Travellers wanting a holiday sampling the delights of Paris during the coming summer are advised by travel experts to reconsider.
“June, July and the first two weeks of August might not be the best time for tourists who do not plan to attend the Olympics to visit Paris. The city will be more crowded than usual, full of sports enthusiasts,” said travel, tourism and hospitality expert Behar Sadiku.
Due to high demand, travel costs to Paris will also be higher, driving up airfares to the French capital. Accommodation will be similarly affected.
Iconic Parisian landmarks are being transformed into sporting arenas for Olympic events, and travellers who do not have tickets for the games may not be able to visit these destinations, reports Schengen News. Some well-known tourism sites that will be closed including:
Place de la Concorde
The public square will house an installation for skateboarding, BMX, 3x3 basketball and breaking events. The square will remain off-limits to tourists throughout June.
Champs de Mars
The public park, which includes the Eiffel Tower, will be almost completely shut off from June 3 until September 19. The area will be used for judo and wrestling events.
Trocadéro Square and Trocadéro Gardens
These zones will be used to host the Champions’ Park for victorious athletes to engage with fans each afternoon. The gardens offer one of the best viewpoints for admiring the Eiffel Tower. Trocadéro Gardens and Trocadéro Square will be closed to the public from July 1 and July 16 respectively. The square will reopen from July 27 and the gardens on September 19.
Pont d’Iéna and Pont Alexandre III
Two bridges, Pont d’Iéna and Pont Alexandre III, will be closed to motor vehicles from July 16 and May 17 respectively. Pont Alexandre III bridge will serve as the starting line for the 10km open-water race as well as road cycling and triathlon events. The Pont d’Iéna will be used for the final stretch for road cycling events.
