Hotel prices, tickets, metro chaos: tips for the Olympics in Paris
Published: Wednesday, Mar 20th 2024, 07:40
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The Olympics in a neighboring country: it's been a long time since the major sporting event has been this close. Reason enough for numerous sports enthusiasts from Switzerland to join in the excitement on site this time. The Games kick off on July 26 and end on August 11. From tickets to hotel beds and the traffic situation, there are a few things to consider for the dream. What everyone who is considering a trip to the Olympics in Paris needs to know now:
Are tickets still available? When and how can they be purchased?
There are still tickets available for the competitions, but the remaining tickets will first be put online on the games' ticket page - with a few days' notice. If you want to get a ticket then, you have to be quick. The principle applies: first come, first served. An exchange for reselling tickets will also be launched in mid-May. Sports fans will then also be able to buy one or two tickets for events that are already sold out or get rid of a ticket for a competition.
What about hotels? Is there still accommodation available and at what price?
There is still accommodation available in Paris and the surrounding area for the duration of the Olympic Games. However, no one should hope for a real bargain. A number of hotels have raised their prices considerably for the major event. If a bed in a dormitory is enough for you, you can still find a place in a hostel for just under 70 euros a night. A twin room or an apartment for two people in Paris is available from 130 euros upwards per night during the period.
Even in the suburb of Saint-Denis with the Stade de France, where some competitions are held, accommodation is hardly cheaper. In any case, there is no upper price limit. During the Olympics in and around Paris, two people can spend a good 1000 euros a night - or even around 5000 euros.
Are there any chances of getting a cheap last-minute trip to the games? What do sports fans who still want to travel need to bear in mind?
It is advisable to book seats on trains, buses or planes early, as later will be more expensive and there is a risk of fully booked connections. A few days ago, the state railroad SNCF began taking bookings for the summer period. Additional trains and capacities for the Olympic Games have not yet been announced. In addition, many Parisians are also traveling in the middle of the summer vacations.
Will Paris be completely overcrowded and the metro jammed during the Olympics?
That is the big question. Pessimists already see the city descending into chaos. The fact is that the games are taking place in the middle of the French summer vacations, when many of the capital's residents traditionally flee the city. And this summer, there could be many more. In a survey conducted a few days ago, 47% of residents in the capital region said they would be traveling during the Games to escape the crowds and inflated prices.
In summer, the metro is also often busier than usual, except for some tourist routes. During the games, there are additional journeys and employees are encouraged to work from home and from other locations.
Will everything actually be ready in time?
Of course, construction workers are still hard at work in many places. However, the Olympic Village has already been inaugurated and most of the infrastructure is ready. The organizers are therefore optimistic and are well on schedule. The only remaining concerns are whether the opening ceremony of the Games can take place in the middle of the Seine as planned for safety reasons and whether the water quality of the river will ultimately be sufficient to hold swimming competitions there as planned.
And then there is a typically French question: could strikes cause chaos in the middle of the Games? This cannot be ruled out completely, but the expectation is that in the event of conflicts over pay rises for metro drivers, for example, every effort will be made to calm the waters in good time.
Do I need to buy tickets for Parisian sights in advance?
If you want to visit the Palace of Versailles, climb the Eiffel Tower or marvel at art in the Louvre, you should try to get a ticket before your visit to Paris. Tickets for the sights and numerous other major Parisian museums are usually available several months in advance on the websites of the institutions. Visitors can select a day and a time slot there. The popular sights are always sold out. So instead of spontaneous visits, early planning is the order of the day.
Tickets for Versailles are available now, for the Musée d'Orsay four months in advance, for the Louvre two and a half months in advance and for the Eiffel Tower two months in advance. If you have a little more time, you can also apply for admission to the garden of impressionist painter Claude Monet or to one of the Loire castles to the south-west of Paris.
What is the best way to take part in the Games in Paris at a slightly lower price?
Shortly after the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games will also take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8, for which there are still plenty of tickets available online. Hotel prices are lower for the period and slightly fewer guests are expected in the city. If you want to avoid high prices and a crowded city center, you could consider coming to Paris for the Paralympic Games instead of the Olympic Games and cheer on some of the more than 4,000 athletes in 23 sports.
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