hotel tassel tour

©Analia Glogowski/Lonely Planet

Hôtel Tassel

Victor Horta’s first truly art nouveau house, built in 1893.

Rue Paul-Émile Janson 6

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Museum Plantin-Moretus

27.03 MILES

The medieval building and 1622 courtyard garden alone would be worth a visit, but it's the world's oldest printing press, priceless manuscripts and…

Old England Building

This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…

Grand Place

Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…

Strap on a pair of headphones, then step on the automated floor panels in front of the precious instruments (including world instruments and Adolphe Sax’s…

Musée Horta

The typically austere exterior doesn’t give much away, but Victor Horta’s former home (designed and built 1898–1901) is an art nouveau jewel. The…

St-Gilles Town Hall

One of Brussels’ overlooked architectural wonders, this splendid Napoleon III–style palace

Pairi Daiza

26.68 MILES

Set on the grounds of a former Cistercian Abbey, this 65-hectare park is home to more than 5000 animals (including pandas, koalas, gorillas and lemurs)…

Musée Hergé

15.45 MILES

The inventive and touchingly nostalgic Hergé Museum celebrates the multitalented creator of comic-strip hero Tintin with an engaging, inventive and…

Nearby Brussels attractions

1 . Rue Faider 83

Art nouveau house boasting beautiful, gilded sgraffito design at the top.

2 . Hôtel Solvay

Horta designed this in 1894 at the age of 33, and it's considered one of his masterpieces. It was commissioned by the Solvay family (soft-drink…

3 . Rue Defacqz 71

An 1893 house was designed by prominent art nouveau architect Paul Hankar (1859–1901) as his own studio.

4 . Rudolphe Jansen

Founded way back in 1991, this gallery has broadened from its original remit to represent photographers. It's a striking glass-roofed white-walled space.

5 . La Patinoire Royale

This huge 19th-century former skating rink looks more like a church, with a rose window, wrought-iron and a timber roof. It has been converted into a…

6 . Église des Augustins

A lovely art deco church built from concrete, a bold move in 1935 when it was completed.

7 . Rue Africaine 92

Art nouveau house with creamy tones, harmonious lines and a big circular window.

8 . Musée Horta

Hôtel Tassel

The Hôtel Tassel is a historic town house in Brussels, Belgium. It was designed by Victor Horta for the scientist and professor Emile Tassel, and built between 1892 and 1893, in Art Nouveau style. It is considered one of the first buildings in that style because of its highly innovative plan and its ground-breaking use of materials and decoration. It is located at 6, rue Paul-Emile Janson/Paul-Emile Jansonstraat, a few steps from the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan. Together with three other town houses of Victor Horta, including Horta's own house and workshop, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000 as the core of epoch-making urban residences that Horta designed before 1900.

Opening hours

Not accessible to public.

More information and contact

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hôtel_Tassel

Information on UNESCO Website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1005

Address Rue Paul Emile Janson 6, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Coordinates 50°49'39.969" N 4°21'43.19" E

Tours and activities: Hôtel Tassel

Brussels 3-hour guided art nouveau tour, sygic travel - a travel guide in your pocket.

More interesting places

• Privacy Policy
• STOCK 360° TRAVEL VIDEOS

• When to visit Brussels
• How to Reach Brussels
• Events & Festivals in Brussels
• Restaurants in Brussels
• Brussels Map
• Things To Do in Brussels
• Brussels Itineraries
• Brussels Tours
• Brussels Hotels

Hotel Tassel Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• Things To Do In Brussels

Hotel Tassel

• Address: Rue Paul Emile Janson 6, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium, Brussels Map
• Timings: 24-hrs Details
• Phone: +32-25138940
• Time Required: 00:15 Mins
• Tags: Hotel, Family And Kids , Architecture

After flexing his Art Nouveau muscles building Maison Autrique, Victor Horta showed the world what he was capable of by building this town house. It’s thought to be the first true Art Nouveau building, the first one to seriously capture the public imagination. It’s most unusual feature is that the house is in two parts connected by steel and glass structure. He didn’t just design the exterior though. Being a master interior decorator he designed every element of the house, right down to the doorknobs. These days it is a private office and not open to the public. But who knows, if you knock, you might get lucky.

How to Reach Hotel Tassel

• Tram 81; Bus 54 stop Trinite
• Tram 92 stop Ma Campagne
• Buses 54, 123, 136, 137, 365a, N11, W stop Ma Campagne
• Trams 81, 93, 94; Bus 54 stop Bailli

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Brussels before you plan your trip.

Fancy a good night's sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Brussels and book an accommodation of your choice.

