Paris Olympics 2024 attractions come live through the screen from the sets of Emily in Paris. From a la tour to a le d?me, this city is filled with love, arts, fashion, and of course lots of ‘kwaa-saan’. 

The bucket-listed Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, etc., are sure to be some of the best places to visit in Paris. Aside from the fine tourist attractions and top Paris landmarks, there have come some hidden gems to visit in Paris during the Olympics 2024.?

The 2024 Summer Olympics is set to transform Paris into a global stage for athletic excellence. Beyond the sporting spectacles, the City of Lights offers an unparalleled experience for visitors, with its must-see attractions in Paris for Olympic tourists. 

Pre-game 

Parisian hoteliers warmly welcome their guests, tourist activities of visiting sites, museums and monuments are open, the Cultural Olympiad has been open for several months. Since early spring, the city has been preparing to host this global event, setting up the grandstands and the various areas for the general public, the athletes, and the other players involved in the organization. The city is working to improve its accessibility for people with disabilities for the Paralympics. With more than 500 vehicles with ramps by the G7 company, these improvements are already perceptible everywhere in Paris.

The French Capital has opted to hold everything from beach volleyball to skateboarding to archery near/at some of the city’s most recognizable tourist attractions like : 

• The Seine for the opening ceremony, marathon swimming and triathlon
• Ch?teau de Versailles for Equestrian and modern pentathlon
• Eiffel Tower for Beach volleyball
• Les Invalides for Archery, cycling, and marathon
• Grand Palais for Fencing and taekwondo
• Place de La Concorde for Breaking, BMX freestyle, 3×3 basketball and skateboarding

The opening ceremony at Seine River included a grand parade of 94 boats carrying 10,500 athletes down the river with over half a million viewers from the upper banks, lower banks, bridges, and overlooking buildings. Paris Tourism 2024 is expected to reach new heights owing to the highly anticipated Summer Olympics.

Classic Parisian visits

Some iconic Parisian structures to be a part of your Paris travel guide 2024 are : 

• Eiffel Tower: An undeniable classic of the city of Paris. Gustave Eiffel designed this iconic iron structure as the entrance arch for the 1889 World Fair. It holds its identity as one of the top Paris landmarks.
• Louvre Museum: The Pyramide du Louvre is home to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. Designed by I.M. Pei, this large metal & glass pyramid is a treasure trove of art and history.
• Notre Dame Cathedral: Although still under reconstruction, this French-Gothic architectural marvel is famous for its rose windows with stained glass, ribbed vault, and flying buttresses. It is one of the historic sites in Paris for 2024 Olympics visitors to see.?

• Arc de Triomphe: Commemorating French military glory, this triumphal arch stands as an honourary monument marking history. As a tourist attraction, it offers panoramic views from its top.
• Seine River: The 777km long water body provides a leisurely cruise offering a romantic way to explore the city’s landmarks. The cable-strayed bridge, Pont de Normandie, stands notable for its 37 connecting bridges. 

• Montmartre: This vibrant and historic neighbourhood is known for its charming cobblestone streets, artists’ studios, and bohemian atmosphere.  (add about Moulin Rouge)
• Sacr?-C?ur Basilica: Formally approved as a national historic monument by the NCPA, the basilica is a catholic church dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus. The stunning white travertine limestone structure, with its dominant central rotunda, interprets Roman-Byzantine architecture with its stained glass and sculpture. This political and cultural monument also houses the largest bell la Savoyarde in France and acts as a big tourist attraction for its panoramic views.

• Champs-?lys?es: Famous as a paradise for Greek mythology, this world-famous avenue is lined with luxury shops, theatres, and cafes. Creating a serene vista during the day and an illuminated one at night, it stretches from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. -The buildings are characterized by their uniform height and ornate facades. –
• Palace of Versailles: The royal residence of King Louis XIV, functions as a museum today. Famous for its French Baroque architecture, it stands as an expression of French art and culture and is designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

• Pantheon: Standing in the Latin Quarter, this classical Greek monument, was the original burial site of Saint Genevieve. Dominated by the neoclassical architectural style, with a striking massive dome supported by pendentives, this dome consisted of three smaller domes and houses Foucault’s Pendulum.
• Centre Pompidou: The ‘inside-out’ exterior facade with its out-of-the-box interior, holds one of the largest modern art museums internally. Designed by Renzo Piano & Richard Rogers, this post-modern high-tech cultural centre houses 140,000 European artworks.

Oddly uncredited Parisian visits

While the above historical and monumental sites of Paris are major tourist attractions, some hidden gems should be a part of your must-visit list. 

• Point 0: A sunken plate that represents the traditional epicentre of the city, located close to Notre Dame and has become a ‘wishing’ pot. 
• 59 Rivoli: A cultural centre with an ever-changing art facade. Art fanatics must visit this contemporary place, with its 30 artist studios, workshops, exhibition spaces, and concerts. 

• Catacombs: stretching for 2km, ranked as one of the most unusual places to visit in Paris, this hidden quarry has an eerie ambience. Serving as a home to the dead from the 18th century, these bones i.e. age-old catacombs, maintain a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, which gives us chills. 
• Mus?e d?Orsay: Once a train station, now a ?work of art?, this museum showcases world-class collections of art dating back from the late 19^th– early 20^th century.

• Art Nouveau building Rapp: reflecting reminiscent of Gaudi’s work, this six-storey asymmetrical building, with its mosaic cladding and sculpted door, makes it an architectural masterpiece. 
• Oldest pastry shop – P?tisserie Stohrer: one of the city?s most famed p?tisseries, P?tisserie Stohrer, was opened by Nicolas Stohrer, back in the 18th century. The petite store has a glass front, a mosaic tiled floor in shades of blue, and a welcoming chandelier. 
• Gallery Of Paleontology And Comparative Anatomy: Did somebody call Dr. Ross Geller? This gallery is a place that dates back more than a century, with its fossils and bones, housing wide-ranging natural artefacts and reconstructed animal skeletons. 

• Mus?e Des Arts Et M?tiers: Founded to celebrate science. It houses the most spectacular collections of instruments related to science and industry in the world. 
• La Conciergerie: The former courthouse housed the prisoners during the French Revolution before they were guillotined. This ante-chamber was used to be a medieval fortress in the ancient times. As of today, it works as a museum exhibiting the French Revolution and is also open to the public visiting the prison facility, guillotine blade, etc. 

• Marais: This historic Jewish quarter, with its trendy boutiques, art galleries, and vibrant atmosphere, is home to elegant arcades and cobblestone streets.
• Latin Quarter: With its independent shops, museums, bookshops, the historical association with academia, houses the Sorbonne University and student-filled cafes.

The above article suggests historic sites in Paris for 2024 Olympian visitors as well as Paris cultural spots to explore ahead of the Olympics 2024. Apart from Paris sightseeing spots, that focus on the architectural tapestry, the city’s charm can be caught in its world-renowned cuisine and timeless Parisian fashion.

Sources

• https://parisjetaime.com/eng/convention/article/getting-around-before-olympic-games-a1608 
• https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/20-unusual-places-to-see-in-paris-a1089 
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/15/paris-olympics-venues-guide/74004292007/
• https://www.si.com/onsi/adventure/adventure-feed-page/posts/7-can-not-miss-attractions-to-see-in-paris-along-with-summer-olympics