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

[2026IsMyYear]

Just that really - i just don't recognise the Paris that people post about on here!

I have been many many times & spent a month there not too long ago

I adore it & would happily consider living there.

So much to see & do, so much history & beauty

I am obsessed with modernism & early 20th century literary history. There are amazing museums, galleries & libraries. Love the flea markets & clothes & shoe shops.

Great food & wine!

I've never found it smelly (certainly no worse than major UK cities) & i have never felt intimidated or been followed etc

I am now in my 50s & a v seasoned savvy traveller & I've been visiting Paris since i was 20.

I adore it but often feel like an outlier here!

Me neither. I love Paris.

🙄

It’s astonishing people actually think in these terms.

I'm hoping that poster was trolling - trying to wind people up.

The alternative is just too depressing!

Brussels is much worse

With respect, I’m not lying. I was there around 10 years ago and that was my experience. I didn’t walk every road, just like you didn’t.

Just accept that everyone has different views.

edit - drive through last year from the south of France and the number of homeless people living in tents along the motorway in Paris was shocking. Hidden out of view I’m sure but an awful situation for them.

The only time I tried to speak to a local in French in Paris, it was cab driver - who pretended he couldn't understand my (granted, probably butchered) rendering of 'tour Eiffel'. He really was mean. No one else was very kind either. I think there are cities in the world where they are happy to have you, and and Paris isn't one. Which is their prerogative, of course. I'm just as happy to go elsewhere.

I like it, it used to be a bit “nicer” but that’s the same as all big cities now that the trend is towards “megacities” with people from all over the world, rich and poor congregating there. There is crime and it can be dirty but it’s also vibrant and exciting. I’m older now and have always been a bit sensitive to sensory overwhelm so while I might enjoy visiting Paris and so on I’m not sure I’d want to live in such a large city again having previously lived in London and Moscow.

I think take the rose tinted glasses off and try to enjoy these places for what they are.

I hadn’t been for years, so we went on a Eurostar City Break - loved it! A lot of Paris has now been pedestrianised so traffic effects are less & I think they incentivise electric vehicles, etc through the tax system, so my memories of smelly gridlocked traffic are now just that. The Eurostar package was a good price & hotel was v nice, though a bit distant, so we used the metro a lot. We were able to eat quite reasonably without much difficulty. Found Parisians generally pleasant, though as a big busy city, people are generally rushed and brisk. I definitely want to return.