By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com
The Summer Olympics not only bring athletes and officials from around the world to Paris, it also brings in a lot of visitors. Not tourists, mind you, but fans of the participating countries.
And that means lots of people going to the same places. To make things go smoothly, here are some key tips for getting around Paris during the Summer Olympics, including an important notice about the Metro. And if you are worried about crowds, waiting forever for a table at a restaurant or any other issues don’t worry, for Paris will be just fine for the Olympics.
• Take The Metro
The Metro is the easiest way to get around Paris. It runs every day from every day from 6 a.m., to 0.45am, and 1.45 a.m., on Fridays and Saturdays. Yes, chances are it will be crowded, so packed you may not think you can squeeze onto it. But most rides are short, 15 minutes or less, so you’ll be able to breathe easy when you get to your destination.
There is something important to know, tho. Three Paris Metro regular stations will be closed during the Olympics, including at the Champs-Élysées.
Be on alert for pickpockets on platform and on the trains. For more, see these tips for riding the Paris Metro.
The RER Train
The RER is a regional train that goes from central Paris to outlying areas.
• Plan Which Metro Train You Are Taking Before You Leave Your Room
This might seem like a given, but if you get on the wrong train then you will waste a lot of time getting pointed in the right direction. Study this in advance; when I’m in Paris, I actually Google the Metro lines I want to use and take a picture of the stops on my phone for easy reference.
Twenty fo the the 35 venues being used as Olympic Games locations are in and around central Paris
• Don’t Be Shy About Asking Locals For Directions
Despite a reputation for being rude to visitors, Parisians are actually friendly and will help give you directions. Just don’t be rude and pushy. Start your conversation with “bonjour” – heck start all your conversations in Paris with bonjour – and don’t act paniced or in a rush.
• Be Prepared To Walk (And Walk And Walk)
Even if you take the Metro and get out near your venue, you will still be doing a lot of walking in Paris. The blocks are huge, you may (as I did often) walk out of a Metro tunnel only to emerge on the wrong side of the street and suddenly have no idea how to get to where you want to go and eyeballing the venue is not as easy on the ground as it seems on a map or app.
Wear comfortable shoes, have a bottle of water with you and be prepared to be a bit confused. That’s all normal in Paris. Pro’s Tip: When this happens, collect yourself and calm your nerves by plopping down at one of the endless sidealk cafes and having some good French wine.