Paris is gearing up to host the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in 2024, with millions of spectators expected to attend. The French capital will come alive with a festive atmosphere as sports enthusiasts watch 10,500 Olympic athletes compete for some of the biggest accolades of their careers. After the Olympics, the Paralympic Games will continue to showcase world-class athletic performances.
Ticket sales for the games have already begun, with over 3.25 million tickets sold in the first phase. The second phase of sales ends on April 20, and successful entrants will be given a 48-hour slot to buy tickets to individual sporting events, as well as for seats to the opening and closing ceremonies. With more than 750 events to choose from, it’s essential to peruse the Paris 2024 calendar, seating plans, and ticket prices ahead of booking.
The Paris Summer Olympics will be a stark contrast to the deserted scenes of the last Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. The games were hosted under strict Covid protocols, with athletes competing in almost empty stands. In contrast, the opening ceremony of the Paris games will be the first in Olympic history to be held outside a stadium. Paris is inviting the public to cheer on delegates on a flotilla of boats proceeding down a nearly four-mile route on the River Seine.
While some Paris hotels are already taking bookings for summer 2024, many won’t open their reservation calendars until about 400 days before the intended stay, or around July 2023. This delay could be because they are still waiting to gauge commitments to the International Olympic Committee, its sponsors, and other VIPs. Short-term rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO are already opening bookings for next summer, with demand likely to boom closer to the games.
Short-term rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO are already opening bookings for next summer. (Airbnb is an official partner of the Games, a pairing that has stoked displeasure from hoteliers in France, who have campaigned for more regulation against the rental giant.)
The demand for housing will likely boom closer to the Games, as more of the total 10 million tickets are snapped up.
Rob Stern, an independent travel adviser based in North Carolina, 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.
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 flight prices to the French capital for this summer season, and to reserve as soon as possible.
“If you add the demand of the already popular summer destination that Paris is and you add an event to it — well, wow,” said Mr. Stern, the travel adviser, who said he had booked one economy trip from Kansas City to Paris, and Rome to Kansas City, for nearly $1,700. He said that travelers should consider being flexible with travel dates or consider low-cost carriers to try and save on costs.
The Paris Olympics will be an experience of a lifetime, with world-class athletic performances, festive atmosphere, and a chance to explore the City of Lights. With the world starting to reopen after the pandemic, the Paris Summer Olympics may be the perfect excuse for a post-Covid vacation.
