After years of planning, construction, and other preparations, the 2024 Summer Olympics start in Paris (and other parts of France) this month. 

Here are key dates:

  • Olympic Torch in Paris
    • July 13 - Arrival of Olympic Torch in Paris - Hotel de Ville Plaza
    • July 14 - Place de la Republique
  • Paris 2024 Olympics start and end dates:  July 26 - August 11
    • July 24 & 25 - Ranking & preliminary rounds for Archery, Football, Handball, Rugby Sevens
    • July 26 - Opening Ceremonies, including a parade of 94 boats carrying 10,500 athletes ride down the Seine River, with 104,000 spectators watching from ticketed places along the lower banks and bridges, another 222,000 viewers with free tickets watching from the upper banks, and an estimated 250,000 more spectators watching from buildings overlooking the Seine and from other official fan-zones.  So yes, if you're counting, that's well over half a million people watching from the sidelines.  For context - all previous opening ceremonies have been inside stadiums with far fewer viewers
  • Paris 2024 Paralympics start and end dates:  August 28 - September 8

Want to Visit Top Attractions during Your Paris Olympics Visit?


To give you an idea about the scope of these events, here's what happens now that the Games are underway:

  • 2024 Olympics:  10,500 athletes from 206 countries compete in 329 events for 32 sports
  • 2024 Paralympics:  4,400 athletes from 184 countries compete in 549 events for 22 sports

French tourism officials expect the 2024 Olympics to attract around 15 million visitors to Paris, including athletes, officials, support staff, volunteers, dignitaries, and spectators. 

The officials estimate that about 13 million of the visitors will be from France, with the remaining 2 million visitors coming from outside the country, particularly the United States and UK.  

If you are among them, this article covers the key things you'll need to know:

Top photo: "Paris 2024" on Hotel de Ville (Paris's City Hall) - Photo credit:  Houda Chabir-Robert

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Paris Olympics Fan-Zones: Parc des Champions & More

Map image showing Parc des Champions (#28) and other fan-zones
Map image showing Parc des Champions (#28) and other fan-zones; click on this image to access the live map on Google Maps, and then click on #28 on the live map to see the Parc des Champions details

Parc des Champions

Trocadéro Gardens, the grassy space with beautiful fountains across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, will be transformed into the Parc des Champions where Olympics athletes can meet, mingle, and celebrate with their families, friends, and fans after their competitions. 

The space can accommodate up to 13,000 people, including an anticipated 1,000 athletes each day celebrating their achievements from the previous day.

Fan Zones

In addition to Parc des Champions, 25 other "fan zones" will be set up around Paris and its nearby suburbs. 

Each fan zone will have a capacity for 500 people who will be admitted free of charge.  They will broadcast Olympic games and entertainment on giant screens, and will include bars offering beverages and snacks.

Similar to Parc des Champions, the fan zone at Parc de la Villette will welcome winning athletes and give fans the opportunity to join them in celebrating their success.

More about the celebration schedules and other details

How to (Still) Get Tickets to the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris

Last-minute tickets are still available for many Olympics and Paralympics events.  

You can get games tickets in two ways which 100% guarantee that they're legitimate:

1.  Every Thursday morning at 10am CET (Central European Time), the official Paris 2024 Olympics website releases tickets for a variety of games at various prices

2.  The official Olympics website website also a resale option, so if you have a ticket you want to sell or if you want to buy a ticket from another ticket holder, that's where to go

Because to repeat this important point, the only place to be 100% sure that you're getting genuine, legit 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics tickets is on on the official Paris 2024 website.  

There are plenty of scams circulating right now, but be smart - don't waste your money by falling for them.

Olympics event tickets for 2024 are in electronic form only, issued through the official website; no paper tickets are being issued and if you see any being offered, they're fake.

To have a chance of getting a newly released ticket, you need to start checking the website the moment that they are released.  For reference, 10am CET (Paris time) is 9am BST (UK time), 4am EDT (Eastern Daylight time in the US), 3am CDT, 2am MDT, 1am PDT, 12 midnight ADT (Alaska), and 11am HDT (Hawaii).

