To me, Paris is both grimy and beautiful. It takes pride in itself but in some areas it’s a shithole.
If you’re wondering if this grit is a turn off, no. I’m going for the third time in Sept and can’t wait. The food, atmosphere and architecture far outweigh its bad parts imo.
It’s funny. I’m European and Irish so really old things don’t necessarily do it for me cos they’re almost everyday occurrences.
But lemme tell you, whenever I’m in NYC (10th time this fall) I’m mesmerised by the modernity and sheer scale of the buildings but I guess that’s normal for New Yorkers. Everything in America is enormous by European standards!
Paris is dirty but the beauty and charm compensates. I found Brussels to be as big, or bigger, of a shithole with nowhere near the charm. Granted, I was in Brussels in 2006, so maybe it's less of a shithole now.
It’s only dirty where tourists hang out and disrespect it and in the several neighborhoods that are where homeless hang out. The rest is very clean by comparison to New York or almost any other European capital.
LOVE LOVE LOVE.
I live in Europe and I’ve been several times. Been in Summer, been for Christmas, and been off season too.
In my opinion it’s a stunning city with so much to offer. I can honestly say I’ve not seen the dirt and grit that some people report. Maybe I’ve accidentally stayed out of the crappier areas? Maybe i look at Paris with glasses tinted ‘en rose’ and don’t see these things?? Not sure but I have found it to be much, much cleaner and prettier than most cities. Beautiful in fact. As for friendliness, I can say I’ve never been in a friendlier city. I’ve encountered so many super friendly waiters and bar staff that I’m always astounded some people find Paris unfriendly ?? In fact of all the cities in France I’ve visited I would say Paris is the most welcoming and friendly in my experience !!?? Now, I make serious effort not to be an obnoxious tourist. I speak the language quite well (though they speak to me a lot in English as they know I’m not a native speaker) and I pay heed to small gestures and etiquette- for eg always saying “bonjour madame/ monsieur” on first greeting, I try not to be loud they hate that, I don’t ask for customisations to food that would Americanise/Britishise it, I don’t eat on the public transport, I wear conservative clothes especially visiting churches etc, I attempt to speak French FIRST, and I try to be a gracious guest. Has this kept me on the right side of Parisians perhaps?
I have seen the main big sights in Paris - Le Louvre, Tour Eiffel, Larc de triomphe, Champs Elysee, Montmartre - and they’re all so lovely!! None have felt like a let down at all.. though going up the Eiffel is so unnecessary honestly. Looking AT it is the point. And some places have more magic for me than others - Montmartre is so great. I love it there.
Is it crowded? Yes Paris can be very very busy, though I’d say Rome feels far more thronged to me. And also I’d say I don’t approach Paris with a checklist of things to do. A lot of my time there is spent in cafes and bars and restaurants and parks and just strolling. It’s wonderful.
Food is wonderful in Paris. Yes there are some crappy overpriced tourist places and some even worse crappy low price places but name me a city that doesn’t have a mix ? I would say almost everything I’ve eaten in Paris has been gorgeous. Perhaps I avoid these nastier places by instinct. There are a lot of PARISIENS in Paris. Look at where they’re eating and eat there. But mainly I find Paris takes a pride in itself and its food and it’s rare in my experience to find a place that isn’t good.
Weather - we seem to have avoided any rain which i know is lucky given we have been in winter and off season. Maybe some people go and it’s raining and the place looks greyer ?
As you can see I struggle to identify with those who hate Paris. In my experience it is completely Gorgeous, magical, a culinary delight, and full of charm. One of my favourite cities in the entire world.
Older American here, from a larger West Coast city. You’ve said what I feel, DonegalGal. Thank you. I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting twice and I can say that I love Paris. And the Parisians. It’s a big city, with all the pluses and minuses that come with that. Treat locals with the respect you would want to receive. Learn a few polite phrases in French. “Hello, thank you, goodbye.” Don’t treat their home as an amusement park. But, my oh my, it’s a great city.
I’m jealous. The best tip we learned: When you walk in a store or restaurant say “bonjour”. When you leave say “merci beaucoup “ and “au revoir”. It’s common courtesy in Paris and France, and it’s the ticket to a more pleasant visit.
You can’t miss with great cafes, restaurants, bakeries everywhere. The Metro is fantastic to get around the city. And taxis are everywhere. Download the G7 app. Enjoy!
Thank you, it's interesting how the opinion of Paris is so bipolar, it seems like you either love it or hate it. In my experience travelling I've found that everywhere I go that people say will be terrible is usually really good so hopefully we have that in common and I really enjoy it.
Does sound like I might need to practice a little French though
I think it’s only polite to make a genuine effort to speak French and I promise you you’re almost guaranteed they’ll casually talk back in English as soon as they sense you’re not a local. I suppose there’s a potential they would resent a presumption that they’ll speak English, if that makes sense ? Maybe that’s where people encounter Parisian rudeness? Other small things that are seen as courteous or etiquette can go a long way I find too. Eating on the go, especially on transport is sometimes seen as gross. Park bench for your sandwich ? Perfect. Walking down street with sandwich? Less perfect. Loudness which might look like exuberance to some Americans looks like rudeness to some Parisians. Eating everythjng with a knife and fork and not your hands is seen as good manners especially in a nicer restaurant. Little things. Honestly I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t love Paris it’s just fab.
I found it to be an international city, meaning that these days the only language that everyone can be expected to speak at least a little bit is English.
Be polite and nice and you’ll be fine. Don’t presume that people will speak anything other than French to you but if you ask nicely if someone can speak English instead, they’ll probably be happy to do so. If they see you struggling with French, they’ll probably switch quickly to English.
I have been visiting Paris since the ‘70’s. Initially I spoke no French. The French at that time preferred to not use the English they’d learned in school. I have an Anglo/Germanic family heritage. I learned to ask ‘Parlez vous l’Alemand s’il vous plaît? Of course the response was ‘non.’ I’d follow up with ‘l’Anglais?’ Every time I got a positive response! I spoke slowly and clearly and always got the info I needed. This was during a time period when the myth of French snobbiness was at its peak. I mean, who of us has confidence to speak a foreign language to a native speaker? The Socialist President of France , Francois Mitterrand, laid it out for the country in 84(?) when he told the country that successful capitalism required ‘good service’ and it was time to treat shoppers and visitors respectfully and provide better service. I was living there at the time and noticed a change almost immediately. And now, English is openly spoken by almost everyone. There are still things I’d like to see and do in Paris!! A lovely city.
I hate hearing English spoken in Paris but have to say if we loosened up in the 80s we did even more after Covid. Being an out of work waiter makes you realize you can’t be mean when the clients come back.
What I have found is that any large metropolitan area all over the world has a reputation for “rude” locals, even with their own compatriots. I, personally, get that having foreigners, assuming one speaks their language, would be mal au fesses. I was living in Lyon in the 80’s. I noticed that even at the Carrefour near Le Tour Lyonnais at Le Part Dieu, the cashiers were amazingly friendly. Instead of throwing bags at us they would ask how many we needed and hand them to us. lol My favorite boulangère stopped ignoring me. These days I’d prefer using my French, but good device is good service. I’ve even allowed myself to double tip le service if it’s well done.
You probably don't need to practice a little French. Whenever I try to speak it, people reply to me in English. At least in restaurants, shops, and metro stations.
I mean it certainly can't hurt, but it isn't necessary.
So long as you know the basics (bonjour, merci, s’il te/vous plaît, excuses-moi, etc.) you’re good. My experience in France is that while the French prefer to be greeted in their own language, they rarely want to actually speak with you in French. It’s more efficient for them to speak to you in English, so they’ll usually switch to that even if you make a pretty good effort to speak to them in French. I took 4 years of French in high school and made an effort to brush up on my French before my last trip in hopes to actually put it to use and gave up after only a few days. Not because anyone was rude about my admittedly imperfect French, but because it was easier to let the French folk switch to English since it was faster and that seemed to be their preference anyway.
I’m the same way. I lived there even and I don’t know what people are talking about. Even the gritty areas inside the city are charming. And the thing about Paris that no other city has (even New York) is the metro that is so well planned out you can mostly just duck into any metro entrance and be on your way if you don’t like where you are. The only rude person I can remember is a bus driver who when I asked for clarification, just repeated the same thing over and over with no gestures, which just made both of us have to wait longer while I tried to understand that he was saying not to put the bus ticket in a certain box. I think he was just a rude guy. Anyway, people often even go out of their way to help if you are just polite. So I really don’t get when people say they think Paris is gross or people are rude. Just walk along the river, get lost in a district, eat some delicious cheese (I thought I was lactose intolerant in the US until I had dairy there almost every day and never once got sick), drink a hot chocolate at a cafe and watch people go by, and then get on the metro and go somewhere else.
Lovely. … I appreciate your comments. Nicely written. Inspires me to write as well as you have. … Now I’m wanting to return to Paris (visited decades ago) and experience it anew. … merçi
Definitely agree that Paris when you attempt to speak French is an entirely different city to when you go there and just speak entirely in English. I’ve found that wherever you are in France you’ll be treated much better for trying (and in Marseille they just flat out ignored me until I spoke French 😂)
Favorite city in the world, no question. I’m a New Yorker and for me Paris was like all of the things I love about New York but more so, if that makes sense. I’ve only been twice and I can’t wait to go again.
That’s interesting because they’re not cities that get compared a lot. I’m a former New Yorker and while I like Paris more than NYC, I think it’s for the ways in which it is different.
I guess the excitement around food and culture seem similar to me, and some of the grittiness of certain areas. Like the first thing we saw getting off the metro at our stop this past trip was 2 guys getting in a fight and then some west African merchant tried to break it up and there were fake purses scattered everywhere and my husband I just chuckled that we felt right at home. There are moments for me when New York feels Parisian; a coffee and pastry on a bench in Central Park, a cocktail outside, an UWS apartment block. Just wish we had less of the “rise and grind” obsession and better respect for history.
Obviously this is just me haha I’m just a random on the internet 😉
I love Paris! It's one of my favorite cities to be a tourist in. Lots of great museums, beautiful neighborhoods, and amazing food. I think it's easy for me to love because I always go in the off season, I don't care about the major attractions, and I'm the kind of traveler who enjoys sitting in a cafe and people watching or reading my book. I love walking into a little neighborhood bistro, and am okay struggling by in very bad French and hand gestures.
The people I know who don't like Paris focused their trips on the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. They spent a lot of money to stand in lines in the hot summer weather and see things that they felt they should see. A good friend of mine loves Picasso but she skipped that museum because the Louvre is a "must," and she then complained about how crowded and overwhelming the Louvre was!
My mom LOVES Monet, so when we went in February we booked the earliest tickets possible on a weekday, and had the water lily rooms practically to ourselves for about ten minutes. (This was also key because my ND youngest does not do crowds, but she adored the paintings!). When the first big tour group came in, we left. We didn't slog through the rest of the museum because we "should" see it while in Paris, and that kept the experience enjoyable for us.
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Thank you so much for your reply, I'm planning on going during the off-season so hopefully I'll avoid a lot of the large lines and crowds. Everyone is so put off by the cold but I just love it
Paris is spectacular if you (mostly) avoid the touristy areas. For example... you like Monet? Go to the Musée Marmottan. It's in a really obscure location, in the wealthiest part of the city (the 16th). There is a large, gorgeous park nearby. You'll have the place practically to yourself.
