to not really get Paris

[JapanNextYear]

I have had some lovely holidays in France, the food, the wine etc. And I have a huge fondness for being in a capital city.

But I just don't really get Paris. I've been to the touristy bits and the not touristy bits, but I find it all a bit cold and distant and its hard to get a decent meal or have a nice drink.

What am I doing wrong?

[HapShawl]

I used to live there so I have a nostalgic fondness for it. There are some lovely parts

The racism and sexism is close to the surface though, and that I do not remember fondly

[MitzyLeFrouf]

The toilets in Italian bars can also be pretty bad actually.

Three cheers for UK toilets!

[LurkingHusband]

Oh, and seeing people (mainly woman) carrying lapratsdogs under their arm whilst picking though the uncovered trays in the delicatessen . Dog breath everywhere ... boak, to use an MNism.

[DrDreReturns]

It was OK, I much preferred Berlin though.

[Tangfastics]

You're not doing anything wrong OP, it's a hellhole and if you have the misfortune of going there you can't get out of the place because they seem to be mostly on strike all the time.

Even the rest of the French population can't stand the Parisians.

[ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs]

YANBU. Paris is the only European city I've been to where I was sexually harassed on the street. It's dirty, expensive and the locals are staggeringly rude. I much much prefer Berlin or London.

[mamapants]

I wonder what it is that makes us like some places and not others.
I never fancied going to Paris but went anyway and loved it and would definitely go again. Also love London, Naples, Rome.
But some people here have listed that they like Barcelona and Milan and I personally didn't like either at all.

[DrDreReturns]

Even the rest of the French population can't stand the Parisians.
That's very true.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Milan is a bit meh. Florence is amazing though. Had the most romantic weekend there.

[Toxicity]

I love Paris, I love wandering around people watching and I actually found people there really helpful. Once my ex and I were standing on a street corner (sounds dodgy) with a map completely loss and this lovely french guy helped us and set us in the right direction!

But I am not going to say YABU as sometimes a place just doesn't click for a person.

[ErgonomicallyUnsound]

I did smile when I saw this thread. I used to work in Paris a bit, and have been back as a tourist probably 5 times since. I so am with you in not really getting it. I've travelled widely, and would take Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Bruges, Amsterdam, Prague, London, Lisbon over it.

I've never felt a cool or interesting vibe there, find the people either false or unfriendly and very unwavering, plus I'm not really a fan of Parisian cultcha. As for cafe society, I prefer an espresso in Rome, thanks.

[Twixthecat]

Nope I don't get it either. Rude and expensive.

Pretty much every other city I've been to is nicer to visit.

[Tangfastics]

Whilst we're at it, can I nominate Barcelona and New York as being completely underwhelming too?

[Destinysdaughter]

I love Paris! Been there 6 times, but agree, it's the only place I've been sexually harassed in the street. I went there on a school trip when I was 13, standing outside the Pompidou Centre and an adult man came up to me and said 'Ca coute combien?'( how much do you cost?) WTF?? One time, in my fourties, a young African guy came up to me and snogged me in the street! However I've never been to Italy, maybe it's worse there?

[Destinysdaughter]

Berlin however, now that's a cool city!

[icanteven]

I didn't like it when we visited, but then we lived there for a year it was AMAZING.

It's a city to be lazy in.

[revealall]

I like Paris but agree it's not all that. Barcelona is " over" way too busy to be easy weekend fun. Rome is fab but fear it's the new Barcelona...

[Pointlessfan]

I agree, it's very overrated. I did enjoy the Eiffel Tower and the Musee D'Orsay (sp?) but otherwise I didn't see the appeal.
I wasn't especially keen on Rome either but I was leading a school party of 45 15 yr olds when I went, I'd probably enjoy it more at my own pace and without being asked where McDonalds was every 30 seconds!

[MintyChapstick]

YANBU it's a shithole. Much prefer London, Rome and New York.

[EssentialHummus]

I've been twice and really didn't get what the fuss was about. Great baguettes and croissants no shit Sherlock but tonnes of anti-semitism, too many tourists and everything smelled of wee both times we were there.

I haven't been to Glasgow but I already prefer it

[LaConnerie]

YANBU - I didn't think much of it either - I've always wondered if I just completely bypassed the good bits!

I love France but Paris is just like a noisier, busier and dirtier version of London - with the added bonus of not having a clue where everything is.

[cathcustardtart]

YABU
Paris is gorgeous, even walking down a residential street the architecture is fabulous. The sights, the galleries, the shops, the chic residents, the food.
It's my favourite city ever.

[Lockheart]

I don't know where you all go in Paris but I've never experienced any sexism or sexual harassment. And I have never seen a squat toilet there (though I did have to use on in Brittany once).

I visit Paris several times a year, and always love it. I find it cleaner and nicer than London (for example, I don't know where all this mythical dog poo is), though I do love London too. And some of the best meals I've had have been in little restaurants for 10 euros for three courses. The bread, the chocolate.... I'm trying to find time to book another visit over the next couple of months and I can't wait! I always come back laden with meringues and macaroons

Paris most definitely has downsides; the metro can seem very outdated (and can smell), there is a lot of graffiti, there are a large number of beggars and scammers compared to London, the hotel rooms are always tiny unless you have serious money to spend (I don't) and they will always charge you extortionate rates for breakfast (but given breakfast is usually a buffet affair, I take advantage of this by smuggling out a couple of bananas and some bread for lunch). If you don't know your way round it can be confusing, and the queues to get into the big touristy attractions like the Louvre can be immense (top tip: get round the Louvre queues by going in via the Carrousel du Louvre shopping centre which is underneath the museum; it never has the lines the pyramid entrances have). Paris is so SO touristy, way more so than London. I think Notre Dame is dingy and overworked, it needs a good clean, stricter tourist control (they are so loud, despite signs asking people to keep their voices at a lower level, and camera flashes are always going off everywhere - I find it a bit disrespectful), and more investment.

But Paris also has such a magic. I can spend a whole day doing nothing but browsing in the bouquinistes along the Seine. I love exploring the little backstreets and finding proper French markets. Pere Lachaise is hauntingly beautiful. The Garnier is easily one of my most favourite buildings in the world. The architecture, the history, the art... It's just unparalleled. There's nothing better than getting up at 5am in the summer and cycling round before the traffic kicks in (get up early and cycle the wrong way around the Etoile ). When it does you can get a fresh, hot pain au chocolat from a bakery.

Now if that's not your thing then fair enough, Paris isn't likely to hold much interest for you. If you want nightclubs, theme parks etc then it's not for you. It does help if you can speak French, at least enough to hold a small conversation. Forget trying to do the big attractions all in a week - you will become stressed and fed up of standing in lines. Find yourself a nice boulangerie and go and watch the world go by :)

[FaFoutis]

YANBU
I go to gigs in Paris sometimes and the audiences behave like nowhere else, they just stand there. I'm vegetarian and there's nothing decent to eat either.
I like German cities for the fun and the people.

[1frenchfoodie]

I enjoy Paris, great patisseries, fab food markets and lots of great museums. Not keen on it in the height of summer though - too smelly.