France is always in the top international tourism destinations and the most popular place to visit there is the capital, Paris. The tourist attractions that come to mind are the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but the city has so much more to offer.
TikToker Calli thinks that you may want to skip the most popular and overcrowded places and opt for less conventional but equally beautiful and interesting destinations, especially if you are on a time crunch but want to get to know the city.
More info: TikTok Part 1 | TikTok Part 2
Woman moved to France and has some tips for people coming to visit Paris for the first time
Image credits: callizar
Image credits: @calli.zar
Calli Zarpas introduces herself as “a writer, podcast host, and content producer who loves all things beauty, wellness, travel, and business.” She was a person who was not born for an office job with regular hours and the search for her dreams brought her to France.
Her journey here started in a town between Paris and the Norman coast where she taught English for two years. The woman realized that she was living a life that many dream of, so she wanted to share the fantasy with others and started a blog which opened up many job opportunities, allowing her to have the type of career that she dreamed of.
A lot of Calli’s content on TikTok revolves around France, the daily life there and traveling. Her account has 14k followers but that didn’t stop one of her most recent videos from blowing up and being viewed almost 2 million times.
It is no wonder, because in that video, the woman wanted to inform people about the biggest mistakes tourists make when visiting the hottest spot in France, Paris, and everybody wants to know how to make the best out of their vacation.
She believes the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is not worth it and it's better to go up the Arc de Triomphe
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
In the viral video, Calli not only points out the places she thinks tourists should avoid because they are pretty crowded and not worth the time it takes to go there, but gives alternatives.
For example, the woman thinks that the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is not that nice and maybe it’s not worth waiting in long lines and climbing all the stairs. But if you want a panoramic view of Paris, the Arc de Triomphe will surprise you more.
However, people in the comments couldn’t entirely agree with everything the woman said and thought that if you come to Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre are musts no matter how long the wait is.
They argued that the Louvre is not only Mona Lisa and people who appreciate art will definitely find it interesting and enriching. Others added that they actually enjoyed the view from the Eiffel Tower and it has an elevator so it doesn’t require that much effort. After all, there is a reason behind why those places are so popular.
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
When Bored Panda reached out to Calli, she explained why she would discourage going to those places, "If you're somebody who loves art and architecture and wants to see the sites Paris is known for, you absolutely should go to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. If you're looking for something a little less overrun with tourists and don't want a run-of-the-mill Paris trip, it is still possible to have an incredible Parisian vacation without climbing the Eiffel Tower and visiting the Louvre."
Although, in Calli's opinion, there are some popular places and spots requiring a lot of time that are worth your attention, "Other popular places to visit that require a good amount of time to visit would be visiting the Catacombs, which take about an hour or two depending on how long you take to read all of the signs and look at all of the skeletons. Many of the other famous Parisian museums like Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, and Centre Pompidou can also take multiple hours to get through if you want to see all of the art."
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world but it takes too much time to look around and there is always a crowd
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
The biggest reason why you don't want to spend time waiting in lines or stand in overcrowded places is because vacations usually don't last that long, but Calli thinks that "To hit all of the major landmarks in Paris, you really only need two to three days if you're willing to make your museum stops a little shorter."
She adds, "But if you really want to get to know Paris, I would spend at least a week. Then you'll get to explore lesser-known neighborhoods, try lots of restaurants, and take day trips to sites outside of the city like the Chateau de Versailles and Monet's home and gardens. And if you really want to get to know Paris like a local, you'll need at least a few months to really explore all of the hidden gems."
A better alternative would be the Musée de l'Orangerie where Monet's Lily Pad paintings are housed
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
Instead of visiting the Jardin des Tuileries where everyone goes, opt for Coulée Verte, which is a park and walkway in one
Image credits: @calli.zar
It all depends on what you like to experience when you travel and what you expect, because many people actually get disappointed when they come to Paris as they have such high expectations but are met with a different reality.
Actually, so many people get excited about going to the city of love by having a specific image in their head and then being disappointed when they arrive that this phenomenon was defined as Paris syndrome.
The term was coined by Japanese psychiatrist Hiroaki Ota and it is actually most common among Japanese tourists. Rodanthi Tzanelli, a professor of cultural sociology at the University of Leeds in the U.K., said, “We are talking about a culture that, historically, had a completely different belief system and development trajectory from places in Europe.”
Another professor, Mathieu Deflem, who teaches sociology at the University of South Carolina, strengthens this statement, describing Paris syndrome as “an extreme form of culture shock.”
