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EXPLAINER
A survival guide to Paris transport closures for the 2024 Olympics
Paris will be in the throes of Olympic fever from July 26 to August 11 for the 2024 Summer Games. Public transport routes will be revised and vehicle access will be restricted just as millions of visitors are expected in the city. Both residents and tourists are urged to review the revised routes and plan ahead.
Issued on: 06/07/2024 – 17:23
7 min
A woman walks through a decorated metro station to celebrate Paris being named host of the 2024 Olympic Games.
A woman walks through a decorated metro station to celebrate Paris being named host of the 2024 Olympic Games. © Lionel Bonaventure, AFP
By:
Pauline ROUQUETTE
Restrictions on access to certain areas will begin more than a week in advance as the French capital prepares for an ambitious opening ceremony that will take place over several kilometres along the River Seine – the first to take place outside of an arena in the history of the Olympic Games.
A massive security operation will be under way to secure the river route and ensure the smooth movement of the thousands of people expected to watch the ceremony from the upper and lower quays when it kicks off at 7:30pm on July 26.
As temporary spectator stands are set up around the city and the Seine undergoes a massive cleanup, several metro and RER stations will be closed from July 18.
To plan a route with updated information, use the Paris transport system’s online planner:
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RATP online itinerary planner
For many areas of the capital, a “Pass Jeux” (Games Pass) containing a QR code will be needed for access. Request one in English by clicking here.
A dedicated mobile application, Transport Public Paris 2024 (downloadable on Android and iOS), has been developed to facilitate routes to competition sites and have real-time information on transport conditions.
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Metro and tram stations closures during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Coloured perimeters to control traffic
Before and during the Games, competition sites will be subject to traffic bans and restrictions. Four colour-coded perimeters will be set up around the sites, with specific rules for each. An interactive map of these perimeters for each day of competition can be viewed here.
• The gray perimeter, for competition sites
Athletes, ticketed spectators and accredited people (notably journalists) are permitted within this perimeter. No vehicles are authorised except Paris 2024 accredited vehicles.
• The black protective perimeter
An area for searches and pat-downs of any person entering the competition site.
• The red perimeter prohibiting motorised traffic
Free movement of cyclists and pedestrians is permitted. Only people with a digital pass (QR code) are authorised to enter by motor vehicle.
• The blue perimeter diverting motorised traffic
Pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to move freely, but only people with a legitimate reason to go to an address located in the blue zone are authorised to enter by motor vehicle.
For the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, a Security, Insecurity and Fight against Terrorism (SILT) perimeter close to the river and docks will be in place from July 18 to 26, the day of the opening ceremony and kick-off for the Games.
To access the perimeter, a Games Pass QR code is needed – it must be requested from the online platform in advance. Only local residents, professionals and visitors (with proof of a hotel, museum, ticket or restaurant reservation) will be allowed to enter. Vehicle access will be strictly prohibited except in rare cases.
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A detailed list of transport closures by date (in French)
Metro and RER station closures
• Closures from July 18:
Metro line 1: Tuileries, Concorde and Champs-Élysées – Clémenceau stations
Metro line 4: Cité
Metro line 5: Quai de la Rapée
Metro line 6: Trocadéro and Passy
Metro line 7: Châtelet, Pont Marie, Pont Neuf and Sully Morland
Metro line 8: Concorde
Metro line 9: Alma Marceau, Iéna (July 24 only) and Trocadéro
Metro line 10: Javel
Metro line 11: Châtelet
Metro line 12: Concorde
Metro line 13: Champs-Élysées – Clémenceau
On the RER C line, the Musée d’Orsay, Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel and Pont de l’Alma stations will be closed.
• For the opening ceremony on July 26:
In addition to the limited transport service outlined above, several additional closures are planned for the day of the opening ceremony, depending on the time of day.
Metro line 6 will not take passengers between Charles de Gaulle – Étoile and La Motte-Picquet – Grenelle stations
Metro line 7 will not run between Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre and Jussieu
Metro line 9 will not run between Miromesnil and Porte de Saint-Cloud
On line 10, trains do not stop at Michel-Ange-Molitor, Michel-Ange-Auteuil or Javel-André Citroën stations (after 6pm).
