As Paris plays host to the Olympics, an unexpected trend is unfolding in the City of Light. Despite the excitement surrounding the Games, the city’s streets, restaurants, and hotels are quieter than usual, presenting a unique opportunity for spontaneous travelers.
Local businesses, anticipating a surge of visitors, had prepared for a bustling tourist season. Instead, many are facing a “catastrophic” drop in patronage. Lies, a restaurateur in the traditionally lively Latin Quarter, describes this July as his worst in 25 years. Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least people were ordering takeout. Now, with security blockades and inflated prices scaring off visitors, he’s left wondering what the Olympics have done for his business.
Concerns about overcrowding and price-gouging, which deterred tourists, have led to an unexpected situation: Paris, usually swarming with summer visitors, is offering some of the best travel deals in years. Hotels, facing a sudden downturn in bookings, have slashed their rates, and restaurants are dropping prices to entice customers. Yarva, another local restaurateur, echoes this sentiment, lamenting that the event has been “only for the rich,” a statement he punctuates with a gesture indicating the craziness of the price inflation.
Airlines, too, have noticed a drop in demand for flights to Paris. Despite the allure of the Olympics, travelers seem hesitant, leading to surprisingly low airfares. For instance, next-day one-way flights from UK cities were available for as little as £31 ($39) at the time of writing, a rare bargain for peak travel season.
This phenomenon isn’t new; similar trends were observed during the London 2012 Olympics, where the event seemed to deter rather than attract visitors. Raphael Batko of Doyield, a hotel marketing firm representing about 5% of Paris’s hotels, describes a comparable “avoidance effect” this year, reported BBC. Although visitor numbers have picked up slightly, they remain lower than expected.
In response, Paris’s hospitality industry is doing everything it can to recover lost ground. From discounted meals as low as €8 ($8.70) in the Latin Quarter to hotel rooms at a more affordable €258 ($279) per night, visitors who decide to book a last-minute trip are likely to find themselves with an array of choices at prices that were unthinkable just weeks ago.
The allure of Paris extends beyond the Olympics. Christophe Decloux, head of the Choose Paris regional tourist board, points to the city’s rich cultural scene, smooth transportation, and the unique atmosphere that only an Olympic city can offer. “Paris is usually very calm in late July and August because people leave for the holidays,” he says, noting that outside the Olympic venues, the city remains peaceful and inviting.
For those with a flexible schedule and a sense of adventure, now may be the perfect time to experience Paris in a way few have ever seen it—quiet, accessible, and surprisingly affordable. Whether it’s enjoying a leisurely meal in a near-empty bistro or snagging last-minute tickets to an Olympic event, travelers could find themselves with a rare chance to explore this iconic city without the usual hustle and bustle.
