Thinking of Going to the Summer Olympics in Paris? Better Make Plans Now.
This article originally appeared on Outside
I have always wanted to go to the Summer Olympics, and the upcoming Games in Paris sound like a dream. Are tickets still available? Are flight prices sky-high? Should I even attempt this? --Stoked About the Spectacle
Paris is always popular, especially in summer. So when one of the world's greatest cities hosts one of the planet's greatest sporting events--the Olympics--everyone will want to be there. Officials in Paris project that 11.3 million people will attend the Summer Games, which run July 26 through August 11, and 3.9 million will attend the Paralympic Games, which take place August 28 through September 8.
As if those numbers aren’t daunting enough, keep in mind that hordes of Americans flock to France (and the rest of Europe) to travel each summer, and the Tour de France will once again draw legions of spectators to the country from June 29 until July 21. So if you’re thinking of visiting, you'd better get cranking now on hotel and restaurant reservations, plane tickets, and transportation.
Can You Still Get Tickets to the Summer Olympics?
Scoring tickets to the upcoming Olympics is akin to scoring a camping reservation in Yellowstone--it has to do a lot with timing and luck. Nearly 70 percent of the ten million tickets available for the Games have already been sold via the official ticketing platform Paris 2024; one million of those were snapped up in global draw in May in just 36 hours, a new Olympic sales record. Ticket sales for the Paralympic Games opened on October 9 on the same site.
Since July 5, tickets have been on sale in real time. Will you find one to the event of your choice? Maybe. Think of it like nabbing a last-minute campsite due to a cancellation: if tickets become available because someone has decided they cannot go, for example, they can be put on sale anytime. The good news is, almost 60 percent of tickets have been priced at 100 Euro ($106 as of press time) or less. They may be the most affordable part of your trip. You can find a full ticket-price breakdown here.
Some events, including triathlon, sports climbing, BMX and BMX freestyle, and breaking (breakdancing) sold out in less than two hours. As you might expect, tickets for certain finals, including judo and three-on-three basketball, are also sold out. According to data specialist Statista, the most popular Summer Olympic sports among Americans are gymnastics, swimming, and diving, and when I last got on the Paris 2024 site, some tickets for these events were still available.
Here are a few ways to improve your chances of getting tickets: Create an account to receive regular updates on ticket releases. An official resale-ticket site will launch this spring. Consider investing in travel packages from On Location, the official Olympic hospitality provider. Basic travel packages range from $520 to $870 per person per night at a three-star hotel and a ticket to watch one Olympic event, such as women's field hockey or the men's street final in skateboarding. The next tier up are hospitality packages, which start at similar pricing but don't cover accommodations, only tickets, with primo seating and exclusive access to in-venue lounges for marquee events like soccer. If a specific Olympic event is high on your bucket list, consider splurging on a travel agent. Jean-Pierre Soutric, a Paris-based agent at Atelier Voyage, and Hillel Spinner, a New York City-based agent at Embark Beyond, provided a wealth of tips for this column and can help with arranging everything from tickets to flights and hotels.
Is It Worth Going to Paris if You Don't Have Olympics Tickets?
If you want to enjoy the festive atmosphere, yes! Paris plans to offer multiple free viewing opportunities. For the first time in the history of the Summer Games, the opening ceremony won't take place in a stadium. Instead, it will be held along the River Seine, with no admission fee for spectators to access the upper quays. (A note to anyone who is claustrophobic: at least 600,000 spectators are expected to attend--ten times the amount that could fit in a traditional Olympic stadium).
In addition, 80 big screens and speakers will be placed along the route, allowing everyone to feel a part of the celebration. And throughout the Games, free "fan zones" will be held at the park of La Villette in the 19th arrondissement and at the Trocadero in the 16th arrondissement, both offering live transmissions of the events.
Soutric personally plans to attend the opening ceremony and other events. He notes that because most people will be in town to watch the Games, either in person or at the fan zones, this a fantastic time to enjoy the city's typically jam-packed museums and other attractions (if you can find a hotel room; see below for tips). If you feel overwhelmed by the crowds, he suggests a day trip to Versailles, the Champagne region, or Normandy.
Consider Travel Costs
Paris is pricey. Before you put in the time and effort of securing tickets, consider whether you can afford the airfare and a convenient place to stay.
