Suggestions for traveling to Paris through the Summer Olympics

During the six years I used to be lucky enough to live in central Paris, I learned lots concerning the ups and downs of being a Parisian.

I might move back in a heartbeat. But I also feel sorry for international visitors who arrive with a romantic vision of lovely perfection, only to suffer a severe shock – referred to as “Paris Syndrome” – in the event that they hear otherwise.

But don't let that stop you from visiting. Instead, discover what to anticipate before you go.

At the top of July, there is normally an exodus of Parisians, and plenty of move to their summer residences for all the month of August. Bakeries are closed, as are Restaurants and shops have a “Fermé” (closed) register the window.

But this summer, many businesses and restaurants wish to take full advantage of the 11 million visitors expected to return to town for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Rather than closing in August, many restaurants and shops are planning a brief break between the closing ceremony on August 11 and the beginning of the Paralympics on August 28.

Public transport in Paris is notoriously reliable – unless the employees are on strike. To avoid problems, Discussions are happening to stop transport strikes through the games.

However, people ought to be careful in the event that they are traveling on July 26, the day of the Games' opening ceremony, because a no-fly zone over Paris airspace will prevent planes from taking off and landing for about six hours, the Associated Press reported.

If the subway is overloaded, you must rent a motorcycle. There are around 20,000 Velib bikes in town, lots of which can be found on major street corners. Since some streets will likely be closed to cars through the games, it’s safer to cycle around town.

If speed is essential, some of the exciting ways to get around Paris is Motorcycle taxi. Once I used to be at Gare de Lyon on my method to Spain when I spotted I'd forgotten my passport. So I jumped on the back of a bike and my driver weaved through traffic, waited while I ran as much as my apartment, and dropped me back off on the station before my train left.

Paris's notoriously rude waiters are rather more approachable should you greet them first. Say “bonjour” and take a look at ordering in French. And pleasantries like “s'il vous plait” (please) and “merci” (thanks) don't hurt either.

This is true for all French people. It took me some time to determine why supermarket staff ignored me once I asked where I could find certain things. Then I spotted that I hadn't greeted them beforehand. An easy “bonjour” was enough.

And finally, never call a waiter “garçon” (boy). This is a relic from the past and is taken into account extremely rude today.

Eating out in Paris might be expensive, especially at one in every of town's 121 Michelin-starred restaurants. To get monetary savings, go for lunch as an alternative of dinner. Most restaurants in Paris offer a three-course lunch menu for a set price.

Another inexpensive meal is a planche, a platter of pieces of meat and cheese and countless baskets of baguette. If you might have a sweet tooth, order a café gourmand, a coffee with a number of sweet treats, often for the value of a dessert.

And don't just ask for “water,” because that gives you expensive bottled water. Instead, ask for a “carafe d'eau,” and also you'll get chilled tap water, which is free and perfectly drinkable in Paris. And remember to bring a refillable bottle; there are free drinking fountains all around the city.

Paris gets hot in the summertime, but visitors are sometimes surprised to seek out that air con isn’t common in town. Many older residential buildings and smaller hotels would not have any.

However, museums often have a pleasantly cool atmosphere – albeit due to art, not due to their visitors.

To escape the warmth even without electricity, find places which can be naturally cool. My favorite spot is the Square du Vert-Galant, a small park on the tip of the Seine island Île de la Cité, where you’ll be able to sit under a willow tree like Ernest Hemingway.

Otherwise, you’ll be able to splash your face in the massive fountain on Place Saint-Michel within the Latin Quarter. No one will bat an eyelid should you dip your hands within the historic fountain there.

Consider taking a brief break from the hustle and bustle of Paris without having to travel long distances.

Take the RER A, one in every of the five lines of the Réseau Express Régional, from Charles de Gaulle-Etoile station to Saint-Germain-en-Laye station and stroll through the park in front of the château where Louis XIV was born. From its high vantage point, you’ll be able to see the entire of Paris.

Or take metro line 1 to the Château de Vincennes, an imposing medieval castle. From there, you’ll be able to enter the Bois de Vincennes, a forest filled with lakes, climbing trails and picnic areas, but which isn’t crowded through the week.