Paris 2024 Olympics: how to prepare for your trip

Paris is preparing to host the world’s most prestigious sporting events: the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sports enthusiasts and curious people from all over the world look forward to this not-to-be-missed event. But how do you get tickets to the world’s biggest competitions? And where to sleep? With just over a year to go to the opening ceremony, almost 70% of tickets for the Paris Olympic Games have already been sold.

Milesopedia answers your questions and helps you unravel the details so that you too can take part in the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Where to buy tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

The official Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games box office is the sole sales channel for tickets. No other sales platform is authorized to market tickets. To guarantee your participation in this internationally renowned sporting event, we strongly recommend that you visit the official ticketing website. The Olympic Games state that no refunds will be made in the event of fraud, and that all tickets will be nominative. The names of ticket owners must be provided by the purchaser prior to the competition.

The first two phases of ticket sales for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have already taken place and are now over, but don’t worry, as there will be further buying opportunities between now and 2024. The resale platform will open in spring 2024.

But there’s already an important date in your diaries: tickets for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games go on sale on October 9, 2023.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - OLY – grande taille

What are the ticket prices for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

Of course, ticket prices vary according to the category of seats selected, the sport, and whether the event is a competition day or includes medal sessions.

In all, six different categories are on offer. The First category gives access to a privileged seat in a loge or lounge, as well as a catering area for a fee. Categories A, B, C, D and E offer seating and standing room in the grandstand. A maximum of six tickets can be purchased per session, with the exception of specific sessions limited to a maximum of four tickets.

For a category D seat in the qualifiers, prices can be as low as 24 euros per ticket. These include athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling and more. But rates are rising fast. Seats for the category A tennis final are priced at 420 euros, while seats for the artistic gymnastics final are priced at 690 euros. Seats for the athletics final are priced at 980 euros. To attend the badminton final in First, the curious will have to pay 320 euros, while to attend the boxing final in First, they will have to pay 520 euros.

The full price list – which is provided for information only – is available on the Paris Olympic Games website.

Your means of payment on site

To pay for your various purchases on site during the event, it will be worthwhile to get a VISA credit card. We have already seen that only Visa credit cards are accepted at the official Paris 2024 Olympic Games store. This is an indication that the same will be true on site during the event.

For Canadians, a very interesting option is the Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite + Card. Not only is this a VISA credit card, but it is also the only VISA credit card in Canada that charges no conversion fees on foreign currency transactions.

So when you make purchases in euros in France, you will not be charged the 2.5% conversion fee that most other credit cards charge their customers.

On top of that, this credit card gives you 6 free lounge visits per year at airport VIP lounges. For example, you could visit the Air France KLM Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau or the National Bank Lounge before your flight to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!

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Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuation: $350Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Where will the Paris 2024 Olympic Games events be held?

The Paris Olympic Games (OG) will not be limited to the capital and its immediate surroundings, but will cover the whole of France and its overseas territories. In fact, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the French overseas territories will be honored with the Teahupo’o site in Tahiti, where the Olympic surfing competition will be held on some of the world’s most beautiful waves.

In Paris, 15 Olympic and 11 Paralympic venues have been carefully selected to provide an unforgettable experience for athletes, spectators and millions of television viewers around the world. Located within a 10-kilometer radius of the Olympic Village, these venues will host 21 of the 32 Olympic sports and 14 of the 22 Paralympic sports.

Île-de-France is also in the spotlight, with competition venues spread across several departments. The Games will notably reach the Yvelines, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-et-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis, home to the Olympic Village, whose construction began in 2021 and will be completed in March 2024. It will house 14,500 athletes during the Olympic Games and 9,000 athletes during the Paralympic Games.

Elsewhere in the country, several cities will host various tournaments. The soccer matches will take place in Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Nice and Marseille.

The final stages of the men’s and women’s handball tournaments, as well as the qualifying rounds of the basketball tournaments, will take place in Lille, at the Pierre Mauroy stadium. As for sailing, it will set up in Marseille, on the Mediterranean.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Nice Stadium EXT OLY – large size

Maps of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games venues

Here is the map of the Olympic venues for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Paris2024-BIL-220719-Plans_Competition_Complexes-FR

Here is the map of the Paralympic venues for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Cartes des sites paralympiques

Here is the map of the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon:

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Paris2024-BIL-221002-Carte-Marathon-OLY-V6

How do I get to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

The decision to attend the Paris Olympic Games should not be taken at the last minute. Early planning is essential. Booking your plane and train tickets in advance of the event will enable you to benefit from lower fares. As airlines generally open ticket sales a year before the travel date, it may be worthwhile to start planning your trip as early as autumn.

France’s busiest (and best-connected) airports are Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Nice-Côte d’Azur, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, Marseille-Provence, Toulouse-Blagnac, Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Bordeaux-Mérignac and Nantes-Atlantique. From Montreal, direct flights are available to Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Paris.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Emirates B777 Classe Affaires-01

If you need to board a long-haul plane to reach France, the natural choice will be with Air France, which will be the official carrier of Paris 2024.

