Is Paris really overrated?
Everything has been said about Paris. Many people complain about their trip to Paris and give it some bad press. But is Paris overrated?
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The Palaces of VersaillesThe Palais GarnierO ChateauMontmartreLe musée d’OrsayNotre Dame CathedralThe LouvreArc de Triomphe and the Champs-ElyséesMontparnasse TowerThe Eiffel TowerParis for some is all shiny, minty and romantic. When the word Paris (pronounced /paʁi/, roughly “pah-ree” with a French r and the s thrown out onto the pavement) is left out in the open, people think of fashionable girls and lads with baguettes on their Vespas, women in power dresses and designer shoes, men in equally flamboyant and handsome suits. The words – parties, the bar, the romance arise when Paris is discussed.
Yes, definitely, Paris is that one place on everyone’s top 10 destinations before kicking the irreversible bucket except of course, the French who are already there. This place is the “It Girl” in all the famous destinations of all time. But some people think it’s a little too overrated, some say Paris is only beautiful as it’s expensive, some say that it’s pretentious, what with the little variety of places to visit and limited things to do.
But does Paris really live up to its reputation or the hype surrounding it?…Or as we say in French surfait.
Let’s see if Paris is really très surfait.
Paris Palaces aren’t really that historical and interesting…- Paris haters
The Palaces of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles has been described as one of the most beautiful achievements of 17th- and 18th-century French art. The palace, first built as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII and later expanded by Louis XIV into the palace we know today, stands as a true symbol of Royal Absolutism.
Royal absolutism is such a big term, wouldn’t you say? In layman’s terms, the king held supreme political authority rather than sharing it with a representative legislature. Under Louis XIV, this did not mean that there were no laws: the monarchy still operated within the kingdom’s fundamental laws. The exercise of royal power is one of the many historical questions you can explore at Versailles.
We could go on discussing the other implications of Royal Absolutism, and that’s only one of the facets of history you could find about Versailles, each more interesting than the last. Versailles is a place where you can reflect on various implications of French history enshrined in its walls, and simply take a walk back in time in a backdrop of stunning views. Just the right place to satiate both your historical curiosity and feast your eyes, don’t you think?
The Palais Garnier
This is probably the most famous opera house in the world, having been used as the setting in the widely celebrated musical “The Phantom of the Opera”. If this doesn’t count as interesting, I think one has to be prepared to “counter debate” the millions of people that were spooked and influenced by it.
“You can’t even get a decent drink in Paris”- A Hipster
O Chateau
From history, let’s move on to what I like to think of as a starter of history—“le vin”—or, if you’re too drunk to pronounce it, “wine”. I think you’d agree that a glass of wine is a fine setting for mulling over big decisions. Or a goblet, if I may say.
Imagine these tipsy revolutionary conversations while a sommelier guides you through French wines at O Chateau. This place has earned a lot of good reviews in different publications for their really vast and delicious cocktail, wine and drink combinations.
Montmartre
If we talk about partying, there is Montmartre.
This place is not only famous for the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur or the cemetery with different celebrities. It’s also a party place with good food and drinks as counted in the top 10 spots for Paris by a lot of other party bloggers. Check Google if you wish to see how many…
“If the Mona Lisa is the only interesting artwork, it’s too expensive to travel to Paris just for that…”
-“Un nouveau riche”
Woah! That’s just plain harsh, I’ve read this in one of the articles about Paris, and talked to a lot of friends about it. They said that I ought to write a response to this statement with the different art pieces and museums that any decent art appreciator could enjoy. I mean, I’m no art expert, but my friends are, and to deplore Paris for not having enough art could get you in trouble. I say look at these places first before uttering things that could get you a nasty stare (or worse, a black eye or two).
Le musée d’Orsay
Le musée d’Orsay, or the Orsay Museum is housed in the former Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, so the building itself could be seen as the first “work of art” in the Musée d’Orsay. On the banks of the Seine, facing the Tuileries Gardens, you can explore paintings, sculptures and other works in a museum that is itself part of French history.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Whether you’re Catholic or not, this place is a sight to behold. Not to forget the history of this Cathedral, which also inspired movies such as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, this monumental venue also has its share of controversies and fame like the Vatican. Notre-Dame de Paris means “Our Lady of Paris” in English, a name honouring Mary, the mother of God. After the fire of 2019, the cathedral reopened to the public in December 2024.
The Louvre
The Louvre. Who would forget the place for Dan Brown’s controversial plot, the most sought after museum, not just because of le book “The Da Vinci Code” but also for housing the most famous art pieces such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and other works to rival these famous artworks. And who could forget the translucent glass pyramid of the museum, which has been posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram one too many times.
“Too urbane, nothing about it is chic. And uhh, what romance?”- A random drunk
Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées
Arguably one of the world’s most famous streets, the Champs-Élysées is home to luxury boutiques as well as high-street shops. You can admire both its famous shopping addresses and the Arc de Triomphe. If you’re on a budget, window shop, and post it on Instagram, no one would know that you just took pictures 🙂
And if that’s not as chic to you yet, how would you consider the towers?
Montparnasse Tower
Oh, you can’t miss this, and you’ll never want to. It stands like a condescending parent in the midst of the urbane landscape of Paris. The Montparnasse tower is quite controversial for this reason alone. Its top-floor observation deck has long offered a panoramic view of all of Paris and a chance meeting with that special someone who might also be looking around (winks). Note that the observation deck closed in 2026 for a long renovation, so check before planning a visit.
The Eiffel Tower
The tower that seemingly burns on the façade of being afloat at night. Romantic, grand and surreal–these are the 3 things that would describe Eiffel. Looking over the city from the top of this tower is enough to tell me that this is the place to be! From the rivets in its beams to its glass elevators, who could challenge this tower made of iron lattice in terms of chic-ness? And yes, I know Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise may be long over but who could argue that proposing on the Eiffel tower ain’t romantic?
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I bet you would want to take a peek at these places. Go on. Don’t let the negative reviews hinder you. Try to check on the number of people who agree, don’t you think that people who love Paris definitely win? Just saying.
