French Crawl’s Paris 2024 Olympics Guide
Congrats! You're Attending the Games in Paris. Your Reward? The Estimated 15 Million Visitors Who Will Be Competing for That Croissant You Had Your Eye On
This page will be continually updated. Last updated on July 12th, 2024.
The first thought that came to my mind about what Parisiens probably thought about the Summer Games was this classic Simpsons moment where Lionel Hutz imagines a world without lawyers.
Can you imagine a world without tourists? Well, that was the Tokyo Olympics. For the locals who are lucky enough, they'll get out of Dodge. The rest will have the fortune of packing le métro to the gills with the rest of us. I'll be attending the Olympics and instead of collecting links in my Notes app, I figured to make a page and share it. So take a breath. Channel your inner Costanza and let the games begin. Bon courage!
Table of Contents
(click on section or bullet point to jump there)
General Olympic Information
- The 2024 Paris Olympics take place from July 26 to August 11. Several events will be taking place before the Opening Ceremony on July 26th.
- You can download the Official Olympics app here.
- The official site also has all daily events as well as the overall event schedule here.
- This is a Master PDF of the events from the media department.
- Paris J'taime is the official tourist office of Paris and they have a great FAQ answering practical questions.
- You can see a map of all the venues in the Paris Region here.
- The USOPC (United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee) has a great FAQ for visitors.
Olympic Tickets
- Tickets can be purchased via the Official Olympic Site.
- The Official Paris 2024 Tickets App can be found - Apple App Store | Google Play Store
- Use this to retrieve your tickets for use.
- Selling Tickets - here is info from the site resell your tickets.
- You sell your tickets via the app your tickets are stored on.
- The Official resale site has tickets for sale from others who had purchased tickets.
- This is the official secondary market.
- If you sell your tickets, this is where the tickets will be placed.
- The Olympic Games are advising people to use their official sites and to avoid third party sites.
- Also be sure the site you are on is the official site. There are copycat sites that look very similar.
- In addition, all buyers and/or sellers are informed that the unauthorized sale or resale of tickets outside of the official channels, constitutes an offense under French law, in particular, an offense sanctionable under article 313-6-2 of the French criminal code.
Paris 2024 Bag Policy
- You can find the Paris 2024 Bag Policy here. Scroll down to Section 6.2 - Personal Belongings.
- The USOPC states:
- Each venue in Paris will have different bag policies, so it is important to understand what you’re able to bring ahead of time. All ticket holders should receive more info for their specific venue when they receive their reminder emails in advance.
Transportation Around Paris
Transportation Options
Here are several sites that have great primers on transportation methods to/from the airport and around the city.
- David Lebovitz: Paris Transportation Options
- Lonely Planet: How to Navigate Your Way Around Paris
- Paris by Train's guide from the Airport
- Paris Je T'aime (Tourism Office): 2024 Paris Summer Olympics: How to Get Around
Typically, I will take the RER B Train from Charles de Gaulle into the city and go form there. It can get a little sketch out in the suburbs for some, but I've never had any issues. Just keep your eye on your belongings as in any other scenario.
Paris 2024 Pass
French Crawl's Paris 2024 Pass Video
The big news this summer was that prices for riding the metro was going to nearly double to €4 per ride. They are introducing a Paris 2024 Pass to simplify traveling in zones 1 to 5 to cover all the venues in the Paris region. This will probably be the way to go depending on the number of days you're staying.
This is because the Navigo Week Pass and Navigo Day Pass will not be sold during the Olympics (July 20th to September 8th) to anyone, including residents. The Paris 24 Pass is taking both of their place during the Olympics.
You can learn more and purchase the Paris 2024 Pass here and have it shipped to you.
- A one day pass is €16
- A seven day pass is €70, which averages out to €10 a day
- The more days you purchase, the cheaper it gets.
- Unlimited travel for the duration of your choice (1 to 7 days)
- For use between July 20 and September 8
- All zones 1 to 5
- Possibly to both Paris airports (Orly and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle) for passes that are 2 days or longer but I'm not sure, so check per their site
- Valid from the first time you use it
Paris by Train has an excellent explainer on how the Paris 2024 Pass works.
Online
- Pass will be loaded onto the Navigo Easy Pass and shipped to you.
- Give yourself a 30-day window for shipping, otherwise, purchase in-person.
- They note the site was a bit of a mess in February, so check the link and see their updated notes
In-Person
- The Paris 2024 Pass will be loaded onto the Navigo Easy card for use. You'll have to purchase the Navigo Easy card at a kiosk or station that sells them and then load the Paris 2024 pass onto it.
