Paris is one of the most visited cities on the planet, and if you’ve never been, you’ve probably built it up a little in your head. Maybe a lot. That’s okay. We did too. We live about half an hour outside the city, and even after all this time, it still gets us.
But we’re not here to sell you a postcard. Paris is extraordinary, but it also has some genuinely annoying quirks that nobody warns you about.
So before you go, here’s our honest take on Paris pros and cons. These are the things that drive us a little crazy, and the things that make it completely worth it anyway.
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The Worst Things About Paris
I’m going to go ahead and get the bad sh*t out of the way first…and I mean that quite literally.
The Dog Poop
The stereotype is real. The French are not big on picking up after their dogs, and Paris pavements will absolutely humble you if you’re not paying attention. Watch where you step, especially on smaller side streets, and you should be fine, but it is pretty gross.
We’ve been known to carry around extra baggies when we’re out with our dog, just in case we see someone failing to do their duty with their doodie.
It doesn’t happen much, but we’ve literally had French people say “Non, merci” to us if we’ve asked them whether they need a bag to pick up their dog’s poop.
This is why there are people employed specifically for picking up dog feces. It’s a whole thing, and I will never understand it.
The Scammers
This is really a big-city problem, but it’s worth knowing about before you arrive so you’re not caught off guard.
A common one is the friendship bracelet scam. Guys near Sacré-Coeur will grab your wrist and start tying one on before you’ve had a chance to react, then ask for payment.
Even more annoying are the clipboard petition women. They’re usually working in groups and will try to pickpocket you while you’re distracted signing.
They may also be trying to get you to sign up for something you don’t know you’re signing up for, like a monetary commitment. Sometimes they pretend to be deaf. I guess enough tourists have fallen for this and given them money that they carry on.
Neither is dangerous, just annoying. Keep walking, avoid eye contact, and say a firm “non, merci” if you need to. You’ve got this.
The Crowds
Paris is one of the most touristed cities in the world, so yes, it’s going to be busy. The big attractions are the obvious culprits, but even some quieter neighborhoods have started feeling the Instagram effect.
All it takes is for a pretty, formerly quiet street to go viral, and suddenly everyone is on it at once. It’s still pretty, but maybe a little less whimsical.
This isn’t a reason to skip Paris, it’s just a reason to manage your expectations.
It’d be wild for me to tell someone visiting the city for the first time to skip a visit to the Louvre, for example.
My mother, historically a super hard woman to please, was in awe the first time she looked up at the Eiffel Tower. Everyone should see these places at least once in their lifetime.
Just pack your patience pants with you, because you’re going to be sharing those moments with other tourists, and lots of them.
The Tourist Traps
Anywhere this many people visit, someone is waiting to charge you a lot for something deeply mediocre. That means 18€ crepes, restaurants with laminated menus in six languages, and shops selling nothing but tiny metal Eiffel Towers in seventeen sizes.
The good news is that it’s all really easy to avoid. Walk two streets back from any major landmark, and prices drop while quality goes up almost immediately. The city rewards people who wander away from the highlights.
Note: Now, if you really want that red beret, I’m not going to stop you from buying it. You’re a tourist. If it brings you joy, be joyful.
We had a friend visit with such infectious energy about all things Paris that a shopkeeper described her red beret purchase as “fire.” And you know what? She looked pretty fire.
Just don’t expect purchases at those tchotchke shops to last very long when you’re back at home. It’s all crap.
The Random Closures
France has a very healthy relationship with not working. I say that with love, by the way. They have figured out the quality of life thing better than any other country we’ve visited.
For tourists, though, that means museums go on strike, galleries close with no warning, and individual sites will shut for renovations for months at a time. Many times you won’t get any updates online about closures, either.
The Pantheon closed on us twice when we tried to bring friends there. Twice!
The first was because of an employee strike, and the second was for more mysterious reasons. Seriously. I do not know why it was closed that day, but it was. The website was still selling tickets online.
Add the fact that many places close on Mondays, Tuesdays, or the entire month of August, and the lesson is simple: always have a backup plan. Paris will not apologize for the inconvenience.
The Best Things About Paris
It’s not all criticisms. I wanted to end on a happier note, so let’s go! Here’s what we absolutely LOVE about Paris.
The Service
This one surprises a lot of Americans. In the U.S., you’re used to servers checking in every five minutes and a subtle pressure to turn the tables over quickly. Servers rely on tips, after all, something that visitors hate, but is just a thing we have to deal with.
This isn’t a server criticism, by the way. My mom worked as one for like 40 years. It’s a criticism of the American system.
Note: If you want to eat out in the U.S., you tip, unless it’s already included on the bill, of course. Otherwise, cook your own food, folks.
In Paris, that’s just not how it works. You make a reservation, and that table is yours for as long as you want it. No one is rushing you out.
The whole point is to sit, eat, talk, and actually enjoy yourself. Once you adjust to the pace, it’s hard to imagine eating any other way.
If you want something faster, there’s always O’Tacos. There’s no judgment there, either.
The Food Diversity
French food is awesome, but sometimes I don’t need a kilo of butter with my meal. Paris has an incredible international food scene, largely thanks to its immigrant populations.
