Disappointing photos of 5 iconic attractions in Paris, from the overcrowded Louvre to a legendary cafe now called a 'tourist trap'

Shutterstock/NaughtyNut, Reuters

Expectation vs. reality.

• More than 41 million people visited Paris in 2017.
• While the French capital can be a magical place, some of its most iconic attractions don't always live up to the hype.
• From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre to Montmartre, you might find them to be insanely overcrowded, overrun with rats, turned into "tourist traps," or closed due to strikes.

Not for nothing does Paris see more than 41 million visitors a year.

Its iconic museums, beautiful Haussmanian architecture, immaculate parks, cultural activities, and of course, its food, all place the French capital high up on the list of many travelers.

But these disappointing photos show that some of the city's most iconic attractions, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre to the Sacre Coeur basilica at Montmartre, don't always live up to the hype.