Welcome to the City of Light, where tourist attractions are as numerous as macarons in a bakery. Get ready to discover the “must-see” attractions of Paris, those famous places that shine a little less brightly once you’re there…
The Moulin Rouge: iconic but overdone
The Moulin Rouge is one of the most famous cabarets in the world, known for its red windmill and long history. But many recent visitors have left feeling disappointed.
The biggest complaint is how cramped the seating is—people say they were packed in like sardines at tiny tables with barely any space to move. Several also say the chairs face sideways, not even toward the stage.
The show itself gets mixed reviews. Some liked a few of the acts (like the acrobats), but others found the dancing dull and outdated, and the music not up to standard.
With high ticket prices and such tight seating, many guests felt the experience wasn’t worth the cost or the hype.
The Sacré-Cœur stairs: picturesque but overcrowded and dodgy
Montmartre, with its hilltop and the Sacré-Cœur, stands like a living postcard in Paris.
Unfortunately, this idyllic image is often obscured by hordes of tourists, transforming the stairs into a crowded urban gym, making it almost impossible to take perfect photos.
Combined with invasive street sellers and pickpockets, you have an experience resembling an endurance test rather than a quiet visit.
The Mona Lisa: a masterpiece but too overwhelmed
The Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, attracts so many people in an often overcrowded room of the Louvre.
Admiring this painting can be complicated, with vision obstructed by reflective glass and a room packed with visitors.
This can in fact significantly reduce the quality of the experience, leaving little room for a quiet contemplation of the painting.
The Champs-Élysées: glamorous but too commercial
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the largest streets in the world, featuring the Arc de Triomphe, luxury shops and restaurants that have made it world famous.
Unfortunately, the reality of this place is so much less imposing than what people have been told.
Between the fast-food restaurants invading the street and overpriced shops, and despite the beautiful setting, the flood of tourists somehow manages to spoil the pleasure of visiting the most famous street in the world.
Bateaux-Mouches on the Seine: Romantic but badly organized
A boat ride on the Seine sounds like a dream, but many visitors don’t enjoy the experience as much as they hoped.
The Bateaux-Mouches boats are often super crowded, with people standing everywhere—even in front of seated passengers—making it hard to see anything.
The audio tour is played over loudspeakers in many languages, but it’s hard to hear clearly because of the engine noise, people talking, and announcements in other languages.
The Eiffel Tower: Iconic but full of hassles
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world—but many visitors say the experience isn’t as magical as they expected.
You often need to book tickets more than a week in advance.
When you arrive, there are multiple long lines: one for security, another for the elevator, and sometimes a third for the top.
Visitors say the wait is exhausting, and there’s little help or clear info about what to expect. Many also mention the number of scammers and illegal sellers around the tower, which can feel uncomfortable or even unsafe.
Place du Tertre in Montmartre: artistic but lost its soul
Place du Tertre is famous for its painters, musicians, and old postcard charm.
But many visitors now say it feels more like a big outdoor restaurant than an art square. Café terraces take up most of the space, and the painters are pushed to the edges.
There are fewer artists, and most now just do quick portraits.
The square feels crowded and commercial, especially on busy days.
Tootbus: Easy to hop on, hard to enjoy
Tootbus is one of the hop-on hop-off tour buses in Paris. Many tourists try it thinking it’s a relaxing way to see the city. But reviews show it’s not always a good choice.
People say the audio commentary is poor or useless. It doesn’t give much information and some tours don’t even mention important sites like the Eiffel Tower.
The buses get stuck in heavy traffic for long periods, especially in the city center. That means you waste a lot of time just sitting there.
Getting off can be tricky too, and it may take forever to return to your stop.
With a passion for travel and having visited over 50 countries, Dorian is eager to share his favorite spots and expert tips to help you explore Paris and France like a local.