• Hotel Tassel Address: Rue Paul Emile Janson 6, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium, Brussels
• Hotel Tassel Contact Number: +32-25138940
• Hotel Tassel Timing: 24-hrs
• Best time to visit Hotel Tassel(preferred time): 11:00 am - 03:00 pm
• Time required to visit Hotel Tassel: 00:15 Mins
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

0.06% of people who visit Brussels include Hotel Tassel in their plan

95% of people start their Hotel Tassel visit around 1 PM

People usually take around 30 Minutes to see Hotel Tassel

95% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Hotel Tassel

People normally club together Maison Particuliere and La Patinoire Royale while planning their visit to Hotel Tassel.

Hotel Tassel Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Grand Place
• Cathedral Of St. Michael And St. Gudula
• Musical Instrument Museum
• Royal Greenhouses Of Laeken
• Sonian Forest
• Train World
• Antwerp Central Station
• Gravensteen Castle
• Tomorrowland
• Historic Centre
• La Vielle Bourse And La Furet Du Nord
• Mas - Museum Aan De Stroom
• Brussels Itinerary for 2 days
• Brussels Itinerary for 3 days
• Brussels Itinerary for 5 days

Hôtel Tassel (page 2 of 3)

Copyright © 1998- 2014 by Cupola Consulting , the owner of Cupola Creations

Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow

Stay in palatial style on the moskva river.

• Dear guests, please note that only children above 14 years old are permitted in the fitness center, swimming pool zone, hammam, and sauna. FAQs (RU) , FAQs (EN) .
• To bring you the best experience, our swimming pool, whirlpool, infrared sauna, and hammam will be closed for maintenance from July 13 to August 3, 2024. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Welcome to our striking hotel with modern amenities in Moscow

Discover Moscow from one of its most iconic architectural symbols nestled along the banks of the Moskva River. Inside the landmark property, grandeur and opulence reign: from beautifully appointed rooms, suites, and serviced apartments to impressive amenities such as the 19 elegant restaurants, innovative sports and wellness facilities, and a panoramic bar on the 31st floor. Palatial surroundings, an excellent location, and exclusive services await.

Centrally located, the Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow offers excellent transportation links to the four surrounding airports and top attractions. The hotel also commands a flotilla of ten yachts, offering year-round river cruises for a unique perspective of city landmarks.

• Hotel Video
• Hotel virtual tours

Individual Room

Collection superior room.

• 1 child (0-11)
• 2 twin or 1 double or 1 queen or 1 king

Collection Superior Room - City View

Collection superior room - white house view, collection premium room.

• 2 twin or 1 king

Collection Executive Room

Collection suite.

• 2 children (0-11)

Executive Suite

Romantic suite, grand residential suite, presidential suite, one bedroom apartment.

Our Moscow hotel offers ample venue options for customized events. Host a meeting in our unique library venue or plan a reception in the Banquet Hall. A dedicated Meetings & Events team will help you select from our versatile meeting rooms, halls, and other unique venues to plan the perfect gathering.

Cots available

Cots available upon request

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning services

Express check-out

Fitness center

Fitness Center

Luggage storage

Meeting facilities

Meeting facilities/social space

Running trails

Customized running trails around the hotel

Safety deposit box

Hybrid meeting

Hybrid Meeting

Nearby Attractions

Bolshoi theatre.

Spend an unforgettable evening at this legendary theatre - the oldest in the city - with its world-leading resident opera and ballet troupes.

Moscow Kremlin

Snap a selfie outside Moscow's most famous historical and political landmark: an impressive walled complex of cathedrals, palaces and state offices.

Fall in love with the residents of Russia's largest zoo, now a huge scientific, educational, and conservation institution.

How to get to the Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow

Welcome to the exceptional.

Discover the unique collection of iconic properties reflecting an authentic local influence, living design, and vibrant social scene.

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

Ulitsa Baltschug 1, Zamoskvorechye, 115035 Moscow, Russia – Excellent location – show map – Train Access

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow – rated 8.4 by recent guests!

Enter dates to get started.

Cleanliness

Value for money

• Pet friendly
• Swimming pool
• Air conditioning
• 24-hour front desk
• Daily housekeeping
• Non-smoking rooms
• Baggage storage

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow is located in the heart of Moscow, only a 5-minute walk from Red Square and the Kremlin. An indoor pool, a spa center and a gym are featured in this hotel. Free high-speed WiFI is available throughout the property. The classic-style, air-conditioned rooms include a flat-screen TV and a mini-bar. The private bathroom comes with bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. Guests can enjoy European, Asian and Mediterranean dishes at the Baltschug Grill Restaurant. Café Kranzler serves a variety of desserts, and a selection of drinks is served at the Lobby Bar. Novokuznetskaya and Tretyakovskaya metro stations are a 10-minute walk away. The Tretyakov Gallery is a 12-minute walk from Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow. Belorussky Train Station is 4 mi away, and Sheremetyevo International Airport is a 35-minute Aeroexpress Train ride from this station.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.4 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Indoor swimming pool
• Airport shuttle
• Fitness center
• 2 restaurants
• Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
• Wonderful Breakfast

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.1)

Want a great night's sleep? This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds.