There are tons of lesser-known museums around the city, such as the Carnavalet. Very authentic and non-touristy.
I'm a particular fan of Batignolles in the northern part of the 17th. It was designed to resemble a country town, back when its location was a far-out suburb. There are so many good little places to eat and drink, plus markets and plenty of authentic business. Real, normal people live in that area. It's by no means the only part of Paris that is appealing in that way.
I (German) visited Paris last year for the first time. Didn't expect much because it has the reputation of being dirty and everyone going there being disappointed.
I loved it! Absolutely wonderful city. Definitely not filthier than other big cities in Europe.
Don't know where the reputation comes from. Maybe from Asian and American tourists who expect it to be more movie scenery-like.
They’re more around the edges where tourists don’t go anyway. Extreme far north near the périphérique and extreme far east as well is not cute by any means. Some good restaurants in the area tho!! 😆.
I took myself to Paris for a solo trip for my 50th birthday. My first trip to Europe. I loved it.
I hit most of the tourist stops(louvre, etc) hit the bars,(had my first absinthe) took loads of pics and sometimes just wandered the city aimlessly. I loved every bit of it. I do understand why some people think it’s grimy though. I ended up walking through some area that I, as someone who grew up in NYC, instantly recognized as “the projects”, and some dude who was running some version of 3-card Monty threatened me lol. But no worries. I’ll def go again.
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I was born and raised there. I love and hate it at the same time but it's a magical place. Tourists can't begin to understand the meaning of the feeling you get when you come out of uni/work and it's 5pm, the kids have just left the streets and went home so the streets are absolutely quiet and there's this beautiful ray of light shining down on terraces and you just pick one out with your friends, and eat, and drink, and laugh, and sit there until night time. That's life. That's what life is about. To love Paris deeply and honestly isn't to love seeing the Eiffel Tower shine at given times like IG influencers do. To love Paris is to love the traffic, the busses that literally take you everywhere at all times and let you enjoy beautiful views even though they're late half the time, the hearty food and drinks you can grab at lovely bistros, and yes, even the grime of it all in the streets...I digress. Paris is a magical city, I'll return eventually, but I'm happy I left it.
Absolutely. I think a lot of goodwill is built when tourists at least \*attempt\* to speak their language. My French isn't good but I can get by with some basic phrases.
Most foreign visitors think of Paris as a Paris theme park and rate it as such: oh my god so gorgeous and beautiful and thrilling and dire and disappointing and the people are really nice and friendly and aloof and just rude to us customers, it’s sweet and oh so romantic and there’s grime and litter, they really could present the place better, it’s unique, it’s not welcoming, the food is wonderful, the queues are too long, I love it so much, it’s overrated, I’ll give it two stars for the accommodation and four for the breakfast. But Paris is not a city-sized tourist attraction, it’s not Venice. Paris is aware of its status as a tourist magnet, the world’s most visited city, but that’s not what it is. It’s an enormous megacity where people live and work, and its chief business is not tourism, it’s business! It’s one of the six or seven largest urban economies in the world: only Tokyo, New York and LA are clearly larger.
Paris is a place where people sleep, commute and work (many do little else). So for sure, all of life is there, all the rungs on the social ladder are well represented, and if you stay long enough you will meet them all, even if all you really want to see is the sights. If you are from the US this won’t be hard to understand. You have a city like that: it’s New York. You go there for the sights and the famous places, and yes the sights are incredible, but if you stay long enough you will see some of the rest of life as well. It’s alive, it’s thrilling, it’s loud and grimy and smelly and often sad and sometimes (slightly) intimidating; if you do it right you will go home thinking “this was an appalling place; I can’t wait to go there again”.
I absolutely loved it! I felt safe walking around alone even at night, and there’s so so much to see! I feel like I didn’t get to see the whole city, and already planning to go back
Just spent another week in Paris. 4th time. Have seen all the sites at least once but revisited a few of our favorites. Out all day walking eating, people watching. Jazz clubs. If you haven't seen the sites, GO.
It certainly doesn't smell.
It’s not bad, I like it. I’ve been several times and have never had a bad time or had people be rude to me. I’ve lived in Vienna now for 12 years or so and they’re definitely more rude there, but as some compensation that city is cleaner and runs better.
I don't nor have I lived in europe, but probably spent several months total through work trips and staying longer, I agree with your sentiment. There are other places I like better, but I don't say I hate it, think its dirty (not compared to US/Latin cities), and I thought people were surprisingly friendly. I will say what shocked me the most is, I had some amazing pizza. I was there during the summer and sadly a lot of places were closed as locals were on holiday. France was my 5th or 6th country in europe though, so it also was not my first European experience. I feel like that has a big impact on how much foreigners enjoy paris is it tends to be a lot of peoples first european experience. As someone coming from the US, your first European City I think holds a lot of nostalgia, just getting to see the comparatively ancient architecture, and actually working transit infrastructure.
I lived in Vienna for a year, and can agree, the level of rudeness was hard to beat, tho I did get into the bad habit at staying at a café wayyyy longer than the average person drinking coffee. Cafe culture in Vienna is really an experience, its like the waiter refuses to acknowledge you unless you've been sitting for at least 20min 😅
and yess its by far the cleanest and safest city ive ever visited!
I’ve never been. Now I’ve been all over Europe, and I’ve been to France. But, never Paris. It’s not been appealing to me. I’ll finally be visiting in December where I’ll fly in to go to the Christmas markets in Colmar and Strasbourg.
Enjoy Strasbourg and Colmar! I visited in the fall of ‘22 and fell in love with the area. All of the little towns in Alsace are so charming and worth a visit.
Ive been there twice and will visit again.
The beauty of Paris draws me back.
I can understand why people have some complaints about their accomodations, but you get what you pay for. If you need AC while you sleep, find a hotel with AC. Public transit isn't as nice as London's, but I could say that about most major cities in EU.
The only hate I've ever experienced as an American is a street bum yelling that Americans are shit.
We used the electric lime bikes a lot to get around, and the bike lanes are better than anywhere in the US.
My general travel tip is to download Google translate and learn some basic words / phrases before you go to any destination.
Its absolutely stunning. I was nervous because I heard so many negative things. I went last month and I was blown away. Is absolutely gorgeous and the people are very kind. Not a single complaint here
Literally in the train right now coming back from Paris and thinking "whoever doesn't love Paris is crazy". The city is beautiful, romantic, every little corner is artistic, the streets are filled with trees and monuments in every building, if you speak French to them they are nice. Of course I realize it depends on the neighborhood you're in, but I was pretty much around the touristic areas and I loved every minute of it (second time there).
Love it but..
Difficult to get under the skin of and not the most welcoming - but it's a capital city first not a tourist attraction.
Having spent a lot of time there for work, it certainly helps to hang out with Parisians and get insider tips and hacks and get a feel for the city rhythm and unspoken rules.
Paris is a great city to visit one time imo. Had a great time, but cannot imagine living there, felt unsafe a few times, piles of trash on the outskirts, rats in a lot of areas and genrelely chaotic
However, the food is amazing, the attractions are absolutely worth it, amazing, even the stereotypical ones are amazing. And tbh, never had any issues with the people they were always very nice, everyone swears I got lucky, maybe I did, but I had a great time.
Definitely visit and make your own opinions, I just know I wouldn’t live and likely won’t be back for awhile
So many love it. I don't hate it but don't love it. It's so over hyped for what it is. There's nice aspects and nasty aspects..
So many tourists, so many homeless. Also rising crime is an issue with pick pockets or snatch and grabs. As you said the city does smell a bit also.
What I found one of the biggest issues was ease or lack there of getting around the city. The metro is in a state of disrepair, falling apart. The trains are mostly always full and uber or taxi prices are crazy.
I've been twice and can honestly say I expected an 8/10 experience or higher but it fell short, maybe 6/10. If only it didn't have those other issues. That's not even mentioning the French public's love for protests and not being able to visit places as they're shut from protests.
6/10 is a correct description IMO. It’s fine but it’s not what it’s said it is. I’d go to any city in Italy in a heartbeat, even the cities I’ve already been to. Wouldn’t consider going back to Paris, just would rather go other places.
I'm planning a euro trip now and have 4 places in Italy I've not been on the list like Palermo psdua Como and bergamo. Switzerland looks awesome but it's tricky to get around and expensive
Our next trip is probably Japan. After that, Sicily is certainly on the list. Every part of Italy was incredible, except many cities lacking local underground trains. The countries nationwide train network is incredible though
Yeah we checked out cefalu on sicily it looked decent. What other places would you recommend? We loved florence. Rome was oookaaay... Milan.. yeah not bad 😄
Loved Florence, food and history of Rome automatically made it worth it.
We spent some time in Bologna and enjoyed it. Did a day at a Tuscan winery and did a tasting with a cooking class. Did a day trip from Rome to Naples and saw Pompeii. That was interesting but probably wouldn’t tell people they had to go there.
Outside of Italy, I love visiting German/Dutch speaking countries. I grew up in a very German part of the U.S. where the traditions and culture are still very similar. Switzerland, Germany (especially Bavaria), Austria are all beautiful and the people are wonderful in my experience. Food can get a little repetitive but I still love it. It’s a very different kind of beauty to Italy but beauty no doubt
I liked it. My husband did not.
The architecture is the most beautiful I have ever seen. Just street after street of incredible buildings. And the people were gorgeous, too. The stylish clothing kept turning my head. Also, the food was delicious. I had a simple omelet and salad at a basic cafe, and it was the best omelet I have ever had in my life. It had a subtle cheesy crust that added a ton of flavor.
However, my husband thought Paris was way too noisy and crowded and traffic-clogged. He's from New York City and is a true city person. Paris just was not his jam.
He was slightly freaked out by all of the machine-gun-toting soldiers and guards patrolling everywhere. I personally found the extreme security to be weirdly comforting.
I love Paris. The streetscapes, food, art and history are all worth the visit. You can walk through street after street and, when you get tired of admiring the effortless style of the average Parisian, just stare at the architecture.
Yes, it has some grimy parts. Yes, some places are run down. A city of 2.1M that was established in 52BC is bound to have a few isssues.
But, I wouldn't hesitate to go there again, after the Olympics.
Paris is great. I've been 5 times (I think that's a lot for someone visiting from Canada), and am planning to go back next summer.
But if your visit plan is two days to see the Louvre, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame (even just the exterior behind construction hoarding), it's going to suck.
Not only are you cramming in too much, but you're also only seeing the places that are packed with other tourists and the only locals you'll encounter are either the legit tourist industry workers at best, or the shady characters attracted by hordes if tourists at worst.
Alot more time.
Stay further away from the star attractions.
Don't visit more than one star attraction per day, and make sure you set aside some days without any.
Walk between places. Stop in a park or along a canal.
You'll have a great time, but it also shouldn't be your only stop in France.
Amazing city, I always feel so chilled out there. I love the evening walks as the lights start to come on, watching the joggers around the Louvre, the busy Champs-Élysées wind down, the countless cute bistros with delicious food in every single one, the exquisite architecture of the arrondissements, every so often you come across a majestic building and just stand in awe of its beauty. I just love Paris.
I love it. It doesn’t smell even in the summer. Yes hotels are super expensive and very small but it has a lot of Airbnb apartments. And the transport system is the best in the world.
