HOKA Paris Half Marathon 2026: access, transportation and areas to avoid on March 8
On Sunday, March 8, 2026, the HOKA Paris Half Marathon returns to the streets of the capital. This 21.097 km race, organized by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), brings together more than 45,000 runners each year as well as several tens of thousands of spectators!
With a start on the Left Bank (boulevard Saint-Germain) and a finish at Place de la Bastille, the event will lead to major traffic restrictions and heavy crowds in central Paris.
👉 Here is everything you need to know to access the event and plan your movements in the area on the big day.
HOKA Paris Half Marathon 2026: date and times
- Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Staggered starts: from around 8:00 am
- Main crowd: 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
- Peak times: before 8:00 am (runners' starts) and between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm (arrivals at Bastille)
Dismantling of the installations will take place gradually in the early afternoon.
How to access the start of the Paris Half Marathon?
Due to numerous road closures within Paris city limits, the most reliable means are public transport, cycling, and walking.
By public transport
| Line | Station |
|---|---|
   | Saint-Michel |
 | Jussieu |
 | Cardinal Lemoine, Maubert-Mutualité |
Tip: launch a route search with the Bonjour RATP app: the best routes will be suggested, taking into account current or upcoming disruptions.
By bike
A temporary Vélib' station with 200 spaces will be set up at Place Mazas. Stations are also available near the start and finish.
Good to know: the Bonjour RATP app lets you locate and rent a Vélib, Lime, Voi or Dott in just a few clicks, and use pedestrian GPS to easily find your way. To find out more, click here.
How to access the finish of the Paris Half Marathon?
By public transport
| Line | Station |
|---|---|
   | Bastille |
| Quai de la Rapée |
| Sully-Morland |
    | Gare de Lyon |
💡 Between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, Bastille station and its entrances may experience slowdowns, temporary regulations and high passenger density. If you are accompanying a runner, we recommend choosing a station slightly further from Bastille and finishing on foot.
Traffic and areas to avoid
The 2026 route passes through very busy central areas and the consequences are multiple: street closures early in the morning, major bus diversions, traffic difficulties by car in central Paris and traffic being diverted to peripheral routes.
If you need to travel in Paris for reasons unrelated to the event:
✔️ Recommended
- Plan your schedule ahead
- Check real-time traffic status via the Bonjour RATP app
- Bypass central Paris if possible
❌ To avoid between 7:30 am and 1:30 pm
- Traveling around boulevard Saint-Germain
- Transfers at Bastille in late morning
- Car journeys within Paris city limits
The right reflex: plan your route with Bonjour RATP
💡 Stay informed to anticipate your journeys
- Plan your trips: launch a route search from the home screen of your Bonjour RATP app. The best routes will be suggested, taking into account current or upcoming disruptions. You can filter your search according to your preferences: day and departure time, modes of transport, lines and stations to avoid...
- Stay updated: in the Traffic tab of the app, check real-time traffic as well as upcoming disruptions. You can also set up alerts to be notified when your lines are affected. Finally, in the Schedules tab, find First Departures, Last Departures and Next Arrivals at your station.
