I am traveling to Paris during the end of July and am debating between two weekends, one of which happens to be when the Tour de France finishes in Paris.

Will Paris be more congested during this weekend, to the point that I should avoid it? I don't want to wait in extra long lines for sites and restaurants because of an event in the area. Or, in the alternative, is this a fun and exciting weekend to be in Paris, with an opportunity to experience this event? I am staying near the Louvre, so I won't be along the tour route (I don't think).

Please let me know your opinions!

It is obviously a very well-known event, and yes, the city is more crowded than usual on that weekend, even for summer, I'd say. I've been there for it several times. If you really like cycling, I'd go for it, but you have to line up early to be able to see anything along the Champs-Elysees, where they finish. Museums are really crowded right around the Champs-Elysees, because a lot of people go to those because they are nearby, it seems to me. I wanted to go to the Petit Palais once during that and gave up, the lines were so long.

YOu are going to be in the thick of it near the Louvre, certainly. They always ride around there somewhere, not sure where you were thinking they rode. I think the last time I was there a couple years ago, they came up around place de la Concorde (from along the Seine or somewhere) before going up the CHamps-Elysees. And before the race, there is the publicity caravan (which is actually a lot of fun), and it is often along rue de Rivoli and around the Louvre, also.

They enter Paris from various points each year, but end up on the Champs sooner or later, and they have to get there. They are coming in from Versailles which is on the Left Bank side, so I imagine they may get onto the Champs the same was as the last time I saw it. But the streets were closed off around the Louvre.

If you don't care about it, you can go to a completely different part of the city and it won't matter much. I expect there will still be a bit more crowds than usual at some sites elsewhere, but it's always busy in Paris then at places like the Eiffel Tower, etc., anyway.

Go that weekend if you want to see it, otherwise don't.

It's busy on a Sunday morning only (or is it Saturday?) adn yes IME huge crowds line the streets but as Christina says its impact on most of the city is limited. Often these things work in reverse - French may not go to Paris because of it and the tourist part of the city not affected - I think most of the crowd at the finish are French commuting in - anyway a few extra zillion of tourists would hardly be noticed at this time of year!

We were there a couple of years ago for the start and other than being held captive on one side of the rpoute there was no problem. Exciting event even for the non bikers..But the preamble to the race is a lot of vehicles ,caravans motorcycles,and advertising so it can be prettyr drawn out before the riders get organized..We also were on the route when the riders went through Croq in Limosin 2 years later..Didn't even have time to focus my camera..so-o-o-o fast but again exciting and still the ever present advertising vehicles and accompaning entourages.. You may nenver have another chance to be a part of this sort of event.. You will be able to snag a few items for souveniers..ie: yellow key chains, tour de france caps, lanyards..whatever gets tossed your way..Go for it!!

Thank you for your responses. We chose to go to Paris the weekend of the Tour de France and try to catch the finish. Because really, why not?

Fun and exciting. It will be congested near the race itself, but in our experience the other areas were tranquil. We were on the Ile St. Louis and the Marais and it was quiet. When we finally got to Notre Dame to wait for the riders, it was mayhem in the immediate vicinity but after they went past the crowd broke up and we resumed wandering around, no problems.

Our vantage point was before the Champs Elysee so they only came through the once.

It was quite exciting and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I recommend the Louvre end of the loop for the best viewing. Both the entrance to the Louvre tunnel and the exit of are great places to see the peleton at its best -- in much smaller crowds than on the Champs Elysées. This also allows you to have a lovely picnic in the Tuileries before the riders arrive -- they won't be there before 4 p.m. in any case, but the people on the Champs will have been crowded in misery for hours already.

Just take the metro to Palais Royal and walk to the Tuileries through the Arc du Carousel area.

What kerouac mentions is why we chose to tranquilly sightsee all morning, leisurely lunch on the Ile St Louis, and just see the first run-by - as it was we were lucky to find a great spot under a tree in front of Notre Dame. We were there for a few hours. It's a long day waiting, otherwise.

When I have wanted to see some of the last stage in person (perhaps once every 3 years), I go to see the first 3 or 4 loops and then jump on the metro to watch the end on television at home, since it is so spectacularly televised with views that no ground spectator could ever see.

Thank you so much for your advice, Kerouac. We're actually staying not too far from there, at the Hotel L'Empire on Rue de l'Arbre Sec. Sounds like a great afternoon.

It should be no problem for you then -- seeing a few or more than a few loops and then seeing the end on television. (channel 2, by the way)