**This article will be updated soon to reflect the 2026 Tour de France route!
I planned, plotted and agonized over how and where to watch the show. Tour de France. With options ranging from organized tours to caravan hire and roadside parking, choosing the perfect experience for your family is a serious matter. Unable to choose between city and country, I went with the obvious solution: a little of both.
The mountains are calling
this 21-day cycling race Covering different geographical areas across France, from flat terrain to challenging mountains, including some mountain top finishes. On the flat sections of the race, cyclists fly by at incredible speeds, often in large groups. Hoping to see more than just a whizzing blur, I searched for mountain stage Cyclists will travel at a slower speed.
Tour de France events listed Mount Wangdu as the summit destination. Mont Ventoux, also known as the Giant of Provence, towers over the region at 1,912 meters above sea level. This climb is 21 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7.5%. At the end of a long day, wouldn’t a strenuous climb be the perfect place to see a cyclist for more than a moment? Already familiar with Crillon Le BluffA luxury hotel in a nearby village at the foot of Mont Ventoux, we knew where to stay and where to watch the Tour de France.
We planned to arrive a few days early to soak up the festive atmosphere that accompanies the festival. Tour de France As well as going on bike rides ourselves.
Our location in Crillon-le-Brave, close to the base of the climbs, offers an undeniable opportunity to ride the legendary route ahead of the Tour de France. Take the bus up Mount Wangdu Gave me a brief introduction to the world of professional cyclists, albeit at a much slower pace. Bike paths dotted the winding roads, caravans hung on the mountainside and the roads were lined with delighted spectators. After conquering the giant, I felt like a legend—at least in my own mind.
On race day we watched the race at a catered location near the base of the epic climb, hosted by Crillon-le-bluff. While we didn’t get as far into the mountains as I had hoped, the champagne, big screen TV, and bathroom more than made up for it.
Where to watch the Tour de France in Paris
Next stop—— Paris. When the Tour de France comes to the city, the City of Lights doesn’t just sparkle, it sparkles. The Champs Elysées transforms from a world-class shopping destination into a spectacular racecourse for professional cyclists. It’s hard to imagine a better stage to end Tour de France.
There are multiple loops along the race course Champs Elyséesproviding spectators with countless opportunities to watch cyclists zoom around the cobblestone track at breakneck speeds. Audrey Hepburn said “Paris is always a good idea” and the city gets even better when the tour is in town.
2025, Tour de France Departing on July 5th and ending in Paris on July 27th. The itinerary includes a summit finish at Mont Ventoux on July 22, 2025.
Where to watch the Tour de France – Travel tips
mountain stage
- Getting in and out of many villages at the end of the stage is difficult, so plan to arrive early and stay longer to avoid severe traffic jams.
- Village hotels require advance reservations, so plan ahead. The best option is to stay in villages where cyclists and officials do not spend the night. You should be able to figure this out by looking at the route map, which is available approximately nine months before your trip. If a race ends in one location but starts in another, teams and officials tend to stay near the start of the next stage.
paris terminus
- we arrived Champs Elysées Shortly before the cyclists, it wasn’t difficult to find a suitable spot to watch the race. VIP seats at the Paris finish can be purchased through the official Tour de France tour group.
- we always stay Four Seasons Hotel George V In Paris, but there are plenty of options throughout the city. Paris is very busy in the summer, so book your accommodation early.