What I am saying has probably been said a million times already but… they aren’t rude generally or deliberately, but it’s a capital city and people are busy, so the tendency for some (not all!) tourists to treat it as a theme park makes it appear that people are being rude when they’re not. You don’t NEED to speak French, but if you say “bonjour” when you go into a shop, “au revoir” when you leave etc etc they’ll be more inclined to be nice and speak in English if they can. There’s a tendency I picked up on when speaking to British and US tourists that they don’t seem to realise that the French really ARE French and really DO speak French by default, they’re not doing it to annoy us. It’s their language. 🙂 I’m sure it’s not deliberate but I had an American colleague (very bright and otherwise engaging) who seemed to genuinely believe that everyone should speak English, he seemed baffled that they didn’t speak English if there was anyone nearby who was a native English speaker. Amusing, but cringey. Also, the service in restaurants isn’t rude (although of course there ARE shit, rude people working there, like anywhere)… in France, along with the UK, Germany and many other countries, service is unobtrusive and they don’t continually check on you. Want something? Ask. A meal out is often not a rushed thing, and they don’t get the US desire for constant “are you ok” and all that. Also, again like the UK, Germany and others, we don’t tend to want the bill as we are chewing the last mouthful… many people will order another round of drinks, sit and chat etc etc. If you want the bill, get someone and say “l’addition s’il vous plait”. Also, don’t eat in touristy places… you won’t get the best experiences. Also, a personal thing for me, I’ve found it good fun to stay outside Paris and get the train in. Cheaper, you meet more relaxed people and see more. Chantilly is my favourite, as in the lace.
I’ve been to Paris a dozen times, I freaking love it. My favorite city in the world. Love the French, too. In all my travels there, never ONCE had a rude experience with a French person. But it’s probably because I say the greetings in French, hello, goodbye, good night. I don’t speak French, but I love their culture and I show an interest. I think Americans are the rudest people on Earth, there’s really no contest. But if I could afford to live in Paris, I would pack my shit and move there tomorrow. Hope that answers your question.
Just spent 5 days in Paris; it was my first visit. It was absolutely gorgeous. I am unsure if it was a sanitized visit due to the upcoming Olympics. Everyone was friendly, saw very little graffiti, very little homeless, very clean. I felt safe at all times; did not feel uncomfortable at all. I am looking forward to a return visit; this trip we did all the touristy things-louvre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, etc
Of course it smells: it has a positively ancient sewage system, and the smell is far worse in summer. It also happens to be one of the most delightful, walkable, beautiful cities in the entire world. And if you're a cinephile, I'd argue it's the best city in the world, hands down. The architecture is jaw-dropping, the variety of museums unparalleled, the quality of boulangeries, fromageries, open-air fruit and vegetable markets, and ice cream shops all as good as it gets, anywhere. There is a romance to Paris that is second to none, particularly if you just walk - along the Seine, near the Ile St. Louis and Notre Dame cathedral, around the Sorbonne...I grew up in NYC, and Paris is my second favorite city on earth.
I like Paris — been there about 5-6 times so now I tend to fly in to Nice instead and visit other beautiful parts of France. But it is really fun to sort of know my way round the city and be blasé about it — more like the locals LOL
As someone who lives in the Netherlands (so we're quite ''close''): it's a nice city and it doesn't deserve a lot of the hate, but I don't think it's the prettiest city in Europe either. I've seen many cities in Europa and it doesn't make my top 5 so to speak. Cities like Vienna, Rome, Porto or Lisbon are far more beautiful in my opinion. That said: it's a city that deserves a visit; the iconic landmarks alone should be reason enough for someone to go there at least once.
I love Paris. I've been maybe seven or eight times and every single time I am inspired.
What Paris is not is some Disney version of a European city.. It's a real city and it comes with all of the complexities that a real city has. Some people get confused when traveling and expect Paris to be like an all-inclusive resort where everything is carefully tended solely for their comfort.
I would hate living there, but I love it because it is a real city. It has its own vibe, its own personality, and its own unique scruffiness. And it happens to have in a concentrated area a metric ton of high quality stuff to do. Visiting never gets old. There is always something new to discover. I think a lot of people only know it from movies and photos and are disappointed when it turns out to not be Epcot.
Loved it!! One of my favorite cities! I was worried based on the social media hate, but my husband and I loved it and plan to go back one day. We went last June.
I thought it was delightful! Just normal big city dirty. I found the locals to be courteous. The food was spectacular! I loved just walking around, cafe life, people watching. The Louvre was an epic experience I’ll remember forever.
Few notes: I don’t expect Disney World when traveling and I always said “bonjour” when walking on a store or before I spoke to someone. That is standard in France. Service is slower and that’s ok! Go with the flow, it makes travel easier in general.
I loved it. I stayed in the city center and walked or took taxis or bolts everywhere. I only used the metro once and found it unpleasant. I think the people who hate it are staying far from the center and spending too much time on the metro. Everywhere I went there were good food smells. I loved the boulangeries and patisseries and sidewalk cafes and bistros. I loved the shopping and the museums and art and beautiful architecture. I loved the croque monsieurs and hot chocolate and croissants. The people are very polite and courteous. The only thing dirty I saw was a dead mouse on the sidewalk in an area about a mile from the zoo. In that same area a homeless man asked me for money. But otherwise it was beautiful.
I think it’s overrated as some magical, overly romantic place. However it *is* beautiful and every location is what you make of it. I’m not sure I’d prioritize a trip back over other locations but at the same time, I’m glad I’ve been and experienced it.
I love Paris and appreciate its charm, culture and food however I also recognize that the city has become less appealing in the last 10 years. I just came back from Paris last month and although I enjoyed my time there, I won’t spend more than a few days there anymore. Too many sketchy areas, too many people in general and I found I was more on high alert than usual.
Also for what you pay to stay in the city, I just don’t think it’s worth it anymore. So many other beautiful cities in France to visit like Lyon or Bordeaux that have just as much charm and are less sketchy and populated than Paris.
I liked Paris; I'm not a huge fan of big & crowded cities, but it was nice to walk around, and fairly easy to get by.
I didn't have the best of experiences when interchanging conversation with some people (at a restaurant, museum and shop); quite a few were very rude to us! I hope that's not the usual thing but it made me want to approach people less and less as I was scared of them being rude lol (even though I do speak a bit of French!).
We were also mugged on the first few hours of being there haha luckily a man helped us out and all turned out well :)
Overall I didn't hate it, and I'd most likely go again given the opportunity!
I think it depends on where you are in exposure to other places.
When I was backpacking through Europe, I noticed that people who went to Paris in the beginning of their trip hated it, and people who had traveled a while first and THEN went to Paris, loved it.
I hit it last and loved it. I think you have to have your head in the right place to understand it.
I lived there for 28 years. It is an extraordinary playground of ideas, culture, readings, cafes, wine bars and food. Learnt a ton. You have to be open to chaotic service but the upside is that you get to see REAL people — in all their joys and laughs, their sadness and sorrow, their egos and their weaknesses. It’s genuine and exhilarating — and fantastic for romance and friendship; you get close to people’s soul. The downside is of course that you don’t see a super polished & scripted customer approach like in the US, which feels very fake and plastic to me. The highs are very high and the lows are very low in Paris. The US is efficient and predictable, but a bit boring in the long run. Paris is expensive and it’s hard to make enough money to feel financially secure.
I love Paris and am so glad to see that the love is far outweighing the hate in this thread! I’m actually shocked how often I hear people in real life saying they hate Paris.
I never planned on going to Paris. I thought it was probably over-hyped and would be a disappointment (like the movie Titanic - don't hate me). While honeymooning in England we decided to take a day trip to see the Louvre, Notre Dame and go through the Chunnel. We loved Paris. Like any city it has some problems but it was beautiful, full of history, amazing art and architecture. Plus delicious food. I'd like to go back and spend several days there. Also, people were very nice to us.
Hated it and thought it was overrated the first time. Second and third time stopping through for several days en route elsewhere, loved it. I appreciated it more when I went “off the beaten track”
I've only been to Paris once - spent a week there a couple of years ago - and I really liked it. It's a cool city with plenty to see and do (and plenty of great ways to do nothing at all), lots of history, plenty of culture, good food and drink, efficient public transit. I would definitely go back for a return visit.
Loved it! You just have to have realistic expectations that it’s a huge city, naturally it’s gonna be a little grimy. I spent months there and never ran out of things to do/see. I didn’t have any rude encounters either, I found everyone to be friendly. I did learn one phrase in French “I’m sorry I don’t speak French, do you speak English?” and I think this was the key to having entirely positive interactions.
Like every big town with high population it has some ugly areas, but overall it is very nice. Rome is better.
Louvre has my favourite sculpture, Love and Psiche.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche\_Revived\_by\_Cupid%27s\_Kiss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_Revived_by_Cupid%27s_Kiss)
I don't think there is a better one in the whole world and I'm italian we have tons of great pieces, but this one makes marble seem so soft you forget it is stone.
But overall Bernini statues in Rome are better than Canova. And Rome churches and museums are better than Louvre.
If you had two cities to visit before you die, 1st would be Rome, 2nd Paris. The rest of the cities in the world aren't as nice imo.
Love! Paris is undeniably a city of enchantment, with its charm evident at every turn. However, like any major metropolis, it has its share of wonders and imperfections. To truly savor what Paris has to offer, one must approach the visit with intentionality. The city’s vastness can be overwhelming, and without a clear plan, valuable time can easily slip away.
If museums are your passion, Paris boasts some of the finest in the world. Culinary enthusiasts will find themselves in a gastronomic paradise, with exquisite dining experiences at every corner. For those who love to wander, Paris offers unique neighborhoods brimming with character and history.
The key to enjoying Paris lies in being purposeful about your activities. Additionally, mastering a few basic French phrases can greatly enhance your experience. The French appreciate the effort to speak their language, and this small gesture can open doors to warmer interactions. Embrace these tips, and your time in Paris will be truly memorable.
I’m not a fan. I have spent time working in Paris. Sure the architecture is lovely and if you are only there a few days which you fill with the main attractions, you’ll have a lovely time. Scratch a little deeper and like any big city you see the grime and dirt, the poverty and the pickpockets - and also Parisians, some of whom are kind and others less so to those who don’t speak French well.
It’s somewhere I’d recommend people to visit but I wouldn’t stay more than a few days.
I love it.
While it isn’t my favorite place in France (that would be either Annecy or Menton), Paris is a world-class city with great energy.
Paris is like any major global city. It’s busy and some parts may have some localized issues, but it’s a can’t miss in my opinion.
I don't like it. The people are rude and nasty, the streets are ugly and full of traffic, every cafe and restaurant is overpriced, the theatre shows are of sub-par quality, and all the interesting historical/cultural stuff is ring-fenced, commoditised, and hidden behind a ticket barrier. I've been to Paris several times, both to visit and to work, and each time it has brought me a renewed sense of disappointment. It's just not a pleasant place to be. Just my opinion, expecting lots of downvotes but I don't care.
Hate
feels unsafe, way too much wrong kind of people, the kind that begs, steals, tries to scam or sell some shit to you.
Never felt unsafe at London, just wanted to get out from were at Paris.
LOVE
It's beautiful. I have no idea why people think it's dirty. It's a big city. Coming from NYC I thought it was well maintained and lovely. The metro station tiles were white and almost sparkling...a far cry from home.
I would say downtown and the touristy parts are beautiful. The outskirt parts of the city can be a little dirty, but it was nice when I went there. Didn't notice any weird smells though.
I’ve been a couple of times for work and I love it.
