What's Paris like?

[nervoustraveller1]

Never been. Want to go. I'm a Londoner and have explored a lot of central London.

Please tell me, what is Paris like?

Thanks all for the responses.

Hope you all know the reason I mentioned I was from London was to give a reference point to compare my experiences to.

Les Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is definitely worth a visit. Its much nicer than London department stores who seem to be rammed with concessions these days.
It has a lovely terrace for a free view of Paris with a reasonable restaurant/cafe.
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So much history. Everywhere. Food is great and cheap. Public transport is very decent. People aren’t that rude. I do always feel on edge walking around or on the metro though and I always make sure to hold my bag and not take my phone out. There’s a lot of police on the streets so it helps with feeling a bit safer. But honestly though- the history is unreal and the food is delicious! And what is it with the French looking so put together all the time??

Shit

Went last year and hated it. Dirty, lots of rude people, £8 for a coke in a cafe.

I find it disappointing and much prefer London.

It’s wonderful. But as a PP points out, just as Stokey is not Kensington and Peckham is not Golders Green, what “it’s like” varies from arrondissement to arrondissement. Personally I adore the 11eme, the 10th, the 9th, the 18th and 2/3/4th a bit less so. Would be happy never to go to the 16th. What are you looking for in a trip?

To go with my DD in year 9

Hated Paris after I was followed into a restaurant toilet by a group of begging children...I'm used to seeing homelessness and begging in London but not by children in that way. Also vast majority seemed to be migrants or ethnic minorities. The inequality is horrible to witness. I'd never go back.

Dirty, grim, hostile.

More of a shithole than London.

Rude people everywhere- don’t expect anyone to be welcoming or friendly, anywhere.

Some nice areas but I wouldn’t rush there again.

I think if you want a city break in Europe there are lots more nicer places than Paris.

My favourite parts were the musée d'Orsay and the counterpart museum with Monet's waterlilies. I got in the queue before the former opened and went straight to the impressionist art. That way I had finished looking at that bit by the time the crowds were building up an hour and a half later.

I ate fairly inexpensively but that did require care.

I enjoyed wandering along, looking at the views etc. I didn't go to the Louvre as it just seemed to be too busy. I want to go back and go to Versailles.

Took our son around the same age as your daughter and he loved it. Especially the hop on/off bus tour and walking along the Seine people watching in the evening before getting on a boat to sail up to the Eiffel Tower and watch it light up. Magical.

(Took him alone, my husband is disabled, and felt perfectly safe.)

Love it - going tomorrow!

But I love cities, honestly can’t think of one I’ve visited that I didn’t like - London, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam etc etc

Cities of that size are always going to be a mix of experiences and have their grimy parts. I’ve never had anything but a good time in Paris but have never gone with a romanticised idea of what it’ll be like.

I love Paris. As a Londoner it's a bit like London in many ways, but smaller and "lower". I occasionally go for the day on the Eurostar, and just pick a thing to do (museum, exhibition or whatever) then have a meal and come home. You can walk to most places from the Eurostar terminal. Do go!

We visit London a lot and went to Paris just before Covid.

We loved it! Like anywhere you have to be careful with your bag etc but I didn’t really feel unsafe. Maybe around the Eiffel Tower where the sellers are but you just keep walking.

We used the RER once and then walked or used Uber. I don’t like the tube either.

We did all the tourist things and walked miles! I’d love to go back with my teens. The top of the Eiffel Tower is well worth it x

Paris is beautiful. Some dodgy parts eg around Gard du Nord/ lots of aggressive street sellers near big tourist attractions. Main difference to London is the police with guns, and also seeing the army on the streets. That scared 8 year old DD a bit. Otherwise she loved it.

I spent the most lovely day today up in town. Visited the Iris Van Herpel expo at the Musée des Arts Decoratif. Walked in the sun through the gardens at the Palais Royale. Stocked up on cooking ingredients in Les Halles. Bought vintage clothes at Kiliwatch. I can't believe how many people seem to think Paris is a 'shithole'.

I've frequented both fairly regularly and I've never seen poverty around central London like we have in Paris. Huge gangs of men hanging around parks etc it had a seedy vibe and a sad vibe with many seemingly mentally ill people wandering about plus aggressive street hawkers.
You can't catch a cab like you do here so it can feel frightening if you want to go back the room and you don't want to walk.

Having said that I adore it, absolutely adore it.

Collins there are no aggressive hawkers around our monuments etc

@MrsSkylerWhite that sounds magical

@AlltheFs mugged by the river at night or day

It's like any major capital city which attracts a lot of tourists.

• watch out for pickpockets and con artists
• yes, there are homeless people and beggars there too
• if you go to the tourist trap cafes and insta-worthy restaurants, you will get ripped off. If you don't, you can eat fairly cheaply
• there is crime too

The same is true of London, Paris, New York, Venice... Anywhere you care to name. But there are reasons these cities attract a lot of tourists from around the world. In Paris, it's mainly the art and architecture.