If the Olympics aren't your cup of tea, it has the potential to dampen your trip to Paris this summer.
It's fun to watch on TV from the comfort of your couch, but being in the soup of it all in person is a whole other ball game. Frankly, Paris is going to be at capacity this summer.
When are the Olympic Games?
The XXXIII Olympic Games will take place from July 26th to August 11th (with a few sports starting on August 24th), followed by the XVII edition of the Paralympic Games from August 28th to September 8th. However, media teams, family members, Olympic staff, and millions of spectators will start arriving well before the opening ceremony.
What should I consider before booking a trip?
By the second week of June, Paris is already packed, especially on public transportation. As a local, I often preferred walking to avoid the chaos of the metro and saved my museum visits for the off-season. The city has been undergoing construction for years in preparation, and city officials will do their best to accommodate an anticipated 16 million visitors. Nevertheless, expect longer wait times at attractions, increased security measures, and higher prices throughout the summer.
Tour de France
Fortunately, due to the Olympic games, the Tour de France will not conclude in Paris this year. The bike race starts on June 29th in Florence, Italy, for the first time, and finishes on July 21st in Nice, France.
Olympic events outside Paris
It's also worth noting that the Olympics aren't confined to Paris alone. Football matches (soccer for us Americans) will be held in Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Nice, Marseille, and Saint-Etienne. Marseille will also host sailing events, Lille will host handball events, Châteauroux will host the shooting competition and surfers will compete on the other side of the world in Tahiti (French Polynesia)! These events will attract crowds, but nothing compared to Paris.
Should you still go?
First-time visitors: you may be disappointed if you're not prepared for the influx of people that will limit your plans. If you can be flexible, I highly recommend waiting.
Repeat visitors: it's certainly possible to plan a trip to France this summer and avoid most of the Olympic chaos by steering clear of the capital city. If you do choose to visit Paris, exploring smaller museums might offer a more enjoyable experience. You can also take the train for a day trip outside Paris to get away from the Olympic hubbub.
Either way, Paris is a dream destination for many, and if this summer is your only opportunity to visit, then by all means, take it! There are things you can do now to ensure a better experience. Here are some key tips and recommendations I have as a former Parisian to help you navigate the city this summer.
When to visit
June
If you can, plan to go as early in the summer as your schedule allows before the Olympic-goers arrive. The first two weeks in June will likely be the lightest crowds you'll see all summer. Just keep in mind that prices will be steep, lines will be long, and there could be heavy construction in some areas with last-minute preparations. Book all your museum tickets now!
July
I'd recommend avoiding July altogether. It's mobbed every year even without the Olympics and spectators will arrive early, making it difficult to get anywhere with congested metros and increased car traffic. Tickets for major attractions are likely already sold out during this time. Repeat visitors might still enjoy their trip if they stay in the outskirts and enjoy more low-key attractions, but otherwise, it's simply not worth the hassle.
August
In August, there is a two-week gap between the end of the Olympics and the start of the Paralympics in mid-August. This is perhaps the worst time to visit other than the actual Olympic dates for a few reasons. First, this is when those visiting for the Olympics will extend their visit for a more traditional vacation, spectators for the Paralympics will be arriving... and the French will be on vacation so nothing will be open. Cafes and shops are generally closed for much of August in Paris since that's when locals leave the city. How the hospitality industry will manage this many visitors when many of the locals have disappeared to their summer homes is truly beyond me.
So if you can't go in June, opt for the last week in August. Yes, the Paralympics will still be running but many Parisians will have returned to the city, and regular tourists will be funneling out to return to their work and have their kids start school. And of course, though this isn't summer, any time in late September will be golden.
How to spend your time
Wake up early to visit major attractions from the outside.
Mornings
Start your days early. Plan a walking tour for each morning that takes you by attractions that you're okay with seeing from the outside only. These walks will be your opportunity to take photos with fewer tourists and see a more authentic version of the city.
Excellent areas to do this include Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement, Le Marais in the 3rd, and the 5th near Shakespeare and Co.
You may want to plan to end each walk at an attraction you have tickets for right when it opens. Ideally, it's the one big thing you want to do that day, like the Louvre. Keep in mind that this plan will work better at attractions that open earlier (i.e. before 10am).
Alternatively, you can skip a walk near where you're staying in favor of catching the first train when the metro opens around 5:30am. Take it to a different part of the city, walk around, grab a coffee and a croissant as the cafes open, and be in line at least 30 minutes before your opening time tickets at your attraction of choice.
Be in line with your pre-purchased ticket for major attractions before the opening time.