Loyal Customers

끖 There are more repeat guests here than most other properties.

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Categories:

Guests who stayed here loved.

Hotel area info

Restaurants 2 restaurants on site.

• Cuisine International
• Ambience Traditional
• Dietary options Vegetarian • Gluten-free
• Ambience Family-friendly • Traditional • Romantic

Amenities of Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow Great facilities! Review score, 8.4

• Outdoor furniture
• Bicycle rental Additional charge
• Fruit Additional charge
• Wine/Champagne Additional charge
• Kid-friendly buffet
• Kids' meals Additional charge
• Special diet meals (on request)
• Breakfast in the room
• Tea/Coffee maker
• Invoice provided
• Private check-in/out
• ATM on site
• Currency exchange
• Express check-in/out Additional charge
• Babysitting/Child services Additional charge
• Ironing service Additional charge
• Dry cleaning Additional charge
• Laundry Additional charge
• Fax/Photocopying Additional charge
• Business center Additional charge
• Meeting/Banquet facilities Additional charge
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV outside property
• CCTV in common areas
• Smoke alarms
• Security alarm
• 24-hour security
• Shuttle service Additional charge
• Designated smoking area
• Smoke-free property
• Packed lunches
• Hair/Beauty salon
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Airport shuttle Additional charge
• Room service
• Bathroom emergency cord
• Toilet with grab rails
• Wheelchair accessible
• Open all year
• Heated pool
• Pool/Beach towels
• Beach chairs/Loungers
• Spa facilities
• Hairstyling
• Hair treatments
• Makeup services
• Facial treatments
• Beauty services
• Hot tub/Jacuzzi
• Spa Additional charge

House rules Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow takes special requests – add in the next step!

Child policies.

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 6 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

Prices for cribs and extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Please note that visa support for foreigners can be provided upon request.

Please note that breakfast for children from 6 until 11 years old is due to RUB 1250 surcharge per day.

FAQs about Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

Does hotel baltschug kempinski moscow have a restaurant on site.

• The Baltschug Grill
• Café Kranzler

Does Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow have a hot tub for its guests?

Yes, there's a hot tub. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow on this page.

What is there to do at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow?

• Bicycle rental

What are the check-in and check-out times at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow?

Check-in at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

How far is Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow from the center of Moscow?

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow is 2,600 feet from the center of Moscow. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What type of room can I book at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow?

How much does it cost to stay at hotel baltschug kempinski moscow.

The prices at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

Does Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow have a pool?

Yes, this hotel has a pool. See details about the pool and other facilities on this page.

The Best of Moscow

• The Kremlin
• Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• Lenin Mausoleum
• Donskoi Monastery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Victor Vasnetsov House Museum
• Museum of Traditional Russian Beverages Ochakovo
• State Historical Museum
• Zaryadye Park
• Neskuchny Garden
• Kolomenskoye Park
• Ugresha Monastery
• Losiny Ostrov National Park
• Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences

Popular Areas

• Arbat Street
• Izmaylovsky Kremlin

Shopping Areas

• GUM Shopping Center

Stadiums or Arenas

• Luzhniki Stadium
• Olympic Stadium
• VTB Arena - Dinamo Stadium
• Spartak Stadium
• Sport complex Snezh.com
• Bolshoi Theater

Personalized recommendations

We provide personalized recommendations based on your activity on our platform. If you prefer, you can opt out of this option. Opting-out only affects your current device. Adjust this setting to your preference on other devices as well.

Verified reviews from real guests.

We have more than 70 million property reviews, all from real, verified guests .

How does it work?

It starts with a booking.

The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.

Followed by a trip

When guests stay at the property, they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff is, and more.

And finally, a review

After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.

If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.

Check-in date

Check-out date

Hotel Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

THE LEGEND OF MOSCOW ON THE DOORSTEP OF THE KREMLIN

Steps from the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow’s heart, the historic legacy gets a contemporary spin at Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. Discover a bold reimagining of the legendary 1930s-era Hotel Moskva at our modern legend that puts destination dining and decadent spa treatments in the spotlight.

Invite your guests for a one-of-a-kind experience at a Moscow landmark. A modern rendition of the legendary Hotel Moskva, our Hotel is in Manezhnaya Square, just steps from the Kremlin. Whether you’re planning a conference, a state banquet or a can’t-miss social event, let our talented team bring your event to life in one of our glamorous, light-filled venues.

Restaurants

Savour authentic Italian dishes, discover modern Russian cuisine and try signature cocktails by the hotel’s Head Bartender Vadim Panenkov.

Special offers

Immerse yourself in the energy of Moscow with 15% off our Room Rate and more.