- Or you can purchase and use it via an app (read below).
Apps
- There are two main apps, the Île-de-France Mobilités Phone App and the Public Transport Paris 2024 mobile phone app.
- The Paris 2024 Pass can be purchased and loaded onto the Île-de-France Mobilités Phone App for Android (check compatible phones here).
- There is an iPhone version of the app, and can now load a Navigo Pass. You'll have the right OS version to do so. You can read about it here from Paris by Train.
- The Public Transport Paris 2024 mobile phone app is out and still under development. The app will serve as a trip planner with traffic info. And you can buy travel tickets with it as well. For iPhone users this might be the best option to purchase and use the Paris 2024 Pass via your phone.
But is there another way to get around for possibly cheaper? In this economy? Possibly!
So the Navigo Easy card is what will hold your Paris 2024 Pass, but wait, there's more! Paris by Train gives the full low down on the Navigo Easy card. It's a card that can hold a myriad of other transit tickets.
One of the cool things is you can load up to 30 Paris metro tickets on it (3 carnets!). Remember, single tickets are going to cost €4 (up from €2.15) from July 20th to September 8th. But if you're able to, you can load up to 30 trips before July 20th at the regular price. A carnet is 10 trips which costs €17.35 (20% discount).
€17.35 x 3 = €52.05 for 30 Paris metro tickets (it's a T+ Ticket, which is also good for the bus etc.)
A carnet (10 tickets) during the Olympics will cost €32.
So if you have an Android phone, you can purchase the Navigo Easy card via the Île-de-France Mobilités app and load up 30 trips before July 20th (and possibly for iPhone users if they finish their development by then). If you are in Paris before the 20th, you can buy the Navigo Easy card in person and load them up beforehand. You can only hold 30 tickets per card, so if you think you need more, you'll have to buy additional Navigo Easy cards and load them up (and be sure to read up on Paris by Train's guide, as you can't use the card for multiple people on the same trip in case you wanted to share it, each person needs their own card).
If you're not in Paris, there is a way to pre-purchase and pick up a Navigo Easy card pre-loaded with a carnet (10 tickets) in person via the Paris Je T'aime tourism office. You have to pick it up at SPOT 24, which is near the Eiffel Tower. The price is higher at €22.90 before fees though. They can deliver it to your hotel or home address in France, but with the delivery fees (€12-13), you are looking at losing money this way so there's no point in doing that other than for convenience.
So if you're looking to save some money, these are some possible options. And if you're in Paris before July 20th, loading up on the Navigo Easy card looks to be a winner.
- This is a good primer on the Paris Metro from Paris by Train
- The Public Transport Paris 2024 app, as mentioned before, will help navigate real-time traffic and let you buy transportation tickets.
- Anne Ditmeyer from Prêt a Voyager has a course on navigating and making the most of your trip at Navigate Paris Online, it's €59 (I've not taken it nor get anything, I just enjoy her blog).
- Google Maps works really well in planning routes with public transit
- Paris Metro Map and Routes from the Apple App Store is what I use for the metro
- City Mapper helps plan routes with various modes of transportation
- City of Paris has an interactive tool to navigate the Games in anticipation of service disruptions
- Bonjour RATP has a planner for routes
- inat has incredible maps of all the stations that will be interrupted during the Olympics
Deep Dive on the Paris Metro
If you're a map nerd or enjoy history, Bright Trip has some nice videos on the history of the Paris metro and some tips on using it like a local.
How the Paris Metro works.
A History of the Paris Metro.
Olympic Games Security
French Crawl's Guide to the Pass Jeux and Security at the Games
SILT - Security Perimeters for Competition Venues
SILT stands for Strengthening Internal Security and the Fight Against Terrorism, which was formed in 2017. That word salad from the French is what they're calling the security perimeter around various venues and areas for the Olympics. A PDF from Paris Je T'aime explains it in detail.
Paris Police Video showing how the Perimeters work
There will be four security perimeters around competition areas. There are 13 competition venues in Paris and 12 in the surrounding areas. The four security perimeters are denoted by color on the maps.
Grey Perimeter - Competition Venue
- This is the enclosure of the area of competition managed by Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Access is for those with tickets for the event and accredited vehicles.
Black Perimeter - SILT Perimeter
- This area allows you access to the competition venue, established by the police.
- Access for those with tickets for the event and accredited vehicles
- Bicycles are not allowed to enter the SILT perimeter.
- Bicycle parking will be available.
Red Perimeter - No Motorized Traffic Allowed
- Pedestrians and cyclists can move around freely
- Motorized traffic is prohibited unless they have reasons (please check PDF for further explanations, full details for motorized vehicles in French here)
- This is designed to ease the flow of people entering and leaving competition sites
- This area will be active starting 2.5 hours before the first event. It will last until 1 hour after the final event of the day.
