The Paris 2024 Olympics is happening now

If you’re like me, the summer Olympics is a must-see sporting event (sorry Super Bowl fans, it doesn’t even come close). For those staying home, we can watch gymnasts land twists, swimmers race the butterfly, and skateboarders do their grinds from our couches. But if you're lucky enough to actually be at the games, you'll want to follow these tips and tricks for navigating Paris like a pro.

Let’s be real: The Olympics is such a massive event that the logistics can be seriously overwhelming. Especially when most fans bought their tickets more than a year ago. But, if you're hoping to snag a seat now, you might be in luck. There are resale tickets available on the official Paris 2024 Olympics page (note: I don't recommend using other websites as there's a higher risk of scams). Tickets are released on Thursdays at 10 a.m. (Paris time). Even better: Some events—particularly qualifying rounds vs finals—start at less than $100 per person. Just remember tickets go fast, and they're harder to get for the most popular sports. If you see a good seat, don't hesitate to buy it.

If you prefer to buy a package, with hotel and tickets included, P1 Travel is a great (and legitimate) option. I saw vouchers as low as $50 for handball and equestrian dressage events!

Paris is going all out on opening day with a flotilla carrying athletes from each country parading down a four-mile stretch of the River Seine. Seats in the lower section are pricey, but the upper bank area is free to the public. Still it’s going to be hard to get a good view despite the 80 massive screens broadcasting the event around the area.

My advice? Reserve a table at Le Tout-Paris, a rooftop restaurant in the new Cheval Blanc Paris hotel. It’s on the north side (known as the right bank) of the Seine near the Pont Neuf bridge, meaning you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the procession with a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. To be really up close and personal, book a waterfront room or get a drink at the bar of the Off Paris Seine, a floating hotel located just before the Pont d'Austerlitz bridge, where the opening ceremony starts. You’re guaranteed prime viewing of the boats lining up before the event.

One of the coolest things about this Olympics, IMHO, is that most of the games are being held at Paris’s iconic landmarks. Imagine watching beach volleyball on the Eiffel Tower’s lawn! Equestrian events at Versailles! Cycling along the Champs-Élysées! The triathlon and marathon by the Seine! Archery at Esplanade des Invalides! Fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais! The city also plans to reuse the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, where the Olympics were held 100 years ago, for field hockey. So with more than 35 venues, you’ve got to know where to go, right? Download this map of the capital for details and directions (and make sure to check it frequently for updates). Note: football (ahem, soccer for les Américains), basketball, handball, and sailing is happening in other French cities like Lille, Marseilles, Nice, and Bordeaux, while surfing is held in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

There’s no question Paris is going to be crowded. (15 million fans are coming!) And, if you waited until the final hour to book a room, don't worry, there are plenty of deals to be found. Airbnb reported a 40 percent increase in Paris listings and hotels are dropping rates after last-minute cancellations, so keep an eye out. Fans on-the-ground right now are finding more affordable lodging as it gets closer and closer to the opening ceremony—and even for dates after that!

But, you’ll need to get a little creative. Look outside the arrondissements: La Défense is the city’s business district, just across the Seine from the 16th. It’s a less touristy area with direct access to the heart of Paris via the metro 1 line to Champs-Élysées and the Louvre or the RER A train to Gare de Lyon in the 12th, near Bercy Arena, where the gymnastics are taking place. My top hotel pick there is Hotel Particulier La Défense, which chef Cristina Coroir opened last fall inside a 19th-century private mansion. The elegant rooms and home-cooked breakfast in bed will make you feel like royalty (for an affordable price).

Bonus: It’s a 10-minute stroll to the metro stop and train station, and a 20-minute walk to the Paris La Défense Arena, where the swimming competition is.