City Rating: Paris
Population: 2’200’000
Date of visit: February 2017
Attractions & sights: 5/5
Nightlife: 4/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 5/5
Low budget factor: 1/5
Total: 👍👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Paris – the city of love. There is a reason why the French capital is one of the most touristy cities in the world; it’s just a stylish, sophisticated and spectacular place. Paris is a city that offers a lot, but it’s also one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
Where to stay:
The city is huge. If sightseeing is the main focus, a strategically well-located hotel is the most important factor. Somewhere near Louvre is certainly expensive, but it’s a good location, as the Champs Élysées and Arc de Triomphe are within walking distance.
The Good:
The French capital is probably one of the most bashed cities in Europe. People complain about the dirty streets, the crime-rate, the mass tourism etc. but I still believe that many of these people do Paris wrong. The city is exceptional in my opinion, and there are so many things to see and do so that Paris is everything but boring.
Paris’ attractions and sights are among the best in Europe or arguably number one together with Rome. It is possible to spend many days without seeing all of the city’s attractions. The city itself is beautiful with outstanding architecture and a mixture of old and modern elements.
It is also recommended to spend time in the different neighborhoods, as they are all different and have their own attractions. This makes Paris a quite diversified city with a lot to discover.
Nightlife is also amazing in the French capital. There are countless bars and nightclubs so that people have the agony of choice. The only catch is that nightlife in Paris can be ridiculously expensive (like everything else in this city), which leads to the next point…
The Bad & The Ugly:
When it comes to prices, Paris has a range from “average European” to “higher than Scandinavia”. Restaurants, bars and cafes near the attractions are rip offs, as I paid €15 for a coffee and a coke near Louvre. The recommendation would be not ordering food or drinks near an attraction. This is not very easy though, as the city is full of sights…
The French capital is also a quite criminal city. Pickpocketing and scams are rather the rule than exception in highly frequented areas. A common scam for example are the African men, who give you a bracelet near Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. The price you have to pay afterwards is exorbitant.
Another minus is the danger of terrorism, which has risen in recent years. There are also some neighborhoods outside of the city center that are considered dangerous. Paris is one of the most dangerous cities in Europe nowadays. Sad but true.
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