Where to Find 2024 Olympics Stadiums & Arenas in Paris & Nearby - Plus More to See & Do Near Each Venue

Bercy (Accor) Arena - site of Olympics competitions
Bercy (Accor) Arena in the 12th arrondissement - Site of Olympics competitions

Major Games Venues within Paris

From the beginning, even before submitting the winning bid to host the 2024 Olympics, Paris's strategy reduce the environmental costs of hosting the games by 1) using existing venues and other infrastructure as much as possible, 2) building new facilities only where a permanent structure provides a needed investment in the surrounding community and will provide ongoing benefits, and 3) erecting/dismantling temporary structures in existing spaces.

Within Paris and its nearby suburbs, only two major new complexes - a swimming complex dubbed the "Aquatics Center" in the Saint-Denis suburb and an arena in the La Chapelle neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement - plus a climbing wall will be built. 

Seven temporary sites will be erected for games and festivities at iconic locations within the heart of Paris, including Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Invalides Esplanade, the Pont Alexandre III bridge, Place de la Concorde, and the large plaza in front of Hôtel de Ville (Paris's City Hall).

Because of disruptions to Paris's transportation system plus the massive crowds of visitors filling the sidewalks during this period, getting around the city to visit other popular attractions will be tougher than usual. 

Fortunately, all of the Games venues have interesting places to see and things to do nearby, so we include a couple near each Olympics site listed below for you to explore and enjoy.

Bercy Arena (a.k.a. Accor Arena)

Bercy Arena, which is usually known as the Accor Arena, is one of Paris's premier venues for sports events and concerts by popular artists doing stadium tours

Competitions:  Basketball, Gymnastics, & Trampoline

More to See & Do Near Bercy Arena

  • Bercy Park - Lovely gardens, shade trees, benches, & fountains
  • Bercy Village - Former wine-shipping area, with stone warehouses now transformed into boutiques, bars, and bistros

Address:  8 Boulevard de Bercy, 12th arr; Nearest Metro:  Bercy

Champ-de-Mars Arena

The Champ de Mars Arena, normally called the Grand Palais Éphémère, is an enormous temporary events venue which has been in use for the past three years.  It is scheduled to be dismantled later this year when the newly renovated Grand Palais reopens.

Competitions:  Judo, Wrestling

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • The Eiffel Tower - Open every day during the Olympics except on July 26 - Entry ticket with optional summit access
  • Les Invalides/Army Museum - Large collections of military history and art, plus Napoleon's Tomb under the dome - Tickets

Address:  2 Place Joffre, 7th arr;  Nearest Metro:  Ecole Militaire

Eiffel Tower Stadium

This temporary arena is near the middle of Champ de Mars.

Competitions:  Beach Volleyball, Blind Football

More to See & Do Near the Eiffel Tower Stadium

Address:  8 Jacques Rueff, 7th arr;  Nearest Metro:  Ecole Militaire

Grand Palais

Although the Grand Palais has been undergoing extensive renovations for the past three years, it will be completed and open just in time for use in the 2024 Olympics.

Competitions:  Fencing, Taekwando

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Petit Palais (art museum) - Free admission to permanent exhibitions plus a lovely hidden garden
  • Galerie Dior - Book well in advance - Tickets

Address:  8 Jacques Rueff, 7th arr;  Nearest Metro:  Champs Elysees - Clemenceau

La Chapelle Arena

This brand new stadium with a capacity of about 8,000-9,000 (depending on the event) and an eco-friendly design was built for the Olympics.  After the 2024 Games end, it will be repurposed as a cultural hub for sport and live performances and its name will change to Adidas Arena.

If you attend events in this arena, be sure to look at the roof, which will be 80% covered with greenery to blend in with its surrounding parks and gardens.