Image credits: @calli.zar
The most famous Parisian cafes are Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots but Calli wasn't too impressed with them
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
More widely the term is used to describe the feeling of when people come to a place they always dreamed of but are not as wowed as they expected to be. More serious symptoms may include “acute delusions, hallucinations, dizziness, sweating, and feelings of persecution.”
The Atlantic explains what causes it: “The shock of coming to grips with a city that is indifferent to their presence and looks nothing like their imagination launches tourists into a psychological tailspin.”
To snap out of it, usually bed rest and hydration helps, but there have been cases when patients needed to be flown back to their country and be attended to by a medic.
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
We asked Calli if she had any idea why some people might get disappointed when arriving to Paris and if tourists could avoid it. The woman had an explanation, "I think a lot of people get disappointed when coming to Paris because of this glamorous, classy image of Paris you often see online and in movies. Paris certainly has its fair share of glamour and class, but it can definitely be rough around the edges. Like every big city, there are nice neighborhoods and not-so-nice neighborhoods. You'll likely come across trash, the smell of pee or strong body odor, and homeless encampments at least once during your trip. Unfortunately, it's just the reality of visiting a huge city--that happens to be one of the most visited cities in the world."
As to what measures to take to still enjoy your trip and don't get disillusioned by it, Calli had a couple of tips, "If you want to avoid disappointment, I would stay away from restaurants that are visibly tourist traps. Usually, you'll find them near tourist attractions and they'll advertise stereotypical French dishes like French onion soup, snails, and frog legs. Also, anything with a bunch of international flags, menus translated into multiple different languages, and pictures of the food on the menu is probably a sign of a tourist trap. I would also avoid coming in the dead of summer since crowds of tourists, the smells of Paris, and high temperatures do not mix. And finally, keep an open mind. Paris is truly a magical city with so many things to discover. Those who truly enjoy Paris know it has its negative sides, but the positive parts of Paris make up for it 10x if you do your trip right."
Image credits: @calli.zar
The woman really loves this city and despite a few unfortunate experiences in Paris such as getting her hostel reservation canceled with no warning, people going to the bathroom in the middle of a sidewalk and the occasional sassy Parisian interaction for her these are just some small upsetting moments that don't overshadow the overall experience.
Calli describes what she likes most about the city which shows why it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, "What I love most about Paris is its authenticity. I love stepping into a cozy restaurant in a 300-year-old building with a seasonal menu and farm-to-table ingredients. The French take their time to enjoy the little moments. Whether that be spending one-hour people-watching while sipping on a tiny coffee or getting a small, cool glass of white wine with lunch, each minute of the day is meant to be cherished. Once you start visiting local stores, eating at restaurants where each ingredient is chosen with care, and visiting dim-lit bars where you can enjoy a hand-crafted drink, you're starting to get a feel for what the Parisian lifestyle is about."
She believes that walking in a random one will surprise you with their selection and service
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
If you like to do some travel shopping, Calli would say skip Champs-Élysées and visit Le Marais and Montmartre's shops
Image credits: @calli.zar
If you are curious to know if there is an opposite syndrome when you didn’t expect to be so fascinated by a place but it turned out to be the destination of your dreams, then you should know that it’s called Stendhal syndrome or Florence syndrome.
The name comes from the 19th-century French author Stendhal (pseudonym of Marie-Henri Beyle) who went to Florence in 1817 and was overwhelmed by emotion when he visited the Basilica of Santa Croce where Niccolò Machiavelli, Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei are buried.
Psychologists didn’t recognize this syndrome for a long time as it most often manifested itself in mild symptoms but as with the Paris symptom, some people have more intense reactions and can experience dizziness and disorientation.
Image credits: @calli.zar
If you like visiting churches and have heard of Sacré Coeur, Calli has a secret, more calm and scenic route instead of going up the stairs from the front
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
These are just some of the suggestions that will allow you to explore Paris more than just the standard tourist visit
Image credits: @calli.zar
Image credits: @calli.zar
You can watch the first part to the series in the video below
Every place has its own charm and a dark side as well so when it gets glamourized and romanticized too much, you may find yourself not enjoying the visit so much, but if you allow yourself to wander a bit, you may discover something that will be special just for you.
Calli's advice would be, "
Enjoy Paris as much as a local as you can. The main tourist attractions might be beautiful, but the most rewarding trips always include good conversations, good meals, and stumbling across somewhere beautiful along the way. Try taking a cooking class, taking a small group tour from a local, wandering around a bunch of different neighborhoods, and just seeing what you find. Also do your research before hand so you can plan the right trip for you!"
If you've ever been to Paris, do you think Calli’s right and tourists should listen to her suggestions? If you never have been there, will you take her suggestions into consideration? Also, have you ever experienced Paris or Florence syndromes? Let us know in the comments.