How to get last-minute Olympic Games tickets for Paris 2024

It's the last week of the Olympic Games - and the world’s foremost sports competition is taking place only hours away from the UK.

Millions have journeyed to Paris and other French cities to watch competitions from skateboarding to swimming and revel in the heroism and heartbreak of world-class sport at dozens of Olympic venues.

And with the final days still ahead of us, including the closing ceremony on Sunday 11 August, there are plenty of tickets still for sale.

Whether you’re contemplating a last-minute trip to Paris or fancy watching at a fan zone in the UK, here’s what you need to know.

Can I still get Olympic Games tickets?

You can buy tickets on the official Paris 2024 website.

There are seats available on the official ticketing page for several sporting competitions, including cycling, handball and athletics, and for the closing ceremony. New tickets will continue to be released throughout the games. You can also go to the official resale platform.

Most events are taking place in Paris but there is the chance to catch competitions in Lyon, Marseille, and other French cities.

Athletes sailed along the Seine in a dramatic, rain-soaked opening ceremony

Pricing starts at 24 euros (£20) for sporting competitions.

At the upper end of ticket prices, there are 1,600 euros (£1,360) Category A seats for the closing ceremony - which takes place in the Stade de France, the national stadium of France. Category C seats cost slightly less at 600 euros (£500).

Download the Paris 2024 Tickets app to access your ticket QR code. Don’t try to print tickets and make sure your phone is charged. One account can buy 30 tickets, six per event and four for certain events, such as ceremonies.

Things go on a first-come, first-served basis, so remember to:

• regularly check the official Paris 2024 website

• be wary of scam tickets not from the official ticketing page, app or resale platform

• try to be flexible, as some events are sold out

How do I get to Paris?

With France just next door, there are plenty of ways to get to the Olympic Games. But a heads-up: booking last-minute means things will be pricey.

A one-way Eurostar ticket from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord is likely to cost £170 or more this week. You can find tickets for £124 on Saturday 10 August if you plan to go for the final weekend. The journey takes roughly two hours and 15 minutes.

A ticket on Eurotunnel, the undersea railway for cars and coaches travelling between the UK and France, on Saturday 10 August is priced from about £130 to £270 with a standard car (eg a Ford Fiesta). There are cheaper tickets on Wednesday 7 August and Thursday 8 August for about £100. The journey takes about 35 minutes.

Ferry prices vary greatly depending on your departure date and time. A trip from Dover to Calais, leaving on Saturday 10 August and returning the following day, ranges from about £170 to £400. The ferry takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

You could always ride a bike instead of taking the car - the ferry ticket will cost only about £25. But, it’s an eight-hour ride from London to Dover and then 16 hours from Calais to Paris.

Feeling athletic? You could ride to Paris to get a seat at the Games

Alternatively, there are buses running from London to Paris. You can find seats going for about £50-£100 this weekend. However, the journey takes between nine hours and 13 hours, 40 minutes.

Flights are also available from UK airports to Paris. For this weekend, they are about £200 or more. The journey is approximately one hour and 20 minutes. When you land, there are buses, trains and taxis to get from the airport to Paris city centre.

Where do I stay in Paris?

Once you’ve sorted a route to France, securing accommodation is the next big task. Fortunately, there are still several options in and around Paris.

Hotels range from about £70 to £4,000 a night for the final weekend of the Olympic Games. The average room rate in Paris has more than doubled during the games - up from 299 euros (£250) to 460 euros (£390), according to SiteMinder. Across France, the average room rate has jumped from 251 euros (£210) to 334 euros (£280).

Alternatively, you could use Airbnb, the official partner of Paris 2024. From Saturday 10 August to Sunday 11 August, several Airbnbs are available, ranging from about £80 to £600 a night.

Alternatively, you could stay outside the capital in cities such as Reims or Rouen and book slightly cheaper accommodation there. Keep in mind, you'll have to spend more than an hour on the train to get in and out of Paris.

If you want somewhere to stay for a longer spell, you could use a Facebook group to find an apartment to rent. There are several Paris-based pages, but remember these groups are not verified.

How do I get around Paris?

Paris is extremely busy during the games and venues are spread in and around the city.

The easiest and most eco-friendly way to travel is by bike or on foot. Every venue has cycle access and organisers say there will be thousands of bike parking spots across the city. You can rent bikes from operators such as Velib’ Metropole and Veligo as you go.

If you need to travel long distances, there are buses and Metro options. But fares have doubled during the games and there are planned closures at some stations. You can use this interactive map to see when stations are closed and times when they will be overly crowded.

Spectators are advised to download the Paris 2024 Transport App to plan routes and see real-time traffic updates. App users can purchase a Paris 2024 Pass which covers venues across the region. It costs 16 euros for a day and 70 euros for seven days.

There are taxis and Ubers in the capital, but at certain times, security zones will be enforced across different parts of Paris which unauthorised vehicles cannot access.

Where do I find fan zones in Paris?

If you arrive in Paris without a ticket, don’t worry.

Dozens of free fan zones have been set up across the capital, and many are next to iconic landmarks. This includes Champions Park in Trocadero Gardens, next to the Eiffel Tower, which is open until Saturday 10 August. Visitors can meet medal-winning athletes, watch sporting events and enjoy music performances.

Another fan zone is at L’Hotel de Ville - Paris’s city hall - which has two big screens and a raised terrace where people can watch the sun set over the Seine.

You can also go to sporting events in the heart of the city, like the marathon between Paris and Versailles.

If you’re keen to get the more traditional Parisian experience, top tourist attractions are open. You can visit the Louvre and Eiffel Tower between games, although there are planned closures at some landmarks, so check they are open before you visit.

Where do I find fan zones in the UK?

If you don’t fancy a trip abroad, there are several public places from where to watch the games in the UK.

Team GB are hosting special fan zones with big screens, performances and medal celebrations for returning athletes. They are open until Sunday 11 August and will be set up at:

• London, King’s Cross

• London, Grosvenor Square

• London, Battersea Power Station

• London, White City

• Manchester, Spinningfields

• Edinburgh, St James Quarter

• Bristol, Cabot Circus

• Liverpool, Liverpool ONE

• Birmingham, Bullring

• Southampton, West Quay

How can I watch the games from home?

BBC One and BBC Two are airing more than 250 hours of live content as 10,000 athletes compete in 329 gold medal events. There is a nightly highlights programme to recap the best bits, Tonight at the Games, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer has a dedicated live stream, Olympics Extra.

There’s a special Olympic schedule running on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra, plus podcasts on BBC Sounds.

You can also follow competitions on the BBC Sport website, app and social-media channels. To read more about BBC coverage, click here.

Broadcaster Discovery+ is the rights holder for Paris 2024 and is showing every moment of the Games in the UK. Across the Discovery+ app and Eurosport channels in the UK, more than 3,800 hours of live coverage will be aired in total from 07:00 to 22:30 BST each day.

Discovery+ and Eurosport requires a subscription. You can find more information here.