Competitions:  Badminton, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Para Badminton, Power Lifting

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Marche des Puces - Paris's (and the world's) biggest flea market - More information
  • La Chapelle Covered Food Market - One of the best specimens of Baltard architecture remaining in Paris, with a stunning glass roof, lacy cast-iron supports, iron framing, and tall columns, built in 1885 and renovated in 2010.  Shop for high quality produce and cheese, plus several places to eat.

Address:  88 Boulevard Ney, 18th arr;  Nearest Metro/RER:  Porte de la Chapelle

Invalides

Competitions: Archery, Marathon

More to See & Do near Invalides

  • French Army Museum - Large collections of military history and art, plus Napoleon's Tomb under the dome - Tickets
  • Rodin Museum - See the famous sculptor's greatest works and relax in the gorgeous garden - Tickets

Nearest Metros:  Varenne, Ecole Militaire

La Concorde Stadium

A large temporary sports stadium devoted to games and celebrations will fill the vast space usually taken up by Place de la Concorde and its car-filled traffic lanes.

Competitions:  3×3 Basketball, BMX Freestyle, Breaking, Skateboarding

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Orangerie Museum - Monet's water lily paintings - Tickets
  • Louvre Museum - See Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and so much more! - Tickets & tours
  • Tuileries Garden - Large park next to Place de la Concorde filled with flowers, pools, trees, benches, and several casual outdoor cafes

Location:  Right Bank, next to the Seine River and between the 1st and 8th arrondissements; Nearest Metro:  Normally, Concorde - but the station will be closed through September 1.  So depending on the direction you'll be coming from, consider Champs-Elysees (west), Madeleine (north), Tuileries (south), Assemblée Nationale (south).  All are about 5-8 minutes away on foot.

Parc des Princes

Home stadium to the Paris Saint-Germain (football or soccer/ depending where you're from) team.

Competitions:  Football (ie, soccer, to Americans and Canadians)

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Bois de Boulogne - Vast forested park filled with numerous attractions, including the Serres d'Auteuil Garden, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Roland Garros, Jardin d'Acclimatation (gardens and walking paths, family-friendly amusement park, small menagerie; free admission through the back door of Fondation Louis Vuitton, or you can get tickets at the gate)

Location:  24 Rue du Commandant Guilbaud, 16th arr; Nearest Metro: Porte de Saint-Cloud; Exelmans, Michel-Ange Molitar, and Porte d'Anteuil are also close, about a 9-14 minute walk

Pont Alexandre III Bridge

Competitions:  Marathon Swimming, Cycling Road, Triathlon - watch from the bridge!

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Petit Palais (art museum) - Free admission to permanent exhibitions plus a lovely hidden garden
  • Invalides / French Army Museum - Large collections of military history and art, plus Napoleon's Tomb under the dome - Tickets

Location:  Across the Seine connecting Avenue du Marechal Gallieni (7th arr) and Avenue Winston Churchill (8th arr); Nearest Metro north of the Seine:  Champs Elysees Clemenceau; Nearest Metro/RER south of the Seine:  Invalides

Pont d'Iéna Bridge

Competitions: Cycling, Race Walking

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Eiffel Tower  - Open every day during the Olympics except on July 26 - Entry ticket with optional summit access
  • Paris Aquarium - Visiting with kids?  They (and you) will love this family-friendly underwater world overlooking the Trocadero Gardens; stop by the outdoor terrace for a quick snack or meal - Tickets

Location:  Across the Seine connecting the Eiffel Tower (7th arr) and Trocadero (16th arr); Nearest Metro north of the Seine:  Trocadero; Nearest Metros/RERs south of the Seine:  Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel and Pont d'Alma

Roland Garros Stadium

Best known as the classic venue for the French Open, Roland Garros's Court Philippe-Cantrier at the edge of Bois de Boulogne will be the site of, no surprise, the Olympics tennis competitions, as well as boxing.

