How to Plan a Trip for the Paris 2024 Olympics

Read our in-depth guide on how to plan a trip for the Paris 2024 Olympics to ensure your adventure to the games is golden.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are just around the corner and the buzz in the City of Lights is palpable. From the Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to the Stade de France, Roland Garros to the Paris Aquatic Centre, the whole metropolis is primed for what's arguably the world's most prestigious sporting event. It's been full 100 years since the French capital last hosted the games, so things are at fever pitch.
But, with an uptick of nearly 20% on Paris's usual 15 million visitors expected in the summer of 2024, proper trip planning is more important than ever. You'll need to bag your flights, accommodation and tickets as early as you can, sort that all-important insurance, plan your packing and itinerary, and a whole load more. Thankfully, this guide has you covered…

How much does it cost to experience Paris 2024 Olympics?

First thing's first: Get your tickets for the Olympics.
The good news is that of the 10 million tickets across all events that are available to the public, nearly one million will be priced at under €24 and more than half will be under €50. That said, the most expensive seats right by the finish line of major events like the 100-meter dash, can set you back €990! It's a good idea to decide in advance on the things you want to see so you can budget accordingly.

The cost of travel to Paris during the Olympics is likely to be considerably higher than usual. Take the popular transatlantic from New York to Paris. Stats show that the average airfare on the route is around the $670 mark, but experts warn that could surge as the crowds start snapping up the lowest-priced seats. Just be ready to pay a premium on flights and trains into the capital.

You'll also need accommodation. In a normal year, the average cost of a 4-star hotel in the City of Lights is around the $237. But the games are pushing up rates already, with some estimating that midrange city-center accommodations could go for anything up to $700 per night during the event. Airbnb, meanwhile, which is typically a touch cheaper and is an official partner of the games, has properties that are already selling for over $450 per night!

How do I buy tickets to the Olympics?

That's easy. Simply head over to the official ticketing site for the games. Everything that's still available to purchase will be listed there, from women's volleyball to men's boxing, not to mention all tickets for the paralympic games that come after. You can sort events by their host city and location, the sport, the venue they'll be taking place in, and the date they take place, so it should be easy to pinpoint the ones that match your travel schedule.

You'll notice that there are different categories of ticket for each event, ranging from the cheapest Category D tickets to the most expensive Category A tickets. Basically, the more you pay, the better view you should have from your seat in the venue. There's a limit of 30 ticket purchases per account.

When should I book my travel for the Paris Olympics?

It's a good idea to book your hotels, flights, and other transportation for the Paris 2024 Olympics as early as you can. Experts expect the cost of almost everything to nudge skywards during the games – even the price of rides on the Paris Metro are set to almost double!
The good news is that you can often score good deals by comparing accommodation offerings across multiple platforms. For example, hotel comparison sites will have deluxe boutiques with spas on the Champs-Élysées, while Airbnb will list self-catering flats in lesser-known residential districts where you can experience a more local side to Paris.

What should I pack for a trip to Paris 2024 Olympics?

You're going to want your usual casual wear; the T-shirts and trousers, shirts and tops that you always take traveling. Plus, don't forget to pack the basics: Things like underwear for the duration of your trip, enough socks, and your day-to-day cosmetics.
Once all that's safely in the bag, there's another checklist you'll want to consider since you'll be attending the games:

A sun hat – This is Paris in the height of the summer! Things can get hot, and the UV can be strong!
A rain jacket – There might only be eight days of rain in July, and even less in August (the two months when the Olympics are due to be held), but it can pour down in the French capital so have a solid outer layer at the ready.
Sunscreen – A good factor 50 is usually the right way to go for France in the peak of the warm season.
Solid walking shoes or trainers – It's not just the Olympic athletes that whizz around during the games. You're likely to be hopping from Metro to café, stadium to cycling track all the time, so ensure you've got decent, comfy footwear in tow.
Money belt – Although the stats show that crime rates fell when London hosted the Olympics back in 2012, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Money belts help to keep all your dosh and important documents, like events tickets, for example, safe and sound.
Packing cubes – Not so much something to wear but a great way to maximize the space on offer in your bag so that you can take more with you, packing cubes efficiently categorize your clothes and get things folded nice and tight.

Transportation tips to get around Paris

Olympics venues in Paris are spread all over the city, from the Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower right out to the suburbs of St-Denis. That means you'll need to get a handle on how to get around the metropolis, especially if you're planning on attending a variety of events in different disciplines.

The good news is that Paris has one of Europe's most comprehensive subway and light rail networks. The Paris Metro is one of the oldest in the world, comprising of over 300 individual stops. Now linked to Reseau Express Régional (RER) and overground railways on the same ticketing system, it’ll help you get to pretty much anywhere you want to go to in the metropolis in no time at all.

The cost of tickets on the Paris Metro is set to increase from around $2 to over $4 for the duration of the Olympics, but visitors can still buy multi-day travel passes that allow unlimited rides to save money (they cost around $47 for five days of travel).

What are some fun activities and spots in Paris?

Paris is one of the world's bucket-list cities, so you can rest assured that there's oodles to do when you're not watching the 100-meter sprint showdowns or pole vaulters.
There's art and culture bursting from every building here. You'll want to be sure to hit the Louvre Museum, which houses the legendary Mona Lisa, along with countless other priceless paintings. From there, it's an easy hop to the Musee d'Orsay, where you can witness majestic works by Monet, Manet, Degas, and more.

Paris is also a city of enthralling neighborhoods. Take a morning to get lost in the Latin Quarter, hopping between the old haunts of writers like Hemingway and Orwell. Then, head over to the 11th arrondissement to walk the buzzy strips of the Canal Saint Martin in the company of students. Later, check out Montmartre, where cobbled alleys laced with creperies and cafes weave beneath the domes of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur.

You might also want to escape the center for a spell. That's easy to do in Paris. Just book yourself a trip to the Loire Valley – one of France's UNESCO-tagged wine regions – to spend a few days sipping fine whites and lazing between the chateaux. Or go north into Normandy, where the medieval cities of Rouen, Amiens and Arras await with quiet country bistros and enchanting cathedrals.

Conclusion

A trip to the Paris Olympics 2024 promises to be a trip of a lifetime. You'll witness some of the world's most celebrated athletes and get to be immersed in a city of epic proportions. Booking early is key, and you'll need to plan what events you want to see in advance. What's more, consider what places, sights, and experiences you want to have in the City of Lights, so you can get that schedule and accommodation lined up well in advance.