On the other hand, it can also be advantageous to choose to land at a European airport rather than a French one. As air tickets to France are likely to be sold at dizzying prices before and during the 2024 Olympic Games, you could save money by selecting flights to some of Europe’s leading cities not far from France’s borders, such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan and Frankfurt am Main.

Air Canada offers several direct flights a week between Montreal and Brussels, Barcelona, Milan and Frankfurt am Main, while Air Transat operates direct flights between Montreal and Amsterdam and Barcelona. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France’s sister airline, also offers direct flights between Montreal and Amsterdam, and Lufthansa offers direct flights between Montreal and Munich and Frankfurt am Main.

To date, SNCF – the French rail group and official supporter of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games – has not released any information on timetables as well as fares offered for train travel during the Paris Olympics.

Nevertheless, it has been said that 15,000 trains will be operated daily between July 26 and August 11, 2024 so that 10 million passengers can travel each day. The railroad company is said to have presented a series of measures to railroad workers, asking them to postpone their summer vacations and be available for the duration of the competition, in order to facilitate travel within France.

European Travel Information and Authorization System

To attend the Paris Olympic Games, travellers coming from Canada will need to have an electronic travel authorization in their possession. Starting in November 2023, all adult travellers who wish to visit one of the European Union (EU) countries, including France, for a stay of less than 90 days will need to obtain the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

To obtain this visa exemption, valid for three years, the people concerned will have to pay EUR 7, or nearly CA$10. They can then travel within the Schengen Area countries, and can enter and exit as long as the travel authorization remains valid.

Where to stay during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

As Airbnb has been a partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games since 2019, the booking platform is pulling out all the stops to promote Parisian apartment rentals during the Paris Olympics. But higher demand does not mean lower prices.

On the Airbnb website, over 1,000 Parisian owners have already opened their rental calendar for the Olympic Games, sometimes multiplying rates by three.

Check out our guide to saving money on Airbnb (for Canadians). You’ll learn, for example, that you can use Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card Scene+ points for all your travel purchases, including Airbnb bookings. Enough to lower your accommodation bill during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

To save money, you may want to look into hotels. For example, you could pay for a hotel stay using points earned with your American Express card.

The American Express loyalty program, Membership Rewards in Canada and Membership Rewards in France and the United States, allows you to transfer points earned with your credit card to the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs.

In France, the hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program located near the Olympic Games venues are as follows (click on the links to read our photo reports or visit the hotel website):

Hotel	Classification	Location
Moxy Paris Bastille	3 stars	Paris
Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle	3 stars	Paris
Courtyard Paris Gare de Lyon	3 stars	Paris
Courtyard Paris Porte de Versailles	3 stars	Paris
Courtyard by Marriott Paris Créteil	3 stars	Paris
Courtyard by Marriott Paris La Défense West Colombes	3 stars	Paris
Courtyard Paris Arcueil	3 stars	Paris
AC Hotel Paris Porte Maillot	4 stars	Paris
Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle	4 stars	Paris
Le Méridien Nice	4 stars	Nice
Sheraton Nice Airport	4 stars	Nice
AC Hotel Nice	4 stars	Nice
Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel	4 stars	Bordeaux
Bulgari Hotel Paris	5 stars	Paris
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris	5 stars	Paris
Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe Hotel	5 stars	Paris
Renaissance Paris République Hotel	5 stars	Paris
Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel	5 stars	Paris
Hôtel de Berri Champs-Élysées, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris	5 stars	Paris

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: How to prepare for your trip - Renaissance Paris Place Vendome-55

And participating Hilton Honors hotels located near Olympic venues include:

Hotel	Classification	Location
Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre	4 stars	Bordeaux
Hampton by Hilton Paris Clichy	4 stars	Paris
Doubletree by Hilton Lyon Eurexpo	4 stars	Lyon
Maison Astor Paris, Curio Collection by Hilton	4 stars	Paris
Hotel Camille Paris Gare de Lyon, Tapestry Collection by Hilton	4 stars	Paris
Hilton Paris La Defense	4 stars	Paris
Hilton Paris Opera	4 stars	Paris
Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero	4 stars	Paris
Hilton Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport	4 stars	Paris
Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace	5 stars	Versailles

Of course, Accor – ALL loyalty program – is also an official partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but the French hotel group plans to roll out the partnership by offering a booking platform to serve all accredited guests, as well as service management within the Olympic and Media Villages.

Bottom Line

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games promise to be an unforgettable spectacle, showcasing the talent, effort and determination of athletes from around the world.

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or simply looking for a unique experience, don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to experience the excitement of the Games all over France.

But as tickets are selling fast and France prepares to welcome travelers from all over the world, don’t forget to plan ahead. The earlier you book, the more you save.