Competitions: Tennis, Boxing

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Bois de Boulogne - Vast forested park filled with numerous attractions, including the Serres d'Auteuil Garden, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Roland Garros, Jardin d'Acclimatation (gardens and walking paths, family-friendly amusement park, small menagerie; free admission through the back door of Fondation Louis Vuitton, or you can get tickets at the gate)
  • Musee Marmottan Monet - If you're a Monet fan, don't miss the chance to visit this specialty museum (2 Rue Louis Boilly, 16th; do yourself a favor and book your ticket online, as the on-site ticket line here is always slow) where you can see a large selection of his paintings plus temporary exhibitions.  If you have limited time, head straight to the lower level to find the Monets - to fine the weirdly-located stairs, go into the gift shop to the left of the main entrance.  Then if you have enough time, head to Musee de l'Orangerie in the 1st arrondissement to see his famous water lily paintings.

Location:  Southeast corner of Bois de Boulogne, 16th arr; Nearest Metros: Michel-Ange Molitor, Exelmans

South Paris Arena

This venue is part of the Paris Expo complex located at the Porte de Versailles, one of the biggest and busiest exposition centers in Europe and the site of numerous shows such as the hugely popular Salon du Chocolat. The Olympics and Paralympic games take place in three of its arenas.

Competitions:  Handball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Weight Lifting

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • Parc Georges Brassens - Lovely park with a bit of everything: gardens, a pond, a tiny vineyard, childrens' play areas, and a well-known book market on Saturdays and Sundays, plus a number of good casual restaurants along nearby streets
  • Aquaboulevard - Large and very fun waterpark with lots of big slides, etc, about a 12-15 minute walk from Paris Expo - book online a bit in advance to be sure of getting in, especially when the weather is hot

Location: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, next to the Périphérique in the 15th arr; Nearest Metro:  Porte de Versailles

The following 2024 Olympics venues are in Paris's nearby suburbs, and are easily reached by metro or RER.

Chateau de Versailles

A small part of the (very long) Hall of Mirrors at Versailles
A small part of the (very long) Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

Versailles is perhaps the most iconic and famous venue in the 2024 Paris Olympics (and possibly any Olympics ever).  Temporary structures have been erected to the west of the Grand Canal on the edge of the Park to accommodate the equestrian competitions held here.

Although some areas beyond and even around the Grand Canal will be closed to general access during the events, the rest of Versailles remains open including the main Palace, the smaller Grand and and Petit Trianon palaces, much of the garden, and other areas such as Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. 

If you are considering visiting Versailles between the impacted period, July 10 to September 15, you see the closed area (in blue) for specific dates here. 

Competitions:  Equestrian events such as Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping; plus Modern Pentathlon Events (swimming, fencing, riding, laser run, running, and shooting)

More to See & Do:  15 Fantastic Things to Do at Versailles

Nearest RER Station: RER C/Versailles Château-Rive Gauche 

Find top hotels & apartments near the Palace of Versailles

Find tickets for the Palace of Versailles

Stade de France

As the biggest stadium in France, the Stade de France hosts the country's national football and rugby teams in international competitions for FIFA World Cup and Rugby World Cup and numerous other matches. 

You can easily reach it from Paris on the RER or metro.

Competitions:  Athletics, Rugby, Closing Ceremony

  • Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis - Spectacular Gothic cathedral filled with stunning stained glass and sculptures, a Cavaillé-Coll organ, and in its treasury, the crowns of Charlemagne, Saint Louis, and Henry IV of France.  All but five kings of France who ruled between the 5th and the 19 centuries including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are buried here, along with numerous other royals
  • Paul Eluard Museum of Art & History - Fascinating medieval archeology collections with additional strengths in the history of the Paris Seige and Commune and poet Paul Eluard

Nearest Metro: Saint-Denis Porte de Paris; Nearest Trains: RER B/La Plaine-Stade de France; RER D/Stade de France-Saint Denis

Aquatics Centre

This stunningly gorgeous and eco-responsible swimming complex, created primarily from timber and recycled plastic, is one of the two new permanent structures built for the Olympics aside from an outdoor climbing structure.  It is located in the suburb of Saint-Denis adjacent to Paris's northern perimeter.