The 13th arrondissement has one of the best Chinatowns in Europe. The Lebanese food near the Marais is incredible. There are Vietnamese spots run by the same family for three generations.
We’ve eaten authentic Thai, Moroccan, Korean, and on and on and on. Whatever you’re craving, Paris has an answer for it, and honestly, the international food scene is often what pulls us into the city in the first place.
The Outdoor Spaces
For a dense urban city, Paris is surprisingly green. The Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens are stunning, but almost every arrondissement has its own little squares and pocket gardens tucked away.
What makes them special is that Parisians actually use them. People are picnicking, crocheting, reading, playing pétanque, and just existing outside. Some of them are literally just staring up at the sun, as if they’re unsure when they’ll see it again.
Fun fact: In Paris, that’s a real fear. Fall and winter can get pretty dreary.
It’s a real outdoor social life, not just a backdrop for photos, and it’s one of our favorite things about the city.
The History
Growing up in the U.S., a building from the 1800s feels ancient. Paris will completely rewire your sense of time. The Sainte-Chapelle was built in the 1240s, and you can just walk in on a random Tuesday. The Louvre was a royal palace before it was a museum.
Napoleon is buried here. The French Revolution happened on these streets. Layer after layer after layer, and it’s all still standing, still accessible, still part of daily life in a way that’s genuinely hard to wrap your head around.
What we find ourselves doing is looking up constantly, because the architecture tells a story on every single block. I’m talking ornate details on buildings that most people walk right past without noticing, or courtyards hiding behind giant wooden doors.
The street names here reference battles, kings, and writers from centuries ago. You don’t need to know anything about history for it to hit you, to be honest.
Fun fact: Rue de Rivoli, one of Paris’s main shopping streets, is named after Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Rivoli in 1797.
You can just tell, as you prowl these streets after that two-hour bistro lunch, that these streets are friggin’ old. It’s awesome.
The Walkability
Brian’s favorite thing is to walk somewhere rather than take the metro, as he loves those steps. Since treats tend to appear along the way, I usually comply.
Paris is genuinely one of the most walkable cities in the world, and that’s not something you fully appreciate until you’re in it.
Every arrondissement has its own personality, and no matter how solid your plan is, you’re going to stumble into things.
It might be a market that wasn’t on any list, a hidden courtyard, or a bakery that stops you in your tracks because the treats are that good-looking.
The French capital kind of forces you to discover it. And when your feet finally give out, the Paris metro, RER, and buses will get you anywhere you need to go.
Coming from somewhere where a car is non-negotiable — I mean the U.S., not like, New York — that freedom solid public transportation offers will never get old.
Paris Pros and Cons: FAQs
Is Paris worth visiting?
Paris is always worth visiting, but especially as a first-time trip to Europe. It’s one of those cities that lives up to the hype of its main attractions, and everyone should see Paris at least once in their lifetime.
I break this down in more detail in my full guide on whether Paris is worth visiting, including who will love it most and who might not.
Is Paris expensive for tourists or expats?
Paris can be an expensive city for both tourists and expats, especially when it comes to accommodations, dining in touristy areas, and daily living costs. It’s one of the most expensive cities in France. It’s generally not as pricey some of the bigger cities in the U.S., though.
It’s also possible to experience the city on a budget if you plan carefully. I have a separate cost-of-living guide that breaks down our rent, groceries, transport, and typical monthly expenses in detail.
Do people actually speak English in Paris?
In tourist areas of Paris, you’ll find that many people in hotels, museums, and restaurants do speak English, especially younger generations.
Outside of major tourist zones, English is less commonly spoken, so knowing a few basic French phrases goes a long way. It’s also appreciated by locals, no matter what you’ve heard.
What should you know before visiting Paris?
Before visiting Paris, it helps to know that the city runs on a slightly different rhythm than many visitors expect. Meals are more structured, shops may close earlier than you’re used to, and a bit of basic French etiquette goes a long way.
It’s also worth planning ahead for transport and reservations, especially in peak season.
Is Paris overrated?
Paris isn’t overrated, but it’s important to manage your expectations. If you’re expecting a perfectly polished, romantic movie version of the city, you may be surprised by its everyday reality.
However, many visitors find that the charm, culture, and beauty are very real, even moving, once you experience them, especially beyond the main tourist spots.
The good outweighs the bad when it comes to Paris.
Honestly, I had to get a little nitpicky with some of the negatives just to keep things balanced. None of the crappy stuff comes close to canceling out what the city actually is.
We will never fully understand people who come back from Paris disappointed. Is it crowded? Yes. Is it imperfect? Sure.
But it is also one of the most alive, delicious, and interesting places we have ever spent time in, and we feel genuinely lucky that it’s basically been in our backyard.
If you’ve been, you know. If you haven’t, go. Just watch where you step.
Explore France outside of Paris:
- See the Most Beautiful Places in Brittany
- Why You Should Plan a Trip to Saint-Malo
- A Guide to Visiting Underrated Nantes
- How to Spend the Day in Toulouse
- Dinard: Another Beautiful City in France
More France guides to help you plan:
- Is Montpellier Worth Your Time?
- How to Plan a Day in Marseille
- Visiting Strasbourg’s Christmas Market
- Plan a Day Trip From Nice to Cannes
- See the Castles of the Loire Valley
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