Hi everyone! I'm Pauline Yu (PYY), Taiwan's only 4× Hyrox World Championship qualifier. I have raced Paris and the moment I saw Hyrox was taking over the Grand Palais, I started plotting a trip. Picture running 8km and eight brutal stations under Europe's largest glass roof, the same Nave that hosted the Paris Olympics. As someone who travels the world for races, I can tell you a venue like this only comes along once in a while. Let me share the intel I'd want before flying in.
Venue & Course
The event is the Maybelline Hyrox Paris — Grand Palais, held at 3 Avenue Winston-Churchill, 75008, right on the Right Bank near the Champs-Élysées. The racing happens in the Nave under the historic glass roof, a jaw-dropping 13,500 square metres flooded with natural light. The current official listing shows dates of 8 to 12 April 2027, so always double-check your exact race day since Paris runs multiple Hyrox events. Racing in a landmark like this, freshly restored for the 2024 Games, is a bucket-list experience for any Hyrox athlete, and honestly the atmosphere alone is worth the trip.
The format is standard Hyrox, so you already know the fight: 8 x 1km runs paired with 8 functional stations. You'll start in the Red Bull tunnel, hit the Roxzone between every station, and finish with 100 wall balls in the Thunder Dome before crossing the line. One thing I'd prepare hard for is the surface. Hyrox lays a thin, high-friction carpet over the concrete convention floor, and it's a notorious energy thief. Your legs feel heavy after the sleds, and that carpet gives nothing back. Expect indoor lap times to feel slower than your track intervals.
- ▸The eight stations in order: 1000m Ski Erg, 50m Sled Push, 50m Sled Pull, 80m Burpee Broad Jump, 1000m Rower, 200m Farmers Carry, 100m Sandbag Lunges, then 100 wall balls.
- ▸Sleds are pushed and pulled on top of that thin carpet, so practise crisp, efficient foot strikes and don't panic when your run pace feels heavier than usual.
Things to Do
Honestly, Paris might be the most tourist-loaded Hyrox venue on the calendar. The Grand Palais sits right in the heart of the action, so you're never far from the icons. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, the Musée d'Orsay, and Sacré-Cœur up in Montmartre are all within easy reach. A Seine river cruise is my kind of active recovery, letting you sightsee while keeping your legs loose the day before or after you race. It's a rare venue that delivers world-class sights and deep recovery options in the same trip.
My advice is to keep sightseeing gentle before race day and save the big walking marathons for after you cross the finish line. Paris rewards wandering, so plan a relaxed morning of croissants at a corner café, a sunset cruise, and maybe a restorative spa session to reset those legs. If you build in a couple of extra days, you can hit the museums and Montmartre without torching your energy reserves. Trust me, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with a finisher medal around your neck is a photo you'll want.
Where to Eat
Paris food is a dream, but timing matters for racers. Before race day, I'd lean on the carb-friendly classics: fresh croissants and viennoiserie, baguettes, and simple crêpes that sit easy in the stomach. Save the heavier indulgences for your celebration meal. Think steak-frites, croque-monsieur, French onion soup, a proper cheese board, escargots, and a stack of macarons or pastries once your race is done. The city does casual bistro fare and fine dining equally well, so you can match your budget and mood on any given night.
For verified, current restaurant picks I'd point you to the Michelin Guide's selection of traditional French restaurants in Paris and the TasteAtlas Paris local-food guide, rather than chasing random lists. I'm not going to invent restaurant names I can't stand behind. Budget-wise, plan on roughly 15 to 25 euros for a casual meal and 50 euros or more for finer dining. Book your celebration dinner in advance, because the good spots near the Champs-Élysées fill up fast around race weekend.
Pauline's Picks & Take
If I race Paris, here's exactly how I'd play it. I'd stay within walking distance of the Grand Palais to kill the pre-race transfer stress, because nothing spikes your nerves like a metro scramble on race morning. I'd do a light shakeout jog along the Seine the day before, then bank an early night. On race day I'd fuel with a familiar carb-friendly breakfast from a nearby bakery, warm up thoroughly, and mentally rehearse that energy-sapping carpet so it doesn't surprise me mid-run. Respect the surface and pace the early runs conservatively.
For recovery and sightseeing, I'd book a hotel with a spa or sauna and treat a Seine cruise as my post-race reward. If you want my picks: the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel for a premium 10-minute walk with Eiffel views and 24/7 gym, spa and sauna; Hôtel La Bourdonnais for a mid-range boutique feel with carb-friendly breakfast; or the Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne for a reliable budget base near the metro. After crossing that line, I'd celebrate with steak-frites and every macaron in sight.
- ▸Stay near the Champs-Élysées or Eiffel Tower on the Right Bank for the best mix of proximity, atmosphere and athlete-friendly amenities like gyms and spas.
- ▸Book a spa or sauna hotel so you can flush your legs post-race, then reward yourself with a sunset Seine cruise and a proper French celebration dinner.
Practical Tips
Getting from Charles de Gaulle to the venue is straightforward. The fastest, cheapest option is the RER B train, running every 10 to 20 minutes at 11.80 euros and reaching central stations in 34 to 40 minutes; from there transfer to Metro Line 1 toward Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau. The Roissybus goes to Opéra for 16.60 euros in about 60 minutes. A regulated taxi to the Right Bank is a flat 53 euros with no extra luggage charge, which is my pick when I'm hauling a heavy race bag and want zero hassle after a long flight.
The closest metro stations to the Grand Palais are Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau on lines 1 and 13, and Franklin D. Roosevelt on lines 1 and 9, with Invalides nearby on RER C and lines 8 and 13. Budget around 120 to 250 euros a night for a mid-range hotel and 300 euros or more for premium. One caveat: a detailed Grand Palais course map usually drops close to the event, so watch the official channels for the exact layout and confirm your race date before booking flights.
- ▸RER B is the cheapest CDG option at 11.80 euros and roughly 34 to 40 minutes, but a flat 53-euro Right Bank taxi is worth it with a heavy race bag.
- ▸Confirm your exact race date on the official Hyrox listing, since Paris hosts multiple events and the detailed course map only appears close to race day.
Racing under the Grand Palais glass roof is the kind of experience that reminds me why I chase Hyrox around the world. If Paris is on your list, plan smart, respect that carpet, and soak up every second of the city. For more race travel guides and training tips, come subscribe at paulineyuyu.com — I'd love to have you along for the journey.
Taiwan's elite HYROX Pro athlete and 4× World Championship qualifier. I share my training journey, race insights, and performance notes from the competition floor.