A pedestrian bridge across the A1 expressway links it to the Stade de France. Together, they form the heart of La Plaine Saulnier, a new urban district to be built in the coming years. 

Post-Olympics, the Aquatics Center will be used for community sports including swimming, paddle tennis, a gym and yoga studio, a rock-climbing wall, and a restaurant, with soccer fields and a park surrounding it.

Competitions:  Diving, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming

More to See & Do Nearby

Check out the suggestions for The Aquatics Center, above, as the two venues are next to each other.

Nearest Metro: Saint-Denis Porte de Paris; Nearest Trains: RER B/La Plaine-Stade de France; RER D/Stade de France-Saint Denis

La Defense Arena

La Defense Arena is home to the Racing 92 rugby club and the site of many of the Paris area's biggest stadium tour concerts - it's where the Taylor Swift and Nikki Minaj concerts took place earlier this summer.

La Defense is Paris's business district, filled with glittering skyscrapers designed by prominent architects.  It is not located in Paris itself, but instead is carved out of the intersecting corners of four towns to the west of the city.  Getting there (normally) takes 8-9 minutes on the metro from the Charles de Gaulle/Etoile station in the 8th arrondissement.

Competitions:  Swimming, Water Polo

More to See & Do Nearby: 

  • La Grande Arche - This modern humanitarian monument (vs being a triumphal military arch, like the Arc de Triomphe) soars 360 feet (110 m) high and is twice as tall as the Arc de Triomphe, which you can spot from the top of its steps.
  • Esplanade de la Defense - Walk down this wide pedestrian-only walkway which stretches over half a mile (1k) between the Grande Arche and the Seine River, and admire monumental sculptures, gardens, and reflecting pools along the way.  Right before you get to the Seine, you'll spot the Esplanade de La Defense station, where you can hop on the metro to go back to Paris.

Nearest Metro/RER & E:  La Defense

Olympics Games Closures, Security Zones, & More

Three factors make getting around Paris during the Olympics much more difficult than usual:

  • Closures of metro and RER stations at and near Olympics event sites, plus ripple effects impacting the rest of the public transportation system
  • Security zones, which block off parts of the city - sometimes very large parts - at various times
  • The massive number of visitors - remember, an estimated 15 million - to the city during this period, who will be crowding the sidewalks, streets, restaurants, bars, etc.

Security Zones: What Are They & How Will They Impact You?

Paris has established security zones around areas where the games and other events take place.  

Red Zones

Red Zones, quite simply, are areas around each Game and celebration location where motor vehicles are prohibited, including taxis, ubers, buses, trams, and any other public transportation you might have hoped to take. 

If you want a comprehensive list of closures for the entire Olympics period, you can find that here.

How to Find Out What's Open, What's Closed

Fortunately, Paris has provided an interactive (and easy to use) map to find out if you will be affected by the Security Perimeter on specific days and times.  Find it here.

As the map's instructions point out, it is not a route planner, which is an essential sanity-saver during this period and for the duration of the Olympics. 

If you plan to use any sort of public transportation at all, download the free Bonjour Paris app for your phone from the Apple or Google store. 

For getting around in general, use Google Maps or City Mapper on your phone.  Both are free.

Keep your phone charged at all times because you will most likely need it for directions during this challenging period.

Security Zones during the Olympic Games - July 26 to August 11

If you're walking, or riding a bike or scooter, you'll face no restrictions.  You should be impacted only if you're planning to be in a motor vehicle.

Red Zones (where almost all motor vehicles are prohibited) go into effect 2.5 hours before a game starts, and remain in effect until 1 hour after it ends. 

A new security area, Blue Zones, which are areas where drivers of motor vehicles must be able to prove an employment reason for being there (such as driving a taxi or uber), go into effect during this phase. 

You can use this interactive security perimeter map to see which areas are impacted on specific dates and times.