Outside editor Tasha Zemke, a self-described "major planner," bid for tickets to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London using that Games’ dedicated website and won tickets to track and field and soccer. Knowing that London was one of the world's most expensive cities, she started looking for accommodations a year out and was shocked to find hotel rooms in central London already charging upward of 1,200 pounds a night (approximately $1,900 at the time). Ultimately, she settled on an economical bed-and-breakfast 90 minutes north of the city via the tube for her family. But the ride didn't factor in the 20-minute walk to the local tube station or other forms of packed public transportation to reach each sporting venue. "Every day we were exhausted," she recalls. "Had I realized how expensive and hectic the trip would be, I might never have gone through with it."
Summer airfare to Europe is always astronomical, so start searching for fare sales now. Don’t narrow your choice to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle or Orly international airports. You might find better deals into other major European cities and then choose to continue on via train or the Chunnel, car, or low-cost air carriers that serve the Continent, such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Volotea, or Vueling.
Hotel occupancy in Paris during the Olympic Games is expected to be between 56 percent and 76 percent, says Ines de Feran, a spokesperson for the Paris Tourism Office. Room rates in Paris are traditionally high throughout summer and will likely be going for a premium during the Games. (A recent search on Travelocity for a hotel in central Paris on Saturday, July 27, resulted in one property asking $243 after taxes and two properties going for about $385 each; the remaining properties available began at $485 per night for two people.) The same is true of Airbnbs and other home rentals. The toughest reservations to secure will be in northern Paris, near the Olympic Village.
Right now it may seem like accommodation availability is scarce, says Soutric. But if you're willing to gamble on waiting, there's a good chance you'll find a place to stay in the spring or early summer. "A lot of hoteliers stopped selling rooms or are holding out for top prices, but plenty of rooms haven't been sold," he says. "My suspicion is that as the Games get closer, a lot of rooms will go on sale."
Map Out the Logistics of Where to Stay During the Olympics
The main Olympic Village is located less than five miles north of central Paris, and 15 Olympic sites hosting 21 sports will be within six miles of the Village. Car traffic will be a nightmare, predicts Soutric. However, the transportation network of the Ile-de-France is working on a specific pass for the duration of the Games, and a specific app and the Paris 2024 site have a helpful planner that estimates travel time via public transportation between sites.
The speediest way to get around will probably be by bike. New bike lanes being inaugurated for the Games will connect to all competition sites, and extra rental bikes will be added to the city's current fleet. De Feran says the biggest crowds are anticipated around the urban park at Place de la Concorde, the site of newer sports like BMX and skateboarding.
Before booking tickets, look closely at where the event venue is located. A handful will be scattered across the country. For example, soccer will be played at six stadiums in other cities, including Lyon and Bordeaux. If you're a Tour de France fan, take note: the traditional Champs-Elysees finish in Paris has been rerouted to end in Nice next year in order to avoid incoming Olympic crowds.
Food for Thought
If you love food as much as you love sports, you won't be alone; this is, after all, one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe. I asked Lindsey Tramuta, the city's foremost restaurant expert and author of The New Paris and The New Parisienne, for her picks, both for a casual bite and fine dining. These are her recommendations.
A charming neo bistro (a more casual take on the more formal, classic French bistro) a block from Canal Saint-Martin, in the tenth arrondissement, with a menu rooted in rustic simplicity and natural wines. Don't miss the signature homemade gnocchi dressed up with seasonal vegetables with labneh and herbs.
A veggie-forward neo bistro in the 11th arrondissement with an extensive selection of natural wines.
Two long-standing falafel favorites, both in the heart of the historic Jewish district called the Marais, located in the third and fourth arrondissements.
If budget allows, reserve a meal (or at least drinks) at this rooftop restaurant at the Cheval Blanc hotel in the first arrondissement. Tables overlook the Pont Neuf section of the Seine, and the menu, created by Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donkele, offers contemporary takes on French-bistro classics.
Outside correspondent Jen Murphy was studying abroad in Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Even without tickets, she made the journey from the nation's Gold Coast, crashed in a cheap hostel, and loved feeling the spirit of the Games in the city. She hopes to go to Tahiti to watch the Olympic surfing event this summer.
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