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 like Paris and am visiting in a few months.

I haven’t seen this hatred you speak of

Indeed. I think there was a thread asking people to list things that we are supposed to love, but found disappointing and Paris appeared as a top target. Once one PP mentioned it, there was a torrent.

It has definitely changed in the 30 years since I first went, but it is still a beautiful city. Locals have always been charming when I have fumbled my French (despite the narrative of Parisians being foul to anyone by Parisians and a hold a special, heightened level of disdain for the English). Everywhere has changed, cities are vibrant, organic places with a life that maps society. I’d happily buy an apartment there if I won the lottery!

They do not expect you to speak it. They expect you to at least try some words and phrases and find it rude if you don’t. In fact if you try and are friendly they’ll often be patient with you. So my French friends tell me.

The French can be insufferably rude. I recall waiting in a queue at the Chamber of Horrors with my holiday friend Aude as a teenager and we had some rude French teenagers behind us talking rudely and loudly about the English. The look on their faces when she angrily rounded on them in French! 🤣

My favourite chocolate shop is in Gare du Nord station.

I don't hate Paris. I just find it unfriendly.
With the whole globe to choose from, why would I want to return to somewhere that doesn't welcome visitors?

And Dublin is hated too. The capital city of France and Ireland disliked by UK folk, go figure..

Paris is a major world city, not a tourist resort. Just like Londoners, they are generally indifferent, they are just getting on with their lives which are generlaly too busy to give a shit what tourists think about them.

Lots of Irish people aren't keen on Dublin either (like me), just as lots of British people aren't fond of that London.

To be fair I think it’s the same people who think London is a no go zone and the second you step off the train you’re going to get stabbed

I agree OP. I've been to Paris loads of times and DH and I love it. In all those visits I've encountered ONE rude waiter - he was working in a touristy cafe on the left bank and we were with American relatives who are loud and don't speak a word of French so I wasn't entirely surprised. In fact, I'd been expecting a rude waiter since we arrived! Apart from that though, my main gripes are the dog shit everywhere and I got my wallet stolen on the Metro about 25 years ago, but I still think it's a great city.

Your french friends are not English and so cannot speak from experience. I can.

The second you speak to them in English they pull a face. They don't know the meaning of patience. I've had to go several times over the years for various reasons and nothing has ever changed.

I've seen the hate and i get it. Even the rest of France think Parisians are rude. There are areas that are dirty and small of piss and a problem with pick pockets. But that's like any big city to me. I wouldn't want to live there any more than I would in London, NY or Rome.

But it's an amazing city to visit for a few days, so many iconic sights and amazing museums! Just the same as London, NY or Rome.

I love Paris and visit every year. I live in London so I guess I am not bothered by big cities and accept the bad with the good. Paris often comes up on things people hate lists. That’s fine. There are plenty of places I don’t want to visit either.

MN has lots of people who can’t cope with cities and lots of people who are anxious and scared, so I guess that would make them hate a capital city anyway. And then there will be things about Paris specifically they dislike.

I go every year. I do my best in French and they answer in English. I smile and am polite to them, and usually get the same back!

Ha, this is very possibly true!

All cities have their issues. I prefer the tube to the metro and dislike the NY subway. Still love the cities and the atmosphere though!

This isn't my experience at all. Last summer all the French people I spoke to in Paris were friendly and helpful, and my French isn't great.

You see it all the time on here, people who just can’t hack travel.

It's a mismatch between expectation and reality.

Exactly! This is why so many people are disappointed with Paris, New York, London, Venice, Dublin and anywhere else that people go misty-eyed when they say 'Oh I've always wanted to go to ...'

I love Paris. Went there for our honeymoon 36 years ago and it has been very special to me ever since. We regularly go back and stay ay the same hotel we stayed at then. I’ve never had a problem with the people either.

But OP, whilst I love Paris, I can understand why some don’t. People who hate cities, crowds, are anxious, previous bad experiences, panic about foreign food and the language etc. Can you really not understand that?

I do have to think though, if you’re like this, why do you go? Just stay home or go somewhere you’ll be comfortable

What I especially don’t understand is accusing it of being dirty. It’s no dirtier than London, Leeds, Manchester, etc.

As for the famous Parisian rudeness, I’ve also never experienced it.

duplicated

The hate for London is social media-generated. It’s straight out of the 1984 playbook - give people you don’t want to look too closely at their own lives somewhere to hate. London’s ideal for the Trump administration as it ties in with their hatred of Muslims / immigration.

Which isn’t to say London’s perfect - but even as a kid in the 80s when we went to London Christmas shopping we were took to watch out for pickpockets. Phone snatchers exist as phones are valuable and people walk around holding them in front of them, not paying attention to their surroundings. Super-easy.