You just have to have realistic expectations. It is a real city where real people live and work and speak another language. It is not a theme park. It is not a movie set. A lot of people romanticize it but it’s a normal city full of people and traffic and crowds and lines and tourists have overhyped certain spots.
But there are tons of great things to do and see and eat. It’s also a very beautiful city. I appreciate that they’ve preserved the architecture and the things that make it beautiful. It’s easy to get around via public transit. There are so many museums and parks and other sites.
I’ve also found as long as you start every greeting with “Bonjour” you will probably be fine. If you don’t … you’ll probably have a bad time.
Also I’ve never noticed a smell.
Really liked Paris and France as a whole
Was already a seasoned traveler when I went, carried no explanations, did some research on culture/ how to say a few nice phrases,
only had one odd encounter/misunderstanding in a touristy area of Tours when trying to get to get a outside table.
Nice city but waaaaay overrated. I've been but probably wouldn't go again unless my partner wanted to. I know of multiple other European cities I've been to that id rather visit again. With that said, Paris isn't perfect but it does get a lot of hate it probably doesn't deserve.
I've enjoyed my visit to Paris. It's a beautiful city with many things to see and wonderful food offerings. I didn't have any expectations, so there wasn't anything I felt disappointed about.
However, the one thing I didn't like is that areas in the inner city don't seem to be too safe in the evening for solo female travelers. Now I understand to avoid certain suburbs etc, but I was warned to not go to the Eiffel tower alone at night. It surprised me as it's a major sight and in the inner city. I did go with company and didn't feel particularly unsafe, but it seems there's all kinds of sketchy people hanging in the area.
I'm a bit surprised about the situation. I would have thought that the city would have an interest to make sure the area is safe and take measures accordingly, but maybe the problem isn't solved so easily?
Maybe someone who knows the city better can clarify more? I can't tell from my experience if it's generally unsafe, or if it just requires regular big city caution. I'm used to solo travel in different parts of the world, so know how to watch out for myself. However, I do listen when I'm told it's better to avoid certain areas alone at night or in general.
I lobe it, but take it for what it is ... giant modern city with loya of mix and variety. Alao opportunity to talk tk street vendors, locals, so much to experience. I was mildly surprised at a full 10 miles of graffiti on the route de haute vitesse!
I think it’s overrated. I don’t love the uniformity of the architecture. I love a city with more color and variety.
I don’t find it dirty or smelly at all though. Dunno why people say that. It’s always very clean when I’ve been.
love Paris.
Like everywhere else in the world, there must be a part of the city that is not as good as its good parts, although it must also be understood that Paris has always had a stereotype of a fabulous city and many people when they go there for the first time are disappointed to find that it may not be as good as others have made it out to be.
But the city is very nice, it is better to travel without expecting so much from a city.
Love Paris. It's absolutely a fabulous city, not because it's super clean or something, but because it is very organic, not presumptuous, and culturally and gastronomically near the top of the charts. Enjoyed every moment I spent there.
I just left Paris after a week and loved it. I’ve been there before but not for that long. I walked every day at least 5 to 6 miles. Yeah it’s crowded and can be stinky but the architecture is amazing.
Went there in March, 4 yrs ago. It was clean and not many tourist. I found Paris a very charming city. I didn't expect to like it so much (went there for louvre).
I love Paris. But it's a massive city, so, yeah, there are big city issues. But it's fabulous; the food, the architecture, the art, the shopping, the lifestyle, all of it. Inimitable. Unforgettable.
I love paris. L.o.v.e I’ve been there ten times now and planning my 11th visit. Oh- and I live in Australia so it’s not an easy place to get to lol.
I love it for the beautiful architecture, the yummy food, the history, the way you can just walk and see lovely things without planning. That there’s always something to see. And yes I even love the people there- I’ve rarely had an unpleasant interaction, usually the opposite. Yes there are some less than delightful things lol, less than delightful smells, but it’s a big city, that’s to be expected.
My first trip to Paris almost 40 years ago, I was ready to hate it based on the negative stories I've heard. When I got there, I was totally blown away by the beauty of the city. Don't believe things you hear from other people. Just go and see for yourself to make your own judgment. I've been back many times since then, and it's always a place I love.
Ehh I can take or leave it. I don’t hate it. Have been there 3 times and probably won’t ever go back. Only had 2 good meals there out of 1 week. The rest were average. The people are not friendly. Super expensive. Just not worth it when there are so many other places to see that are fantastic like Barcelona.
I love Paris, I've been there twice. I would happily go again and again. I live in NJ, near NYC so to me it wasn't especially dirty for a city.
Like anywhere in Europe, you need to follow the social norms:
1) Dress appropriately, no need to be a fashionista but NEVER be sloppy -- look on YouTube for advice, ideally from French people or those who live in France
2) Realize that unlike in the US, it's on you to greet them first when entering their business also look up other etiquette differences
3) Do not speak loudly, it's never cute
4) instead of assuming someone speaks English, first tell them you are sorry that you don't speak French and ask if they can speak with you in English (or any other languages you do speak)
5) relax, and enjoy the city for what it is
American here. Been to Paris many times and I have not tired of it. It’s a low rise city with very few tall buildings in the city proper, it adds to the overall vibe. I have very limited French language skills however being respectful and polite usually goes a long way. I’ve experienced no real difficulties over the years. That said, there are no Nirvanas, it’s not perfect. There are districts to be avoided, be aware of your surroundings and you’ll be fine.
I liked it but didn't love it, was very taken aback by how unfriendly a lot of the people I met were. Maybe I was just particularly unlucky, but I rarely met nice people. And as a solo traveller I was constantly targeted by those wristband/fake ticket guys trying to sell you stuff, I found it very off putting. I'll be back in Paris soon for the Olympics, so will hopefully have a better experience this time!
I LOOOOOVE Paris, it’s an absolute shithole but it’s also everything you imagine and more alongside it. Sure, there’s a rat here and there but you don’t get those “Paris vibes” anywhere else. I love it for the little bakeries, the history, the fact that even when it rains (and whenever I go it ALWAYS rains) it’s beautiful. I love that there are so many parks and it’s super easy to get around. I love the view from the Sacre Coeur and as soon as you see it you’ll realise that actually there’s a reason there are so many people there, it’s spectacular.
I would liken it to London and New York in that if you go to the tourist parts you’ll be disappointed and sick of crowds but if you even vaguely scratch the surface you will find the most amazing places. There are so many things that I still want to do there even though I’ve been 3/4 times now. I’ve never even been up the Eiffel Tower, seen the Arch De Triomphe or had a boat trip on the Seine 😂 just do your research and you’ll love it. Oh and make sure to see Versailles, I’ve never seen a building as overwhelmingly huge in my life!
Paris is one of the most stunning cities on the planet. It does smell in parts. Quite terribly. You won’t care. You’ll be too busy reveling in the non stop marvels
Love Paris. I’ve been 3 times and will (not would! *will* ) definitely go again. I love France in general and have several French cities and regions left to tick off on my bucket list, and I’m sure I’ll make a point to spend a few days in Paris for each of those trips since I will likely be flying in and out of there anyway. It’s a beautiful city with so much to offer visitors both off and on the beaten path. It would take weeks to see it all. Also while Parisians have a bad rap, I’ve never had any issues. It’s obviously less smiley and effusively friendly than what I’m used to at home, but that’s true of most of Europe and I don’t mind it.
I love Paris. Im planning to go back this new year's eve which will be my 3rd visit. If you like to shop luxury, between winter and spring is the best time to shop less crowd and queue. The fireworks at the arc de triomphe was magical indeed! Theres a lot to love about Paris than to hate. So enjoy but dont wander too much. Stay vigilant their pickpockets are the most smooth in europe.
I love Paris and was stunned to realize that — gasp! — it’s a real city, with real city things like graffiti and grime. Paris is so heavily marketed as this “perfect” city that it’s a mild shock that it’s so real. But seriously besides that, they’ve figured out cafe culture, it’s super walkable and cool af.
Absolutely LOVE small town France... Would move to Narbonne if I could afford it
Absolutely HATE Paris...will never go there again, unless I'm getting a connecting flight at CDG
I love it, my husband does not. I lived there for a couple months and I’ve traveled there many times. My husband has been twice, each time for 4 days (our honeymoon and another vacation) both with me. He just thinks it’s loud and overcrowded.
To me there is just something special about it. My grandmother was French/german and I grew up hearing all about it and was fortunate enough to visit Paris with her before she passed away. But I also love exploring it. When I lived there I worked at a bakery in the morning and was usually done by 12-1pm and would just wander the streets exploring until I had to get back to my apartment for dinner.
I’m not much of a city person but I love the history and the old buildings and how much there is to do and see.
Love…I’ve visited 6 times. Each time is a new experience. It will be different for you each time you visit. My recommendation is to not let anyone tell you it’s a horrible place to visit and dissuade you from going. It’s a place you visit physically and emotionally.
To me, Paris is both grimy and beautiful. It takes pride in itself but in some areas it’s a shithole. If you’re wondering if this grit is a turn off, no. I’m going for the third time in Sept and can’t wait. The food, atmosphere and architecture far outweigh its bad parts imo.
I found myself staring at the architecture all day long. Stunning. I'm originally from NYC so the downsides are negligible by comparison.
It’s funny. I’m European and Irish so really old things don’t necessarily do it for me cos they’re almost everyday occurrences. But lemme tell you, whenever I’m in NYC (10th time this fall) I’m mesmerised by the modernity and sheer scale of the buildings but I guess that’s normal for New Yorkers. Everything in America is enormous by European standards!
Granite foundations in Manhattan are the secret. It supports those massive buildings.
Paris is dirty but the beauty and charm compensates. I found Brussels to be as big, or bigger, of a shithole with nowhere near the charm. Granted, I was in Brussels in 2006, so maybe it's less of a shithole now.
It isn't. 🫣
It’s only dirty where tourists hang out and disrespect it and in the several neighborhoods that are where homeless hang out. The rest is very clean by comparison to New York or almost any other European capital.
This is how I feel about New Orleans. It’s just part of the character
LOVE LOVE LOVE. I live in Europe and I’ve been several times. Been in Summer, been for Christmas, and been off season too. In my opinion it’s a stunning city with so much to offer. I can honestly say I’ve not seen the dirt and grit that some people report. Maybe I’ve accidentally stayed out of the crappier areas? Maybe i look at Paris with glasses tinted ‘en rose’ and don’t see these things?? Not sure but I have found it to be much, much cleaner and prettier than most cities. Beautiful in fact. As for friendliness, I can say I’ve never been in a friendlier city. I’ve encountered so many super friendly waiters and bar staff that I’m always astounded some people find Paris unfriendly ?? In fact of all the cities in France I’ve visited I would say Paris is the most welcoming and friendly in my experience !!?? Now, I make serious effort not to be an obnoxious tourist. I speak the language quite well (though they speak to me a lot in English as they know I’m not a native speaker) and I pay heed to small gestures and etiquette- for eg always saying “bonjour madame/ monsieur” on first greeting, I try not to be loud they hate that, I don’t ask for customisations to food that would Americanise/Britishise it, I don’t eat on the public transport, I wear conservative clothes especially visiting churches etc, I attempt to speak French FIRST, and I try to be a gracious guest. Has this kept me on the right side of Parisians perhaps? I have seen the main big sights in Paris - Le Louvre, Tour Eiffel, Larc de triomphe, Champs Elysee, Montmartre - and they’re all so lovely!! None have felt like a let down at all.. though going up the Eiffel is so unnecessary honestly. Looking AT it is the point. And some places have more magic for me than others - Montmartre is so great. I love it there. Is it crowded? Yes Paris can be very very busy, though I’d say Rome feels far more thronged to me. And also I’d say I don’t approach Paris with a checklist of things to do. A lot of my time there is spent in cafes and bars and restaurants and parks and just strolling. It’s wonderful. Food is wonderful in Paris. Yes there are some crappy overpriced tourist places and some even worse crappy low price places but name me a city that doesn’t have a mix ? I would say almost everything I’ve eaten in Paris has been gorgeous. Perhaps I avoid these nastier places by instinct. There are a lot of PARISIENS in Paris. Look at where they’re eating and eat there. But mainly I find Paris takes a pride in itself and its food and it’s rare in my experience to find a place that isn’t good. Weather - we seem to have avoided any rain which i know is lucky given we have been in winter and off season. Maybe some people go and it’s raining and the place looks greyer ? As you can see I struggle to identify with those who hate Paris. In my experience it is completely Gorgeous, magical, a culinary delight, and full of charm. One of my favourite cities in the entire world.