Family offer in Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

Make room for the whole family with 50% off a second room for children. Four Seasons Hotel Moscow is the perfect place for your family to reconnect and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Stay in touch with us

Be the first to know about our news, special offers and other information about the services of the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Auto Racing
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

6 Vietnamese and American guests found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok, with poisoning a possibility

Authorities in Thailand have launched an investigation after the bodies of six people were found in a luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok, with poisoning a possibility. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin went to the hotel in the evening, and said that the incident was neither a robbery nor a random assault, and should not affect Thailand’s lucrative tourism industry.

Police officers stand outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

• Copy Link copied

Police officers talk to a staff member at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, left, speaks to the media as Royal Thai Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol listens during a press conference at Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gestures at the media during a press conference at Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Staff stand in the lobby of a hotel where a number of people were found dead in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Napat Kongsawad)

People walk outside a hotel where a number of people were found dead in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Napat Kongsawad)

A man walks outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

In this photo released by the Royal Thai Police, uneaten meals are left on a table in a room in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel room where six people were found dead from unknown causes, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said the dead in a rooms at Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Hotel were two Vietnamese Americans and four Vietnamese nationals, and speculated they might have died from some kind of poisoning. (Royal Thai Police via AP)

Police gather outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

Police cars are parked outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police said a number of people were found dead Tuesday in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and poisoning is suspected. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

An ambulance sits outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel to Chulalongkorn hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Police say the bodies of six people were found in the luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)

BANGKOK (AP) — The bodies of six people were found Tuesday in a luxury hotel in downtown Bangkok and their deaths may have been caused by poisoning, police and officials said.

Bangkok police chief Lt. Gen. Thiti Sangsawang identified the dead as two Vietnamese Americans and four Vietnamese nationals, and said there were three males and three females. Investigators said the bodies were foaming at the mouth, an officer from the Lumpini police station said on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release information.

The victims had booked several rooms at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel under seven names, and some were staying on a different floor from the room where they were found dead, Thiti said. Police are still looking for the seventh person included in the booking, Thiti said at a news conference at the hotel.

He said there were no signs of a struggle. The residents of the room where the bodies were found were supposed to have checked out earlier Tuesday and their luggage had already been packed, he said. The bodies were discovered by a maid who went to the room after they failed to check out and found it locked from the inside, Thiti said.

There was food that had been ordered earlier from room service that was left uneaten, but drinks had been consumed, Thiti said. He would not confirm a cause of death, but said the deaths appeared to have occurred about 24 hours before police arrived on the scene Tuesday evening after being called by hotel staff.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin went to the hotel in the evening, and later told journalists that the incident was neither a robbery nor a random assault, and that it should not affect Thailand’s lucrative tourism industry.

Pending the results of autopsies, “Our hypothesis is that they ingested something that killed them,” Srettha said.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said U.S. officials are aware of the reports of the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Bangkok.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the families on their loss. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide consular assistance to those families,” he told reporters in Washington.

TPC Twin Cities

Natural Disasters

One of Canada’s top golf courses is engulfed by a massive wildfire

Courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Western Canada is in flames. In British Columbia, over 300 wildfires currently blaze, displacing thousands and cutting off major westward travel corridors. To the east, at the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, another 170 wildfires have broken out, with officials in Jasper—the home of Canada’s largest national park and one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country— mandating the evacuation of over 25,000 residents, visitors and seasonal workers.

The loss of life, property and the environment will be incalculable. Entire towns and natural ecosystems will be erased. It is a natural disaster of the highest magnitude. At times like this, golf—usually an escape from the world's problems—ceases to matter. That doesn’t mean it’s not impacted, however.

Reports late Wednesday indicate that the wildfire bearing down on Jasper National Park had arrived at the doorstep of the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and its namesake golf course, one of the top-rated (and most beautiful) courses in all of Canada.

RELATED: These photos of golfers playing on as an Oregon wildfire rages nearby are terrifying

The most important news is that employees and guests of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course have been safely evacuated. Anything beyond that is a secondary concern. Unfortunately, based on the estimated fire data as of Wednesday night, the iconic property and golf course had already been engulfed.

The Stanley Thompson-designed course was ranked 45th on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest list in 2024 , noted for its expansive bunkering, stop-and-stare scenery and undulating greens. Despite a fire that consumed the lodge’s main building in July of 1952, Jasper Park Lodge G.C. has survived for 99 years in one of the harshest climates imaginable. We won’t know the true fate of the course, or the town of Jasper as a whole, until the smoke finally clears, but it goes without saying that we’re hoping for the best.

RELATED: These photos of golf courses shrouded in wildfire smoke are straight out of an apocalypse movie

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

What happens inside Olympic Villages? These athletes gave us a tour

In interviews, Olympians compared athletes' villages to summer camps, college dorms, crowded hotels and — in the words of one gold medalist — a "gigantic cruise ship."

