Planning a trip to Paris, France this summer to attend the Summer Olympics? How exciting! You’re in for an experience of a lifetime.
Whether you’ve never been to Paris or just want to plan the best possible adventure, you may be looking for how to properly navigate the Summer Olympics, what else to do around the Paris area, and some important travel tips which will ensure that your journey to France is one to remember.
Let’s dive into the Paris, France 2024 Summer Olympic details, other exciting places to see and things to do, and our popular tips and tricks to enhance your overall vacation.
2024 Summer Olympics Details
The 2024 Summer Olympics are scheduled to be held in Paris, France from July 26 through August 11, 2024.
The event will be held in various venues throughout Paris for different sports.
The 2024 Summer Olympics will feature a variety of sports including key events such as:
- Beach Volleyball – Eiffel Tower Stadium
- Cycling Track – Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome
- Diving – Aquatics Centre
- Equestrian – Palace of Versailles
- Fencing – Grand Palais
- Golf – Golf National
- Skateboarding – Parc Urbain La Concorde
- Swimming – Paris La Défense Arena
- Trampoline Gymnastics – Bercy Arena
- & so much more
2024 Summer Olympics Travel Planning Tips
Here are some helpful tips to use as you plan your trip to Paris for the Summer Olympics.
France Visa Requirements
The visa requirements to travel to France will vary depending on your current home country. However, for U.S. citizens, you just need a valid passport to travel into France for a period of 90 days within each six-month period – no visa is required.
Nationals of other countries may be required to get a Schengen Visa. Check your country’s requirements to make sure you secure the visa needed to enter into France without trouble.
Book Your Flights & Accommodations Early
The Summer 2024 Paris Olympics is a huge event, so travel will be heightened from July through August. Due to the increase in travelers, it’s important to ensure that you book your flights and hotel accommodations as early as possible to avoid price hikes and lack of availability.
Packing Essentials
If you’re attending the Paris Olympics, we recommend packing the following essentials:
- Weather appropriate clothing (check weather forecast prior to departure)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Travel documents
- Universal adapter for using outlets in France
- Portable power bank for mobile phone
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Lightweight and secure backpack
- Reusable water bottle
- Hat
- Printed accommodations
- Travel guidebook of France
- Travel locks for securing belongings
2024 Summer Olympics Experiences
The Paris Olympics celebrations and cultural experiences will begin on May 8 with the arrival of the flame in Marseille and will continue for fourth months throughout the summer.
In addition to attending Olympic events, you can also take part in the following:
- Meet and celebrate your favorite athletes at Trocadéro at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Champions Park will be freely accessible to all and will invite both medal winners and fans alike.
- Attend Club France, a place where more than 700,000 fans are expected to celebrate their favorite athletes.
- Visit the open-air sports facility, Parc de la Villette, which is one of the most iconic venues that will host sports for both the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Go to one of the Club 2024 zones, opening up around Paris, to attend live screenings of competitions on big screens.
Things to Do in Paris and Beyond
While in Paris, sightseeing is a must. France is abundant with iconic landmarks to discover and charming neighborhoods to explore.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, offers visitors a range of unique experiences and breathtaking views of Paris. Here’s an overview of what you can expect at the Eiffel Tower:
- Observation Decks: The Eiffel Tower has three levels of observation decks accessible to visitors. The first and second levels offer panoramic views of Paris, including famous landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. The third level, known as the summit, provides the highest vantage point and offers unparalleled views of the cityscape.
- Elevator Ride: Visitors can ascend the Eiffel Tower via elevators that whisk them up to the observation decks. The elevator ride itself provides a thrilling experience as you ascend through the tower’s intricate metal framework.
- Dining Options: The Eiffel Tower is home to several dining options, including restaurants and cafes offering French cuisine with a side of spectacular views. Le 58 Tour Eiffel, located on the first level, offers casual dining with panoramic views of Paris. For a more upscale experience, visitors can dine at Le Jules Verne restaurant on the second level, featuring gourmet French cuisine crafted by renowned chefs.
