Navigating Roland Garros: What you need to know
While, I absolutely love nothing more than a last minute get away, I have learned that if I am dead set on a very specific occasion, especially one requiring hot tickets, I must be slightly better at planning. For Roland Garros, there was quite a bit unknown to me leading to the event, therefore I would love to share what I learned whilst attending.
TICKETS
While part of me wants to gate keep this (so we're not all fighting for tickets!), if you're dreaming of Roland Garros next year, this should help. Getting tickets for Roland Garros, can be a challenge, to say the least, so if you’re dreaming of tickets for next year, listen up! Your best bet is their lottery system, which you'll need to sign up for a few months ahead. Hopefully you have some luck!
If you are not lucky, fear not, there are ticket resale sites. Whilst you might pay a bit more than if you had bought them up front, the possibility of getting tickets is still there. Just make sure you register your interest on the official Roland Garros website for all the real-time info. I ended up with tickets to night one on Court Philippe-Chatrier, which if you buy them first hand were around 50 euros each. For day two, we went with grounds passes, which due to the resale inflation were more around 120 euros each. Philippe- Chatrier is seriously cool, and getting those tickets means you also get access to the whole grounds, which is a major bonus. Honestly, for the early days of the tournament, a grounds pass is ideal. You can catch some amazing matches on all the smaller, outer courts.
If you're making the trip to Paris specifically for this tournament and might not be back anytime soon, I'd strongly suggest going for two days. Weather in Paris in late May, early June, is unpredictable at best. Two days gives you a better shot if one gets rained out. Second, I was genuinely surprised by how crazy the lines were and how much foot traffic there was just trying to get from court to court. Therefore, the first day I would say was also partly spent on figuring out how to best manage the area. Plus, you likely came a long way for this, so take it in, live it up! I would also, personally try to get grounds passes plus either Philippe-Chatrier or Suzanne Lenglen, to be able to witness the tennis from one of the big stadiums. There are tons of options to get VIP and hospitality packages, that I cannot speak to as I didn’t really look into them. Be careful when buying any tickets second hand for this event, as I came across quite a few fraudsters while searching.
DAY VS. NIGHT
With day session tickets, you are allowed access to the grounds from 10 am on, giving you a very full day of tennis. With the night session, you have access to the grounds from 6pm. Therefore, you probably get a bit more for your money with the day session.
GETTING THERE
If you are staying in central Paris, to avoid the general situation that is Paris traffic, I would suggest getting there via the Metro. Take either the M9 (Michel-Ange Molitor) or the M10 (Porte d’Auteuil) The train lets off with a quick walk to the grounds, making it super simple and the most cost effective. The metro takes roughly 45 minutes from central Paris (depending on where you are getting the train from). Having said this, Uber or other ride sharing apps are completely available and worth checking, especially if you are leaving the venue later at night.
FOOD AND DRINK
There are plenty of spots to grab food and drinks, with concession areas all over. Honestly, I was expecting a bit more from a French event on the food front, but there were certainly enough options. Brining in your own food might be a better option, as you are actually allowed your own food and drink (just check the limits with the official website as there is a liquid limit). If you do have the VIP/ hospitality packages, you will likely fare much better with the food. Also, there are filtered water stations throughout, definitely make use of these!
QUEUES
The foot traffic is crazy here, I really have never experienced this at another grand slam, so it was a bit shocking. I did have to queue to get into the main store, on two occasions (a girl cannot make up her mind in one try). Secondly the queuing for the outside courts, specifically courts 6, 7, 8 and 9, is outrageous. I spent 45 minutes queuing, only to lose patience and try my luck at other courts. My suggestion, if you are really excited for a specific player, get there early!
PRACTICE SESSIONS
Some of the outside courts are used for practicing, similar to the US open. Personally, it is worth popping into the practice courts sporadically, as you might get quite lucky with who you catch. The beauty of this is they are small, so if you are lucky enough to walk up and see a player you have been longing to see, you will likely have a first-row seat, as these are a much more intimate setting. We walked up to find Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic, and got to witness greatness from a row or two away!
TIPS
· Maybe bring your own food, as options and quality are limited
· If you have tickets to Court Philippe-Chatrier, eat outside the food inside is awful but also at a minimal
· If you are committed to seeing a specific player, make sure you are at the court ahead of time if they are popular, as the queues get quite intense, especially at courts 6, 7, 8 and 9. Also, factor in some time getting around the grounds as they are extensive and can take some time to walk, as well as you could get lost
· Going early days, first week, is always my preference as it seems you get to see the most tennis and biggest names, all for the same ticket. Now if you are fortunate enough to secure a court seat for a final, consider yourself lucky!
Ready to start planning your Parisian tennis adventure?