The Olympic Games are beamed to billions of people around the world, giving viewers a real-time, close-up look at every pole vault, layup, breaststroke and backflip.

But there is a crucial part of the Olympics experience that remains largely unknown to spectators, sealed off from the camera crews and off-limits to cheering fans — the Olympic Village.

In recent weeks, NBC News spoke with decorated Olympians about life inside the sprawling residential complexes where thousands of athletes sleep, eat, train and socialize. They likened the villages to summer camps, college dorms, crowded hotels and — in the words of gold medalist swimmer Mark Spitz — a “gigantic cruise ship.”

No two villages are exactly alike, but in the mind of gold medalist gymnast Shannon Miller, there is a clear-cut constant. “The one thing that hasn’t changed is that the Olympic Village is truly an athlete’s home away from home,” she said. 

The bedrooms

The athletes’ villages in Paris span parts of three towns — Saint-Denis, Saint Ouen and L’Île-Saint-Denis. They will house 14,250 athletes during the Olympic Games and some 8,000 athletes during the Paralympic Games.

But the temporary homes where world class competitors dwell typically aren’t all that luxurious, as most Olympians are quick to point out.

“I think people would be surprised at how minimal and minimalist the Olympics rooms are,” said gold medalist figure skater Brian Boitano, who competed at Winter Games in Sarajevo, Calgary and Lillehammer.

Boitano, 60, recalled that his room at the 1994 Lillehammer Games was “maybe 6-feet-by-12 feet,” adding: “You hardly had an area to unpack your bags. I always laugh thinking about the mattresses. In some of the Olympic Villages, the mattresses were literally just foam. You think: This is the most important competition of my life and I’m sleeping on a foam mattress!”

This year, athletes will doze off on cardboard beds that Paris organizers say are designed for sustainability — part of a wider effort to make the Games more environmentally conscious. (The rooms were built without air-conditioning systems in a bid to cut carbon emissions, but many competitors are reportedly bringing their own mobile AC units.)

Gus Kenworthy, a British American dual citizen who skied for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, said he and his Sochi teammates tried to spruce up their rooms with Team USA duvet covers, pillowcases and other paraphernalia.

“It’s obviously a big push to get the Olympics done, so some things take a lower priority,” Kenworthy said. “In my second Games, at Pyeongchang, our apartment had a picture of an oven and a picture of a refrigerator. They had installed the cabinetry but they hadn’t put in the appliances. It was very strange. It was almost like a Fisher-Price play kitchen or something,” he added with a laugh.

Spitz, 74, described the lodgings at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City as “a bunch of high-rise apartment complexes” bedeviled by a frequently broken elevator.

“In each bedroom, there were four people,” Spitz said. “Two sets of cots — doubles — maybe a pinch smaller than twin-size beds. No furniture. No kitchens. … They had bathrooms, obviously, but everything had what I’d call the low-cost IKEA look.”

Each host city comes up with a plan for housing athletes — sometimes in Spartan condominiums, sometimes in emptied-out college dorms, sometimes in makeshift mobile units. 

In certain cases, athletes find the simple bedrooms conducive to the intense focus needed to perform at the highest level. The tight quarters can also foster immediate bonds among roommates, Boitano said. “In Calgary, sharing that tiny apartment with seven guys — we were such a tight unit, he said, “and there was so much camaraderie.”

The cafeteria

The athletes who spoke to NBC News described the Olympic Village cafeteria as the bustling center of social activity, a festive gathering space where competitors can introduce themselves, break bread with people from other countries, and fuel up for the high-stakes events.

“It’s kind of the heart of the Olympic Village,” Boitano said. Kenworthy, who most recently competed for England at the 2022 Beijing Games, agreed: “The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s that way at the Olympics.”

Hannah Roberts, who earned a silver medal in BMX freestyle at the Covid-era 2020 Tokyo Games, discovered that the cafeteria was already crammed with athletes as early as 4 a.m. “I was like, oh my goodness. You can’t get a space,” Roberts told the NBC Sports podcast “In The Village” in 2021.

Bonnie Blair, a gold medalist speed skater who competed at four Olympic Games over a 10-year period, described feeling like “a kid in a candy store” when she first walked into the dining hall at the 1984 Sarajevo Games.

“I just wanted to go to the cafeteria and sometimes I could hang out there for hours, because that’s where all the athletes were — athletes from other sports that you watched and admired, looked up to and all that.”

Blair, 60, said her favorite memory from that Olympics was the afternoon she spent having lunch with figure skater Scott Hamilton and twin brother ski racers Phil and Steve Mahre: “I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.”

“Those guys don’t remember having lunch with me, but I for sure remember having lunch with them,” Blair said. “I was this up-and-coming athlete, inquisitive about what they were doing, and I’m sure I asked them a gazillion questions. They were probably like: Oh my God, who is this kid?”

