Is Paris unsafe?

[SpringWithWinterWeather]

Not been to Paris for years. Is it really not safe anymore. Friends suggest avoid and try other cities such as Praque or Budapest.

Are they unreasonable?

Racist.

@Thepeopleversuswork and yet my friend whose lived in London for decades days it's taken a massive dip and had a brick thrown at his car window.

Forewarned is forearmed I get nervous when people dont like sharing info ( I've been visiting London for years and had no issues touch lots of wood )

Well, I'm sitting in the middle of Tooting right now and I would say that London has in no way taken a "massive dip" in the nearly 60 years that I've lived here. Lots of formerly dismal areas are much nicer places to be.

There is an incredibly clear agenda on the right to talk down British cities. It's always the flag-shaggers who want to say that these UK is shit.

But you realise one single anecdotal example of something in isolation isn’t a trend? You can get a brick through your window anywhere in the UK.

As @SpanThatWorld says this is part of a broader attempt to paint big cities, particularly big cities with progressive or Labour governments, as hotbeds of crime and filth.

The data doesn’t support this: crime in London is lower than it has been for years.

Exactly this.

Reform put something round recently saying people in London were frightened to get their phones out on the tube. I was in London recently and everyone in my carriage was using their phone.

@Thepeopleversuswork yes I do realise this i could Spam the thred with all the comments over the years and incidents but that was the worst recently.
You do realise I also said as a regular visitor I've had few issues.

It's the groups of men hanging around I don't see in London and that I do see in paris that unerve me.

The sellers I've always been quite firm with in Paris and said a strong "non" and put my hand out.

We are visiting Paris soon we've not been for several years and yes I will be giving my usual watch out for thieves talk.
I did for a trip to Italy last year and when we go to London I tell my family not to hold their phones out !

I don't know what the social security is like there but I feel there are more issues there.

@StarlightLady on the tube ?
Well that would be a good place to snatch one as the train gets to a stop however surely the place they mainly get snatched is on the street by thieves on ebikes or scooters.

People standing at the door get their stolen

It’s safe just as most European cities. Be sensible , careful on the metro etc. Someone tried to nick my wallet out my bag on the metro by the Louvre but I caught them. I speak French but at the time was talking to my daughter in English so I guess I stood out. My 20 year DD is in Paris every few weeks and travels around with friends . It’s absolutely fine.

My friend has been living there for the last 4 years, only just moved back. Had absolutely no problems, went all over the city on her own.

Like any big city, there will be some crime, and some areas will be less safe than others.

If you want safe, try Tallinn in the summer. It's day light until about 11pm. It's also very beautiful.

100% this. Lived in London all my life and have never felt unsafe. Stayed in towns like York or Stroud or Doncaster and they’re terrifying with all the drunk louts late at night. You just don’t get that shit in London

Yes, and they film one street that happens to have a lot of immigrant shops and immigrants and pretend that no-one in London is British anymore. It’s disgusting. I’m sick of it.

It might help if you read the thread since it was Paris the question was about not London.

Lots of useful suggestions though. There's always the type that assume it's about London and immigration into London when it wasn't.

@PortSalutPlease
Paris is as safe as any big tourist city. Pick pocketing is rife, but that’s not dangerous, just annoying

I agree it’s not dangerous - unless you spot the thieves and try to fight back. Nonetheless, losing a wallet and/or phone is more than annoying as the consequences are extremely time consuming, might cost the victim a lot of money and would spoil a holiday.

Nearly got mugged in Paris by a gang of kids in the subway. Pretty frightening but I clamped my hands on my phone in my pocket so they got fuck all and ran off. I’ve been a few times and nothing happened the other times. The Eiffel Tower is a bit annoying, you get hassled a fair amount by what my mum always termed lucky lucky men- I have no idea what their official title is!

I’m half French and my dad hates Paris but that’s just the same as Brits who hate London. He thinks it’s miteux.

Safest city I’ve visited is Krakow, absolutely love it.

Threads move on. One person makes a comment, another responds to that and the third continues in that vein.

It might help if you understood how discussion works.

There's a reason Krakow and Budapest are safer.

And that is…? Don’t leave us hanging?

I understand that people go into whataboutery, what about London....blah blah, then off into random rants on racism etc, then pretend its about racism so derailing is very common. Still people have some good answers though on subject.

I know it was about Paris. I replied very early on with my opinion on that as I went last year.

Then the conversation moved on and several people, including myself, were discussing the more general denigration of European capital cities by the far right. Propaganda you unfortunately seem to have fallen hook, line and sinker for.

Why so aggressive op?

What’s the reason?

This. I moved to London mid 80’s. Vdirty & rundown, now so much cleaner & re-built. Used to go to Paris regularly 90s- early 00s & likewise, dirty, smelly, traffic & traffic fumes. Returned to Paris last year, much transformation, streets pedestrianised, traffic less, less fumes. Had an excellent time, generally friendly people & reasonable prices.
A tip - if you like jazz, go to the Duc de Lombard on a Mon-Tue & queue for the 7pm sitting. No cover charge. They showcase up & coming jazz musicians. We heard a fabulous group for the price of a drink €7

It was me the OP quoted and you can indeed speak for me as those were my thoughts exactly @Thepeopleversuswork 🙏