- Last December, I visited Paris for the first time and was amazed by how beautiful the city was.
- I was recently surprised to see a TikTok video hating on the city go viral.
"Paris syndrome" describes the feeling of visiting Paris for the first time, only to feel disappointed that the city is not as beautiful or enchanting as you expected it to be.
When I visited Paris for the first time last year, I was amazed by how the experience reached — and exceeded — my expectations. Given that I went during Christmas week, I was pleasantly surprised by the festive surroundings and plethora of things to do.
From the delicious and affordable meals I ate to the thrill of touring the Palace of Versailles, I definitely didn't experience any feelings of disappointment over what I had planned to be a magical trip.
When I came across a TikTok video going in on the city for being overrated and lacking in things to do, I was surprised
@malfoy_drayco Replying to @utica.church Paris was definitely giving Ratatouille bc thats all i saw walking thru the streets #fyp #foryoupage #xyzbca #paris #paristravel #paristravelguide #paristravelgoals #paristraveladvice #paristraveltips #paristips #paristrip #parisvibes #parisvlog #paristiktok #parisianlife #parisianvibes #parisguide #parislife #parislifestyle #parisliving #visitparis #parismood #parisfrance #eiffeltower #eiffel #france #francetiktok #parisdayinthelife ♬ original sound - Benaiah Adesoji
In the video, which has been viewed more than 36 million times since it was shared on July 10, an American TikToker named Malfoy (@Malfoy_Draco) documented his distaste for the city's nightlife, how little he said there is to do, the abundance of American fast-food chains, and what he called the city's "grimy" streets.
"It smells like piss, cheese, and armpits," Malfoy says in the video. "You will see a café on every corner because [there are] no activities here and the food is so mid."
The video got me thinking about my own experience visiting Paris, and how it couldn't have been more different
When I visited Paris, I marveled at the architecture, the number of museums, and festive Christmas markets. I mosied through cobblestone streets and stopped at quaint patisseries and cheese shops. I looked at the Christmas lights on department store facades and along the Champs-Élysées. I stood in the same room where Marie Antoinette once slept. I waited to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night and cheered when it did.
In a direct rebuttal to one of the points made in the video, I spent hours sitting in cafés and watching fashionable people stroll by, not once thinking that this hindered the city or my experience.
Rather than sticking to central Paris, as many clips from the video appeared to show, I also enjoyed exploring city neighborhoods that were slightly further afield, such as Montmartre, and the town of Versailles that lies just beyond the palace.
I thought the food was drastically cheaper and better in Paris than in New York City, if you knew where to go
Thanks to months of extensive research and reservation-making, practically everything I ate in Paris was just as good or better than meals I've had in New York.
Some of my favorite meals during the trip included a truffle pasta dish at Libertino and mussels with chorizo at Au Pied de Cochon, one of Julia Child's favorite restaurants that inspired her love of French cooking. While both of these restaurants were on the slightly pricier side, I didn't think they were ludicrously expensive.
However, I also found that I could eat very affordably by indulging in the local street-food scene. At the Christmas markets, which pop up all over the city around the holidays, I drank mulled wine and ate potatoes covered in gooey raclette cheese, both of which were extremely affordable.
As for things to do, I never had a dull moment in Paris.
A few of the things on our itinerary included a walking tour of Paris where we learned about the history of the German occupation of Paris during World War II, a trip to the Palace of Versailles, and a nighttime river cruise along the Seine.
Interspersed within the trip was time for shopping, eating in cafés, visiting museums, and generally enjoying our surroundings.
Everywhere I looked, there was something beautiful or delicious-looking.
I left my week-long trip desperate to return — and I'll be back this Christmas
While I understand that some people's negative opinions of Paris may accurately represent their experiences — and while I am under no illusions that many residents of Paris face major social and economic challenges — I found that many of the biggest drawbacks I experienced as a visitor during my stay were the same as in any major city.
For example, in New York City — just like in @Malfoy_Draco's TikTok video — I'm constantly running into flocks of pigeons, trash on the sidewalk, or a less-than-stellar night out on the town.
But that doesn't mean I don't love this city.
While there are undoubtedly other places where I could experience complete culture shock, in my experience, the City of Lights truly lived up to the hype.
So much so, that I'm already planning to spend Christmas in Paris again this year.