Miller recalled that the cafeteria at the 1992 Barcelona Games had virtually every kind of cuisine imaginable — and, maybe more importantly, a reminder of home for a 15-year-old girl from Oklahoma.

“I was missing my parents and family. I was missing home,” Miller said. Then, one day, she happened to sit by gold medalist wrestler Kendall Cross. “He shared that he was from Oklahoma,” she said. “I almost cried.”

Spitz took note of the virtually 24/7 food service during the 1968 Mexico City Games, with dishes ranging from local Mexican specialties to American staples like steak and eggs. “They have a little city’s worth of people that need to be fed,” Spitz said. “It’s like a gigantic cruise ship.” 

In the 1990s and 2000s, McDonald’s was a staple of Olympic Villages, regularly drawing long lines of athletes hoping to load up on carbohydrates before a grueling competition or celebrate a win with a quick-fix taste of American fast food. (The official partnership between the cheeseburger giant and the Games has since ended .)

In some cases, athletes can be more particular about their dining options. Dorothy Hamill, 67, the gold medalist figure skater, said the French competitors at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck brought along their own chef — “and, come to think of it,” she added, “I think they had their own wine.”

This year, French athletes obviously won’t need to go far for a taste of home. The restaurants and cafes inside the Paris village will serve up to 40,000 meals a day, and an “authentic bakery” will be open to Olympians who want to learn how to make fresh baguettes, according to organizers. 

The social life

The things Olympians do between official events tell you a lot about the spirit of the times. Hamill, who competed in Innsbruck in the era of the Bee Gees and “Saturday Night Fever,” remembered that her village featured a disco — though she never actually set foot inside. 

“I think our dorm was far enough away that we didn’t really hear,” she said, “but you could always tell when the party was really gearing up.”

Blair, who competed at the Olympics amid the rise of personal computing, flashed back to the hours spent tooling around on the early version of what was once called the World Wide Web.

“I remember in Albertville we had some sort of communication system on a computer where you could send messages to other athletes that were at the Olympics,” she said. “I remember sitting next to Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan on neighboring computers, and that’s where I got to know them.”

The breaks between competitions and meals leave room for athletes to watch other sports, catch up on highlights — and, in recent years, try to go viral.

Ilona Maher, a rugby sevens player who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Games, passed the time making viral TikToks with her teammates and “testing out those cardboard beds,” as she told the “In The Village” podcast in 2021. In one TikTok , she and her teammates evaluated how one bed could withstand yoga poses, skipping, “dramatic fainting” and clap push-ups. (The bed survived.)

The vibe during downtime tends to be loose and friendly. Boitano fondly remembered a supportive atmosphere where “all the American athletes are rooting for each other and they go to each other’s events.” He said athletes at his Games tended to leave encouraging notes for each other (“Good luck on your next race!”) on bulletin boards.

But that’s not to say that elite athletes lose their competitive edge when they’re hanging out inside the village. Alexi Pappas, a Greek-American runner who represented Greece at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, told The New York Times that athletes can turn cutthroat on a dime in the village’s game lounge. 

“When you challenge a Russian weightlifter to a game of ping pong (like my dad did), you will probably lose,” Pappas said. “Even though there is not a medal at stake here in the game lounge, it is nearly impossible for Olympic athletes not to try their best. It comes from the same immutable competitive instincts as my determination to always peel my oranges in a single peel. We can’t help it.”

Of course, Olympic Villages often attract speculation about other behind-the-scenes activities.

“The condoms! That’s what everybody wants to know,” Blair said. ‘Oh, everybody’s having sex in the villages. The condoms! They’re out of condoms!’ But that’s not what the village is really all about.”

“I went to four Olympics and I don’t feel like: Oh, there’s just tons of sex going on. I’m sure there’s … things that happen. But it’s not like it’s all that happens,” she added with a laugh.

Ryan Lochte, the record-holding swimmer, seemed to suggest otherwise in a 2012 interview with ESPN Magazine , telling the publication that he estimated “70 percent to 75 percent of Olympians” are having sex during the Games. 

“Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do,” Lochte was quoted as saying.

Boitano, who told NBC News he “didn’t know anybody who was hooking up,” said he understood why the idea of hundreds of athletes pairing off inside the Olympic Villages regularly captures the public imagination. 

“It’s a romantic idea, all these hot athletes in the primes of their lives all hooking up,” Boitano said. “I can understand why it’s out there and why people run with it.”

Ultimately, as gold medalist swimmer Summer Sanders told ESPN, most Olympians abide by a simple motto: “What happens in the village stays in the village.”

Daniel Arkin is a national reporter at NBC News.

Recommended

Swarm of taylor swift fans force german police to close off singer’s hotel ahead of hamburg eras tour show.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Police officers flocked to Taylor Swift’s hotel in Germany after Swifties swarmed the entrance ahead of her highly-anticipated Eras Tour show.

