Sprinting Through Paris

The 2024 Summer Olympics will be in Paris from July 26 to Aug.11, bringing an estimated 11.3 million tourists, according to the Paris Tourist Office-Convention Bureau. Whether you’re visiting for the games or just for the summer, you don’t need to be a world-class sprinter to take in all the sights. Paris is easy to navigate by metro, bike or walking.

Ready to take a quick spin through the City of Light?

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First Stop: The Eiffel Tower, of Course!

The most popular tourist attraction in the world welcomes 6 million guests each year. Along with the views, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, champagne bar, exhibits and shops. The busiest season? July and August, naturally. Tickets are available up to two months in advance, but you can queue up the day of, as well. Lines can be lengthy, so check the website for wait times and info on prices, hours and what to do.

What’s Nearby:

Walk across the pont d’lena to Trocadero Gardens, which align perfectly with the base of the “Iron Lady,” offering an ideal photo op! The complex includes museums, sculptures and Warsaw fountains.

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Shop the City’s Oldest Street

Rue Mouffetard, which dates to Roman times, is a narrow, cobblestoned street lined with cafes and restaurants, cheese mongers, butcher shops and bakeries. It’s the Paris you’ve always imagined.

What’s Nearby:

You’re within walking distance of the Pantheon. Once the highest building in Paris (before the Eiffel Tower was completed), its colonnade offers a spectacular view over the city. Or spend some hours at the Jardin des Plantes. Originally a place where herbs were grown for royalty, today it houses a zoo, garden and a gallery.

Head to the Island

Ile de la Cite is literally an island in the middle of the Seine River. Here you’ll find Notre-Dame Cathedral, which remains closed after a 2019 fire, and the famed flower market. This is also where you can see Pont Neuf, the city’s oldest stone bridge, connecting the island to the left and right banks of the Seine. The landmark has been featured in films like “The Bourne Identity” and “Midnight in Paris.”

What’s Nearby:

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, one of the city’s oldest restaurants.

Follow the Trends

Check out the Marais, a hip neighborhood lined with bars, clubs and restaurants – and which is also home to several important galleries and art museums including the Pompidou Centre and Musee Picasso. Don’t miss the imposing Hotel de Ville, which houses the Paris City Council. The Marais is the site of the city’s annual Gay Pride Parade in June.

What’s Nearby:

Paris’s oldest covered market, Les Enfants Rouges, dates to 1615. It’s filled with covered stalls selling produce, fish and meat. Find it near rue de Bretagne.

Looking for That Famous Pyramid?

Designed by I.M. Pei, the impressive glass Louvre Pyramid serves as one of the entrances to the equally famed Louvre Museum. Once a royal palace, it houses a collection that includes the “Mona Lisa,” the Venus de Milo, Greek statues and Renaissance masterpieces.

What’s Nearby:

Pretend you’re a 16th century royal by strolling the formal gardens of Jardin des Tuileries, dotted with fountains and sculpture by Rodin.

Shop Till You Drop

For some serious retail therapy, stop into Bon Marche Rive Gauche. Opened in 1852, it is France’s best known department store.

BHV Marais sells everything from housewares to handbags. The original building, which dates to 1866, has been joined by a menswear store and boutiques dedicated to brands such as Gucci and Moncler.

What’s Nearby:

The Champs-Elysees is made for strolling and browsing, dotted with luxury brands and middle market retailers. The broad, leafy avenue connects two must-see landmarks at either end: Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

Get Out of Town!

These two monumental destinations are just outside the city proper. The Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former royal palace with 2,000 rooms and a spectacular Hall of Mirrors. It will host the Olympic equestrian events, including dressage and show jumping, so visitors will find special exhibits and tours designed around arts and sports. For a different vibe, Disneyland Paris has all the magic you could want.

Where to Eat

From Michelin-starred restaurants to market food stalls, there is no shortage of dining options in Paris. Most bars and restaurants stay open until 2 a.m., so there’s time to explore. Here are a few suggestions:

Hanoi Paris is just steps from the Luxembourg Gardens and offers authentic Vietnamese pho and a kid’s menu.

If Cafe de Flore seems familiar, it’s because this charming wisteria-covered cafe has been featured in the Netflix series “Emily in Paris.” Which means, you won’t be the only fan trying to get a table to snap a selfie.

Those colorful macarons you may have seen in “Gossip Girl” are from Maison Laduree. Check out its flagship store on the Champs-Elysees.

Looking for an authentic French brasserie? Book a sidewalk table at Au Pied de Cochon. Open since 1947, this classic Gallic spot serves up cassoulet, moules frites and escargot.

Need more to post to your Instagram? Get to Pink Mamma Paris early; the lines form well before opening at this buzzy Italian spot known for its fab decor and pasta with truffles.

And don’t forget the croissants! Considered a national treasure, you can find a good croissant in nearly any boulangerie in the city.

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