To think Paris is overrated?

[BorgQueen]

I’m here now and just not feeling it. The insane heat isn’t helping but everything is just annoying me to the point of rage. The Metro is horrific, the bus routes I’d so carefully researched are not running because of road works. We’re spending more on ubers than anything else. Walking around is problematic, so many pavements blocked off where we want to walk, I honestly feel cursed. If we didn’t have the Louvre booked tomorrow, I’d have come home early.
We visited Notre Dame and were herded around like cattle, you couldn’t move freely and it was horrible, packed in like sardines.
We went to the BHV department store afterwards and planned on going to up to the top floor cafe, no escalators or lifts were running and the downstairs toilets were blocked off, I almost cried.
Went to see the Eiffel tower sparkle and it was like a circus with multiple Police chasing the scammers/tat sellers around Trocadero. Loud music playing, it was like the 7th circle of hell crossed with a rave.
Thankfully our hotel in St Germain is lovely with great aircon but I don’t think I’ll ever come back to Paris.

We went to Paris with the kids (4 & 7) last August and absolutely loved it. We had an amazing time.
All the smug comments about only idiots going to Paris (or Europe) in August sound ridiculous. We have to go in school holidays and love Interrailing around Europe in August and seeing all the cities. We've never struggled in the summer even with little kids. That doesn't make us idiots.

I love Paris but I’ve never been in the heart of summer. It’s one of my favourite cities in Europe.

I absolutely adore Paris. It’s my most visited city (outside of London) and I love it so much - YABVVVVU

ETA also been a couple of times in August and it was fine, last year wasn’t even hot!

Over tourism, summer heat, same old list of 'things to do in Paris' that everyone is doing, plus I agree bits of Paris are a shthle.
Yeah, it's not great. But then I would say the same of most 'big tourist' places these days. I've enjoyed more off the beaten track, unusual places. A reflection of me as much as the place though.

C’est l’été 🤷‍♀️ if you like a quiet town don’t go to the capital of the world’s top destination for tourists at the height of the summer? I went in September last year, perfect weather and not especially busy

It’s the most beautiful city in the world, but not in August. May or September are a much better bet.

The Metro is horrific, the bus routes I’d so carefully researched are not running because of road works. We’re spending more on ubers than anything else. Walking around is problematic, so many pavements blocked off where we want to walk, I honestly feel cursed.

Are you using a navigation app? Bonjour RATP should tell you any planned transit outages, closed stops, etc. and route you around them in "real time". Citymapper (for transit) and Google Maps (for walking) use crowdsourced data in addition to the official schedules, so they usually reflect unplanned obstructions, outages and route changes more quickly.

Visiting a capital city in the middle of the summer school holidays during a heatwave was likely to be in some ways an unpleasant experience. What did you expect?

I love it there. I wouldn’t go in August , big cities and attractions are always going to be extremely busy though.

We are going the last week of August 😱😱 It’s the only time I could go!

Definitely worth it for the catacombs. I enjoyed, 'Pure' by Andrew Miller. You might like it too.

I’m with you OP. I love cities but really don’t like Paris. I’ve been a few times. Admittedly, not for a long time. Don’t think I’d return

DD (23) left yesterday after a few nights by herself, I was there with her a few weeks ago for four nights. We had a fantastic time. We have been often enough to not want to queue for hours for sights we have already seen although we did get the hop on hop off boat to save me walking too much and had a picnic by the Eiffel Tower, we bought picnic stuff and a bottle of rose in a local shop and found a spot on the grass and had a lovely few hours there. DD felt totally safe by herself, ate out alone, went shopping and to the Musee Rodin for free as she has an EU passport. A firm “non merci” deals with the hasslers”. If you are going for the first time and want to do the major sights along with every other tourist in town then August is the worst month but there is nothing wrong with the place.

I wonder where you are staying and is this why you are finding walking so difficult. We stayed about 25 mins walk from the Louvre and walked everywhere apart from the Eiffel tower.

I’ve been many times and my favourite times to go are when I have no one to meet and nothing to see - just rambling around the stunning streets. I think Paris is magical

I didn’t like it. Haven’t been for 10 years though. Scruffy, full of scalpers and beggars. Service staff super rude.

The Japanese have a word for it: Pari shōkōgun.

Agree on Metro. But not Notre dame. I was in paris last week and certainly wasn't " herded " round there. And the queue to get in was only 10 minsWere you on a tour?

It was less busy than I thought it would be. In fact was busier when I went in winter before

Used the batobus and spent some time at the plages de Paris

Could even get tickets to go up Eiffel Tower without booking if we chose

I'd take Paris over London anyday

No-one gets 'herded' around Notre Dame unless they're on a tour. ND is free, and queues move quickly. Wander around and marvel at your leisure.

Use Google maps or Bonjour RATP to plan journeys; a lot of the metro works get planned for August since we're all on les vacances.

It's not being metropolitan or snooty to note that August is not the best time to visit. Those of us that live there take a first-time tourist's views with a pinch of salt, especially those who say Paris is dirty and dangerous! Context is important. Walking around Saint-Denis, maybe, yes.

Best museum imho is the Jaquemart-André. Or go to the free Petit Palais.

Visit the (free) LV Dreams expo for LV fans, the café and great views. They still have tickets available in August. lvartdeco.seetickets.com/event/louis-vuitton-art-deco-exhibition/lv-dream/3499069

I was massively disappointed with the catacombs. Not as atmospheric as any picture/video I've seen.

Agree. London is so much nicer in comparison.

Isn’t there a thing where some people who visit Paris are so disappointed that it makes them ill? I think it’s actually called Paris Syndrome.

OP - I think it’s just the worst time of year and of course you are visiting the most popular sites. I suggest going off piste a bit and heading for some of the nice but less crowded areas. St Germain ?

I've enjoyed it. DCs have as well. Our last family trip was in a june month. Eldest went back this January. They had fun and liked it.

I have been to Paris multiple times. I love the city but the Parisians are the rudest set of people I have ever met. I speak fluent French but Ive had the likes of waiters pretend not to understand me. Once you get out of Paris proper the people are charming and appreciate your attempts to communicate in their language.

First couple of times I went as a tourist and did tourist things - the Louvre. Notre Dame, the Tower, and so on. After that I began visiting as a professional antiques dealer and spent a lot of time in the flea market. Not to everyone's taste but I could and did spend days there. I usually stayed in the area which is a bit seedy but cheap. I also love the book shops which are open late into the evening. I once spent 8 hours in a book shop.

The metro can be a bit of a challenge because it works on a different system to the London tube. However once you crack it its just as straightforward If you are thinking of going to Versailles swerve the organised tours and go on the train. That entails a 10 minute walk through the town and you can stop at the market to buy wine, fruit and cheese for your lunch. Much cheaper than going to the rip off restaurants nearby.

Big up the F1 Hotel St- Ouen, consistently the cheapest choice on booking.com and a stone's throw from the flea market! (Don't go there if you think Paris is dirty and dangerous, it will confirm all your prejudices. I find it perfectly acceptable though). The DC absolutely loved the flea market and discovered a penchant for 2nd hand jewellery.

I think I prefer the Paris Metro to the London Underground overall, but its big drawback is that in London you can get pretty much everywhere with only one change, and in Paris you sometimes have to change twice- it's not laid out so well.