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!

I can't understand all the hatred for Paris on MN
Ah, is this the Paris where they are lovely to you but only if you make the first move. Whereas (generalisation alert) Greeks somehow manage to be friendly to everyone all the time. I know where I would rather go on holiday.

Paris nous appartient.

It’s a great city.

I think the ‘Paris is filthy and smelly’ people are the same ones who think New York is a shithole and London is crime capital of the universe.

Love Paris and London - city brew aka are the best and places with so much history are always worth the journey.

I’ve travelled all over the world and encountered more weirdos per square mile in Paris than anywhere else.

You're comparing Parisians with Athenians, right?

I mean, you wouldn't be comparing the residents of a capital city with the residents of a small island or resort whose economy depends largely on tourism at all there, would you? 🤔

(I mean, I have no particular beef with Athenians, but I wouldn't say they're effusively friendly to strangers either...)

You’ve clearly never been to Brighton - weirdo central there.

There’s a current thread where quite a few don’t like Paris.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5519035-things-that-are-supposed-to-be-enjoyable-but-arent-in-reality?reply=151800001?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

I’ve just got back today from a visit which was thoroughly enjoyable. We had 8 nights so didn’t have to rush (we’re retired) and only did what we wanted to - we’ve ‘done’ places like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in the past and had no desire to see them again except at a distance. Stayed on the Left Bank near the Pont Neuf so everything we wanted to do was within walking distance except the Musée Marmottan-Monet (and then on to the Bois de Boulogne) so we only had to do one return metro trip.

I have a rented apartment in Paris but live elsewhere in France. It’s an expensive luxury but I absolutely love it. And to be honest it’s an absolute bargain for where it is. I’ll hang on to it for as long as I can.

Paris is fab for walking.

Love Paris, but dislike the French people. They’re so rude…

Was sent to work there on a couple of jobs, St.Germain. Flipping loved it, was even worth the long drive from the UK, ha.

Lol, that's my old hometown, Brighton is utterly fab because it's weirdo central! I've not lived there for a few years now but it was a forgiving place, nobody gave a crap what you looked like or nowt.

Thanks for sharing that thread @ErrolTheDragon. Paris regularly crops up on threads as most hated place

@Livelovebehappy i have never found French people to be especially rude. Certainly no more so than the population of any large city

Have you tried Bordeaux? Politest people in France. Beautiful city.

I used to live in les yvelines and i concur!

I think it’s just that it’s built up as amazing, magical, most romantic city in the world etc. Anywhere with that kind of expectation put upon it is going to fall short for a lot of people, and some will criticise it more harshly than they would a city they didn’t expect much of.

I loved it, then hated it after a trip with dc where people kept ticking my dc blonde hair and I have 3dds so not enough hands. It felt unsafe. There were lots of scam artist magicians and a really odd vibe. Dh took me back 10 years later to see lady gaga and we made a weekend of it. I wished it was a different city but that’s where she was playing on a date we could make… we absolutely fell back in love with it.

It's on here ad naseum by people who would be better suited to a TUI AI in Turkey with waterslides tbh.

I have never been to Paris but would LOVE to visit one day.

If anyone could advise if the best places to stay and sights to see, please do.

I’ve been to London multiple times and absolutely love it, but some of the hate spread about it beggars belief. It’s not something I’ve seen during my many visits with my family. We’ve loved every minute. So I welcome all of the positive posts about Paris, along with the places to avoid.

Thankyou! See! I'm not making things up.
Glad you escaped.

Was it the thread the other week on places that disappointed people? I can’t remember specifics but I was surprised at a few places on that list!!!

I agree. I've only been once for a week but thought it was fantastic.

Dublin though...very parochial. I heard someone on here call it 'an Irish Leeds' which fits perfectly.

Paris is great, as is London. But I do get why people hate Dublin. I'm Irish, and often recommend people skip Dublin when they visit, there are many better places to visit when in Ireland. Although I do like TCD.

Don’t forget the dog shit! You forgot all the dog shit everywhere in the streets!

What’s wrong with a TUI AI in Turkey? There’s plenty of space in the world for people to enjoy different things