Planning a Summer Olympics Trip Without Visiting Paris: A Guide

As the 2024 Summer Olympics approach, anticipation builds for the monumental event to be hosted by Paris. However, with concerns about transport conditions, accommodation challenges, and missed deadlines for metro upgrades in the capital, exploring alternative locations becomes an appealing option. Outside of Paris, various French destinations and overseas territories will host full tournaments, qualifiers, and finals at 11 different venues. Here’s a guide to some of the events and recommended places to stay.

Versailles: Just an hour from Paris by train, the royal grounds of the Palace of Versailles will host several disciplines, including equestrian competitions and most of the modern pentathlon. The Etoile Royale esplanade in the palace’s gardens will provide a picturesque backdrop. A special exhibition called “Cheval en Majesté” inside the château will display 300 works dedicated to the role of horses in European civilization. Restoration projects, including Apollo’s Fountain, will reach completion by spring.

Where to stay:

• Grand Contrôle: The first hotel within the gates of Versailles, offering a luxurious but central stay.
• Waldorf Astoria Versailles-Trianon Palace: Situated at the edge of the Château de Versailles gardens, perfect for those attending sporting events.

Bordeaux: Known for its wine country, Bordeaux, located two hours southwest of Paris by high-speed train, will host seven football matches, including the quarter-finals, at the Bordeaux Stadium. Explore the city’s exceptional urban transformation, trams, and pedestrian-friendly historic city center. Don’t miss Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin, a museum devoted to winemaking, and its vibrant natural wine and craft cocktail scene.

Where to stay:

• InterContinental Bordeaux–Le Grand Hôtel: A central and luxurious option with a history of 200 years.
• Les Sources de Caudalie: A relaxing stay outside the city, known for “vinotherapy” spa treatments.

Marseille: France’s second-largest city, Marseille, will host football and sailing competitions. The constant winds and sunshine make it ideal for regattas in the Roucas-Blanc Marina. Football matches will take place at the Stade Vélodrome, the country’s second-largest stadium.

Where to stay:

• Les Bords de Mer: Overlooking the Catalan beach on the Corniche, a boutique guesthouse with 19 rooms.
• New Hotel Le Quai: Centrally located with spacious rooms near the Vieux Port.

Lille, Lyon, and Nantes: Accessible by train from Paris, these secondary cities will host football, handball, and basketball events with likely thinner crowds. Explore Lyon’s Unesco World Heritage Sites and culinary tradition, Lille’s Flemish influences, and Nantes’ green spaces and annual culture festival.

Where to stay:

• InterContinental Lyon Hotel Dieu: Spacious accommodation with river views in Lyon.
• Clarance: A five-star boutique property with Michelin-starred dining in Vieux Lille.
• Radisson Blu (Nantes): A four-star hotel in the city center, and Château de Maubreuil for a luxurious stay.

Tahiti: For a unique French getaway during the Olympics, head to Tahiti Iti, a small peninsula on the southwestern coast of French Polynesia. Teahupo’o, known for its challenging waves, will host the shortboard competitions. Enjoy the black sandy beach of Papara as a fan zone with screens to watch the action on the waves.

Where to stay:

• Villa Mitirapa: A collection of villas with lagoon views and privacy, 25 minutes from Teahupo’o.
• Papeete (Tahiti): Explore options like Hilton and other resorts for larger and more luxurious stays.

With these alternative locations, spectators can immerse themselves in the Olympic experience without navigating the challenges of Paris.