Security Zones during the Paralympic Games - August 28 to September 8

Paralympic Games take place in nine venues within Paris, and seven venues in (mostly) nearby suburbs.  You can find details about closures and restrictions for each venue here.

Keep in mind that this information will continue to be updated as necessary closer to the events.

Dismantling of Temporary Sites After the Games - September 9 - November

You can probably hear a collective sigh of relief across Paris as temporary venues get dismantled, public parks and other spaces regain their normal calm, and (eventually) even traffic and transportation return to normal. 

Naturally, however, the dismantling period (which starts as early as July 27 at Trocadero and August 29 at Place de la Concorde) will cause periods of traffic disruption.  But hopefully these periods will take less time than the construction process.

You can find the tentative dates for each site here.

How to Get Around Paris during the 2024 Paris Olympics by Taxi, Uber, & Other Transportation

Absolutely the best way to get around during this congested period with so many streets blocked due to either the security zones or just gridlock is to walk.  Fortunately Paris is an very walkable, compact, mostly flat city with interesting things to see along just about any route.

To somewhat ease getting around during the Olympics, Paris will install 20,000 secure parking spaces for bikes around the major sites, provide 200 shuttles for spectators in wheelchairs between major Paris metro/RER stations and the competition sites, and have 1,000 accessible taxis in service for people with reduced mobility.

The second-best choice is to take the metro, RER, or other public transportation.  That includes getting from/to the airport into the city. 

But of course, there may be times when walking or public taking transportation isn't practical and you want to take a taxi or uber.

What to Know if You're Taking a Taxi from the Airport into Paris

If you're getting into the city from the airport, all you need to do is get into the official taxi line, where a dispatcher will connect you with the next available cab (although you can request specific cab company, if you have a preference).  Usually you do not have to wait at all, aside from a few minutes in the queue. 

Taxi rates from Roissy (Charles de Gaulle) and Orly are fixed by law, and you'll see the fare posted on a sign next to the taxi line.  From CDG, the rate is 56€ to the Right Bank and 65€ to the Left Bank (more information).  From Orly, the fixed rate is 44€ to the Right Bank and 36€ to the Left Bank (more information). 

These rates apply also going back to the airport from Paris.

Before you get into a cab, tell the driver where you're going (best to have your hotel name and address written on a piece of paper to show them, unless you speak decent French with a good accent), and if you want to pay by credit card, confirm that they will accept that form of payment. 

If they won't, go back to the dispatcher and ask for another taxi.

Booking an Uber to/from the Airport

Another option is to book an Uber or other shared ride service (Bolt and Lyft also have a presence in Paris, although Ubers appear to be far more common). 

You should be aware, though, that although official Paris taxis can use a taxi-only lane, Ubers, etc, cannot; they use the same lanes as everyone else. 

If you are arriving/departing anywhere near rush hour, taxis may get you where you need to go faster.  (Of course right now, congestion seems to happen around the clock.)

Using a Private Driver to Get to/from Paris

For the ultimate convenience and comfort, you may want to consider booking a private car service. 

We have recently had excellent experiences with this private transfer service - pleasant, safe drivers and super-comfortable vehicles - and it receives top ratings from others as well.  However, there are plenty of other transfer services available, so check them out.

(And yes, it's a bit of a splurge, but you can easily offset the extra cost by buying bakery sandwiches for lunch for a day or two rather than eating at a bistro.)

Getting Around Paris: Taxi or Uber?

Taxis often cost a little less than Ubers because they can use streets that Ubers can't, so your trip will usually be more direct and faster as well as cheaper.

However, right now, we've been hearing a few stories about taxi drivers trying to claim that because of the Olympics, there's a fixed or minimum rate or surcharge.  This is totally not true, as well as illegal. 

So if you want to take a taxi, consider booking online with G7's app - you put in your location and destination and it shows your the fare, just like Uber's app.  You can download it from Apple's App Store or Google Play.  (I've personally always had excellent experiences with G7 cabs, whether or not I book in advance, including taking them from the airport.)


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