- For road races, red perimeters will be activated 3 hours before the start and progressively lifted as the final competitor crosses through.
Blue Perimeter - Restricted Motorized Traffic
- Pedestrians and cyclists can move around freely
- Motorized traffic is restricted to those who need to travel within this. No documentary proof of movement is required, but vehicles will be subject to random checks
- This is designed to reduce motorized traffic in the Red perimeter
- This area will be active starting 2.5 hours before the first event. It will last until 1 hour after the final event of the day.
TLDR: Black and Grey Perimeters require a ticket for the event (no bikes allowed in, but there will be parking for bikes at the Black Perimeter). Red means pedestrians and cyclists are free to move about, but motorized vehicles are not (unless they have authorization). Blue means pedestrians and cyclists are free to move about and only motorized vehicles that have reason to be in those areas.
SILT - Security Perimeters for Open Area Events
Several events will take place outside of competition venues and will have their own unique security perimeters. Those events are:
The Opening Ceremony
- July 18-25: SILT security perimeter along the Seine will be set up - Map Link for July 18-25
- July 26: The red perimeter will be enlarged and motorized traffic will be prohibited across the entire SILT perimeter - Map Link for July 26
Road Events
The City of Paris has more info here in English on security for the Opening Ceremony.
These are articles in French on the security perimeter:
- Paris City FAQ on SILT
- French Government Transportation Page on security
- The Police Department has all the maps on perimeters.
Pass Jeux - QR Code to Access Certain Areas
Starting on May 13th, the Pass Jeux will open for applications. What is it? Per the site:
- The Pass Jeux is a personal pass in the form of a QRcode to be presented at access points to the perimeters concerned.
- Checks will be carried out by the police at all access points, with verification of an identity proof.
- The digital pass Pass Jeux isn’t a ticket for the Olympic Games Opening ceremony.
- A Redditor pointed out that they had to apply for each reservation and appointment. So please correspond with the site and plan accordingly.
There is an FAQ on who exactly needs it and when. There are two perimeters where you will need a Pass Jeux (the Paralympics Road race is the third, but not covered here, please consult their site for that information):
Red Perimeter around Olympic (and Paralympic) Venues - Motorized Vehicles Only
- Pedestrians and cyclists can move freely and do not need a pass.
- Motorized vehicles do need a pass.
- Complete list from the Police Department on who is allowed and who needs a pass and where
Grey Perimeter for the Opening Ceremony - July 18th - 26th
- If you have a ticket for the Opening Ceremony on July 26th and don't plan on being in the Grey Perimeter from July 18th until the event, you do not need to apply for a Pass Jeux. Your ticket will get you through on the day of the event (1pm and on, Opening Ceremony starts at 7:30pm).
- Otherwise, if you need to be in the Grey Perimeter anytime from July 18th to the 26th, you (13 and older) will need to apply for Pass Jeux even if you're just riding in a vehicle.
- So if you have hotel reservations, Airbnbs, restaurant reservations, tickets to the museums etc. and they fall on those dates and are in the Grey Perimeter, you'll need a Pass Jeux.
- Reach out to your hotel and reservations to confirm
- This is for residents and workers in the area as well.
You can check the Anticiper les Jeux site to see if where you need to be falls within the areas that need a Pass Jeux.
Popular Tourist Sites Along the Seine during July 18-26
Information on July 18-26
Certain venues have provided more information on accessing them during the week before the Opening Ceremony from July 18-26. I've listed some of the more popular attractions below. The city of Paris has released a new document on getting around during this time frame and has a great site detailing activities in various areas of Paris.
Eiffel Tower
- Site information for tickets
- July 18 - 25 (closed July 14 and July 26) per site:
- For this period, the Eiffel Tower will implement a specific system to welcome its visitors. Presentation of proof of reservation will be mandatory to access the enhanced security corridor leading to the entrances of the Tower. A timed reservation will be mandatory to access the Eiffel Tower site and must be made on our official online ticketing platform:
- So you do not need a Pass Jeux, but you do need to get an e-ticket beforehand to get through their enhanced security corridor.
- You have to purchase an e-ticket (paid) or reserve access e-tickets (free) to go under the Tower to purchase on site (based on availability).
Louvre
- Their dedicated page for the Olympics
- Closed July 25, 26.
- As of July 5th, reservations for July 18-24 will open up soon per their site.
