Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the Olympic flag
With just over 100 days until the start of the Paris Olympics, the city is preparing to welcome millions of additional spectators. For those wondering the best way to see Paris, here's a handy guide.
Where in Paris will the Olympics be held?
Paris Olympic events are held not only at sporting events, but also throughout the city, including Place de la Concorde, Place de Champ de Mars, Trocadero (in front of the Eiffel Tower), the Grand Palais and Les Invalides.
Triathlons and marathons are held throughout the city centre. This week, President Macron cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the new Olympic Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis, but in the bid for the most sustainable Olympics ever, no new stadiums have been built and many events is scheduled to be held at the Parc des Princes (home of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club) and Roland Garros tennis courts (home of the French Open).
As for open water swimming events, organizers are working hard to make the Seine safe for swimming again, but there is little they can do if it rains and bacteria numbers spike before the event – Macron says. He himself has promised to enter regardless.
How to get around Paris during the Olympics
With public transport expected to add 500,000 to 4 million people each day, extra staff are already in place to guide people across the capital to numerous local events. .
Terrorism is a constant threat, making security a nightmare, especially for the opening ceremony, which for the first time in Olympic history will be held on the banks of the Seine rather than in an arena. For this reason, it is currently only accessible through ticketed events.
All venues are connected to metro stations and the RER (Regional Express Network), long-distance city trains to the outskirts of Paris. Several events are being held to revitalize lesser-known areas. From the city center, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach the canoeing and kayaking venues of the Vert-sur-Marne water park and the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX track.
Download the apps you need to get around Paris
For visitors looking to get around Paris easily, the best bet is to download one of several apps to help you orient yourself around the capital, especially CityMapper, Google Maps, and Ile-de-France Mobility is.
Citymapper provides real-time information about combined transportation routes and also provides useful tips to get to your destination faster, such as which vehicle to board and which exit door to use.
Another good option is to use the Vélib cycling network of bike rentals in the city. There are bike stations outside all Olympic venues. You can also download the app and order a taxi via Uber, Bolt, or their Parisian counterpart Heetch. Of course, you can always use the official taxis of the city of Paris.
Visitors can also use this English website to find out how long it will take to travel between venues.
How do I pay for the Paris metro?
For occasional or one-time metro travel, you can use your Navigo Easy Pass to purchase tickets in advance (individual tickets at manned ticket booths or vending machines, if needed). You can also purchase tickets).
The metro has two zones, Zone 1 and Zone 2, and if you want to travel a lot, it's best to buy a day pass called Paris Visit, which gives you unlimited rides for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days. If you want to go further afield, you'll need to take the RER, which covers the greater Paris area, but as long as you don't get off the metro, you can use the same ticket to travel until you leave the RER station.
The Paris Summer Olympics will be held from July 26th to August 11th, and the Paralympic Games will be held from August 28th to September 8th. More information in English for visitors by the Paris Tourist Office can be found here.
