Paris Marathon this Sunday: streets and arrondissements to avoid if you want to run safely

This weekend, getting around Paris is going to be a challenge. The reason: the 49th Paris Marathon, scheduled for Sunday April 12. Motorists, bikers and truckers, prepare yourselves for a real assault course.

Already in normal times, traffic jams, slowdowns and accidents make driving difficult. But this weekend promises to be even more complicated. With parking restrictions and street closures, it’s best to start planning now.

The Paris Marathon turns the capital upside down

After the half-marathon, the Ecotrail de Paris, the 10 km Étoiles and the 10 km du Neuf, the capital hosts its flagship event. The Paris Marathon is the main event in the Paris sporting calendar. Thousands of runners will set off on Sunday for this legendary race.

Participants will set off from the Arc de Triomphe and return after a 42-kilometre loop. On their way: the quays, the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, the Place de la Concorde, the Bastille, the Louvre and the Grand Palais. All these emblematic sites will be inaccessible to vehicles.

“Whether you’re about to take to the starting line or slip behind the wheel of your hot rod, a word of advice: start warming up now.”

This unique race mobilizes a large part of the city. As a result, getting around Paris will require patience and organization throughout the weekend.

Six arrondissements particularly hard hit

The Paris Prefecture has defined a strict perimeter to guarantee the safety of the riders. Six arrondissements will be mainly affected: the 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th. The situation is expected to remain calmer in the other fourteen.

In the neighborhoods affected, all streets in the vicinity of the course will simply be inaccessible. No motorized vehicles will be allowed in this zone. So, if you live or work in these areas, please plan alternative solutions.

• Boroughs concerned: 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th
• Start of parking restrictions: Friday evening, 10th
• Traffic restrictions: from the morning of Saturday 11th
• Scheduled to end: Sunday evening 12
• Some 40 squares, streets and avenues closed

Restrictions starting Friday evening

The first constraints begin on the evening of Friday 10th for parking in certain streets. This early start enables the organizers to prepare the route in complete safety. It also gives local residents time to move their vehicles.

From the morning of Saturday 11th, traffic restrictions come into force. They will last until Sunday evening, the 12th. During this period, driving around Paris in the zones concerned will be quite simply impossible.

On the other hand, public transport remains a reliable option for getting around. Take the metro or the bus to avoid the inconvenience of street closures. So this is the ideal time to leave your car in the garage.

Some forty lanes closed to traffic

The list of restrictions is long. Some forty squares, streets, avenues and alleyways will be completely inaccessible. A section of the Paris ring road will also be closed by order of the prefecture. If you want to get around Paris this weekend, you’ll need to plan your journeys carefully.

Given the extent of the restrictions, the best solution is to consult the official decree issued by the prefecture. This document details the zones and times concerned. You’ll find all the information you need to adapt your travel plans.

How to anticipate this complicated weekend

To get around Paris despite these constraints, there are several strategies available. First, use public transport or a bicycle. Then, if you absolutely must use your car, avoid the six arrondissements concerned.

And don’t forget to check your parking. If you’re parked on a street affected by the restrictions, move your car before Friday evening. If you don’t, you risk finding your vehicle blocked for the whole weekend.

Navigation applications can also help. They often include real-time road closures. Thanks to them, you can find alternative routes and avoid the most congested areas.

Finally, if you have no pressing obligations, stay at home or enjoy the race as a spectator. The Paris Marathon is a great sporting spectacle. It’s also an opportunity to see the capital in a different light, without cars and dedicated to runners. To get around Paris with peace of mind, all you need to do is choose the right moment.

• getting around Paris