4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel To Paris During The Paris 2024 Olympics

I had a blog reader recently ask me if it’s a good idea to travel to Paris during the Paris 2024 Olympics which will take place from Fri, Jul 26, 2024 – Sun, Aug 11, 2024, and from August 28 to September 8, 2024, for the Paralympic Games, and I thought I should share my thoughts here! 

Right off the bat, I would say don’t visit the city during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Unless this is the only time you have and you’ve already booked non-refundable accommodation, air tickets, and activities, then you’ll have to deal with it, but if not, it would be better to start looking for other days.

I am usually all about encouraging people to visit Paris but here is why I think you should stay away.

Of course, unless the real reason you’re coming is to watch the Olympic games but if not, please stay home, and I say that with good intentions. Again, these are just my thoughts as someone who lives in Paris, but the ultimate decision is yours!

Reasons Why You Should Not Travel To Paris During The Olympics

1. It’s going To be as crowded as hell!

Well, this is to be expected and you may not think much of it so let me put it into perspective. 

On normal days, 4 million people use the metro daily which is already a lot! If you’ve used the metro during the rush hours, you know it gets unbearably crowded.

Now add the 15 million visitors expected during the Olympic season and you’ll have something else. 

Of course, the Paris administration is trying to do as much as possible to accommodate as many people as possible by increasing the number of metros running.

But when there is a metro running almost every 3 minutes (on most metro lines), there is not enough room left for a huge increase. So yes, even if they wanted to add multiple metros during the Olympics, just a few can be squeezed in. 

2. Some metro lines will be completely closed

It won’t just stop at being crowded but some metro lines will be completely closed off!

These include Concorde, Tuileries, and Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau stations since they’re located close to where some Olympic games will take place.

So good luck easily accessing the Louvre museum, Tuileries Gardens, or even the famous Champs-Élysées Avenue. Of course, some of them will still be accessible, it will just not be straightforward like before.

The government created this website to show visitors (and locals) which metro lines, roads, and train lines will be affected, so you can check it out.

3. Some attractions in Paris will be closed off to tourists

Following the above point, several attractions will be closed off to tourists as that’s where some of the Olympic games will be held.

This includes but is not limited to Place de la Concorde which will be hosting skateboarding, basketball, etc.

Also, several bridges in Paris will be closed, so you’ll not be able to fully see the beauty of the Seine River.

Bridges that will be closed include; Pont de l’Alma, Pont au Change, Pont de la Concorde, Pont Alexandre III, Pont des Arts, and more. They’re expected to start closing at the beginning of July 2024.

To me, it’s just not worth it really, and it’s better to just visit another time altogether. Again, if your sole purpose for coming is to watch the Olympic games, then you should come, but if you’re coming as a tourist, I don’t recommend it. 

3. Metro tickets are going to be more expensive

Closure and crowds are not the only thing affecting the Paris transportation system! Metro ticket prices are also increasing from the usual 2.10 euros to 4 euros, which is almost double the price.

As for locals, the city has urged us to prebuy metro tickets before the price hike. I’ve estimated how many tickets I’ll need for that time and I’ll be buying them in a few days.

4. Hotel prices are going to be outrageous

The crazy prices won’t stop at transportation tickets! If you know the first principle of economics; as demand increases, the price also goes up, then you probably already know this!

Hotels you were able to get for 150 or so euros a night are now almost thrice the price.  

So basically, your dream trip to Paris will cost you much more, yet you won’t be able to experience Paris as well as you would have wanted.

If the prices don’t scare you off, it will be incredibly hard to even find one that’s not booked out. So if you still insist on coming, go book your accommodation here right now. 

It’s Not All Bad Though…

But it’s not all negative! The fact that the Olympics are right in front of my nose is super exciting, and although it’s going to come with challenges of getting around and several annoyances, I am still excited to enjoy the whole vibe that comes with these prestigious games. 

In fact, when they first announced tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympics, I was so excited to attend at least one game but unfortunately, all the tickets that were feasible for me sold out pretty fast. 

If you want to experience such a vibe, then it might not be such a bad idea to visit Paris during this time. 

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Final Thoughts on Why You Shouldn’t Visit Paris During The Olympics

That’s it! I am curious to hear your thoughts on this! Will you be coming to Paris during the Olympics or did I just scare you away? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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