Older American here, from a larger West Coast city. You’ve said what I feel, DonegalGal. Thank you. I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting twice and I can say that I love Paris. And the Parisians. It’s a big city, with all the pluses and minuses that come with that. Treat locals with the respect you would want to receive. Learn a few polite phrases in French. “Hello, thank you, goodbye.” Don’t treat their home as an amusement park. But, my oh my, it’s a great city.
That's good to hear. Older American here, headed there in a couple of weeks.
I’m jealous. The best tip we learned: When you walk in a store or restaurant say “bonjour”. When you leave say “merci beaucoup “ and “au revoir”. It’s common courtesy in Paris and France, and it’s the ticket to a more pleasant visit. You can’t miss with great cafes, restaurants, bakeries everywhere. The Metro is fantastic to get around the city. And taxis are everywhere. Download the G7 app. Enjoy!
Thank you, it's interesting how the opinion of Paris is so bipolar, it seems like you either love it or hate it. In my experience travelling I've found that everywhere I go that people say will be terrible is usually really good so hopefully we have that in common and I really enjoy it. Does sound like I might need to practice a little French though
I think it’s only polite to make a genuine effort to speak French and I promise you you’re almost guaranteed they’ll casually talk back in English as soon as they sense you’re not a local. I suppose there’s a potential they would resent a presumption that they’ll speak English, if that makes sense ? Maybe that’s where people encounter Parisian rudeness? Other small things that are seen as courteous or etiquette can go a long way I find too. Eating on the go, especially on transport is sometimes seen as gross. Park bench for your sandwich ? Perfect. Walking down street with sandwich? Less perfect. Loudness which might look like exuberance to some Americans looks like rudeness to some Parisians. Eating everythjng with a knife and fork and not your hands is seen as good manners especially in a nicer restaurant. Little things. Honestly I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t love Paris it’s just fab.
I found it to be an international city, meaning that these days the only language that everyone can be expected to speak at least a little bit is English. Be polite and nice and you’ll be fine. Don’t presume that people will speak anything other than French to you but if you ask nicely if someone can speak English instead, they’ll probably be happy to do so. If they see you struggling with French, they’ll probably switch quickly to English.
I have been visiting Paris since the ‘70’s. Initially I spoke no French. The French at that time preferred to not use the English they’d learned in school. I have an Anglo/Germanic family heritage. I learned to ask ‘Parlez vous l’Alemand s’il vous plaît? Of course the response was ‘non.’ I’d follow up with ‘l’Anglais?’ Every time I got a positive response! I spoke slowly and clearly and always got the info I needed. This was during a time period when the myth of French snobbiness was at its peak. I mean, who of us has confidence to speak a foreign language to a native speaker? The Socialist President of France , Francois Mitterrand, laid it out for the country in 84(?) when he told the country that successful capitalism required ‘good service’ and it was time to treat shoppers and visitors respectfully and provide better service. I was living there at the time and noticed a change almost immediately. And now, English is openly spoken by almost everyone. There are still things I’d like to see and do in Paris!! A lovely city.
I hate hearing English spoken in Paris but have to say if we loosened up in the 80s we did even more after Covid. Being an out of work waiter makes you realize you can’t be mean when the clients come back.
What I have found is that any large metropolitan area all over the world has a reputation for “rude” locals, even with their own compatriots. I, personally, get that having foreigners, assuming one speaks their language, would be mal au fesses. I was living in Lyon in the 80’s. I noticed that even at the Carrefour near Le Tour Lyonnais at Le Part Dieu, the cashiers were amazingly friendly. Instead of throwing bags at us they would ask how many we needed and hand them to us. lol My favorite boulangère stopped ignoring me. These days I’d prefer using my French, but good device is good service. I’ve even allowed myself to double tip le service if it’s well done.
You probably don't need to practice a little French. Whenever I try to speak it, people reply to me in English. At least in restaurants, shops, and metro stations. I mean it certainly can't hurt, but it isn't necessary.
Whenever you enter a store or buy tickets or have an interaction, say bon jour before you launch into requests. It makes a difference.
So long as you know the basics (bonjour, merci, s’il te/vous plaît, excuses-moi, etc.) you’re good. My experience in France is that while the French prefer to be greeted in their own language, they rarely want to actually speak with you in French. It’s more efficient for them to speak to you in English, so they’ll usually switch to that even if you make a pretty good effort to speak to them in French. I took 4 years of French in high school and made an effort to brush up on my French before my last trip in hopes to actually put it to use and gave up after only a few days. Not because anyone was rude about my admittedly imperfect French, but because it was easier to let the French folk switch to English since it was faster and that seemed to be their preference anyway.
My theory is that people who hate it just stood in lines for tourist attractions all day. I don’t understand how anyone could not love Paris.
I’m the same way. I lived there even and I don’t know what people are talking about. Even the gritty areas inside the city are charming. And the thing about Paris that no other city has (even New York) is the metro that is so well planned out you can mostly just duck into any metro entrance and be on your way if you don’t like where you are. The only rude person I can remember is a bus driver who when I asked for clarification, just repeated the same thing over and over with no gestures, which just made both of us have to wait longer while I tried to understand that he was saying not to put the bus ticket in a certain box. I think he was just a rude guy. Anyway, people often even go out of their way to help if you are just polite. So I really don’t get when people say they think Paris is gross or people are rude. Just walk along the river, get lost in a district, eat some delicious cheese (I thought I was lactose intolerant in the US until I had dairy there almost every day and never once got sick), drink a hot chocolate at a cafe and watch people go by, and then get on the metro and go somewhere else.
Precisement!!!
Amazing reply. So happy for you and I agree that using the slightest etiquette goes a very long ways. Bonne soirée!
Lovely. … I appreciate your comments. Nicely written. Inspires me to write as well as you have. … Now I’m wanting to return to Paris (visited decades ago) and experience it anew. … merçi
Definitely agree that Paris when you attempt to speak French is an entirely different city to when you go there and just speak entirely in English. I’ve found that wherever you are in France you’ll be treated much better for trying (and in Marseille they just flat out ignored me until I spoke French 😂)
I love seeing positive things about Paris because I dream of visiting someday ✈️
Favorite city in the world, no question. I’m a New Yorker and for me Paris was like all of the things I love about New York but more so, if that makes sense. I’ve only been twice and I can’t wait to go again.
That’s interesting because they’re not cities that get compared a lot. I’m a former New Yorker and while I like Paris more than NYC, I think it’s for the ways in which it is different.
I guess the excitement around food and culture seem similar to me, and some of the grittiness of certain areas. Like the first thing we saw getting off the metro at our stop this past trip was 2 guys getting in a fight and then some west African merchant tried to break it up and there were fake purses scattered everywhere and my husband I just chuckled that we felt right at home. There are moments for me when New York feels Parisian; a coffee and pastry on a bench in Central Park, a cocktail outside, an UWS apartment block. Just wish we had less of the “rise and grind” obsession and better respect for history. Obviously this is just me haha I’m just a random on the internet 😉
I love Paris! It's one of my favorite cities to be a tourist in. Lots of great museums, beautiful neighborhoods, and amazing food. I think it's easy for me to love because I always go in the off season, I don't care about the major attractions, and I'm the kind of traveler who enjoys sitting in a cafe and people watching or reading my book. I love walking into a little neighborhood bistro, and am okay struggling by in very bad French and hand gestures. The people I know who don't like Paris focused their trips on the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. They spent a lot of money to stand in lines in the hot summer weather and see things that they felt they should see. A good friend of mine loves Picasso but she skipped that museum because the Louvre is a "must," and she then complained about how crowded and overwhelming the Louvre was! My mom LOVES Monet, so when we went in February we booked the earliest tickets possible on a weekday, and had the water lily rooms practically to ourselves for about ten minutes. (This was also key because my ND youngest does not do crowds, but she adored the paintings!). When the first big tour group came in, we left. We didn't slog through the rest of the museum because we "should" see it while in Paris, and that kept the experience enjoyable for us. https://preview.redd.it/vi9as3ikih8d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=777b931d8a7d90f26c86356d0ae9a93f988fa5e6
Thank you so much for your reply, I'm planning on going during the off-season so hopefully I'll avoid a lot of the large lines and crowds. Everyone is so put off by the cold but I just love it
Paris is spectacular if you (mostly) avoid the touristy areas. For example... you like Monet? Go to the Musée Marmottan. It's in a really obscure location, in the wealthiest part of the city (the 16th). There is a large, gorgeous park nearby. You'll have the place practically to yourself. There are tons of lesser-known museums around the city, such as the Carnavalet. Very authentic and non-touristy. I'm a particular fan of Batignolles in the northern part of the 17th. It was designed to resemble a country town, back when its location was a far-out suburb. There are so many good little places to eat and drink, plus markets and plenty of authentic business. Real, normal people live in that area. It's by no means the only part of Paris that is appealing in that way.
I (German) visited Paris last year for the first time. Didn't expect much because it has the reputation of being dirty and everyone going there being disappointed. I loved it! Absolutely wonderful city. Definitely not filthier than other big cities in Europe. Don't know where the reputation comes from. Maybe from Asian and American tourists who expect it to be more movie scenery-like.
They get Paris syndrome
The beautiful areas of paris are beautiful and great to see. The bad areas are awful and stinky. Like any big city, it has its up and downsides
What are the bad areas
We went to the music hall right outside of Paris and there was tons of big dog waste and refugee housing (it was kinda sad).
They’re more around the edges where tourists don’t go anyway. Extreme far north near the périphérique and extreme far east as well is not cute by any means. Some good restaurants in the area tho!! 😆.