Read more
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony: security and traffic information
More stations will gradually close after 1pm on July 26:
On metro line 1: Hôtel de Ville and Saint-Paul
Metro line 4: Cité
Metro line 5: Quai de la Rapée
Metro line 8: Invalides, Tour Maubourg and École Militaire
Metro line 11: Rambuteau and Hôtel de Ville
Metro line 13: trains will not stop at Champs-Elysées – Clémenceau or Invalides
The Solférino and Rue du Bac stations (line 12), Varenne and Saint François-Xavier (line 13), as well as Tour Maubourg and École Militaire (line 8) will be kept open for everyday travellers, but will be indicated as unavailable to spectators. Also, in case of crowds, trains may not stop at these stations.
Between 6pm and 9:30pm, line 6 will be completely closed, the terminus of line 5 will be at Bastille, the RER C will be halted inside Paris and the T3a tram will only run between Pont du Garigliano and Porte d’Ivry.
The number of metros will, however, be increased on other lines for the arrival and departure of spectators from the Opening Ceremony. When the ceremony ends, the eastern part of line 6 and the line 5 viaduct will reopen, as will the entire RER C line. The automated lines (1, 4 and 14) will operate all night (but Cité station on line 4 will remain closed).
Opening ceremony security zones map
Opening ceremony security zones map © Préfecture de police
Gradual reopening
The gradual reopening of several metro stations will begin from July 27, the day after the opening ceremony, except for the following:
The Champs-Elysées – Clémenceau station (lines 1 and 13) will be closed from July 20 to August 11 inclusive, and then again from August 22 to September 8.
Concorde (lines 1, 8 and 12) and Tuileries (line 1) stations will be closed through September 1.
TGV and main train stations
The major Parisian stations remain open for travellers needing to take a TGV or a mainline train, but timetable adjustments will be in place to avoid overcrowding and delays around the Lyon, Bercy and Austerlitz stations, all three of which are located within the protected Olympic perimeter.
Austerlitz station will not be accessible by road, given the red perimeter. Pedestrian access is possible as well as special bus and taxi access.
Road access to Lyon and Bercy stations will be affected by the closure of the Bercy quay on July 26 for the Opening Ceremony. The Bercy bus station will also be closed on July 26 but will be in service for the duration of the Olympic Games (albeit running on restricted timetables).
Metro and bus prices to almost double
Between July 20 and September 8, the single T+ ticket – which allows access to the metro, bus, tram and RER in Paris and some of its outskirts (zones 1-2) – will cost €4 euros compared to the usual €2.15.
For tickets purchased aboard buses, the usual price (€2.50 euros) will double to €5.
A Paris 2024 pass for unlimited travel will also be available for €16 per day, with rates decreasing depending on the duration. A weeklong pass will cost €70 euros, more than twice the usual price of a weekly Navigo pass (€30.75).
Access to hotels
Hotel guests – like local residents and those needing to access their places of work – will need to present a QR pass to access the secure perimeters by car. When requesting the QR code online, hotel guests will need to provide proof of ID for all those occupying the vehicle along with proof that the hotel is providing off-road parking. Ask your hotel for details.
Olympic fan zones
Some 26 fan zones, each capable of welcoming 500 people, will be accessible free of charge. They will broadcast Olympic events and other entertainment on giant screens as well as offer catering and will remain open until 11pm. Medal-winning athletes will be celebrated at the zones located at Trocadéro and Parc de la Villette.
Closures for the Paralympic Games (August 28 – September 8)
The Summer 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games accelerated plans to improve disabled access in and around the French capital, although much work remains to be done to improve access in the longer term. The organisers of the Games committed to holding an “inclusive and accessible” competition for the estimated 350,000 disabled people who are expected to visit the French capital in summer 2024 and the estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people with limited mobility who will be using public transport each day.
