To be quite honest, I’ve always assumed that Paris is one of those overrated cities that people visit just cause everyone is doing it. Dubbed, the city of love, many women hint to their significant other that they must take them there so they can experience a higher level of romance (and of course, show off to their friends).
On the flip side of things, Paris is also known as the city where French people don’t want to speak English to you. Apparently, if you try speaking English to a French person, they will reply back in French despite knowing how to speak English.
There’s also the fear of terrorist attacks. However, this doesn’t seem to have slowed down the flow of tourist coming into the city.
As you can see, Paris is famous for a lot of things hence why it’s such a popular tourist destination.
Why I think Paris is such a popular tourist destination
I reached Paris by taking a fast train from Basel, Switzerland to Paris, France. While I was in the train, I was greeted by a young French individual in his early 20s. He was more than happy to converse with me in English. During the entire conversation, he was very friendly and eager to give me advice on how to see the famous city.
As soon as I arrived in Paris, I purchased an all day pass at the metro station.
The typical all day metro pass that people normally purchase costs the following:
- 7.30 Euros for zones 1-2
- 9.70 Euros for zones 1-3
I believe I ended up buying the zones 1-3 pass because my accommodation was not located in the city centre.
As soon as I started using the metro, I immediately learned one of the reason why Paris is so popular.
Reason #1: The metro makes it very easy to get around Paris
The map of the metro shows where every single major tourist attraction is located. By following the corresponding colours on the metro map, you can easily transfer between metro lines to reach your destination.
Reason #2: The Louvre
The first tourist attraction I visited in Paris is the Louvre. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t purchase a ticket online before leaving my hotel thinking I can purchase it onsite. As soon as I arrived, it started raining very hard. I didn’t want to wait in the queue for 1.5 hours while getting soaked by the rain so I just explored the outside area and looked into the window where you can see part of the Louvre exhibition. Despite this, I enjoyed visiting the outside of the Louvre and have an excuse to return to this great city.
The Louvre is a museum that has some of the best artwork our planet has to offer. Best of all, it is the home of the Mona Lisa which is arguably the most famous painting of all times.
Reason #3: The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower just a bunch of steel put together or is it something more? For me, the Eiffel Tower symbolizes France which for the longest time, was one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is one of the most iconic and recognizable structure in the world. Looking at the Eiffel Tower made me feel like I was in the presence of something important which made seeing this steel tower a memorable moment for me.
And of course, it’s an awesome landmark to take selfies with as you can see with the millions of tourist taking pictures right in front of it.
Reason #4: Notre-Dame
The hunchback of Notre-Dame is one of the most famous stories in the world. Feeling a bit ignorant, I did not realize that the famous cathedral is located in Paris! Knowing this, I quickly prioritized seeing this famous church when I visited the city.
Reason #5: There is so much to see and do in Paris
When I left Paris, I felt like I barely scratched the surface during my time there. This is good because I would love to return one day and really explore this city outside of the touristy areas.
There is just so much you can do and see in this city that it’s no wonder everyone keeps coming here.
I love pleasant surprises and I’m glad I took the time to visit Paris during my one year trip around the world. Because this city definitely surprised me with its beauty, culture, and vibe.
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