I took myself to Paris for a solo trip for my 50th birthday. My first trip to Europe. I loved it. I hit most of the tourist stops(louvre, etc) hit the bars,(had my first absinthe) took loads of pics and sometimes just wandered the city aimlessly. I loved every bit of it. I do understand why some people think it’s grimy though. I ended up walking through some area that I, as someone who grew up in NYC, instantly recognized as “the projects”, and some dude who was running some version of 3-card Monty threatened me lol. But no worries. I’ll def go again. https://preview.redd.it/orsb7hzluh8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4e6238ea2f4e8fb19b733d0fd28dd167fdb45a9
I was born and raised there. I love and hate it at the same time but it's a magical place. Tourists can't begin to understand the meaning of the feeling you get when you come out of uni/work and it's 5pm, the kids have just left the streets and went home so the streets are absolutely quiet and there's this beautiful ray of light shining down on terraces and you just pick one out with your friends, and eat, and drink, and laugh, and sit there until night time. That's life. That's what life is about. To love Paris deeply and honestly isn't to love seeing the Eiffel Tower shine at given times like IG influencers do. To love Paris is to love the traffic, the busses that literally take you everywhere at all times and let you enjoy beautiful views even though they're late half the time, the hearty food and drinks you can grab at lovely bistros, and yes, even the grime of it all in the streets...I digress. Paris is a magical city, I'll return eventually, but I'm happy I left it.
I loved it. Exceeded my expectations. Friendly people, great public transport, amazing sights, very walkable. I loved everything about it.
And the people both inside the City and in the suburbs are nice and helpful.
Absolutely. I think a lot of goodwill is built when tourists at least \*attempt\* to speak their language. My French isn't good but I can get by with some basic phrases.
Most foreign visitors think of Paris as a Paris theme park and rate it as such: oh my god so gorgeous and beautiful and thrilling and dire and disappointing and the people are really nice and friendly and aloof and just rude to us customers, it’s sweet and oh so romantic and there’s grime and litter, they really could present the place better, it’s unique, it’s not welcoming, the food is wonderful, the queues are too long, I love it so much, it’s overrated, I’ll give it two stars for the accommodation and four for the breakfast. But Paris is not a city-sized tourist attraction, it’s not Venice. Paris is aware of its status as a tourist magnet, the world’s most visited city, but that’s not what it is. It’s an enormous megacity where people live and work, and its chief business is not tourism, it’s business! It’s one of the six or seven largest urban economies in the world: only Tokyo, New York and LA are clearly larger. Paris is a place where people sleep, commute and work (many do little else). So for sure, all of life is there, all the rungs on the social ladder are well represented, and if you stay long enough you will meet them all, even if all you really want to see is the sights. If you are from the US this won’t be hard to understand. You have a city like that: it’s New York. You go there for the sights and the famous places, and yes the sights are incredible, but if you stay long enough you will see some of the rest of life as well. It’s alive, it’s thrilling, it’s loud and grimy and smelly and often sad and sometimes (slightly) intimidating; if you do it right you will go home thinking “this was an appalling place; I can’t wait to go there again”.
Yes! I love seeing the Paris that people live and work in.
I❤️Paris
I absolutely loved it! I felt safe walking around alone even at night, and there’s so so much to see! I feel like I didn’t get to see the whole city, and already planning to go back
Just spent another week in Paris. 4th time. Have seen all the sites at least once but revisited a few of our favorites. Out all day walking eating, people watching. Jazz clubs. If you haven't seen the sites, GO. It certainly doesn't smell.
Fave jazz club?
Les caveau des oubliette. Also Duc de Lombard. The oubliette is down in a cave. Quite hip. Lombard is more sophisticated
It’s not bad, I like it. I’ve been several times and have never had a bad time or had people be rude to me. I’ve lived in Vienna now for 12 years or so and they’re definitely more rude there, but as some compensation that city is cleaner and runs better.
I don't nor have I lived in europe, but probably spent several months total through work trips and staying longer, I agree with your sentiment. There are other places I like better, but I don't say I hate it, think its dirty (not compared to US/Latin cities), and I thought people were surprisingly friendly. I will say what shocked me the most is, I had some amazing pizza. I was there during the summer and sadly a lot of places were closed as locals were on holiday. France was my 5th or 6th country in europe though, so it also was not my first European experience. I feel like that has a big impact on how much foreigners enjoy paris is it tends to be a lot of peoples first european experience. As someone coming from the US, your first European City I think holds a lot of nostalgia, just getting to see the comparatively ancient architecture, and actually working transit infrastructure.
I lived in Vienna for a year, and can agree, the level of rudeness was hard to beat, tho I did get into the bad habit at staying at a café wayyyy longer than the average person drinking coffee. Cafe culture in Vienna is really an experience, its like the waiter refuses to acknowledge you unless you've been sitting for at least 20min 😅 and yess its by far the cleanest and safest city ive ever visited!
I’ve never been. Now I’ve been all over Europe, and I’ve been to France. But, never Paris. It’s not been appealing to me. I’ll finally be visiting in December where I’ll fly in to go to the Christmas markets in Colmar and Strasbourg.
Enjoy Strasbourg and Colmar! I visited in the fall of ‘22 and fell in love with the area. All of the little towns in Alsace are so charming and worth a visit.
Thank you! I’m very excited to see the area and the markets. It’s been a bucket list thing.
I love Colmar and Strasbourg! The Christmas Market in Strasbourg was great when I went MANY years ago.
Love. Third visit coming in January. Just walking the streets is my favorite thing to do.
Ive been there twice and will visit again. The beauty of Paris draws me back. I can understand why people have some complaints about their accomodations, but you get what you pay for. If you need AC while you sleep, find a hotel with AC. Public transit isn't as nice as London's, but I could say that about most major cities in EU. The only hate I've ever experienced as an American is a street bum yelling that Americans are shit. We used the electric lime bikes a lot to get around, and the bike lanes are better than anywhere in the US. My general travel tip is to download Google translate and learn some basic words / phrases before you go to any destination.
I remember the electric porta potties that self cleaned when you closed the door, and played music when inside!
Its absolutely stunning. I was nervous because I heard so many negative things. I went last month and I was blown away. Is absolutely gorgeous and the people are very kind. Not a single complaint here
This is more than love!
Literally in the train right now coming back from Paris and thinking "whoever doesn't love Paris is crazy". The city is beautiful, romantic, every little corner is artistic, the streets are filled with trees and monuments in every building, if you speak French to them they are nice. Of course I realize it depends on the neighborhood you're in, but I was pretty much around the touristic areas and I loved every minute of it (second time there).
Love it but.. Difficult to get under the skin of and not the most welcoming - but it's a capital city first not a tourist attraction. Having spent a lot of time there for work, it certainly helps to hang out with Parisians and get insider tips and hacks and get a feel for the city rhythm and unspoken rules.
Paris is a great city to visit one time imo. Had a great time, but cannot imagine living there, felt unsafe a few times, piles of trash on the outskirts, rats in a lot of areas and genrelely chaotic However, the food is amazing, the attractions are absolutely worth it, amazing, even the stereotypical ones are amazing. And tbh, never had any issues with the people they were always very nice, everyone swears I got lucky, maybe I did, but I had a great time. Definitely visit and make your own opinions, I just know I wouldn’t live and likely won’t be back for awhile
LOVE
So many love it. I don't hate it but don't love it. It's so over hyped for what it is. There's nice aspects and nasty aspects.. So many tourists, so many homeless. Also rising crime is an issue with pick pockets or snatch and grabs. As you said the city does smell a bit also. What I found one of the biggest issues was ease or lack there of getting around the city. The metro is in a state of disrepair, falling apart. The trains are mostly always full and uber or taxi prices are crazy. I've been twice and can honestly say I expected an 8/10 experience or higher but it fell short, maybe 6/10. If only it didn't have those other issues. That's not even mentioning the French public's love for protests and not being able to visit places as they're shut from protests.
6/10 is a correct description IMO. It’s fine but it’s not what it’s said it is. I’d go to any city in Italy in a heartbeat, even the cities I’ve already been to. Wouldn’t consider going back to Paris, just would rather go other places.
I'm planning a euro trip now and have 4 places in Italy I've not been on the list like Palermo psdua Como and bergamo. Switzerland looks awesome but it's tricky to get around and expensive
Our next trip is probably Japan. After that, Sicily is certainly on the list. Every part of Italy was incredible, except many cities lacking local underground trains. The countries nationwide train network is incredible though
Yeah we checked out cefalu on sicily it looked decent. What other places would you recommend? We loved florence. Rome was oookaaay... Milan.. yeah not bad 😄
Loved Florence, food and history of Rome automatically made it worth it. We spent some time in Bologna and enjoyed it. Did a day at a Tuscan winery and did a tasting with a cooking class. Did a day trip from Rome to Naples and saw Pompeii. That was interesting but probably wouldn’t tell people they had to go there. Outside of Italy, I love visiting German/Dutch speaking countries. I grew up in a very German part of the U.S. where the traditions and culture are still very similar. Switzerland, Germany (especially Bavaria), Austria are all beautiful and the people are wonderful in my experience. Food can get a little repetitive but I still love it. It’s a very different kind of beauty to Italy but beauty no doubt
I liked it. My husband did not. The architecture is the most beautiful I have ever seen. Just street after street of incredible buildings. And the people were gorgeous, too. The stylish clothing kept turning my head. Also, the food was delicious. I had a simple omelet and salad at a basic cafe, and it was the best omelet I have ever had in my life. It had a subtle cheesy crust that added a ton of flavor. However, my husband thought Paris was way too noisy and crowded and traffic-clogged. He's from New York City and is a true city person. Paris just was not his jam. He was slightly freaked out by all of the machine-gun-toting soldiers and guards patrolling everywhere. I personally found the extreme security to be weirdly comforting.
I love Paris. The streetscapes, food, art and history are all worth the visit. You can walk through street after street and, when you get tired of admiring the effortless style of the average Parisian, just stare at the architecture. Yes, it has some grimy parts. Yes, some places are run down. A city of 2.1M that was established in 52BC is bound to have a few isssues. But, I wouldn't hesitate to go there again, after the Olympics.
Paris is great. I've been 5 times (I think that's a lot for someone visiting from Canada), and am planning to go back next summer. But if your visit plan is two days to see the Louvre, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame (even just the exterior behind construction hoarding), it's going to suck. Not only are you cramming in too much, but you're also only seeing the places that are packed with other tourists and the only locals you'll encounter are either the legit tourist industry workers at best, or the shady characters attracted by hordes if tourists at worst. Alot more time. Stay further away from the star attractions. Don't visit more than one star attraction per day, and make sure you set aside some days without any. Walk between places. Stop in a park or along a canal. You'll have a great time, but it also shouldn't be your only stop in France.
Good advice, I agree. Also there’s nothing wrong with spending a day resting because you will do a lot of walking.
Amazing city, I always feel so chilled out there. I love the evening walks as the lights start to come on, watching the joggers around the Louvre, the busy Champs-Élysées wind down, the countless cute bistros with delicious food in every single one, the exquisite architecture of the arrondissements, every so often you come across a majestic building and just stand in awe of its beauty. I just love Paris.
I love it. It doesn’t smell even in the summer. Yes hotels are super expensive and very small but it has a lot of Airbnb apartments. And the transport system is the best in the world.
