Paris is gearing up to celebrate the Olympic Games, and as you can imagine, this is no small task.
Paris 2024, The Olympics... Les Jeux Olympiques... are on the minds of most Parisians and French people lately. Whether it’s with eager anticipation (can’t wait to have this huge worldwide event in our country) or with a touch of skepticism (who ever thought the Seine River could be cleaned??), the excitement is palpable.
After all, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime event in Paris! France is working hard to make these games a success and to ensure everyone's safety. With that in mind, circulation restrictions will come into force starting July 18. Preparing your trip to Paris is more important than ever if you're visiting this summer, especially since major tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro, Champs de Mars, Pont Alexandre III, Invalides, and Place de la Concorde) will be transformed into Olympic competition sites.
If you've visited recently, you couldn't have missed all the construction going on to get Paris 2024 ready for July. This might have been disappointing for some of you, with bleacher installations and works everywhere.
Getting around the very heart of Paris will not be as easy as usual during the games and even before. Here’s what you need to know if you’ll be visiting Paris during this period:
Two restricted areas (gray and red zones) will be active from July 18 to July 26, 1:00 p.m. around the Olympic sites and the Seine River (here is the official map).
A QR code to be requested online from the Préfecture de Police de Paris will be mandatory to access these restricted zones, whether by car, bike, or on foot for the gray zone, and by car for the red zone. If you’re concerned - and there’s a good chance you will be - you can request your QR code on the official website. Your QR code will not be sent immediately; an administrative check will be carried out by the French Administration first.
As of 1:00 p.m., July 26, for the Opening Ceremony, access to the gray zone will be strictly limited to nearby residents and ticket holders. Your QR code will not grant you access.
Of course, many (and I mean MANY) metro stations will be closed for obvious security reasons. Some already are.
So... if you’re visiting Paris this summer, I have one recommendation: more than ever, wear comfy shoes! You’ll be walking A LOT this summer in Paris. And don’t count too much on the Velib (bike) option... the Velib stations will undoubtedly be a target for everyone, leaving them empty of bikes.
But don’t worry, with good preparation, everything will be seamless for you even with the circulation restrictions for Paris 2024. And if you can rely on a local friend like your dedicated travel planner, well, you’ll have peace of mind :-)
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the Olympics or Paris. I’ll be glad to help you! info@seeuinfrance.com
and in the meantime, download "10 Picture-perfect spots to capture the Eiffel Tower", the walking tour I created around the Iron Lady showing the best spots to admire her and make great pics.
Kommentare