- Champ de Mars Park: Surrounding the Eiffel Tower is the Champ de Mars Park, a picturesque green space where visitors can relax, have a picnic, or take leisurely strolls while admiring the tower from below.
- Light Shows: In the evenings, the Eiffel Tower dazzles visitors with its sparkling light shows. Every hour after sunset, the tower is illuminated with thousands of twinkling lights, creating a magical spectacle that can be enjoyed from various vantage points across the city.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum In Paris is one of the world’s largest and most famous art museums. Here’s an overview of the experiences available at the Louvre:
- Art Collections: The Louvre is home to an extensive and diverse collection of artworks spanning thousands of years, from antiquity to the present day. Visitors can explore masterpieces by renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and countless others. The museum’s collections include paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, artifacts, and archaeological finds from around the world.
- Iconic Masterpieces: Among the Louvre’s most famous artworks is Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the “Mona Lisa.” Visitors can view this enigmatic portrait, along with other iconic works such as the “Venus de Milo,” the “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” and the “Raft of the Medusa.”
- Architectural Marvels: In addition to its vast art collections, the Louvre itself is a masterpiece of architecture. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, a historic royal residence dating back to the 12th century. The palace’s striking architecture, including its iconic glass pyramid entrance designed by architect I. M. Pei, is a sight to behold and a testament to the grandeur of French art and culture.
- Guided Tours and Audio Guides: The Louvre offers guided tours and audio guides in multiple languages to help visitors navigate its vast collections and learn more about the artworks on display. These tours provide insightful commentary and context, enhancing the visitor experience and enriching their understanding of the art and history showcased in the museum.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Notre-Dame Cathedral, located on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, is one of the most iconic landmarks in France. Despite the devastating fire in 2019, which caused significant damage to the cathedral, it remains a symbol of French Gothic architecture and a popular destination for visitors. Here’s an overview of the experiences available at the Notre-Dame Cathedral:
- Architectural Marvel: The Notre-Dame Cathedral is renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture, featuring intricate stone carvings, soaring vaulted ceilings, and majestic stained glass windows. Visitors can admire the cathedral’s exterior facade, with its iconic twin towers, flying buttresses, and intricate sculptures depicting biblical scenes and saints.
- Interior Exploration: While access to the interior of the cathedral may be limited due to ongoing restoration work following the 2019 fire, visitors can still appreciate the beauty of the nave, transepts, and choir, as well as the ornate chapels and side altars. The cathedral’s interior is adorned with magnificent artworks, including statues, paintings, and religious relics, offering a glimpse into its rich history and spiritual significance.
- Religious Services and Events: Notre-Dame Cathedral continues to serve as a place of worship for the Catholic community, hosting regular religious services, including Masses, concerts, and special events. Visitors are welcome to attend these services and experience the cathedral’s spiritual ambiance and sacred rituals.
- Historical Interpretation Center: The Notre-Dame Cathedral also features a historical interpretation center, which provides insights into the cathedral’s construction, history, and significance through multimedia exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays. Visitors can learn about the architectural techniques used to build Notre-Dame and its cultural impact over the centuries.
Day Trips from Paris
If you are traveling and staying in Paris, you may also consider taking a day trip to venture out beyond Paris and see more of France.
Nearby attractions to consider include:
- The Palace of Versailles, renowned for its opulent architecture, lavish interiors, and extensive gardens, including the famous Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Grand Apartments, and the sprawling grounds designed by landscape architect André Le Nôtre.
- Giverny, a picturesque village located in the Normandy region of France, known for its association with the renowned Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
- Disneyland Paris, located in Marne-la-Vallée, is Europe’s premier theme park and entertainment resort, inspired by the magic and imagination of Disney. The resort comprises two theme parks—Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park—as well as Disney Village, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district.
