If you’re visiting Paris this summer during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, be sure to see the Olympic cauldron take to the skies. Lit by Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec at the opening ceremony on 26 July, it is attracting a huge number of visitors. You can admire it up close and personal, free of charge, every day from the central basin of the Tuileries Gardens, by reserving a slot from 11am to 7pm from 27 July to 11 August.
In the evening, until 2am, the hot-air balloon-shaped basin puts on a spectacular show as it rises 60 metres into the air. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a stroll through the surrounding neighbourhoods and capture some photos of this unique event!
For a spectacular view at sunset and some artistic shots, we reveal the best places to see it.
Where can you see the Olympic flame during the Games?
During the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Olympic flame is a sight not to be missed. Conceived by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, the Olympic cauldron was made in collaboration with EDF to design a low-carbon version. Created from water and light, this year’s Olympic flame stands out as a remarkable feat of energy.
Come and watch it from these strategic points:
- Place du Carrousel & Jardin des Tuileries : For a direct view of the airship carrying the cauldron, head for the area around the Louvre Museum. You’ll get a great view of the Louvre pyramid, the Arc de Triomphe and the sunset over western Paris in the background. But beware of the crowds!
- Quays of the Seine: Between the Monnaie de Paris and the Assemblée Nationale, the quays of the Seine offer an ideal spot for a stroll or a picnic. What could be more romantic than a stroll along the quays of the Seine at dusk? Especially when you can watch the Olympic flame balloon take to the skies above the Tuileries garden.
- Champs-Élysées : For a great view of the Arc de Triomphe, position yourself near the Arc de Triomphe or along the Avenue des Champs Elysées at Franklin Roosvelt metro station. Or take in the panoramic views from the Arc’s terrace.
- Parvis du Sacré-Cœur: If you want to get away from the crowds around the Tuileries, head to Montmartre for a panoramic view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
For more practical information and ideas for outings during your stay in Paris, visit the City of Paris website.
To see the Olympic cauldron up close, admission is free but registration is required. The ticketing site may be temporarily full, but don’t hesitate to check back here: Official ticket office for the Olympic cauldron.
What zones will the QR code be used in?
As you know, this summer a QR code was made compulsory for travelling in certain areas of Paris during the Olympic Games. The Games Pass (Pass Jeux) issued by the Préfecture de Police de Paris is free and nominative, and takes the form of a QR code. Depending on how you travel, you may still need this pass to enter certain secure areas. The Pass jeux Cérémonie is no longer required for access to the banks of the Seine. Check whether this applies to you here. Only motorised traffic within the red perimeters of the competition venues requires a Games Pass (Pass Jeux).
Check the traffic and travel situation during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in real time here: https://anticiperlesjeux.gouv.fr/carte-interactive-impacts-deplacements-ile-france.
Book your 3-star hotel in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games
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