9 Free Olympic Activities in Paris—No Reservations or Tickets Needed

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris promise to be unprecedented for a Summer Olympics. For the first time, the opening ceremony will occur outside a stadium, with many events taking place in the city's vibrant core. Paris is introducing several Olympic milestones, including equal participation of male and female athletes, and breakdancing making its Olympic debut, among other highlights.

The city has committed to the idea that “You can be part of the Games, too,” and is demonstrating this with affordable ticket options. This includes €24 tickets for the Parc Urbain, providing all-day access to the Place de la Concorde, complete with sports demonstrations, DJs, and numerous free activities for those without tickets. While most events require tickets, there are countless free opportunities to experience the Olympic Games throughout the city, from fan zones hosting live concerts to viewing parties on large screens along the Seine.

Feel the thrill of being in Paris for the 2024 Olympics—completely free!—by attending these ticket-free events happening throughout the city during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

1. Games Park

• Location: Parc Georges-Valbon in La Courneuve
• Dates: July 26–August 11; August 28–September 8

France's largest Olympic celebration venue kicks off with a massive concert (featuring a surprise artist to be revealed) on July 25 to welcome the Olympic flame to the city. It will be open daily from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the Olympics and Paralympics. The park will stay open until midnight on the nights of the eight major concerts planned, but fans can enjoy more than 70 free activities and opportunities to watch the Olympic Games during regular hours.

2. Triathlon in Paris

• Location: Pont Alexandre III, Paris
• Dates: Three triathlon events will take place during the 2024 Olympics: Men’s Individual on July 30, Women’s Individual on July 31, and Mixed Relay on August 5

The stands along the Pont Alexandre III bridge are the only area where spectators will need tickets to support the triathletes, as this is where the competitors will finish the race. For everyone else, the sidelines are free and accessible for all to witness the athletes swim in the Seine (1.5 km), ascend 32 steps to begin cycling (40 km), and then run (10 km) along the quays and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

3. Le Corps en Mouvement Exhibition

• Location: Petit Palais – Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris
• Dates: May 15–November 17

In the exhibition titled Le Corps en mouvement, over 50 works celebrating Olympism are on display at Paris's Museum of Fine Arts in time for the 2024 Olympics, some dating back to the earliest games. This temporary exhibition honors movement, the human body, and sports, featuring eight sections each highlighting a different aspect of the games. Included are works by Jacques-Émile Blanche and Léon Comerre, while a section called “Sport in Vogue” showcases the inception of the modern Olympic Games.

4. Marathon in Paris

• Location: From Paris to Versailles
• Date: Men's on August 10; Women's on August 11

Traditionally, the men’s marathon has marked the conclusion of the Summer Olympic Games, but in 2024, the Paris Olympics will uniquely conclude with the women’s marathon. This deliberate choice by the organizers showcases female athletes, who will race from Paris City Hall to Boulogne-Billancourt and down to Versailles, finishing at the Esplanade des Invalides. Apart from the finish line, many locations along the route will be accessible and free for the public.

5. Cycling on Roads

• Location: Between Paris and Versailles
• Date: Time trial on July 27; Men's race on August 3; Women's race on August 4

Experience the thrill as 90 cyclists zoom by on their road bikes, departing from the Trocadéro and heading towards Versailles before looping back to Butte Montmartre. The course is open to spectators, featuring a 32.5-kilometer time trial that circles the Bois de Vincennes and concludes at the Invalides.

6. Park of Champions

• Location: Trocadéro
• Date: July 29–August 10 (excluding August 2–4)

From July 29 to August 10, Champions Park will welcome nearly 15,000 spectators daily from 4 to 11:30 p.m. to honor the day's champions. Winners from the previous day will parade through the crowds, engaging with their fans, while the vibrant atmosphere is enhanced by giant screens displaying that day's finals.

7. La Terrasse de Jeux

• Location: Hôtel de Ville in Paris (4^th arrondissement)
• Date: July 20–September 8

In celebration of the Olympic Flame's arrival on July 14 (Bastille Day), the Hôtel de Ville (note: in France, “Hôtel de Ville” refers to city hall, not a hotel) will open its forecourt to the public, featuring two large screens for live viewing parties, a main stage for daily concerts and cultural performances, and six areas for trying various sports. A climbing wall and activities such as workshops on responsible cooking and Pilates will also be available.

8. Installation of Olympism Sculptures

• Location: Palais Bourbon at the French National Assembly
• Date: April 2–September 22

No tickets or reservations are needed to view Laurent Perbos’s six statues celebrating Olympism. These statues are prominently displayed on the steps leading to the Palais Bourbon at the French National Assembly. While entry to the French National Assembly is free during the Olympics, reservations are necessary.

9. Fan Zones

• Location: Arrondissements throughout the city
• Date: July 26–August 11; August 28–September 8

The vision of Paris 2024 to connect the stadiums with the city has resulted in 26 fan zones spread across the central arrondissements of Paris. Each zone will feature giant screens broadcasting events live, along with a variety of activities, food vendors, and venue-specific concerts by local and international artists. The Square Léon Serpollet in the 18^th arrondissement will focus on family-friendly programming, while the 13^th arrondissement’s Parc de Choisy will celebrate hip-hop culture and offer hands-on sports experiences.

Here are a few more locations for fan zones:

• 1^st Arrondissement: Parc Rives de Seine and Quartier Jeunes
• 2^nd Arrondissement: Fabrique de la Solidarité
• 4^th Arrondissement: Académie du Climat
• 5^th Arrondissement: Arènes de Lutèce
• 6^th Arrondissement: Place Saint-Sulpice
• 8^th Arrondissement: Parc Monceau
• 9^th Arrondissement: Mairie
• 10^th Arrondissement: Canal St-Martin and Grange aux Belles District
• 11^th Arrondissement: Mairie
• 12^th Arrondissement: Allée Vivaldi
• 13^th Arrondissement: Parc de Choisy
• 14^th Arrondissement: Centre Sportif Elisabeth
• 15^th Arrondissement: Mairie
• 16^th Arrondissement: Parc Sainte-Périne
• 17^th Arrondissement: Parc Clichy Batignolles Martin Luther-King
• 18^th Arrondissement: Jardins d’Eole and Square Léon Serpollet
• 19^th Arrondissement: Place Stalingrad and Bassin de la Villette (also known as Club Paris)
• 20^th Arrondissement: Complexe Sportif Louis Lumière