi or rideshare services. In certain zones within central Paris, you may have to walk a block or two to get to your final destination. This will be especially true in places where motorized access is limited.

At the airports, you may get approached by unlicensed drivers offering you a “good deal” on a ride into Paris. Don’t be fooled: they will charge you double or triple the price. Instead, follow the “Taxi” signs posted throughout the terminal to hail an official taxi.

Flat rates for taxis into Paris are as follows:

From Charles de Gaulle Airport: €56 to the Right Bank, and €65 to the Left Bank.
From Orly Airport: €36 to the Left Bank, and €44 to the Right Bank.

You can also book your trips into and around Paris via a number of reliable taxi and rideshare apps. Just keep in mind that these services are not required to respect flat rates; trips will be priced according to spikes in demand. Either way, they are a great alternative, should taxis be hard to pin down. Be sure to download these rideshare apps before your arrival.

> PRO-TIP: Arriving into Orly? Take the train in! Paris extended Metro line 14 to Paris-Orly airport just in time for the Olympic Games! Line 14 is a driverless train, super dependable, runs every few minutes, and is the only fully accessible Metro line in Paris—equipped with elevators at every station. The journey costs only a few euros and, even better, will help avoid traffic delays into the city.

Public Transport (Metro, Bus, Tram)

Paris’s convenient and well-connected public transit system will offer the best and quickest means of travel during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Stock up on single trip transit passes before prices go up on July 20!

Ticket prices will nearly double to €4/ticket from July 20-September 8. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait to get to Paris to buy Paris Metro T+ tickets—valid for trips on the metro, buses, and trams. Just download the Ile-de-France Mobilités app onto your smartphone, purchase tickets directly via the app, add them to your digital wallet, and then redeem them for travel by tapping your mobile phone (with the pass open) at any public transit entry point. For weekly passes and other purchase options, visit the Ile-de-France Mobilités site.

Additionally, some stations on Metro lines 1, 8, 12, and 13 will be closed at various points during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. These include:

Metro Line 1: Champs-Elysées—Clemenceau
– July 20 to August 11
– August 22 to September 8

Metro Line 1: Concorde and Tuileries
– Now to September 1

Metro Line 8: Concorde
– Now to September 1

Metro Line 12: Concorde
– Now to September 21

Metro Line 13: Champs-Elysées—Clemenceau
– July 20 to August 11
– August 22 to September 8

Metro lines 7, 9, and 10 along with a few RER, bus, and tram stops will also see some service disruptions in preparation for the Opening Ceremony. Please check these sites regulatory for up-to-date service information:

> PRO-TIP: Use the Paris Metro app’s handy “route planner” tool—which works even if you’re offline—to find the quickest way to get to your destinations.

Bicycles

Riding a bike (or velo, as the French say) is the most picturesque, leisurely, eco-friendly, and convenient way to get around town. The city has recently set up massive networks of bike paths and self-service bike docking stations (for public and private bike rentals) to give both visitors and Parisians alike an alternative mode of transportation during and well after the 2024 Olympic Games.

Riding a bike around the city is a great way to avoid having to hail down a taxi or deal with very crowded public transportation over the next few weeks. There are a lot of different options available, but these are our favorite bike rental apps at the moment.

4. Popular Tourist Attractions

Some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions sit alongside major Olympic venues and, unfortunately, won’t all be accessible during the games. Here’s a short list of what’s open and what’s not, so you can plan your tourist activities accordingly:

Open*

Louvre (closed July 25, 26)
Eiffel Tower
Versailles (gardens closed)
Sacre Coeur

*The attractions will be much busier than usual. We highly recommend booking tickets in advance, where applicable, to ensure you can access these incredible popular venues while you’re in town.

Closed

Place de la Concorde
Champs de Mars
Trocadéro
Hôtel des Invalides
Alexandre III Bridge
Grand Palais
Notre Dame

5. Phones and Mobile Data

Most U.S. mobile providers offer international coverage, so be sure to opt-in for a good international mobile data plan before heading out of the country. Another alternative is to purchase an eSIM card online before arriving in France. It will automatically be installed on your phone; all you have to do is activate it upon arrival. Otherwise, head over to one of the major French mobile phone provider boutiques around town (i.e., Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues, etc.) for additional options.

