Paris, the city of lights, love, and fashion, has long been the enchanting backdrop for Hollywood’s romantic blockbusters like “Before Sunset,” “Emily in Paris,” and “Midnight in Paris.”
But beyond the glamorous Fashion Week in Paris events, the picturesque romantic strolls along the Seine, and quaint cafes, Paris has been receiving some bad reviews lately, with many dubbing it “an overrated tourist trap.”
According to one TikToker @malfoy_drayco, this bucket-list destination isn’t the glamorous city every influencer and romantic movie showed it to be. Instead, it is so “post-apocalyptic,” “it stinks,” and he thinks everyone should consider taking it off their bucket lists expeditiously.
In a video that has garnered over 36 million views, the outspoken Malfoy shared his experience with his viewers, and he didn’t hold anything back.
“Y’all save all your money, all y’all lives to come here,” Malfoy started. “Hm. Let me be the one to break your bubble.”
“First of all, Paris stink. It smells like pee, cheese, and armpits. Even the d**m pigeons was crazy,” he continued.
@malfoy_drayco Replying to @waveswright if u like the smell of pee come on and visit Paree #fyp #foryoupage #xyzbca #paris #paristravel #paristravelguide #paristravelgoals #paristraveladvice #paristraveltips #paristips #paristrip #parisvibes #parisvlog #paristiktok #parisian #parisianstyle #parisianlife #parisianvibes #parisdayinthelife #parisguide #parislife #parisliving #parislifestyle #pariscity #parisfrance #france #francetiktok ♬ LIKE MY VIDEO IM TANKING – Ghost Face
He then went for the city’s food – which he described using some not-so-colorful adjectives.
“There’s no activities here, and the food is so meh. That’s why there’s hella fast foods, American fast food chains, coz their food don’t taste like s**t, and that s**t look grimy as hell.”
Up next were the streets and buildings. At least Emily in Paris prepared us a little for this part, but Malfoy couldn’t get over the “post-apocalyptic” vibes. He said, “It was actually a horror site to see.”
Then there was the Eiffel Tower. The beloved tourist attraction didn’t step up to his expectations. It wasn’t giving kissing under the Eiffel Tower lights, and where the hell were all the mimes?
“This was the most overhyped s**t I’ve ever seen. Outside of this tower, there ain’t s**t to do. There’s no mime culture. They don’t know how to capitalize off their culture. It’s just this damn tower.”
And you’d have expected that the city’s nightlife would’ve at least passed the vibe test. But Malfoy was so bored that he actually started reading a book – in the middle of a club!
He wrote, “Idk who sold this dream to Americans, but if u coming out here thinking u about to find the love of your life, U a daymm fool.”
“They don’t approach, they not outwardly romantic, no sense of sentimentality. Child, these people honestly can’t dress,” he added.
Check it out for yourself:
@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
Why So Many People Think Paris Is Overrated (IMO)
And Malfoy’s not the only one – though his commentary was definitely the most entertaining. Vloggers, influencers, and travel enthusiasts have complained about its overhyped nature, with the Eiffel Tower being the center of ridicule.
People have been so disappointed by the city not living up to its hype that there’s an actual phenomenon known as the “Paris Syndrome.”
And while everyone is entitled to their opinion about the city, I think the “syndrome” results from the continuous romanticization of the city of lights. Movies have, for the longest time, drummed into us the notion that Paris is all about glamor. That it’s the place you’re bound to meet the love of your life and live happily ever after from then on. That it glimmers, shines, smells like summer, and offers Ratatouille-like dishes.
But the truth is that it’s like any other city in the world. So, you can expect it to be over-populated, dirty (you’re bound to find trash and homeless people everywhere), filled with pickpocketers, rude people, and graffiti (it’s the birthplace of so many renowned artists. So this really shouldn’t be surprising).
More Underrated Alternatives To The Eiffel Tower (Again, IMO)
And yes, the Eiffel Tower is a bit overhyped and can be tedious because of the crowds and endless steps. So how about you switch it up for the Montparnasse Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, or Pont Alexandre III, where you can still see the city’s stunning panoramas without long queues?
And instead of going to Champs Elysees, why not explore lesser-known areas like the Rue de Martyrs? Or go to Musee d’Orsay instead of Lourve Museum. There you can see Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Nights masterpiece and the great works of Claude Monet.
While some Paris attractions might not live up to the hype, the city has much to offer. So rather than dismissing it as an overrated tourist trap, it’s worth approaching your visit with an open mind and maybe seeking out hidden gems that make this city of lights genuinely memorable.
Ultimately though, whether you agree with @malfoy_drayco or not, visiting Paris is a personal experience. It’s up to you to determine which attractions are worth your time and money and which you can easily skip. It’s all about striking a balance between the must-see sights and the hidden, lesser-known gems.
Or what do you think?
Please share your opinion with us in the comment section below.
