The Paris Olympic Games starts in 67 days—here's how to find last-minute tickets
Unlike most places watching Taylor Swift depart to a different city on her Eras tour, Paris isn't concerned—it's expecting 15 million visitors in 67 days for the summer 2024 Olympic Games. As the countdown begins, here's a guide to finding last-minute tickets, tipping and QR codes for moving around, plus how the city has been tackling its reputation for not being the most customer-friendly.
The Official Paris Olympics Site Is Now Live—For Reselling And Buying Event Tickets
While The Guardian reports that the super-rich are spending $500,000 on packages that include accommodation and tickets to sought-after events, there are cheaper ways to get tickets to some events during the Olympics.
The website and application to resell Olympic tickets is now live, allowing ticket holders to legitimately resell tickets to venues, and as per IOC instructions, it is the only official way to resell and buy tickets at this point before the Games begin. QR codes for entering venues are not currently activated so that they can't be counterfeited, but this site will allow ticket holders to transfer QR codes in time.
Navigating Paris During The Olympics—QR Codes
During the Olympics, some areas of Paris will require a QR code to enter, and this platform is also now live in English. It's called a Pass Jeux and will mostly be necessary for people who live and work in areas where the Games are being held, so they can pass freely, and also workers, like taxi and delivery drivers. There is also a map showing where people can and cannot drive during the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Paris Is An Expensive City—Do Tourists Need To Tip?
In the 2023 Worldwide Cost of Living Index, Paris came in seventh place, behind Los Angeles and ahead of Tel Aviv and Copenhagen. Unlike other global cities, tipping is not expected in restaurants and bars, as a 15% service charge is already included by law—although people usually leave a small tip of a couple of euros if the service was really good, as an additional extra.
To help reduce the cost of your trip, if you find yourself in Paris at the beginning of any month, you can seek out one of the many museums that allow free entry on the first Sunday of every month. Just like London, there are also lots of lovely places that offer a view without paying for it—like the park in Belleville, which has views of the Eiffel Tower and some lovely bars and restaurants off the beaten tourist track, like Bar Combat and bistro L'Entracte.
Another great option for getting around can be the Vélib hire bikes, which only cost €3 for 45 minutes and can be found on many street corners. Plus, it's better to buy tickets for the metro in bulk, as in books of ten single tickets.
Do You Speak Touriste? Visitors Will Find A City Ready To Welcome
France and its capital both have a reputation for not being completely welcoming to tourists, but as The Washington Post reports, Paris has been working hard to welcome visitors in the politest way possible.
In 2023, Paris' Chamber of Commerce revived an old campaign called “Do You Speak Touriste?” to remind hospitality industry workers of the subtleties between different cultures and how these might lead to misunderstandings—examples include repeating what tourists say, rephrasing it and asking them if they've been understood.
When it was launched in 2013, the “Do You Speak Touriste?” campaign was launched with an ad campaign, asking Parisiens to be nicer to tourists, reported Bloomberg at the time.
Many businesses in Paris (around 1,600) have signed a hospitality charter to follow specific principles of sustainable and environmentally friendly measures and to improve visitors’ experiences—there will be stickers displayed in shop windows to show tourists that these businesses can be trusted.
There Is Still Accommodation Available In Paris During The Olympic Games
While prices were sky high when the Paris Olympic Games were announced, they have come down considerably for the visitor looking for average-priced accommodation, although rooms are still double what they would be in any other summer.
For anyone looking to stay somewhere very special, Airbnb introduced its Icons collection this week, allowing tourists to book stays in some very sought-after venues, including, for the Olympic Games in Paris, an overnight stay at the Musée D'Orsay in a bed in its clock room—guests will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games from its rooftop terrace, as well as making use of private access to the Impressionist art collection.