6. Restaurant Reservations

There will be tons of people flooding Paris over the course of two months. That means restaurants will book up quickly, especially in the city center. If you’ve been waiting to sample some of the city’s gastronomic delights, you will need advance reservations for the more popular restaurants. Many can be contacted directly via Google Maps or their websites. The popular restaurant reservation app, TheFork, is a great way to book exclusive tables and unlock discounts at many of the city’s best restaurants.

The good news: No matter what restaurant you choose, the servers and management team will (most likely) be able to tackle many of your requests in English.

7. Pack Your Bags Appropriately

Prioritize comfort and functionality with breathable, stylish fashion. Be sure to arm yourself with comfortable walking shoes, since Paris is best experienced on foot. If you’re not used to walking on cobblestone streets, however, expect tired feet after a long day.

Be sure to bring light layers, like a light-weight jacket or sweater, for the occasional cool evening—which is possible even the during typically warm summer months. It’s also a good idea to have an umbrella or rain poncho handy for the occasional (and inevitable) 15-minute downpour. A cross-body bag or backpack is a great option for keeping your hands free and your valuables tucked away. And most importantly, don’t forget to accessorize with a chic hat or sunglasses to complete an effortless look.

8. Public Toilets

Paris’s public toilets (aka, saniettes) have come a long way from les pissoirs of decades past. Now they’re private, gender-inclusive, and high-tech to boot: an automated washing and disinfecting system activates after each session to ensure a hygienic and tidy space. It can be difficult to locate the light switch inside, so be sure to find it before closing the door.

Some public restrooms may require a coin (pièce) to enter, so have a few €1 coins handy as you start your day. Some restaurants will charge non-patrons to use toilets, though this is rare.

> PRO-TIP: Finding a public toilet in Paris is not always the easiest endeavor. But with the Flush app, an easy-to-access toilet is never too far away.

If you’re interested in upping your bathroom game, we’ve got a secret tip: visit the Lavatory de la Madeleine, the most glamorous public toilet imaginable. This church washroom, open every day from 10am-6pm, dates back to the Belle Époque period and is also listed as a historic site.

9. Drink Lots of Water

In the 18th century, Napoleon realized the importance of fountains as a way to deliver clean water to Parisians. In fact, he believed in this so much that he decreed that water should flow day and night—and be freely available to all. His vision still applies today, so take advantage of the drinking fountains all around the city that deliver free, potable water that often flows from breathtakingly elegant sculptures. If you’re having trouble locating one, this app can help.

10. To Do or Not to Do (that is the question!)

There are nuances that many visitors to France are often unaware of—some that can lead to an unintentional cultural “faux pas.” Here are a few tips to help you avoid an awkward situation:

Don’t assume English is spoken. Learning a few words in French will go a long way. The French take a lot of pride in their language and culture. Making an effort to speak their language, even if you can only string together a few words, will make a difference.

Don’t yell or speak loudly in public. Doing so is considered rude, obnoxious, and unsophisticated. Parisians are known for their understated elegance.

DO dress appropriately. There’s a good chance you’ll be visiting a few high-end properties during your visit, so be sure to look the part of a serious buyer.

DO say “Bonjour” every time you enter a store, restaurant, or even to a ticket-taker—and “au revoir” when you leave. Not only is this common courtesy in French culture, but using these friendly salutations will create a positive first impression with any French people you meet during your trip.

DO say “Merci” to thank someone for their service. It’s simply the polite thing to do.

DO ask for the check at a restaurant. It is considered rude for a server to leave the check on the table if the customer hasn’t yet asked for it. When you’re ready to pay, politely say “l’addition s’il vous plaît” to your waiter, and that’ll do the trick.

DO leave a little tip for good service. Tipping culture in Europe is quite different from the United States, since wait staff is paid a normal salary and 18% tip is included in the price of the food. You are not required to leave a tip at the end of a meal, but if the service was exceptional, or you are just inclined to do so, leaving a few extra euros will always be a welcomed gesture. If dining in a fine establishment, an extra 10% for stellar service is very generous.

We’ll leave you with this…

Visiting Paris during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, like any other visit to this world-class city, is about experiencing the essence of what Parisian life has to offer. Just keep in mind that getting around the city over the next few weeks might be more challenging than usual. Though, if you come prepared, you’ll have a smooth and unforgettable experience.