Photos obtained by Page Six Tuesday showed a crowd of eager fans outside the Hamburg hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop star as police assumably arrived to control the scene.

According to a local news outlet , 300 fans were present but there was no sight of the “Lover” songstress as she reportedly entered and left the hotel through an underground car garage.

Swift, 34, took the stage at Volksparkstadion stadium on Tuesday evening, where she will also perform on Wednesday before heading to Germany’s capital, Munich, over the weekend.

German police have been on high alert as the 14-time Grammy winner has taken over the country this past week.

Last week, one of her stalkers was arrested in Gelsenkirchen after allegedly making threats toward her and her beau, Travis Kelce.

Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

Start your day with Page Six Daily.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Want celebrity news as it breaks? Hooked on Housewives?

The unidentified 34-year-old male was cuffed at the entry check of the Veltins-Arena as Swift prepared to take the stage.

He allegedly made threats against the A-list couple online and event organizers warned local authorities.

Kelce, 34, supported the “Cruel Summer” singer at two out of three nights she performed in Gelsenkirchen as he proudly wrapped his arm around her shoulder when they left the venue on Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs star has spent his summer adventuring throughout Europe with Swift as he’s supported her at 14 shows to date.

It might be a while until the NFL hunk is spotted at another concert as he returned to Kansas City, Mo., for the Chiefs training camp on Sunday.

The Chiefs’ football season kicks off on September 5 with a match against the Baltimore Ravens while Swift’s record-breaking tour ends in December.

Advertisement

An anti-doping feud between WADA and the USA causes tension ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Sport An anti-doping feud between WADA and the USA causes tension ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

The US and WADA are locked in a fight over how anti-doping body handles cases of apparent cheating in sport.

The fight has been simmering for decades after the US was unhappy with how WADA handled the Russian doping scandal.

What's next?

The debate has raised concerns that the US could be stripped of its Olympic hosting rights for future Games.

The stream of threats, recriminations and anti-doping innuendo flowed freely again on Thursday when tensions over a US law designed to combat drugs in sports escalated on the eve of the Paris Olympics.

It's a fight that's been simmering for a decade, sparked by Russia's brazen doping scandal at the Sochi Olympics . 

The reaction from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) was criticised as too weak by many, including the United States. So much so, that the US passed a law in 2020 giving federal authorities power to investigate sports doping and cover-ups.

After details emerged about 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance — Chinese authorities blamed it on contamination from a hotel kitchen — but none were suspended and some went on to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics, the US launched an investigation.

ABC Sport is live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics

The latest round of backlash played out in a trio of news conferences in Paris, the highlight of which came when leaders at WADA suggested they might sanction one of their biggest critics, the US Anti-Doping Agency, over the law.

"As a global regulator, one of our duties is to make sure our stakeholders are following our regulations and rules, and that the national legislation is in accordance with the world anti-doping code," WADA president Witold Banka explained.

While some tried to calm things down, others could see a worst-case scenario: that the US not be allowed to host big-time events such as the Olympics in the future.

Banka's statement came a day after the IOC awarded the 2034 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, but cast a pall over that celebration by extracting a promise that organisers pressure US lawmakers to scuttle the law, along with a related investigation into the Chinese doping case.

A law that passed unanimously

Chances of that are slim — the American Congress passed that bill in 2020 without a dissenting vote — so another strategy would be to go after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

If WADA determines the law, called the Rodchenkov Act, doesn't adhere to the rules, it could start the process of finding USADA in noncompliance.

That, in turn, could trigger sanctions, which can jeopardise America's ability to host international events. It's the same treatment WADA handed to Russia's anti-doping agency during that country's long-running drug scandal.

Congress recently held a hearing about the Chinese doping scandal and there have been suggestions that the US government might withhold its annual funding from WADA.

The chair and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone Jr — released a statement.

"It speaks volumes that the IOC would demand a one-sided contract condition to protect WADA rather than work together to ensure it is fulfilling its mission to protect clean sport," they said.

Threatening USADA

The mere threat of putting USADA on a noncompliant list marks the latest broadside in a mushrooming exchange of rhetoric.

USADA's CEO, Travis Tygart struck back.

"You know it's a broken system when WADA … threatens a compliance case against USADA for a US law enacted by Congress that has cleaned up sport consistent with the WADA rules and has been in existence for several years," he said.

At his own news conference in Paris, US Olympics and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) chair Gene Sykes, who was just made a member of the IOC, said he hopes this pattern of "throwing rocks at each other" would calm down soon.

"I think the tempers between WADA and USADA as reflected in the statements that go back and forth between the two of them are unfortunately just too emotional," Sykes said.