- The Paris Je t'aime site (Paris Tourism) has this info:
- The Musée du Louvre is open for the duration of the Games except on 25 and 26 July 2024. It is accessible without a Games Pass (QR Code) thanks to an access corridor, but proof of ticket reservation is required."
- No Pass Jeux is needed. There will be a dedicated passageway with a ticket (purchased).
Musée d'Orsay
- Their dedicated page for the week before the Opening Ceremony July 18-26
- Closed July 25, 26
- No Pass Jeux (QR code) is needed.
- You have to buy a ticket beforehand and can only access the museum via one entrance on rue de Lille
Musée de l'Orangerie
- Their dedicated page for the week before the Opening Ceremony for July 18-26
- Closed July 20, 25, 26 and August 26, 28
- They require a Pass Jeux and provide a map on where to enter from in the Jardin des Tuileries.
Sainte-Chapelle
- Their site states you'll need a Pass Jeux for July 18-25 visits.
- Closed July 26
So in short, if you are operating a motorized vehicle and need to be in the Red Perimeter you'll need a Pass Jeux. You will also need a Pass Jeux to access the Opening Ceremony Grey Perimeter from July 18th to the 26th. If you have a ticket for the Opening Ceremony on July 26th and do not need to visit the Grey Perimeter from July 18th to the 26th (before 1pm), then your ticket will get you into the area starting at 1pm and there's no need to apply for a Pass Jeux.
For more information and how you can apply for a Pass Jeux, please visit their site.
Culture
General Etiquette
David Lebovitz has a post on his favorite Paris restaurants. It also has informative cultural tips on dining out as well. You can find it here (scroll down to impoliteness). This is a great tidbit on greeting people there, imagine you're being invited into someone's home when you enter a shop or restaurant:
In Paris, it’s imperative to say “Bonjour Madame/Monsieur” when entering a shop or restaurant, and “Merci Madame/Monsieur” when leaving. There is an equally incorrect perception that Americans are impolite since we don’t have a habit of acknowledging salesclerks in shops in the States, as they do in France. When in Paris, think of it as being invited into someone’s home and stepping inside without saying hello. In Paris, always err on the side of being extra polite. (That said, many shopkeepers tell me they like Americans, so keep it up, folks!)
So say bonjour! You can say bonsoir for good evening. 6 o'clock is a good time to start using it. And don't say bonjour to a person if you see them again during the same day, use rebonjour (but I seldom ever saw that).
Eating Out
I would reference the same post from David about eating out. And here are some general tidbits.
- When ordering at quick eat places with seating they'll ask, here or take away? Sur place ou à emporter?
- sur place (here)
- à emporter (take away)
- If you're in a hurry, don't have a meal at a sit down place. Service is leisurely and they're not there to flip tables. So plan accordingly.
- With that being said, enjoy your meals, take your time, they won't be helicoptering over you as well asking how it's going.
- Lunch is a great value and a great way to try out Michelin starred places if you're able to make a reservation.
- At cafés you don't have to wait to be seated. Just find an open table and the attending person will eventually help you when they make their rounds.
- Tipping is not necessary (don't get me started about every machine asking now here), but you can do so if you feel like you got exceptional service. They won't complain ;)
Comedienne Tatty MacLeod with a great bit on the differences between waiters across the Channel.
Ordering Coffee ☕
It's almost a right of passage for a visitor to order un café and then see their eyes when they receive a shot of espresso when they were expecting a nice cup o'joe 🙋🏻♂️ Being from Texas, it never ceases to amaze me when I stop at a Buc-cee's and see people filling up a 32 oz tumbler full of coffee. That ain't happening here.
I'm not saying this 52 oz "travel" mug is full of coffee, but I'm also not saying it isn't. pic.twitter.com/uFCYNLWCP8
— Austin S. Lin (@AustinSLin) September 19, 2021
So here are the general types of orders for coffee from Fat Tire Tours to get you situated:
Un café: The French “café” is the equivalent of an “espresso” and can be ordered by saying either “un café” or “un espresso” – and that’s “e-s-presso” and not “e-x-presso,” mind you. While not as small as an Italian espresso, a French café is relatively potent and shouldn’t be ordered by anyone sensitive to bitter or strong coffee tastes.
Un café allongé: This is espresso diluted with hot water – usually mixed in for you, although occasionally the water comes separately. The flavor is similar to an American drip coffee, but slightly more bitter.
Un café filtré: This would be the equivalent to an American drip coffee, but the drink is relatively difficult to find outside Starbucks. If you don’t mind a few giggles, see if your café serves it.
Un déca: If you want your coffee drink decaffeinated, just add the word “deca” to the end of your order, such as “un café allongé deca” or simply “un deca” for a decaf espresso.
