Travel: your guide to getting around during the Games

Bercy, Porte de la Chapelle, Place de la Concorde, Pont Alexandre III, Trocadéro, Parc des Princes… In Paris, the Olympic competitions will be held at more than 15 sites dotted around the city, and 11 sites for the Paralympic Games. To travel around the capital, we recommend you opt for public transport solutions. All of the competition venues can be reached by metro or an RER train. To find out all you need to know and choose your best route, visit the Île-de-France Mobilités website. 

Depending on where you are, it might be worth checking if your destination is within walking or cycling distance! Many of the sites are quite close together, like the Alexandre III Bridge and the Eiffel Tower, for example, just an 18-minute walk or 7-minute bike ride apart. In Paris, it’s easy to get around by bicycle thanks to the city’s extensive network of Vélib’ self-service bike stations.

To find out more about travel in Paris

BMX and cycling fans, but also golfing enthusiasts, will most likely be going to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to admire the competitors’ achievements. From Paris, you can reach Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on one of the commuter train services or the RER line C (Train N from Montparnasse station in Paris, Train U from La Défense station). Special shuttle services will be available for your onward trip by bus to the actual competition site (BMX stadium, Élancourt hill, the velodrome or the national golf course).

To find out more about travel in Saint-Quentin en Yvelines

From Paris, Versailles can also be reached by the RER and commuter train networks. (RER line C, Train N from Montparnasse station in Paris, Train U from La Défense station, arriving at Versailles Chantiers, or Train L from Saint-Lazare station in Paris, arriving at Versailles Rive Droite. Special shuttle buses will be operating from the arrival stations to take you to the palace grounds where the Olympic equestrian events are to take place.

To find out more about travel in Versailles

The Olympic hockey matches will be held at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. The site is connected directly by trains stopping at “Le Stade” station (Train J from Saint-Lazare Station in Paris). Colombes isn’t very far from Paris. For those who enjoy a little exercise, why not cycle to the venue on a Vélib’ self-service bike?

To find out more about travel in Colombes

La Défense Paris Arena will become an Olympic pool complex during the swimming competitions. From Paris, take RER line A and alight at La Défense Grande Arche or Nanterre Préfecture. There are also train services running to La Défense Grande Arche (Train L, Train U), as well as the metro (line 1) and the tramway (T2). To get around once you’re there, you’ll find buses and Vélib’ self-service bike stations.

To find out more about travel in Nanterre

To reach the Stade de France (stadium), you have a number of possible stops: “Stade de France Saint-Denis” (RER line D), “La Plaine Stade de France” (RER line B), and “Saint-Denis Porte de Paris” (Metro line 13). Because of the exceptionally large crowds, however, the organisers recommend using the future “Pleyel” station (Metro line 14), the “Front Populaire” station (Metro line 12) or the “Saint-Denis” train station (Train H from Gare du Nord in Paris). Pedestrians arriving at these stations can then follow the signs to the venue.

To find out more about travel in Saint-Denis

For the climbing events to be held in Le Bourget, take an RER train (line B) or the tram (line 11) and alight at Le Bourget.

To find out more about travel in Le Bourget

To reach the Vaire-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, make your way to “Bussy-Saint-Georges” RER station (line A), where you can take a special bus shuttle to the venue, or to “Vaires Torcy” station (Train P from Gare de l’Est in Paris). Another shuttle service will also run from “Chelles Gournay” RER station (line E) to take spectators to the rowing and para rowing lake.

To find out more about travel in Vaires-sur-Marne

Spectators will have to travel to Villeneuve d’Ascq, near Lille, to watch the

basketball and handball matches, which are hosted at the Mauroy Stadium. This is a 1-hour train ride from Paris, plus onward travel by bus, tram or one of 2 metro lines, including line 1 (yellow) which stops at Pierre Mauroy stadium. 

To find out more about travel in Lille

The Velodrome can be reached from the “Rond-Point du Prado” and “Sainte-Marguerite Dromel” metro stations (both on line M2). Line M2 connects with Marseille Saint-Charles station, among others. For Marseille marina, use the metro station “Rond-Point du Prado” (line M2), bus stop “La Plage” (route 19) or bus stop “Plage Roucas Blanc” (route 83). Further details on the Marseille Tourist Office website.

To find out more about travel in Marseille

It takes about 6 hours to reach Nice by train from Paris. Once there, you have multiple solutions for getting around, including buses, trams and e-vélobleu, the city’s self-service bicycle network. Alternatively, you can rent an electric scooter from Lignes d’Azur.

To find out more about travel in Nice

The city is a 3-hour train ride from Paris. To get around once you’re there, use the combined bus and tram public transport network. Or you can cycle, thanks to the Vélivert park-and-ride bicycles. For full details and

sightseeing information, visit the Saint-Etienne Tourist Office website.

To find out more about travel in Saint-Etienne

Nantes’ legendary Beaujoire stadium is also playing a role in the

Olympic Games. Nantes is just 2 hours away from Paris by train. To travel around the city, Naolib operates tram, bus and navibus boat services, as well as self-service bikes.

To find out more about travel in Nantes

The shooting competitions will be held at the city’s national shooting centre. Châteauroux is a 2¼-hour train ride from Paris. The city boasts an extensive bus network, your best means of travel here.

To find out more about travel in Châteauroux

From Paris, you can reach Bordeaux by train in just 2 hours. To get to the stadium, which is hosting many of the football matches, you can catch a tram at the train station or the airport. For the Olympic Games, special shuttle services will also be running from the “Cité du Vin” tram stop, and a 7-kilometre signposted route will also be set up to reach the stadium by bicycle. 

To find out more about travel in Bordeaux

Lyon is just 2 hours from Paris by train and offers multiple transport solutions. The city boasts

4 metro lines, 8 tram lines, 150 bus routes and shuttle services, and 2 funicular railways. To reach the stadium, which is located in Décines, you can catch a tram (T3 or T7) from Lyon Part Dieu Station (changing at “Vaulx en Velin La Soie”) and alight at “Décines OL Vallée”.

To find out more about travel in Lyon