Some athletes, including Caeleb Dressel, don't trust the system

World Aquatics, which runs swimming, held its own news conference, where swimmers and executives were asked about the Chinese case.

American swimmer Caeleb Dressel was asked if he had confidence in the anti-doping system.

"No. Not really." Dressel said. 

"I don't really think they've given us enough evidence to support them in how this case was handled."

A few seats away was World Aquatics executive director Brent Nowicki who recently received a subpoena from US investigators as part of their probe into the China case.

"We have to regain his trust and those athletes' trust who share that same opinion," Nowicki said. 

"I'd like you to ask that same question of Caeleb in LA (at the 2028 Olympics). My hope, my goal, is that his mind changes."

Some IOC leaders worried about travelling to the US

The Nowicki subpoena is part of the first known use of the Rodchenkov Act for an international incident.

It illustrates the wide net US investigators might cast to fight doping — wide enough that it seems some folks are avoiding the United States, altogether. For instance, WADA moved a conference it had planned after the Olympics from New York to Montreal.

"I don't think I would share my private travel schedule in a press conference," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said, drawing laughs, when asked if he had plans to visit the US.

The law was passed to allow American authorities to prosecute doping conspiracies in any sports event involving US athletes — which includes the Olympics and pretty much every major competition around the world.

WADA has long lobbied against this law, specifically its "extraterritorial" clause, which it says gives US authorities a separate and inappropriate role in enforcing anti-doping rules against foreigners.

"It's highly incorrect that one country tries to impose jurisdiction on anti-doping decisions on the rest of the world," Banka said.

None of this was on the radar of leaders in Salt Lake City, who came to Paris expecting a celebration, and maybe even a pat on the back for offering to host the Winter Games — an event cities aren't lining up to underwrite anymore.

Salt Lake City organising president Fraser Bullock said despite the language in the contract "in my mind, there's zero doubt" that Utah will host the Games, as promised.

"For us, we feel bad that we did get pulled into it," Bullock said. 

"But we understand that's an issue that has to be addressed. It's just very unfortunate timing."

What is WADA?

The World Anti-Doping Agency was formed after the International Olympic Committee called for changes in the wake of some of sports' most sordid drug-cheating episodes — among them, Ben Johnson's drug-tainted ouster from the Seoul Games in 1988 and a doping scandal at the 1998 Tour de France.

Canadian lawyer Richard Pound, a heavyweight in the Olympic movement, became WADA's founding president in 1999, launching the agency one year ahead of the Sydney Olympics.

Who funds and runs WADA?

In 2024, the Montreal-based agency has a budget of about $US53 million ($81 million). The IOC's contribution of $US25 million ($37 million) is matched by the collective contributions of national governments worldwide.

Some say the IOC's 50 per cent contribution gives it too much say in WADA's decision-making and a chance to run roughshod over the way it runs its business.

The power of governments is diluted because several dozen countries make up the other half of the funding, with no single nation accounting for much more than about 3 per cent of the budget.

What does WADA do?

The agency describes its mission as to "develop, harmonise and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries."

It does not collect and test urine and blood samples from athletes. It does certify the sports bodies, national anti-doping agencies and worldwide network of testing laboratories that do.

It drafts, reviews and updates the rules that govern international sports and manages the list of prohibited substances.

WADA also runs its own investigations and intelligence unit, which has broad scope to get involved in cases worldwide.

WADA v The IOC

An IOC vice president, Craig Reedie, was WADA's leader in 2016 when the Russian doping scandal erupted weeks before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Reedie and Pound, who had led a key investigation of the Russian cheating system, wanted Russia out of the Rio Olympics. IOC President Thomas Bach did not.

At a heated IOC meeting in Rio, Bach won a near-unanimous vote that allowed Russia to compete. It was a severe undercutting of Reedie and, some say, WADA.

What is the Rodchenkov Act?

American authorities were upset with the IOC and WADA handling of the Russian case, so they moved to pass a law named after Grigory Rodchenkov, the former Moscow lab director who became a whistleblower and eventually fled to the United States as a protected witness.

The Rodchenkov Act gave the US government authority to investigate "doping conspiracies" in sports events that involve US athletes, which brings the Olympics and most international events under its umbrella.

It agitated WADA and IOC officials, who don't want the US enforcing its own anti-doping code. They lobbied against it, but in a sign of WADA's standing in the United States, the bill passed without a single dissenting vote in 2020.

Why is this coming up now?

Earlier this month, US authorities issued a subpoena to an international swimming official who could have information about the case involving Chinese swimmers who were allowed to compete despite testing positive. WADA did not pursue the case.

With the Summer Games coming to Los Angeles in 2028, then the Winter Games in Utah in 2034, it will be hard for world sports leaders to avoid coming to the US, where they, too, could face inquiries from law enforcement.

The ABC of SPORT

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Doping in Sports
• Summer Olympic Games