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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have found certain parts of Paris edgy

234 replies

Sheeled · 14/04/2026 22:24

I stayed in Belleville, which was ok. Walked ina respectable area today, there was a guy possibly in his 30s, clearly.not right mentally verbally harassing and jostling people asking for money. Didn't see much police presence anywhere.

There were big groups of men, many of whom were shouting at each other and again many looked quite unwell, around the main train stations.

Large areas around the stations smelled I mean really smelled of urine.

A lot of people seemed really unhappy and afraid.

Don't know if this has always been the case or are we simply talking about some areas. I dont think Ill be visiting again in a hurry.

OP posts:
Fnssc · 14/04/2026 23:50

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SaulHudsonDavidJones · 14/04/2026 23:38

I thought the same last time I was there. More so than my previous visits. Not keen to go back.

Sandygran · 14/04/2026 23:35

Yeah. I had always wanted to visit Paris. We finally did it (this is about 10 years ago now). We had a long weekend there and I was so disappointed because of all the petty crime. In the one weekend, my husband and I had attempted scams pulled on us 4 times (at Montmartre, Eifel Tower and walking by the Seine). This was a very wet, cold weekend in February, so not great crowds around. Totally ruined it for me.

Maddy70 · 14/04/2026 23:27

All big cities are edgy

Doggodoggo · 14/04/2026 23:27

I went to Paris recently and also thought it felt much more seedy and dangerous than London. Lots of men hanging around in groups. Even men on their own openly looking us (women) up and down. There were also a lot of street protests when I was there with no police presence at all and the protesters setting bins on fire in the street. I was actually relieved to get back to London!

Troutbag · 14/04/2026 23:27

I think Paris is a large city and has the same social problems as any city or large urban area. I think people have a certain chic image of Paris that’s true of some of it, but you’ll see the same issues in parts of Paris as you get in London, Berlin, New York, etc.

MasterBeth · 14/04/2026 23:25

Everlil · 14/04/2026 23:08

I’ve had a similar experience in Guildford.

Guildford = skanky as hell. And you should definitely avoid Esher and Godalming!!!

BauhausOfEliott · 14/04/2026 23:21

Why on earth would you be surprised to find that a big capital city has some areas that aren’t as nice as others? It’s a city where millions of people live and work. Of course it has homeless people, drug users, mentally ill people etc. All big cities do.

OnceUponATimed · 14/04/2026 23:15

Tbh I have always found Paris on the seedier end of Euorpean capital cities and apart from a few Ive been to over 30 of them and several many times. Ive never understood the love for it.

Ninjasan · 14/04/2026 23:14

Sheeled · 14/04/2026 22:24

I stayed in Belleville, which was ok. Walked ina respectable area today, there was a guy possibly in his 30s, clearly.not right mentally verbally harassing and jostling people asking for money. Didn't see much police presence anywhere.

There were big groups of men, many of whom were shouting at each other and again many looked quite unwell, around the main train stations.

Large areas around the stations smelled I mean really smelled of urine.

A lot of people seemed really unhappy and afraid.

Don't know if this has always been the case or are we simply talking about some areas. I dont think Ill be visiting again in a hurry.

You chose to stay in a cheap part of Paris. It's not for tourists. You chose it. Yes, it's a bad neighborhood and quick Google search tells you that. Blame yourself.

NoYouCantComeToTheWedding · 14/04/2026 23:11

I am also wondering where you live, and how much time you spend in cities in the UK?

dunroaminaroind · 14/04/2026 23:10

I love Paris but I agree that it seems sketchier than London in some parts. It’s been like that for a very long time.

Everlil · 14/04/2026 23:08

I’ve had a similar experience in Guildford.

Bezaz · 14/04/2026 23:07

Belleville is the Hackney of Paris. Historically poor and seedy, but now increasingly hip with every day that goes by.
Hackney can be a bit overstimulating too, as can "lived in" bits of all big cities.
I'm curious to know where you yourself live, if you don't know this?

PrudenceDictates · 14/04/2026 23:06

Of course there are seedy areas; do you know a city without any?
I was in Paris a few months ago. Never felt unsafe, and never noticed any unhappy or afraid people.

Tryingnottobeamouse · 14/04/2026 23:02

Yes, I felt unsafe in parts of Paris, as did my DH. Most cities have sketchy bits but Paris seemed more threatening and seedier than other European cities, and that threatening feeling seemed prevalent in larger areas than other major cities to me

Catza · 14/04/2026 23:01

Paris have always smelled of piss. Not just stations but pretty much everywhere. Garre du Nord used to have a massive open-air urinal outside (weirdest thing I've seen! Is it still there?)
Having said that, I've not seen many unhappy and afraid people around. Were they all tourists, perhaps?

Thatoneisnice · 14/04/2026 23:00

I've put YABU just because I dont understand why this would be a shock to you? Have you never visited a large city before?
Paris can certainly be edgy by European standards. No more so than London or Rome or Prague etc etc
Its a real city not just a quaint museum

Raquelos · 14/04/2026 22:50

GrianGealach · 14/04/2026 22:32

They aren’t much worse than London! It is perfectly safe to leave central Paris.

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You are right, many parts of Paris outside of the main drag are beautiful and quite safe. It's the lack of local knowledge which can lead you astray. I've lived in both cities, and the crappy bits of Paris are considerably worse than the shit bits of London imo.

Globules · 14/04/2026 22:35

I got pick pocketed on the metro about 10 years ago.

A gang of teens surrounded me, swiped my purse and left the carriage before I could work out what was happening.

I'm a seasoned London Tube traveller of 40+ years and can only think of 2 incidents with dodgy men.

I've not been a fan of Paris since.

Autumngirl5 · 14/04/2026 22:34

We were in Paris last week with our 15 year old grandson. There were a lot of men hanging around Gare du Nord trying to sell cigarettes but we felt totally safe travelling around the city. Our grandson loved it.

Arlanymor · 14/04/2026 22:33

All cities have sketchy areas and it's not a new thing.

GrianGealach · 14/04/2026 22:32

Raquelos · 14/04/2026 22:25

Yeah, some parts of Paris are sketchy as hell, much worse than London, I think. The main tourist areas are okay, but without local knowledge, I wouldn't venture outside of them personally.

They aren’t much worse than London! It is perfectly safe to leave central Paris.

youalright · 14/04/2026 22:30

GCAcademic · 14/04/2026 22:29

Most cities are like that, tbf.

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Yeah they are i think with Birmingham I've only ever been once and it was really noticeable but that was perhaps our fault as we should of researched more and not just casually wandered round

GoodkneeBadKnee · 14/04/2026 22:30

GCAcademic · 14/04/2026 22:29

Most cities are like that, tbf.

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Exactly my point.