Afternoons
For the rest of the day, try to plan more low-key activities like exploring city parks and small museums. There are also many free fun things to do outside like visiting Père-Lachaise Cemetery or having a picnic in the Tuileries Garden. Part of experiencing Paris is simply being out in the sun with everyone else.
Read this next:
The 6 Best Things to Do in Paris for Free
I'd also recommend taking the time now to look up where you want to eat dinner and make reservations. Something for every night might be overkill, but having a few dinner spots pre-booked can help ensure at least one thing goes as planned that day! My absolute favorite restaurants in Paris are Pouliche - Amandine Chaignot in the 10th and Pain Vin Fromages in the 4th. Both usually require online reservations.
Do the second half of your walking tour at night for a more authentic experience.
Evenings
For your evenings, many attractions stay open late at least one night of the week. I love this article that lists by day of the week which locations will be open late. Going deep underground to visit the catacombs after dark or climbing the Eiffel Tower at 10pm honestly sounds like a lot of fun. I probably couldn't do a sunrise walk and a late-night attraction in the same day, but I'll leave the specifics to you. This is simply to say that if you book tickets online now and are willing to be flexible time-wise, you can avoid the worst of the Olympic crowds.
Transportation
Don't take the metro unless you absolutely have to.
Alternative modes of transportation
The Parisian police are making every effort to ensure pedestrians and cyclists will be able to get around with no restrictions. I'd walk if you can or rent a Vélib bike for further destinations. Vélib bikes are very affordable, with 30-minute rides costing €3 and 24 hour passes costing €5. Note that several bridges that cross the Seine will be closed prior to the Opening Ceremony as city officials prepare for the event. Apps like Citymapper will likely take note of this and help you plan alternative walking and biking routes.
Taking an Uber is also common in Paris and generally very safe. However, the Parisian police have already announced that private vehicles may be required to pre-register with the city to enter certain zones. Additionally, car traffic will be restricted or prohibited in some areas, primarily the 7th and 8th arrondissement, where Olympic events are hosted, so I'd use Uber sparingly.
More information and detailed maps on what areas will be closed/restricted and when can be found on the Prefecture de Police's website.
Walking, biking, or taking an Uber are still far better options than taking public transportation which will likely be at its breaking point.
Metro and buses
During the day, I'd work hard to avoid the metro and buses. Locals will likely use the buses more since all the tourists will be taking the metro, and both are equally swollen in the summer without the Olympics. If you need to take the metro, it'd be worth adding a few extra minutes to your commute to avoid line 1. Yes, it goes to all the tourist hot spots, but that's exactly why it should be avoided! Taking line 1 in the summer normally makes me question my sanity. During the Olympics, odds are you'll be waiting for several trains before even being able to get on. A 30-minute train ride could take well over an hour at peak times, so allow plenty of additional time when moving between destinations.
Metro hours
The metro runs from 5:30am-12:40am Sunday through Thursday and stays open until 1:40am on Fridays, Saturdays, and on nights before a holiday.
Where to stay
Staying in the 5th makes for an easy walk to Shakespeare and Co.
If you haven't already booked a place to stay, you need to do so ASAP. Some people have booked their accommodations over a year in advance! Assuming budget isn't a concern, I'd suggest looking at places in the 5th arrondissement. The north end of the 5th is away from major transit centers and Olympic venues but close enough to major attractions by foot.
The 9th would be another great location, situated halfway between Gare du Nord/Est and Gare de Saint-Lazare for those interested in taking a day trip out of the city. It's a surprisingly quiet neighborhood for being so central. Staying there makes it possible to walk to Montmartre and many other sights in about 30 minutes.
As for areas to avoid, steer clear of the 7th and 8th arrondissements. Olympic games will be hosted in this part of the city, and it'll be extremely difficult to get around in that area. Prices will also be through the roof, and security checkpoints will be everywhere. You may want to reference the Olympic venue map for a full list of where events will be taking place in the city.
Ultimately, a lot of your enjoyment is going to come down to your mindset. Be prepared for the volume of visitors and do your best to plan, but once you get there you'll just going to have to go with the flow. Metro lines will get stuck and delayed. Security checks will be abundant. There may be protests, and you may miss a few sights you had your eye on due to unforeseen circumstances.
Knowing this is highly probable, keep a few options in your back pocket that will always work, like a picnic in the park or a stroll along the Seine to pivot to when something on your original itinerary doesn't work out.
If all else fails, embrace the chaos and buy a t-shirt. After all, you're in Paris!
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