On Sunday 26 July 2026, the Tour de France finishes on the Champs-Élysées and the whole western core of central Paris shuts to traffic — which means the métro becomes your only realistic way in, and several of the stations you'd normally use are closed all day. Here's how to get to the route without wasting your afternoon at a sealed station gate.
In 30 seconds
- The stations right on the avenue close. Expect Champs-Élysées Clemenceau, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George V and Charles de Gaulle–Étoile to be shut all day — get off one ring out and walk in.
- The Montmartre funicular doesn't run. With three race ascents of Rue Lepic, the funicular up to Sacré-Cœur is closed; you walk the hill.
- Go early. Security perimeters around the Champs-Élysées start closing from the early morning and restrictions only lift after roughly 20:30. Be in position before 13:00.
What changes during the Tour de France finish?
From early Sunday morning, a reinforced security perimeter seals the Champs-Élysées, place de la Concorde, the Tuileries and the area around La Madeleine — no cars, no bikes, pedestrians only after a search. A second, separate zone covers Montmartre (the 18th) for the three cobbled climbs of Rue Lepic. Inside both zones the nearest métro stations close completely for the day, and the Montmartre funicular stops running. Restrictions build through the morning and lift only after the last riders clear, around 20:30. Note this is also peak summer-works season on the métro: in 2026 line 12 is fully closed between Jules Joffrin and Concorde from 16–26 July, knocking out the usual direct line to Montmartre's northern edge.
Which stations to expect closed
The Préfecture confirms the exact 2026 closures only about one to two weeks before the race, so treat the list below as the strong expectation based on the identical 2025 finish — verify on ratp.fr the week of the event.
| Station | Lines | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Champs-Élysées Clemenceau | 1, 13 | On the avenue — closed all day |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1, 9 | On the avenue — closed all day |
| George V | 1 | On the avenue — closed all day |
| Charles de Gaulle–Étoile | 1, 2, 6, RER A | Finish-area hub — closed all day |
| Concorde | 1, 8, 12 | Perimeter edge — closed all day |
| Tuileries | 1 | Perimeter edge — closed all day |
| Madeleine | 8, 12, 13 | Perimeter edge — closed all day |
| Montmartre funicular | — | Not running due to Rue Lepic climbs |
(Based on the 2025 finish, as of July 2025, Préfecture de Police de Paris / RATP. Confirm the official 2026 list on ratp.fr before you travel.)
No special ticket is needed — standard Île-de-France fares apply. If you don't yet have a card, see the Paris public transport guide below for Navigo Easy options before the day.
How to reach the route during the finish
- For the Champs-Élysées: don't aim for a station on the avenue — they're shut. Get off one ring out and walk in. Good fallbacks are Ternes or Courcelles (line 2) from the north, or Saint-Philippe-du-Roule (line 9) and Invalides (line 8, RER C) from the south and east.
- For Montmartre / Rue Lepic: with line 12 closed and the funicular stopped, approach on foot from Pigalle (lines 2, 12) or Anvers (line 2), then climb on foot.
- Check line 12 first. Because of both the race perimeter and the 16–26 July works, plan a line 12–free route into the area before you leave.
- Leave buffer time. Streets close progressively from early morning; once a perimeter seals, you cannot cross it except on foot after a search.
Getting back after the finish
The crowd disperses all at once after roughly 19:00–20:00, and the avenue-side stations stay closed until restrictions lift (around 20:30). Don't fight the crush at the first open station you find. Walk ten to fifteen minutes outward — toward line 2 (Ternes, Monceau) or the Right Bank quays — before going underground, and you'll skip the worst of the platform queues. If you're staying near the perimeter, expect to reach your hotel on foot for the final stretch; that's normal on finish day.
Common mistakes
Mistake: Heading straight for Charles de Gaulle–Étoile or George V because they're "the Champs-Élysées stations." Fix: Those are exactly the ones that close. Target a station one ring out and walk the last few minutes in.
Mistake: Planning to take the funicular up to Sacré-Cœur to watch the Montmartre climbs. Fix: The funicular doesn't run on finish day. Budget the walk up Rue Lepic / the surrounding stairs instead, and wear proper shoes.
Mistake: Assuming line 12 will get you to Montmartre as usual. Fix: Line 12 is closed Jules Joffrin–Concorde from 16–26 July 2026 for works. Route via line 2 (Pigalle/Anvers) instead.
Roamy's quick checklist
- Check the official 2026 station-closure list on ratp.fr the week before — don't rely on last year's.
- Pick a station one ring outside the perimeter and walk in.
- Plan a line 12–free route into central Paris and Montmartre (works 16–26 July).
- Be in position before 13:00; restrictions lift only after ~20:30.
- Have your Navigo Easy loaded in advance — see the Paris public transport guide for where to get one.
Planning the rest of your trip? Our full Paris public transport guide covers tickets, apps and airport routes for the days around the race.