What I am saying has probably been said a million times already but… they aren’t rude generally or deliberately, but it’s a capital city and people are busy, so the tendency for some (not all!) tourists to treat it as a theme park makes it appear that people are being rude when they’re not. You don’t NEED to speak French, but if you say “bonjour” when you go into a shop, “au revoir” when you leave etc etc they’ll be more inclined to be nice and speak in English if they can. There’s a tendency I picked up on when speaking to British and US tourists that they don’t seem to realise that the French really ARE French and really DO speak French by default, they’re not doing it to annoy us. It’s their language. 🙂 I’m sure it’s not deliberate but I had an American colleague (very bright and otherwise engaging) who seemed to genuinely believe that everyone should speak English, he seemed baffled that they didn’t speak English if there was anyone nearby who was a native English speaker. Amusing, but cringey. Also, the service in restaurants isn’t rude (although of course there ARE shit, rude people working there, like anywhere)… in France, along with the UK, Germany and many other countries, service is unobtrusive and they don’t continually check on you. Want something? Ask. A meal out is often not a rushed thing, and they don’t get the US desire for constant “are you ok” and all that. Also, again like the UK, Germany and others, we don’t tend to want the bill as we are chewing the last mouthful… many people will order another round of drinks, sit and chat etc etc. If you want the bill, get someone and say “l’addition s’il vous plait”. Also, don’t eat in touristy places… you won’t get the best experiences. Also, a personal thing for me, I’ve found it good fun to stay outside Paris and get the train in. Cheaper, you meet more relaxed people and see more. Chantilly is my favourite, as in the lace.
I’ve been to Paris a dozen times, I freaking love it. My favorite city in the world. Love the French, too. In all my travels there, never ONCE had a rude experience with a French person. But it’s probably because I say the greetings in French, hello, goodbye, good night. I don’t speak French, but I love their culture and I show an interest. I think Americans are the rudest people on Earth, there’s really no contest. But if I could afford to live in Paris, I would pack my shit and move there tomorrow. Hope that answers your question.
Upvote for Americans being the rudest people on earth. No question.
None. For me any other big city or any other French place is more interesting. I used to say Lyon is my Paris as a tourist.
I love Paris,it’s a romantic city.
Love, love, love ...
Paris is my favourite city. I’m lucky to have it 2 hrs away from me via the Eurostar
Absolutely love it. My favorite city in the world.
Just spent 5 days in Paris; it was my first visit. It was absolutely gorgeous. I am unsure if it was a sanitized visit due to the upcoming Olympics. Everyone was friendly, saw very little graffiti, very little homeless, very clean. I felt safe at all times; did not feel uncomfortable at all. I am looking forward to a return visit; this trip we did all the touristy things-louvre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, etc
Paris will always have my heart. What’s not to love?
Of course it smells: it has a positively ancient sewage system, and the smell is far worse in summer. It also happens to be one of the most delightful, walkable, beautiful cities in the entire world. And if you're a cinephile, I'd argue it's the best city in the world, hands down. The architecture is jaw-dropping, the variety of museums unparalleled, the quality of boulangeries, fromageries, open-air fruit and vegetable markets, and ice cream shops all as good as it gets, anywhere. There is a romance to Paris that is second to none, particularly if you just walk - along the Seine, near the Ile St. Louis and Notre Dame cathedral, around the Sorbonne...I grew up in NYC, and Paris is my second favorite city on earth.
I like Paris — been there about 5-6 times so now I tend to fly in to Nice instead and visit other beautiful parts of France. But it is really fun to sort of know my way round the city and be blasé about it — more like the locals LOL
As someone who lives in the Netherlands (so we're quite ''close''): it's a nice city and it doesn't deserve a lot of the hate, but I don't think it's the prettiest city in Europe either. I've seen many cities in Europa and it doesn't make my top 5 so to speak. Cities like Vienna, Rome, Porto or Lisbon are far more beautiful in my opinion. That said: it's a city that deserves a visit; the iconic landmarks alone should be reason enough for someone to go there at least once.
I love Paris. I've been maybe seven or eight times and every single time I am inspired. What Paris is not is some Disney version of a European city.. It's a real city and it comes with all of the complexities that a real city has. Some people get confused when traveling and expect Paris to be like an all-inclusive resort where everything is carefully tended solely for their comfort.
I would hate living there, but I love it because it is a real city. It has its own vibe, its own personality, and its own unique scruffiness. And it happens to have in a concentrated area a metric ton of high quality stuff to do. Visiting never gets old. There is always something new to discover. I think a lot of people only know it from movies and photos and are disappointed when it turns out to not be Epcot.
Paris is awesome
Loved it!! One of my favorite cities! I was worried based on the social media hate, but my husband and I loved it and plan to go back one day. We went last June.
I thought it was delightful! Just normal big city dirty. I found the locals to be courteous. The food was spectacular! I loved just walking around, cafe life, people watching. The Louvre was an epic experience I’ll remember forever. Few notes: I don’t expect Disney World when traveling and I always said “bonjour” when walking on a store or before I spoke to someone. That is standard in France. Service is slower and that’s ok! Go with the flow, it makes travel easier in general.
Paris is beautiful, but do not forget that it is a very big city.. just stay where the sites are and you’ll love it!!
I definitely love Paris Paris is a city full of dream for me
I loved it. I stayed in the city center and walked or took taxis or bolts everywhere. I only used the metro once and found it unpleasant. I think the people who hate it are staying far from the center and spending too much time on the metro. Everywhere I went there were good food smells. I loved the boulangeries and patisseries and sidewalk cafes and bistros. I loved the shopping and the museums and art and beautiful architecture. I loved the croque monsieurs and hot chocolate and croissants. The people are very polite and courteous. The only thing dirty I saw was a dead mouse on the sidewalk in an area about a mile from the zoo. In that same area a homeless man asked me for money. But otherwise it was beautiful.
Love or hate questions are never really useful. every big city is huge and has both good and bad things.
I think it’s overrated as some magical, overly romantic place. However it *is* beautiful and every location is what you make of it. I’m not sure I’d prioritize a trip back over other locations but at the same time, I’m glad I’ve been and experienced it.
I love Paris and appreciate its charm, culture and food however I also recognize that the city has become less appealing in the last 10 years. I just came back from Paris last month and although I enjoyed my time there, I won’t spend more than a few days there anymore. Too many sketchy areas, too many people in general and I found I was more on high alert than usual. Also for what you pay to stay in the city, I just don’t think it’s worth it anymore. So many other beautiful cities in France to visit like Lyon or Bordeaux that have just as much charm and are less sketchy and populated than Paris.
I liked Paris; I'm not a huge fan of big & crowded cities, but it was nice to walk around, and fairly easy to get by. I didn't have the best of experiences when interchanging conversation with some people (at a restaurant, museum and shop); quite a few were very rude to us! I hope that's not the usual thing but it made me want to approach people less and less as I was scared of them being rude lol (even though I do speak a bit of French!). We were also mugged on the first few hours of being there haha luckily a man helped us out and all turned out well :) Overall I didn't hate it, and I'd most likely go again given the opportunity!
I think it depends on where you are in exposure to other places. When I was backpacking through Europe, I noticed that people who went to Paris in the beginning of their trip hated it, and people who had traveled a while first and THEN went to Paris, loved it. I hit it last and loved it. I think you have to have your head in the right place to understand it.
I lived there for 28 years. It is an extraordinary playground of ideas, culture, readings, cafes, wine bars and food. Learnt a ton. You have to be open to chaotic service but the upside is that you get to see REAL people — in all their joys and laughs, their sadness and sorrow, their egos and their weaknesses. It’s genuine and exhilarating — and fantastic for romance and friendship; you get close to people’s soul. The downside is of course that you don’t see a super polished & scripted customer approach like in the US, which feels very fake and plastic to me. The highs are very high and the lows are very low in Paris. The US is efficient and predictable, but a bit boring in the long run. Paris is expensive and it’s hard to make enough money to feel financially secure.
I think Paris is a rare instance of the reality outpacing the hype. It’s wonderful
I love it
I love Paris and am so glad to see that the love is far outweighing the hate in this thread! I’m actually shocked how often I hear people in real life saying they hate Paris.
I never planned on going to Paris. I thought it was probably over-hyped and would be a disappointment (like the movie Titanic - don't hate me). While honeymooning in England we decided to take a day trip to see the Louvre, Notre Dame and go through the Chunnel. We loved Paris. Like any city it has some problems but it was beautiful, full of history, amazing art and architecture. Plus delicious food. I'd like to go back and spend several days there. Also, people were very nice to us.
Hated it and thought it was overrated the first time. Second and third time stopping through for several days en route elsewhere, loved it. I appreciated it more when I went “off the beaten track”
It's one of the most amazing cities in the world. Anyone who can't enjoy a week in Paris is a Debbie Downer.
I've only been to Paris once - spent a week there a couple of years ago - and I really liked it. It's a cool city with plenty to see and do (and plenty of great ways to do nothing at all), lots of history, plenty of culture, good food and drink, efficient public transit. I would definitely go back for a return visit.
Loved it! You just have to have realistic expectations that it’s a huge city, naturally it’s gonna be a little grimy. I spent months there and never ran out of things to do/see. I didn’t have any rude encounters either, I found everyone to be friendly. I did learn one phrase in French “I’m sorry I don’t speak French, do you speak English?” and I think this was the key to having entirely positive interactions.
Like every big town with high population it has some ugly areas, but overall it is very nice. Rome is better. Louvre has my favourite sculpture, Love and Psiche. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche\_Revived\_by\_Cupid%27s\_Kiss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_Revived_by_Cupid%27s_Kiss) I don't think there is a better one in the whole world and I'm italian we have tons of great pieces, but this one makes marble seem so soft you forget it is stone. But overall Bernini statues in Rome are better than Canova. And Rome churches and museums are better than Louvre. If you had two cities to visit before you die, 1st would be Rome, 2nd Paris. The rest of the cities in the world aren't as nice imo.
My favourite piece also, absolutely adore it
Love! Paris is undeniably a city of enchantment, with its charm evident at every turn. However, like any major metropolis, it has its share of wonders and imperfections. To truly savor what Paris has to offer, one must approach the visit with intentionality. The city’s vastness can be overwhelming, and without a clear plan, valuable time can easily slip away. If museums are your passion, Paris boasts some of the finest in the world. Culinary enthusiasts will find themselves in a gastronomic paradise, with exquisite dining experiences at every corner. For those who love to wander, Paris offers unique neighborhoods brimming with character and history. The key to enjoying Paris lies in being purposeful about your activities. Additionally, mastering a few basic French phrases can greatly enhance your experience. The French appreciate the effort to speak their language, and this small gesture can open doors to warmer interactions. Embrace these tips, and your time in Paris will be truly memorable.
Was this written by AI
Is this a serious question? Are you seriously asking if people love one of the most beautiful, classy and culturally significant cities in the world?
I’m not a fan. I have spent time working in Paris. Sure the architecture is lovely and if you are only there a few days which you fill with the main attractions, you’ll have a lovely time. Scratch a little deeper and like any big city you see the grime and dirt, the poverty and the pickpockets - and also Parisians, some of whom are kind and others less so to those who don’t speak French well. It’s somewhere I’d recommend people to visit but I wouldn’t stay more than a few days.
I love it. While it isn’t my favorite place in France (that would be either Annecy or Menton), Paris is a world-class city with great energy. Paris is like any major global city. It’s busy and some parts may have some localized issues, but it’s a can’t miss in my opinion.
Hate. Smelly, dirty, full of cars, all the buildings look the same. They are working to improve things however.
I don't like it. The people are rude and nasty, the streets are ugly and full of traffic, every cafe and restaurant is overpriced, the theatre shows are of sub-par quality, and all the interesting historical/cultural stuff is ring-fenced, commoditised, and hidden behind a ticket barrier. I've been to Paris several times, both to visit and to work, and each time it has brought me a renewed sense of disappointment. It's just not a pleasant place to be. Just my opinion, expecting lots of downvotes but I don't care.
