I can't undestand all the hatred for Paris on MN

London is wonderful too - we stay somewhere we can walk a lot through the parks and it’s great being able to drop into so many world class museums and art galleries for free - I did miss in Paris that you can’t visit, then think later that you really want to take a longer look at something and wander back in. I guess if you’re local you can get a membership.
And London is much improved by the congestion and ulez charges, the air is much cleaner and less traffic.

Disappointmen with Paris on MN is real:
current thread on MN: Things that are supposed to be enjoyable...
(sorry, no idea how to link)
In the first post of this current thread the OP mentions Paris.
As the thread progresses, some agree and some disagree but it's no surprise to see Paris on the OPs list of overrated things/activities.

(personally, I'm pro-Paris and France in general. I've always had a great time and never noticed the downsides that so many see.)

The only way in which I found it ‘dirtier’ is their fondness for gardens mainly consisting of trees (lovely and shady in April, leaves well out before the U.K.) and pale dusty gravel rather than much usable grass or surfaced paths. (The Jardin des Plantes was lovely though).

In the dim and distant path loos in cafes might be a matter of trepidation but they all seemed fine nowadays that we saw.

I don't hate it but I don't love it either, I think there are just cities I have liked a lot more so I'd probably never go back.

It wasn't an amazing experience and I think people hype Paris up A LOT so the reality is very different from the expectation.

They’re bad enough from a distance.
Must be awful to actually be mixing among them. 🤮.

I think you either get it it you don’t. I love London. I couldn’t live there because I was raised by the sea and I can’t imagine not seeing it everyday, but I adore the city. Similarly I have loved Rome, Oslo, Copenhagen, Madrid, Barcelona. My parents hate London and cannot stand travelling to a city. It’s all just what you like or don’t like

Its my least favorite city, and thats saying a lot. There are bits of it that are lovely, but overall, I was glad to leave.

I came her to say the same. I waft around London, enjoying exhibitions, shops and cafés. My OH has to commute there for work (Holborn), and only notices the beggars, armed Police and grime.

I mean, yes? If you know you don’t like big cities, dont travel to one?

So it's us that is the problem, not the Parisians?

The hate for London is social media-generated. It’s straight out of the 1984 playbook - give people you don’t want to look too closely at their own lives somewhere to hate. London’s ideal for the Trump administration as it ties in with their hatred of Muslims / immigration.

Which isn’t to say London’s perfect - but even as a kid in the 80s when we went to London Christmas shopping we were took to watch out for pickpockets. Phone snatchers exist as phones are valuable and people walk around holding them in front of them, not paying attention to their surroundings. Super-easy.

duplicated

What I especially don’t understand is accusing it of being dirty. It’s no dirtier than London, Leeds, Manchester, etc.

As for the famous Parisian rudeness, I’ve also never experienced it.

I do have to think though, if you’re like this, why do you go? Just stay home or go somewhere you’ll be comfortable

But OP, whilst I love Paris, I can understand why some don’t. People who hate cities, crowds, are anxious, previous bad experiences, panic about foreign food and the language etc. Can you really not understand that?

I love Paris. Went there for our honeymoon 36 years ago and it has been very special to me ever since. We regularly go back and stay ay the same hotel we stayed at then. I’ve never had a problem with the people either.

It's a mismatch between expectation and reality.

Exactly! This is why so many people are disappointed with Paris, New York, London, Venice, Dublin and anywhere else that people go misty-eyed when they say 'Oh I've always wanted to go to ...'

You see it all the time on here, people who just can’t hack travel.

This isn't my experience at all. Last summer all the French people I spoke to in Paris were friendly and helpful, and my French isn't great.

Ha, this is very possibly true!

All cities have their issues. I prefer the tube to the metro and dislike the NY subway. Still love the cities and the atmosphere though!

I go every year. I do my best in French and they answer in English. I smile and am polite to them, and usually get the same back!

I love Paris and visit every year. I live in London so I guess I am not bothered by big cities and accept the bad with the good. Paris often comes up on things people hate lists. That’s fine. There are plenty of places I don’t want to visit either.

MN has lots of people who can’t cope with cities and lots of people who are anxious and scared, so I guess that would make them hate a capital city anyway. And then there will be things about Paris specifically they dislike.

I've seen the hate and i get it. Even the rest of France think Parisians are rude. There are areas that are dirty and small of piss and a problem with pick pockets. But that's like any big city to me. I wouldn't want to live there any more than I would in London, NY or Rome.

But it's an amazing city to visit for a few days, so many iconic sights and amazing museums! Just the same as London, NY or Rome.

Your french friends are not English and so cannot speak from experience. I can.

The second you speak to them in English they pull a face. They don't know the meaning of patience. I've had to go several times over the years for various reasons and nothing has ever changed.

I agree OP. I've been to Paris loads of times and DH and I love it. In all those visits I've encountered ONE rude waiter - he was working in a touristy cafe on the left bank and we were with American relatives who are loud and don't speak a word of French so I wasn't entirely surprised. In fact, I'd been expecting a rude waiter since we arrived! Apart from that though, my main gripes are the dog shit everywhere and I got my wallet stolen on the Metro about 25 years ago, but I still think it's a great city.