Paris Olympics: tickets, hotels & travel – everything you need to know to keep costs down

Between buying tickets for the most in-demand sports competition and grabbing as much memorabilia as you can carry, watching the Paris Olympics in person is likely to come with a hefty price tag. Exactly a century removed from the last time, the French capital once again is hosting the world’s largest sporting extravaganza. And in a city that is already among the most expensive, a period of Olympic-induced price rises across accommodation, shopping, food, tickets and tourism is expected in July and August. In that case, working out expenses before arriving in Paris could help guarantee a memorable experience without breaking the bank. Travel to the French capital Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, operates a daily 13-hour, 45-minute flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – Paris’ primary international airport. A direct round-trip ticket costs from HK$11,703. However, opting for a one-stop route could save as much as HK$5,076. Air China offers a 17-hour, 10-minute flight through Beijing priced at HK$6,627 per traveller. As the Games inch closer and prices go up, flying into another European city and then hopping on a train could unlock greater savings. Getting around Paris’ dedication to minimising its carbon footprint during the Games underscores the importance of walking, cycling and public transport. According to financial services firm Conotoxia, a day’s car rental could cost up to HK$266, while a single ticket for public transport amounts to just HK$19. Officials have introduced the Paris 2024 Olympics Travel Pass – a card offering unlimited travel on the Ile-de-France Mobilites network. Daily passes cost from HK$134 with a fortnightly pass coming in at HK$1,174. All Paris Metropolitan area Olympic venues – including popular tourist destinations – will be accessible using the pass. To enhance public transport navigation, the city developed the Transport Public Paris 2024 app – available in six languages – to suggest optimal routes for fans, offer real-time traffic updates and estimate arrival times to facilitate a seamless experience. Visitors can also purchase a Navigo Decouverte Travel Card, an economical pass providing access to all transport systems in Ile-de-France. Unlike single tickets, the Navigo Card offers savings for frequent travelers and stress-free traversing of the city. In May, Apple inaugurated the Navigo card for iPhones and Apple Watches, allowing users to buy the versatile card on mobile, and use devices to tap and go. Beyond relying on public transport, exploring Paris on wheels or on foot offers a budget-friendly and effective way to experience the city. Velib, a popular bike rental programme, leases bikes starting at HK$42 per day for a classic bike or up to HK$168 for three days for an electric version. To accommodate for the Games, Velib is expanding its fleet to 25,000 bikes, while the city extends its network to 325 miles of biking routes. Walking largely hinges on area of residence – 12 Olympic venues are nestled in the heart of the Paris metropolitan area, while the remaining 13 are sprawled across its outskirts. Budgeting around HK$587 to HK$637 should suffice for metro fares or renting a bike while exploring the city. Tickets for the Games As the 2024 Opening Ceremony draws near, ticket prices are on an upwards trajectory. Just a portion of the Games’ 10 million tickets – which went on sale as far back as December 2022 – remain. Conotoxia reports that paris24tickets.com is still active for purchasing tickets, while unauthorised services may also provide tickets. This year’s Games – beyond showcasing the charm of Parisian culture – will retract from the conventional drill of hosting the Opening Ceremony in a stadium. Parading a flotilla of boats along the infamous River Seine, the ceremony’s rehearsal itself gathered a number of onlookers as the official event will cost between HK$754 to HK$22,637. Tickets for sporting events are still available for as low as HK$125 while some events, such as surfing, are free. Large-crowd competitions, including football and basketball matches in Nice, Lyon, Marseille, Saint Etienne and Lille start at HK$251. Most blockbuster competitions are almost inaccessible, available only through special packages that reach around HK$80,000 per person. Historic crowd-pleasers – athletics finals and swimming finals – start at HK$5,781, while the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals tickets are exclusively available as part of the package starting at HK$21,743 on the official ticketing site. On Location, the official partner of the Paris Games, provides the aforementioned Olympic packages. Of the 60 packages that include both hotel and events, On Location provides a two-night swimming package at HK$18,471 per person at a 5-star hotel and three tickets to men’s and women’s heats, semi-finals and finals. Accommodation A projected influx of tourists caused an upswing in nightly rates among Parisian hosts and hotel operators. Typical three- or four-star European hotel chains – such as Ibis – will charge HK$3,353 to HK$5,868 compared to its usual HK$750 to HK$1,700 in regular times. “Sticker shock” will be prevalent this summer, with small flats ordinarily priced at HK$754 a night now commanding between HK$1,675 to HK$2,100. The outsize demand for accommodation has also warranted a near tripling, at times quintupling, of hotel prices in the Ile-de-France region. More affordable lodging can be found outside Paris city centre, where nightly rates can be up to 50 per cent cheaper. Given the reliable accessibility of public transport in and around the city, staying farther out of the city can help keep cash in the pocket. Food and other expenses While relishing the brilliance of world-class athletes, a trip to the City of Lights beckons exploration of its renowned tourist attractions and dining experiences. Budget Your Trip and France Hotel Guide suggest allocating between HK$335 and HK$377 per day on meals. With an anticipated rise in prices, budgeting HK$460 may be a safer bet. Popular sites such as the Louvre and Palace of Versailles increased their entry fees almost twofold – the former up from HK$184 to HK$400, the latter from HK$200 to HK$400 as well. If you count extras for souvenirs, around HK$838 should be enough. The countdown to the Games is approaching its final weeks, and anticipating increased prices and fares will be imperative to navigate Paris while savouring athletic spectacles and cultural attractions alike – within a budget.

Paris Olympics: tickets, hotels & travel – everything you need to know to keep costs down

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Working out your expenses before getting to the French capital can help guarantee a memorable experience without breaking the bank

Travel to the French capital

Working out your expenses before getting to the French capital can help guarantee a memorable experience without breaking the bank