- Bordeaux is renowned worldwide for its exceptional wines, particularly its red wines made from grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
Travel Tips and Recommendations for 2024 Summer Olympics
Making your way through a new city can be daunting, especially if you are completely unfamiliar with the area. Here are some helpful travel tips and recommendations if you are traveling to Paris, France for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Public Transportation
Paris offers various forms of public transportation to make getting around the city easy. This includes:
- The Paris Metro, a rapid transit system with 16 lines and 300 stations.
- The RER, or Réseau Express Régional (RER), a commuter rail network that consists of five lines that intersect with the Métro at several stations.
- The RATP, or Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, a bus network with over 300 bus lines serving the city and its suburbs.
- The Paris tramway network
Rideshare Services
If you aren’t comfortable with taking the public transportation route, you can always opt for rideshare services in Paris. Paris offers a bicycle sharing system, called Vélib’, which allows people to rent bicycles from stations located throughout the city.
Additionally, taxis are readily available around Paris and they also have ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft.
Safety and Security
Paris, France, has had instances of pickpocketing targeting visitors, particularly in crowded tourist areas and on public transportation. It’s important to stay vigilant during your trip and keep a close eye on your belongings at all times.
Here are some additional safety tips that can help you avoid theft or danger:
- Use reliable transportation; avoid unmarked or unofficial taxis and be cautious when using rideshare services at night
- Consider using a concealed pouch or crossbody bag tight to your person for wallets and phones
- Avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewelry
- Stay in well-lit areas at night
- Know the Paris emergency contact numbers
- Medical services – 15
- Police – 17
- Fire department – 18
French Language
When traveling to a different country, it may be in your best interest to learn a few key everyday French phrases that can help you communicate better with locals.
Here are some basic phrases to learn before your Paris trip:
Hello/Goodbye
- Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello / Good morning
- Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) – Good evening
- Au revoir (oh ruh-vwahr) – Goodbye
Please/Thank you
- S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please
- Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
- Merci beaucoup (mehr-see boh-koo) – Thank you very much
Excuse me/Sorry
- Excusez-moi (ex-kew-zay mwah) – Excuse me
- Pardon (pahr-dohn) – Excuse me/Sorry
Yes/No
- Oui (wee) – Yes
- Non (noh) – No
Do you speak English?
- Parlez-vous anglais? (par-lay voo ahn-glay) – Do you speak English?
I don’t understand
- Je ne comprends pas (zhuh nuh kohm-prahn pah) – I don’t understand
Where is?
- Où est… ? (oo eh) – Where is…?
- Où sont… ? (oo sohn) – Where are…?
How much is it?
- Combien ça coûte ? (kohm-byen sah koot) – How much does it cost?
Can you help me?
- Pouvez-vous m’aider ? (poo-veh voo meh-dee-ay) – Can you help me? (formal)
- Est-ce que vous pouvez m’aider ? (ess kuh voo poo-veh meh-dee-ay) – Can you help me?
I would like
- Je voudrais… (zhuh voo-dray) – I would like…
- Je voudrais un/une… (zhuh voo-dray uhn/oon) – I would like a/an…
Youtube is a great resource for learning basic phrases for different languages. You may also consider investing in a language learning service to become more comfortable communicating during your travels.
Travel Insurance
One crucial aspect of your trip that you don’t want to overlook is travel insurance. With the huge crowds and uncertainty around travel plans far in the future, travel insurance can be lifesaver whether you find yourself needing medical care during your trip or your trip is unexpectedly canceled or interrupted.
Trip insurance can help you protect your nonrefundable trip costs in the event of a covered trip hiccup. You can also opt for travel medical insurance, which can provide you with health coverage in the event that you are unexpectedly ill or injured abroad.
Travel insurance offers a vital safeguard against the unknown and can save you thousands of dollars in the event of the unforeseen.
Travel to Paris With Confidence
If you’re headed to Paris this summer, start your planning now! The sooner you figure out your accommodations, purchase your travel insurance policy, and start learning French, you’ll ensure the vacation of a lifetime.
Have fun and safe travels!
