Getting French Open tickets
After hitting up the Round of 16 and quarter-finals back in 2023, I headed back to Paris for my second French Open in 2024 with one clear goal: watch the men’s semi-finals and the final.
Of course, trying to grab those tickets during the standard public sale proved nearly impossible. When the normal routes fell through, I ended up going with the Premium Passion Offer package instead.
Honestly? It turned out to be a really good move.
Sure, the actual seats are just decent (Category 1, meaning you’re a bit back from the court), but the extra perks make up for it. Between getting a backstage tour of Chatrier, meeting a former French tennis pro, and having an air-conditioned lounge with endless food and drinks for ten hours straight, it takes away all the usual stadium hassles.
If you strike out on regular tickets for the big matches, it’s definitely a stress-free way to enjoy the day.
Going to Roland Garros from my AirBnb
Staying and Navigating Near Roland-Garros: A Practical Guide
(Image source: French Views Blog)
The French Open takes place at Stade Roland-Garros, a massive complex of courts and stadiums located in Paris’s 16th arrondissement in the southwest of the city.
For my trips, I prefer staying close by. I booked Airbnbs near the Michel-Ange Auteuil station in 2023 and the Porte de Saint-Cloud station in 2024. Both put me within a 15-minute walk of the tournament gates. Evening matches often run until midnight, and after a long day of tennis, the last thing you want is to fight the crowds on the Metro, catch an overpriced Uber, or wait for a packed bus.
Knowing your gate matters, too. The complex is huge, and if you end up on the wrong side of the grounds, you’re in for a very long walk around the perimeter.
When you want to head into the city, Metro lines 9 and 10 make it easy to get from the 16th arrondissement to major sights:
- Arc de Triomphe: ~20 minutes
- Eiffel Tower: ~30 minutes
- Louvre Museum: ~30 minutes
As for getting around town, Citymapper was the clear winner back in 2023, but Google Maps caught right up by 2024. Public transit tech improved as well: in 2023 you still relied on paper tickets for the Metro, but by 2024 you could buy and reload tickets directly on your iPhone using the IDF Mobilités app. (The one exception: as of mid-2024, you still had to grab paper tickets at the machine for the regional train between CDG Airport and the central Metro network).
One important heads-up on lodging: there aren’t a ton of hotels within easy walking distance of Stade Roland-Garros. If you wait until February or March, you’ll likely struggle to find vacancies for all your dates. Book early.
That said, I did spend a few nights at a couple of local spots that are comfortably within walking distance of the grounds:
- Holiday Inn Auteuil
- Hotel Murat (A very small hotel, but very friendly staff.)
Court Philippe-Chatrier Seats and 2024 Prices
Court Chartier is the main court and sits 15,000 capacity. You can make an official virtual visit here.
Ticket prices of the matches that I attended in 2024
| Date | Court/Seat/Match | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2024, 8:00PM Thu | Chatrier, Access C19, Cat 1, Row 13, Seat 137, QF* | € 615.00 |
| Jun 7, 2024, 11:00AM Fri | Chatrier, Access C31, Cat 2, Row 1, Seat 138, SF1* | € 920.00 |
| Jun 7, 2024, 8:00PM Fri | Chatrier, Access C24, Cat 2, Row 3, Seat 20, SF2** | € 169.00 |
| Jun 9, 2024, 8:00AM Sun | Chatrier, Access C13, Cat 1, Row 11, Seat 91, MF*** | € 1670.00 |
* Premium Discovery Ticket (I personally don’t think it is as good deal as Premium Passion)
** Return ticket and bought the night before (Jun 5, 2024 at 6:01PM)
******* Premium Passion (worth the money)