While the famous phrase “To see Paris and die” really means that someone has finally attained their ultimate dream of seeing the city and can now die happy, people today are taking it literally. They are so disappointed by the city, they almost literally want to die after visiting Paris. It’s not the city that they had seen in movies, read about in books, and heard about at travel agencies. And it turns out, this is a worldwide phenomenon.

We at Bright Side were really frustrated when we found out that there is even a so-called Paris syndrome — a psychological disorder in people disappointed by the capital of France. We describe it in detail in the bonus.

1. Long lines to the Eiffel Tower observation deck and matted grass on the lawn

Don’t expect to overeat in a French restaurant. The portions there are very small, and very expensive.

There are several possible solutions to this problem: from a usual picnic with wine, cheese, and a baguette to a life hack. In restaurants, there is always a daily special that costs less than other dishes. Also, don’t go to the cafes located downtown and make sure there are no popular sights around. For example, a coffee with a dessert near the Louvre will cost you around €18. And the same order will cost you about €7 somewhere near the Pantheon in Paris. But you can also find cheaper places because, in that area, there are a lot of educational institutions, including the Sorbonne. There are many students in the area, so there are cheap cafes.

8. Broken dreams about photos in empty places

Thousands of tourists will be in the places near all the sights in the city. The Trocadéro site that offers the best view of the Eiffel Tower is always packed with people, the same is true for Notre-Dame de Paris. And there are very few people that manage to snap a picture without a lot of people there.

If you want to get a beautiful picture, be ready to make a sacrifice. In this case, you’ll have to sacrifice your sleep because these places are relatively empty only in the very early morning or very late evening. But who cares about sleep when there is a chance to take a great picture. Also, this is a trip that doesn’t last forever, so you should take any chance you get.

9. Urinals located in the central streets

© AFP / EAST NEWS

The visitors of the city are shocked by the street urinals that are located right in the middle of the streets. For example, there are several urinals that are not far from Notre-Dame de Paris. These public toilets are a relatively new thing for Paris. They appeared in 2018 as an attempt to protect the cleanliness of the streets. Of course, other European cities also have these urinals, but it doesn’t make them any more attractive. The biggest question is this: why are the new urinals so minimalistic and open? The history of public toilets in the city had far better versions.

10. There is a lot of trash in Paris.

© VOISIN / PHANIE / EAST NEWS

Many tourists complain that Paris is dirty. Even the central streets are piled with trash that nobody is eager to remove.

Maybe we should try and not pay too much attention to the trash that piles up by the end of the day. But if it bothers you too much, start walking around the city in the morning. This is the time when the city has been thoroughly cleaned.

11. Feeling unsafe

© PhotoNonStop RM / EAST NEWS, © Artur Widak / Sipa USA / EAST NEWS

In the city, there are a huge number of immigrants of different nationalities. Some of them bother tourists near every sight, trying to sell all kinds of useless stuff to them. And they get really angry if nobody buys anything. This is actually not very dangerous. But there are districts that you should never go into. The most dangerous places are the areas of the North (Gare du Nord) and East (Gare de L’Est) railway stations, and Saint-Denis.

If you walk around the most popular tourist routes, you will mostly see tourists like yourself. But you should definitely go to the districts where the French noble people live: Temple (3rd arrondissement), Hôtel de Ville (4th arrondissement), Luxembourg (6th arrondissement), Palais Bourbon (7th arrondissement), and Passy (16th arrondissement).

Bonus: Paris syndrome and failed expectations

Many travelers agree that Paris is not the most hospitable city in the world. People often see that the staff in Paris are not very welcoming. This is where the Paris syndrome came from. Tourists have very high hopes for the city and its inhabitants. This psychological disorder was first diagnosed in 1986 by Japanese psychiatrist Hiroaki Ota. It is mostly spread among the Japanese tourists that are not ready to see the unwelcoming French.

Remember that Paris is an amazing city with a rich history, impeccable architecture, and its own charm. Even if you don’t fall in love with it, you should definitely visit it at least once. And try not to pay attention to the little things, because you are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. “Paris is so significant and grandiose because the world has loved it for generations even though people don’t really know it,” Mikhail German once said.

Have you ever been to Paris? If yes, what impression did the city leave on you?

Illustrated by Ekaterina Gapanovich for Bright Side11