Getting around Paris during the Olympics

As Paris gears up for the Summer Olympics, the city has been a study in contrasts. Typically busy quarters like the Marais seem quieter than usual, while others, such as the areas around the Hotel de Ville and Notre Dame, hum with activity.

On my way to dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Pres on Thursday night, a shopkeeper remarked that she had never seen the city so different. As a frequent visitor myself, I have to agree.

Tourists and residents alike have probably noticed a heightened security presence, with 50,000 police officers and military members from around the country as well as canine brigades and private security services brought into the city for the Games, according to Valérie Pécresse, president of Ile-de-France Mobilites, the governmental authority that controls and coordinates the different companies operating Paris' public transport network.

Unfortunately, that presence was not enough to prevent arson attacks on three high-speed rail lines early Friday morning that are likely to disrupt train service into and around Paris for days to come; luckily, no one was injured.

Barring any other disruptions, it should still be easy to navigate the City of Light during the Olympics. Especially if you're prepared. And as always when traveling, it's a smart idea to stay up to date on news and changing conditions that might affect your plans.

Here's all the information we've gathered to help you get around Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics and the Paralympic Games.

Get the Paris 2024 Transport Public app

To maneuver through the confusing confluence of closures of both streets and public transport, visitors should download the multilingual Paris 2024 Transport Public app for iOS or Android.

Another way to know what to expect is to use the interactive website Anticiper les Jeux, which is updated regularly with which roads and Metro stations will be closed, busy or "normal" throughout the Games.

Getting to and from the airport

At Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), travelers will notice many "helpers" in red vests and jackets offering assistance. After we picked up our baggage at Terminal 1, a man wearing a red "Taxis Officiels Assistance" vest escorted us to the taxi station at exit 24 (there are well-marked signs in all terminals explaining where to get an official taxi). It was a little touch, but with small children and pretty of luggage, it definitely helped to have someone show us the way to the taxi queue after our long flight.

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An official taxi from CDG to the city center will run 50-70 euros ($54-$76) and is strongly recommended because they'll be able to use a Paris 2024 traffic lane for authorized vehicles, making entry into the city quicker than usual. It's also possible to take the RER B train to Paris with stops at Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Palais-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau, and Cite Universitaire.

Ubers are another option, although they can not access the Olympics-designated traffic lanes. Travelers to Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) can take the RER B or find an official taxi at 14a, 32a and 48a. The ride into Paris will cost about 40 euros ($43).

Using the Metro during the Olympics

All sporting events in Paris will be accessible via public transportation. Many iconic venues are in the heart of the city, like the Place de la Concorde and the Grand Palais. The city has invested in making 180 stations accessible to people with reduced mobility and sight and hearing impairment, but improvements and other repairs have come at a cost. The fare for a one-way Metro ride has (temporarily) gone from 2.10 euros ($2.30) up to 4 euros ($4.30).

Ile-de-France Mobilites encourages travelers to avoid purchasing single tickets at stations and kiosks, which could cause long lines, in favor of multiticket packets or multiday passes.

After all, 10 million visitors are expected in Paris from July 20-Sept. 8. Instead, it's possible to buy unlimited Metro day passes online and through the Paris 2024 Transport Public app for 16 euros ($17) per day and 70 euros ($76) per week (once a pass is purchased on a smartphone, the smartphone will act as your pass). Travelers can buy Navigo Easy passes for children at $2 a pass, which can then be loaded with funds online.

Pink signs on trains and in stations throughout the city denote which stations are closest to which venues, but during certain events, these stations are likely to be clogged with traffic. By using the Paris 2024 Transport Public app, users can find alternative routes. While it may involve a little more walking, it is advised to avoid stations labeled as "crowded."

Three Metro stations will be closed through the summer for security reasons, including Concorde, Tuileries and Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau.

Taxis and Ubers in Paris during the Olympics

During the Summer Olympics, cars will face more restrictions than pedestrians and cyclists on the streets of Paris.

Automobiles will not be permitted to enter designated "red zones" surrounding events. There will be exceptions for emergency vehicles, local business deliveries and people who have preregistered their vehicles. In larger, less restricted "blue zones," motor vehicles deemed "necessary" — such as those of locals and medical personnel — will be permitted.

The Place de la Concorde will be closed to traffic throughout the Olympics, and the area around Trocadero, the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars will be heavily restricted. Unless you have tickets to an event, avoid these areas entirely. This map shows the red and blue zones throughout the city.

Ride-hailing services like Uber fought and won the right to enter red zones like taxis, but as previously mentioned, they can't access the special lanes around the main arenas and on the Peripherique ring road around Paris that are reserved for official taxis, Olympic delegations, buses, police, emergency vehicles and journalists.

Pedestrians and cyclists 

While they will not able to access the immediate vicinity of competition venues, pedestrians will have quite a bit of freedom in Paris.

The city is also strongly encouraging cycling as a mode of transportation during the Olympics. It has opened 30 miles of paths, called "Olympilanes," linking parts of Paris to sports venues in the northeastern suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis.

Velib, the self-service bike-sharing service, has added 3,000 bikes to its fleet and 10,000 new temporary bike racks around Stade Roland-Garros and the Champ de Mars.

As a frequent Paris visitor, I've never seen the bike stations look more organized and immaculate. Cyclists will be allowed to cruise through the city, just not in areas called the "perimetre de protection" designated by a thin blue line that can be seen on official Prefecture de Police maps. There are also complimentary bike corrals at venues throughout the city, too, for those pedaling their own cycles.

Free activities

Even if you don't have tickets to an Olympic event, there is a lot to do in Paris. The Terrace des Jeux at Hotel de Ville will offer free sports-themed activities throughout the Games. The Parc des Jeux in Parc Georges-Valbon will essentially be a free Olympics viewing party with concerts, activities and live streams of events. Some road cycling and triathlon events (where competitors will swim along the Seine on Tuesday and Wednesday) will be free to view, and the Musee Carnavalet in the Marais, a free museum dedicated to the history of Paris, has Paris Olympics-related memorabilia and interactive trivia.

Bottom line

Paris is organized for the Olympics, but things will indeed be different for visitors, who might notice a little less freedom to explore certain parts of the city this summer. With Olympic venues sprinkled throughout the area and various arrondissements experiencing restricted access for security reasons, conditions change almost daily. But it is still possible to enjoy museums, cafe life and walking all over the beautiful city. Stay vigilant, though, as security remains a concern, especially after Friday morning's arson attacks on high-speed lines, and give yourself as much extra time as possible to navigate the city during the next several weeks.