Un café glacé: It’s rare for cafés to serve iced coffee, but more and more are becoming hip to the idea, so it’s worth asking. Or, worst comes to worst, ask for “un verre avec des glaçons” – which is a glass of ice – and mix the drink yourself.Note: If you want to order milk, you’ll need to order one of these milky drinks. Asking for a glass of milk with your “café” is asking for ridicule. Avoid at all costs.
Une noisette: This is an espresso with a splash of milk.
Un café crème: If you want a more latte taste, order this drink. It won’t be quite as milky as a latte, but you may actually prefer the full-bodied flavor. Local Tip: The term “café au lait” is also coffee with milk but is specifically meant to be used in a home setting (in the morning, in pj’s, with your significant others, drunk out of a bowl instead of a mug) and therefore is a more intimate term. So, it should not be confused with the correct term: café crème. You don’t wanna get intimate with the server! It’s a really subtle thing, but it exists.
Un cappuccino: Like most places, this is espresso with foamed milk.
Or you can order a hot chocolate. I just drink black coffee or an Americano (which is a cocktail in France, not coffee, but once in a while you might see an americano at chain coffee shops) at home in the States so my go-to is un café allongé. After a nice dinner un café is nice to hold off the food coma to come. And you can practice ordering by watching this great role play from Super Easy French.
Super Easy French's How to Order a Coffee in a French Café
And don't forget to use one of the most magical phrases in French, s'il vous plaît. Combine that with bonjour and you're golden.
La Guinguette de Tours · A Video Postcard
Each May, the opening of La Guinguette along the Loire River in Tours brings people down along its banks. And soon after that, warmer temperatures.
Crawl Notes | L’Entrecôte in Montpellier
After a rainy half marathon in La Grande-Motte, a bright yellow sign leads to L’Entrecôte. One dish, one secret sauce, and a French family legacy split three ways.
The Long Tail | Music | Elisa Erka · Soleil vrille
A French song that stuck in my queue, ‘Soleil vrille’ by Elisa Erka. Lyrics, an English translation, and the vocabulary (vriller, chuchoter, ivresse) that was new to me.
Does French Know Ball?
Do you really know ball? Or French? From a Texas football Saturday to glottophobia laws, an essay on knowing, belonging, and the games we’re all playing.
Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped · A Video Postcard
60 years in the making, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work was a beautiful reminder of the fleeting nature of things.
Crawl Notes | L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
“It’s beautiful. It’s marvelous.” said a gentleman standing within earshot of me talking on the phone. He described the rose color painted across the sky at the Étoile to his audience of one.
Crawl Notes | Heritage Days | Le Sénat in Paris
Many popular attractions are open for free during the few days, but for me, it was the places that typically aren’t open to the public that piqued my interest.
La Liberté éclairant le monde, Liberty Enlightening the World
Earlier in the year, I went to watch Folarin Balogun play in Ligue 1. I took a side trip to Monaco to watch him play against Angers SCO at Louis Stade II.
Croissant Crawl | An Oranais at Karine & Teddy, Tours, France
Overwhelmed by the choices I asked about a pastry with golden orbs, what was it? Apricots she told me. An oranais.
What Does Un Gros Mot Mean?
His post mentioned humor and authenticity. I looked at the phrase and at first thought, “You say a big word you give one euro.”
Tips for Visitors
This is a nice informative video on visiting the city from Wolter's World. Whether it's your first time or tenth time, there are some good pointers in here.
This page will be continually updated so check back in the future. And have fun at the Olympic Games!
The Paris Olympics 100 Years Later
An Olympics Parfait read the headline from the Athletic’s newsletter the morning after the Closing Ceremony.
Getting Around Paris with a Pass Jeux – QR Code
I walked around Paris on July 18th, the first day security perimeters were activated along the Seine for the Opening Ceremony which will last until July 26th. Join me to see what areas were accessible.
Update on the QR Code (Pass Jeux) and Security for the Paris Olympics
New information came out on July 5th for July 18-26 security measures for the Opening Ceremony. You don’t need a QR Code (Pass Jeux/Games Pass) for some of Paris’ biggest attractions now. This includes the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Musée d’Orsay now.
Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Tour
I had this idea the other day to see what it’d be like to ride along the Seine as the athletes will be doing.
Do You Need the Pass Jeux QR Code for the Paris Olympics?
Do you need a QR Code or Pass Jeux for the Paris Olympics? I’ll explain that and how the security perimeters will work during the Paris Olympics.
Paris 2024 Olympic Travel Pass Guide
A special travel pass for the Paris Olympics is being sold. What is the Paris 2024 Pass?
