Planning to go to the City of Lights as it hosts the 33rd Summer Olympic Games? Here’s what you need to know

Paris 2024’s opening ceremony will be the first in Olympic history to be held outside a stadium; the city instead is inviting the public to cheer on delegates on a flotilla of boats proceeding down a four-mile route on the River Seine. Tickets will be sold for seating on the lower banks and other areas, but the upper banks will be free for the public to watch from.

Here’s all what you need to know about the greatest sporting event of the year:

HOW DO I GET MY SEATS?

Ticket sales have begun. If you’ve already snagged a ticket, you will be notified by email after May 9 and given a 48- hour slot to buy tickets to individual sporting events, as well as for seats to the opening and closing ceremonies. There are more than 750 events to choose from, so perusing the Paris 2024 calendar, seating plans and ticket prices ahead of booking is a good idea. Pricing will vary depending on the seating and event type (tickets for handball competitions range from 24 to 190 euros; while tickets for track and field, listed as “athletics”, range from 24 euros to 980 euros). It’s possible that some of the most popular events would have sold out.

Each registered account can buy a maximum of 30 tickets, with a maximum of six tickets per event, although some events will limit that number to four tickets.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK ACCOMMODATION? While some Paris hotels are already taking bookings for summer 2024, many don’t open their reservation calendars until about 400 days before the intended stay or around June 2023.

Henry Harteveldt, founder of US based travel research company Atmosphere Research Group, anticipates hotels and airlines raising prices around the time of the Games. Short-term rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO are already opening bookings for next summer. The demand for housing will likely boom further as more of the 10 million tickets are snapped up.

Rob Stern, an independent travel adviser based in the US, expects that “there will be a big scramble” for accommodation as more people secure tickets and once flight bookings open. He added that people would be wise to book hotel dates as early as possible.

With 35 sporting venues spread across Paris and a few events happening outside of the French capital, some attendees are opting to stay on the outskirts of the city to try to save on costs. The official site offers a map of the venues and estimates the travel time between each.

“I would have a look to see where there are any smaller towns to get to the venue rather than booking directly in Paris,” said Val Stevens, 78, who will travel from England to Paris for her third Olympics. She is planning to stay with friends who live outside Paris but on a direct line to the city.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY FLIGHTS?

Airlines have not opened their flight schedules for summer 2024; some will begin offering them around 330 days before departure.

Travel experts warn that the cost of flights to Paris for summer 2024 could surge beyond average prices this season, and to reserve your tickets as soon as possible. Stern suggested travelers consider flying into another European city before the Games, then travel to Paris from there.

CAN I BOOK AN ALLINCLUSIVE PACKAGE?

Yes, all-inclusive packages that combine accommodation, transport, tours and dining experiences with tickets to Olympic events are available. These can be purchased through the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ official hospitality partner, On Location. One option is a travel package, which lets people select their preferred level of service and Olympic sessions.

Travel packages begin at 730 euros per person for one night at a three-star hotel and a ticket to an Olympic event, and go up to 27,150 euros per person for a six-night stay at a five-star hotel, with the package including dining, tours of Paris, six Olympic tickets, transfers and invitations to VIP events. (Note that they do not include flights).

A less comprehensive option is to buy a hospitality package, which allows people to skip the draw and buy tickets to individual sessions that include food and drink, access to exclusive lounges in between events and talks from Olympians, but not lodging. Costs vary but are much pricier than the basic individual tickets; a seat at the boxing finals at Roland-Garros starts at 950 euros.