Seen as one of the glamorous Grand Slams in the tennis calendar, Roland Garros, the French Open, is considered the stylish jewel in the crown for tennis tourists. The drama of the red clay, the backdrop of Paris in May and June, just as summer excitement is coming into effect, and the effortlessly chic locals making the crowd look like a catwalk, all give the impression that Roland Garros is a luxury event.

However, Roland Garros can be done on a budget. Let’s break it down. 

Wawrinka vs Dimitrov by LHC88 via Wikimedia Commons

Tickets

Tickets for the outside courts for the final week of the tournament start at €15 for under-25s and €29 for adults. For the first week, when there is more tennis being played on the outside courts, passes are just €45.

I went with a friend a few years ago on men’s finals day. Of course, going to Roland Garros on a budget meant we sadly weren’t on Philippe Chatrier to watch Rafael Nadal versus Dominic Thiem; however, we did get our fill of live tennis.

On the outside courts on finals weekend, you can see a series of veterans’ matches that are highly entertaining and filled with legends. We saw John McEnroe playing in person for €29. 

Legends game at Roland Garros by Rebecca Crowe

It’s worth noting that from the second Tuesday of the tournament, Court Suzanne Lenglen becomes classed as an outside court, and from the middle Sunday, Court Simonne Mathieu becomes classed as an outside court. That means the second week outside court tickets get you access to every match, except for those played on Philippe Chatrier.

So, you can see the men’s and women’s doubles finals, the wheelchair finals, and the junior finals, all on the cheapest daily ticket.

One of the great things about Roland Garros is the number of huge screens and the deck chairs in front of them. After wandering around to see the live entertainment and the legends’ matches, we settled down to watch the singles finals on the big screen, where the atmosphere was incredible.

Getting to Roland Garros

As with getting around much of Paris, the best way to get to the French Open, especially on a budget, is by using public transport. 

The closest Metro station to the stadium entrance is Porte d’Auteuil, which is served by Line 10. You can also get Line 10 or Line 9 to Michel-Ange–Molitor, which is a short walk away and often less busy than Porte d’Auteuil, especially after a late night session.

Paris Metro sign by Candelario Benítez via Pexels

The standard one-way cost for this journey is just €2.55, or it’s just €2 if you have a Navigo Easy Card. This is obviously a lot cheaper than getting a taxi or Uber to the ground, and you won’t have to contend with Paris traffic and any road closures nearer to Roland Garros.

Where to stay for Roland Garros on a budget

Given how expansive the Paris metro network is, you can stay relatively far out of the centre of Paris and still get to Roland Garros. Similarly, you don’t need to stay super close to the stadium, which sees huge price hikes during the tournament.

We stayed in a tiny studio apartment near Chateau Rouge Metro station, which is just a 10-15 minute walk from Gare du Nord, and has five different Metro lines within a 15-minute walking radius. While the apartment was nothing fancy, we were only there for two days; one for sightseeing and one for the tournament. In terms of location and transport connections, it was great.

Of course, for convenience, look to neighbourhoods along the Line 10 or Line 9 routes, if you want a quick and easy transfer in and out of Roland Garros. However, the rush hour Paris Metro is not the most fun experience, so focus your search on the Western side of Paris to keep your commute to the stadium down. While the 16th arrondissement, near Roland Garros, can be expensive and upscale, the 15th offers more budget-friendly options if you don’t want to travel into central Paris.

Food and drink

A lot of the time at sporting events, you get into the captive audience trap when it comes to food and beverages. However, at Roland Garros, you can bring a picnic with you. The way to save your budget is to raid Carrefour before you get on the Metro and have your day’s supplies with you.

You can bring your own food and any sealed, non-alcoholic drinks in non-glass containers. This is stricter than at Wimbledon, where you can bring either one bottle of wine or Champagne (750ml) or two 500ml cans of beer or cider per person.

If you do want to buy a beer in Roland Garros, this is definitely not a budget price point. It was reported that the cost of a standard beer last year was €18. At least you get to keep the souvenir cup.

Court signs in the grounds by Carine06 via Wikimedia Commons

For something more fancy, you can visit the champagne bars. For real champagne (not sparkling wine, this is Paris, after all), it costs €15, which isn’t bad considering where you are.

If you don’t pack a picnic, a sandwich in the grounds can cost you €15. If you’re in the area and haven’t gone into the stadium yet, there’s a Monoprix about five minutes away by foot.

So, while Roland Garros has a luxury, high-end perception, you can absolutely visit this iconic tournament on a budget, and have an incredible time.

Lead photo credit : Shutterstock

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *