Paris: Tenth place in our top cities survey
It is clear to the more than 25,000 respondents to our survey that Paris is an interesting city, but not one of the best for everyday life. Overall, France’s capital comes tenth in our ranking, behind places like Munich and Rome, which are eighth and ninth respectively.
Paris does manage to overtake Vienna, in 11th place, and The Hague and Brussels, which are in the following positions. In summary, Paris stands out in public transport (eighth position), climate (fifth position), culture (second position), sustainability (fourth position) and gastronomy (seventh position). These results are worthy of one of Europe’s major cities, although they do not surpass the results obtained by Lisbon, Copenhagen or Madrid.
Paris, a tourist destination par excellence that continues to grow in visitors year after year. This great city, capital of France and one of the most important centres in Europe, is home to more than 2 million people. A visit is an unforgettable experience.
In our survey, Paris was one of the cities that made it into the top 10, ranking tenth. However, according to the data collected, Paris is one of those cities whose fame and popularity are not matched by the quality of all its services. It remains an iconic place in Europe, but not the first to be considered in terms of quality of life.
The climate is very similar to that of other European cities, such as Madrid. It is temperate oceanic and temperatures oscillate within limits that do not reach extremes either in summer or winter.
During the summer the heat can reach 30ºC, but the maximum temperature does not usually reach higher levels, while in winter the minimum temperatures are around 0 degrees. When visiting Paris, bear in mind that rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year, so check the weather regularly when planning activities.
The most important thing about public transport in Paris is that tickets are standardised for all services. This simplifies travel management. With the same transport ticket you can take the bus, metro or tram. It is also compatible with the funicular. However, according to the data collected, Paris does not have the best public transport system in Europe, ranking eighth in the table, just behind Munich.
Paris is divided into fare zones, but the main tourist attractions are in zones 1 and 2. To get to Disneyland Paris, however, you need a zone 5 ticket. Luckily, getting around Paris is easy and there are plenty of stations. There are over 300 metro stations alone, creating a complex network of lines. In addition, there are two other important transport services: the RER (Regional Express Network), which goes to Disneyland, and the Vélib’ bike-sharing service.
Hundreds of schools and educational institutions of all grades are scattered throughout the French capital’s neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, decades ago, a movement began to move many of the most important institutions out of Paris, which has left the French capital without some of its major educational centres. The loss of these institutions, as well as other reasons, has meant that Paris does not appear in the top 10 in our survey according to respondents’ opinions. Paris lost the Ecole Normale Supérieure, which moved to Lyon, and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, which moved to Strasbourg.
Today, the city is home to the Paris ESCP Business School, which is the oldest business school in the world, having been founded in 1819. Paris is also home to the Lycée Louis-le-Grand on rue Saint-Jacques, which has famous alumni such as Charles Baudelaire, Cyrano de Bergerac, the playwright Victor Hugo, Jean-Paul Sartre and Voltaire.
French cuisine, considered one of the finest in the world, finds some of its best restaurants and recipes in Paris. Eating in Paris means enjoying dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon, a stewed meat cooked in red wine, escargots or traditional foie gras. However, its fame and elegance has only helped Paris to rank seventh in our survey.
Other recommended French dishes include Pot-au-feu, a stew prepared with local vegetables and beef, or chicken in wine. Also not to be missed is the ratatouille recipe made popular by the film of the same name. Patisserie is another of the arts of French gastronomy, as well as the many sweets and pastries that can be found in its bakeries.
Paris has two airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, which provide connections to a large number of international destinations. The international arrival terminal at Charles de Gaulle is 2E, while at Orly terminals 3 and 4 are used. Orly airport is 18km from the centre of Paris, but Charles de Gaulle is 26km away.
Paris also has international connections by other means of transport. For example, it is possible to travel by train from Barcelona to Paris in around six hours. But the comfort and convenience of these connections has not helped Paris to make the top 10 according to our survey respondents, falling out of the category.
Paris is a generally safe European city, although that doesn’t mean travellers are not advised to exercise caution when navigating some areas at night. In Paris, security is provided by the French National Police. Their uniform is dark blue and bears the identification “Police” on the back.
Visitors must respect zebra crossings and be careful when crossing, as there are drivers who do not respect traffic rules. In addition, in popular areas there are a lot of pickpockets who target mainly tourists. It is therefore important to be careful with personal belongings, handbag, mobile phone or wallet. Paris does not seem to be a safe city to the people surveyed in our study, in contrast to other European cities such as Munich, Zurich or Copenhagen.
The Parisian government is committed to making the French capital a very sustainable place. To this end, green planting projects have been implemented to help generate cleaner air without so much carbon and pollutants.
Benefits are provided to builders so that they build according to the principles of urban and ecological sustainability, which means building, but maintaining or generating green areas. It also promotes the circular economy which helps, among other things, to reduce the amount of plastic waste. As a result, Paris reinforces its sustainable image and is ranked fourth in our top 10 by respondents to our survey.
Paris is generally regarded as a city where the cost of living is high, both for the inhabitants and for the many tourists.
According to the data collected, food in supermarkets costs are more or less in line with other European countries, but in restaurants there is a clear difference between restaurants of different levels.
It is therefore advisable to check the prices of menus and dishes before entering a restaurant. Fine French cuisine is not cheap, nor are some of its main services.
The French capital does not make it into our top 10 for best cost of living, a category led by Lyon and Lisbon.
Paris breathes culture and that’s something the survey’s respondents value. So much so that it takes second place in the top 10 best cities for culture behind Rome and neck and neck with Madrid. Practically everything in the city is bathed in a strong cultural force that has characterised the city for decades. Its theatres, exhibition galleries, streets, and museums give room for all kinds of manifestations of the French personality. This helps to make enjoying Parisian culture simple and accessible.
In addition to exhibitions, meetings, plays and concerts, visitors should visit the Louvre and enter the small art galleries around it. It is also inspiring to admire the work of those who sell books and small works of art in the streets, to visit places like the Pompidou Centre, the Musée de l’Orangerie or the Musée Picasso.
In general, nightlife in the city is varied. Its streets, the festive atmosphere of Paris and the charm of the Parisian city add to the fun. However, leisure in Paris lacks balance and variety, which is why it didn’t get enough votes to make our top 10.
Even with plans such as a cruise on the Seine, a stroll through some of the city’s streets or a shopping spree at the historic Galeries Lafayette, Paris lags behind Rome, Barcelona and Prague, which occupy the top three positions. However, Paris also stands out for other places to visit, such as the Palace of Versailles, the Cineaqua aquarium and the many parks and gardens.