The French capital, Paris, always gets plenty of attention, but starting later this month the focus will be heightened as the Olympics 2024 – the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – begin on 26 July. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets – or you’re planning a trip for when all the hoopla has died down! – here are five things to do in Paris. And no, we’re not going to waste paper suggesting you visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées or Versailles Palace; you’ll no doubt see them anyway. Instead, here are five lesser-known things to do.
#1 Enjoy a view without a queue
Okay, there may still be a queue. But heading 56 floors up to the Montparnasse Tower Panoramic Observation Deck is a great way of getting a bird’s-eye view of Paris without battling the hordes at the Eiffel Tower. Plus, you get to actually see the Eiffel Tower, rather than being on it!
#2 Stroll above the streets
In 1993, a disused viaduct was transformed into La Promenade Plantée: a 4.7km elevated walkway lined by lush greenery that passes through the city’s 12th arrondissement. The walk begins at the Bastille and is a wonderful – and free – way to get a different perspective of things, from 10 metres up.
#3 Escape to a park
Parc des Buttes Chamont is Paris’s fifth-biggest green space, and a beautiful natural retreat that’s still close to the city centre, easily reached by Metro. Opened in 1867, it has water features, grottos, foot bridges (including a 63-metre suspension bridge), waterfalls and a miniature Roman temple.
#4 Cool off by a canal
The banks of the Seine are crammed with picnickers in summer, especially in the areas known as “Paris Beaches” (complete with sand and palm trees), so head a couple of kilometres north to Canal Saint-Martin instead. This trendy, tree-shaded canal is ideal for wandering, eating, boarding a boat, or just people-watching.
#5 Go underground
You’ve arrived in the City of Love and we’re suggesting you visit a sewer? Bear with us! The Paris Museum of Sewers gets the thumbs up from plenty of people for the glimpse it gives into the Paris underbelly, as you traverse a series of damp, dank tunnels and passageways.
5 Olympic venues outside Paris
The capital isn’t stealing all of the limelight during the Games; other cities in France are hosting football and sailing, for example. Here’s our pick of them!
#1 Bordeaux
You’ll come here for the wine, of course, but stay for the 350 historical buildings and monuments in the region, plus loads of museums and art galleries. And for something a bit different, the largest sand dune in all of Europe is a short drive away. Some of the world’s best oysters are plucked out of nearby Arcachon Bay, too.
#2 Lille
Close to the Belgian border in the country’s far north, Lille has all the big hits that travellers expect from France: amazing history, monuments, museums and food. There’s a small-scale city vibe here that will be appealing to those who find the relentless pace of Paris a bit much. Don’t miss the macarons!
#3 Marseille
The Olympics are on in the height of summer, so if you want to tie in watching sport with grabbing a coastal breeze, Marseille on the Mediterranean coast is an option. The city is known as the oldest in France, and has plenty of history and culture to absorb.
#4 Lyon
It’s a cliché that Lyon is France’s “underrated gem”, but there’s definitely something to be said for the description. It’s a great city for walking and exploring, whether you’re stumbling upon Roman remnants, or feasting on the amazing pâté, pastries and other foodie highlights here.
#5 Nice
The Queen of the French Riviera, Nice is an iconic coastal city that will no doubt be absolutely pumping during the two weeks of the Olympics. But this is summer, so it would have been anyway! People will be spilling out of bistros and wine bars, perched in ocean-side restaurants, or gathering to watch alfresco performances.
Further afield: Teahupo’o, Tahiti
It’s surely the first time in Olympics history that there has been a medal competition taking place more than 15,000km from the host city. That’s exactly what’s happening with surfing at the Paris Games, with the (in)famous break at Teahupo’o in Tahiti set to play host to the sport’s second Olympics appearance following its debut in Tokyo.
Don’t get your hopes up about flying to French Polynesia to catch the surfing live, though – it’s the only one of the 32 Olympic sports in 2024 that isn’t ticketed (presumably because Teahupo’o breaks offshore, so you’d need to be in a boat to watch, and there’s only a tiny village to support any Games infrastructure).
We’re putting together some more information on the Paris Olympics 2024 – so watch this space!
This article first appeared in the July 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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