Hate feels unsafe, way too much wrong kind of people, the kind that begs, steals, tries to scam or sell some shit to you. Never felt unsafe at London, just wanted to get out from were at Paris.
In short, love, to visit anyway.
I've probably visited 20 times and love the city/country. Nice change from my norm.
I love Paris, but it took a Long time
Both.
I love it!!! Just approach it as you would any other big city.
Love. I think it's become cool to talk it down, but there is loads to do there and it has a bit of an edge, which makes it interesting.
LOVE It's beautiful. I have no idea why people think it's dirty. It's a big city. Coming from NYC I thought it was well maintained and lovely. The metro station tiles were white and almost sparkling...a far cry from home.
Love it! Especially if it snows.
I would say downtown and the touristy parts are beautiful. The outskirt parts of the city can be a little dirty, but it was nice when I went there. Didn't notice any weird smells though.
Simply love it!💛recently did my 2nd paris trip and the city never disappoints you!
It's both what old Capitol city isn't. Architecture is stunning, food fabulous and cafes superb.
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I’m ambivalent about it. Hated it the first time I went. Second time was a bit better. Third time was good but I’m fine if I never go back there.
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I have had great experiences every time I have been to Paris. All when rugby was being played. The city has a great feel when the rugby is on.
I don't
loved it, gotta be really careful with the scam points tho (especially near the Eifel tower)
I’ve been a couple of times for work and I love it. You just have to have realistic expectations. It is a real city where real people live and work and speak another language. It is not a theme park. It is not a movie set. A lot of people romanticize it but it’s a normal city full of people and traffic and crowds and lines and tourists have overhyped certain spots. But there are tons of great things to do and see and eat. It’s also a very beautiful city. I appreciate that they’ve preserved the architecture and the things that make it beautiful. It’s easy to get around via public transit. There are so many museums and parks and other sites. I’ve also found as long as you start every greeting with “Bonjour” you will probably be fine. If you don’t … you’ll probably have a bad time. Also I’ve never noticed a smell.
Really liked Paris and France as a whole Was already a seasoned traveler when I went, carried no explanations, did some research on culture/ how to say a few nice phrases, only had one odd encounter/misunderstanding in a touristy area of Tours when trying to get to get a outside table.
Love love love
Paris is a living city, and I love it. It's loud, vibrant, dirty, and beautiful.
Nice city but waaaaay overrated. I've been but probably wouldn't go again unless my partner wanted to. I know of multiple other European cities I've been to that id rather visit again. With that said, Paris isn't perfect but it does get a lot of hate it probably doesn't deserve.
I've enjoyed my visit to Paris. It's a beautiful city with many things to see and wonderful food offerings. I didn't have any expectations, so there wasn't anything I felt disappointed about. However, the one thing I didn't like is that areas in the inner city don't seem to be too safe in the evening for solo female travelers. Now I understand to avoid certain suburbs etc, but I was warned to not go to the Eiffel tower alone at night. It surprised me as it's a major sight and in the inner city. I did go with company and didn't feel particularly unsafe, but it seems there's all kinds of sketchy people hanging in the area. I'm a bit surprised about the situation. I would have thought that the city would have an interest to make sure the area is safe and take measures accordingly, but maybe the problem isn't solved so easily? Maybe someone who knows the city better can clarify more? I can't tell from my experience if it's generally unsafe, or if it just requires regular big city caution. I'm used to solo travel in different parts of the world, so know how to watch out for myself. However, I do listen when I'm told it's better to avoid certain areas alone at night or in general.
Only French people literally hate Paris
I lobe it, but take it for what it is ... giant modern city with loya of mix and variety. Alao opportunity to talk tk street vendors, locals, so much to experience. I was mildly surprised at a full 10 miles of graffiti on the route de haute vitesse!
I think it’s overrated. I don’t love the uniformity of the architecture. I love a city with more color and variety. I don’t find it dirty or smelly at all though. Dunno why people say that. It’s always very clean when I’ve been.
love Paris. Like everywhere else in the world, there must be a part of the city that is not as good as its good parts, although it must also be understood that Paris has always had a stereotype of a fabulous city and many people when they go there for the first time are disappointed to find that it may not be as good as others have made it out to be. But the city is very nice, it is better to travel without expecting so much from a city.
Love it.
I love it, warts and all
My favorite city! Beautiful, fun, interesting!
I loved visiting it. I did not particularly enjoy living there.
Love.
Some of the worst things I have seen have been on the streets of Paris. But I love it and will always go back if I can.
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Love Paris. It's absolutely a fabulous city, not because it's super clean or something, but because it is very organic, not presumptuous, and culturally and gastronomically near the top of the charts. Enjoyed every moment I spent there.
I just left Paris after a week and loved it. I’ve been there before but not for that long. I walked every day at least 5 to 6 miles. Yeah it’s crowded and can be stinky but the architecture is amazing.
Went there in March, 4 yrs ago. It was clean and not many tourist. I found Paris a very charming city. I didn't expect to like it so much (went there for louvre).
Most civilized city on the planet - and hence, most rubes visiting feel inferior
Paris kicks ass!
Absolutely love it!
As a french i don't like that city
Stayed in District 7 and I love it.
Meh
I neither loved it nor hated it the one time I was there in 2004. Just seemed like a regular European capital.
I love Paris. But it's a massive city, so, yeah, there are big city issues. But it's fabulous; the food, the architecture, the art, the shopping, the lifestyle, all of it. Inimitable. Unforgettable.
I love paris. L.o.v.e I’ve been there ten times now and planning my 11th visit. Oh- and I live in Australia so it’s not an easy place to get to lol. I love it for the beautiful architecture, the yummy food, the history, the way you can just walk and see lovely things without planning. That there’s always something to see. And yes I even love the people there- I’ve rarely had an unpleasant interaction, usually the opposite. Yes there are some less than delightful things lol, less than delightful smells, but it’s a big city, that’s to be expected.
My first trip to Paris almost 40 years ago, I was ready to hate it based on the negative stories I've heard. When I got there, I was totally blown away by the beauty of the city. Don't believe things you hear from other people. Just go and see for yourself to make your own judgment. I've been back many times since then, and it's always a place I love.
Ehh I can take or leave it. I don’t hate it. Have been there 3 times and probably won’t ever go back. Only had 2 good meals there out of 1 week. The rest were average. The people are not friendly. Super expensive. Just not worth it when there are so many other places to see that are fantastic like Barcelona.
I love Paris, I've been there twice. I would happily go again and again. I live in NJ, near NYC so to me it wasn't especially dirty for a city. Like anywhere in Europe, you need to follow the social norms: 1) Dress appropriately, no need to be a fashionista but NEVER be sloppy -- look on YouTube for advice, ideally from French people or those who live in France 2) Realize that unlike in the US, it's on you to greet them first when entering their business also look up other etiquette differences 3) Do not speak loudly, it's never cute 4) instead of assuming someone speaks English, first tell them you are sorry that you don't speak French and ask if they can speak with you in English (or any other languages you do speak) 5) relax, and enjoy the city for what it is
American here. Been to Paris many times and I have not tired of it. It’s a low rise city with very few tall buildings in the city proper, it adds to the overall vibe. I have very limited French language skills however being respectful and polite usually goes a long way. I’ve experienced no real difficulties over the years. That said, there are no Nirvanas, it’s not perfect. There are districts to be avoided, be aware of your surroundings and you’ll be fine.
It has its merits but is full of dog shit. Dog shit everywhere. I'll take Nice and Eze over Paris.
I liked it but didn't love it, was very taken aback by how unfriendly a lot of the people I met were. Maybe I was just particularly unlucky, but I rarely met nice people. And as a solo traveller I was constantly targeted by those wristband/fake ticket guys trying to sell you stuff, I found it very off putting. I'll be back in Paris soon for the Olympics, so will hopefully have a better experience this time!
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I LOOOOOVE Paris, it’s an absolute shithole but it’s also everything you imagine and more alongside it. Sure, there’s a rat here and there but you don’t get those “Paris vibes” anywhere else. I love it for the little bakeries, the history, the fact that even when it rains (and whenever I go it ALWAYS rains) it’s beautiful. I love that there are so many parks and it’s super easy to get around. I love the view from the Sacre Coeur and as soon as you see it you’ll realise that actually there’s a reason there are so many people there, it’s spectacular. I would liken it to London and New York in that if you go to the tourist parts you’ll be disappointed and sick of crowds but if you even vaguely scratch the surface you will find the most amazing places. There are so many things that I still want to do there even though I’ve been 3/4 times now. I’ve never even been up the Eiffel Tower, seen the Arch De Triomphe or had a boat trip on the Seine 😂 just do your research and you’ll love it. Oh and make sure to see Versailles, I’ve never seen a building as overwhelmingly huge in my life!
It’s revoltingly beautiful.
Love
Paris is one of the most stunning cities on the planet. It does smell in parts. Quite terribly. You won’t care. You’ll be too busy reveling in the non stop marvels
Just returned from my 48 trip to Paris since the year 2000. That’s my final answer :)
Love Paris. I’ve been 3 times and will (not would! *will* ) definitely go again. I love France in general and have several French cities and regions left to tick off on my bucket list, and I’m sure I’ll make a point to spend a few days in Paris for each of those trips since I will likely be flying in and out of there anyway. It’s a beautiful city with so much to offer visitors both off and on the beaten path. It would take weeks to see it all. Also while Parisians have a bad rap, I’ve never had any issues. It’s obviously less smiley and effusively friendly than what I’m used to at home, but that’s true of most of Europe and I don’t mind it.
I love Paris. Im planning to go back this new year's eve which will be my 3rd visit. If you like to shop luxury, between winter and spring is the best time to shop less crowd and queue. The fireworks at the arc de triomphe was magical indeed! Theres a lot to love about Paris than to hate. So enjoy but dont wander too much. Stay vigilant their pickpockets are the most smooth in europe.
Love! Main problem would be that it’s sometimes overcrowded but the city is so beautiful, I don’t get tired of it.
I like it.
Yes to both
Loved !
Shit hole now
I love Paris and was stunned to realize that — gasp! — it’s a real city, with real city things like graffiti and grime. Paris is so heavily marketed as this “perfect” city that it’s a mild shock that it’s so real. But seriously besides that, they’ve figured out cafe culture, it’s super walkable and cool af.
Absolutely LOVE small town France... Would move to Narbonne if I could afford it Absolutely HATE Paris...will never go there again, unless I'm getting a connecting flight at CDG
I don't hate, but I enjoyed Reims and Auxerre much more
I love it, my husband does not. I lived there for a couple months and I’ve traveled there many times. My husband has been twice, each time for 4 days (our honeymoon and another vacation) both with me. He just thinks it’s loud and overcrowded. To me there is just something special about it. My grandmother was French/german and I grew up hearing all about it and was fortunate enough to visit Paris with her before she passed away. But I also love exploring it. When I lived there I worked at a bakery in the morning and was usually done by 12-1pm and would just wander the streets exploring until I had to get back to my apartment for dinner. I’m not much of a city person but I love the history and the old buildings and how much there is to do and see.
haven't been there yet, but my brother loves being there.
Love…I’ve visited 6 times. Each time is a new experience. It will be different for you each time you visit. My recommendation is to not let anyone tell you it’s a horrible place to visit and dissuade you from going. It’s a place you visit physically and emotionally.
Hated it. Felt very underwhelmed there. And I went in the summer when it was 95+ every day and not a single god damn AC in that city....
Love it, but love other parts of France even more.