Every main tourist city has the “destination attractions”. These are the locations that everyone tells you that you have to visit. Over the years, they’ve likely amassed millions of tourists, photos, and shiny pictures that draw you in. These sights are the most popular thing to do in the city. It’s the things that people tell you that you have to do.
It also means you’ll be elbow to elbow with others. It might even feel inauthentic. Sometimes, though, people have it right. Sometimes, you do have to experience the most popular things because they really are worth the hype (or, at least, worth fighting the crowds).
So when it comes to Paris, what are the top three tourist traps and should you enjoy or escape them?
The Eiffel Tower
It’s on most people’s Paris bucket list to see the Eiffel Tower, ascend it, or have a romantic moment near it. When you start adding up just how many bucket lists that equals, you’re dealing with a massive crowd. There’s always a long line for the elevator (up and down) and if you go to the top, there’s less room to mill around. So, with that in mind, should you enjoy or escape?
VERDICT:
ENJOY, but only once and be mindful about when you go. I recommend taking the stairs for a unique experience and to be able to say you did it (without waiting in a huge line), but you can decide on what works best for you (check out my article on the ways to ascend the Eiffel Tower for more guidance!) If you just want to see it in the background, there’s tons of places to do that and it is a magical experience to see it lit up and sparkling at night.
The Mona Lisa at the Louvre (and the Louvre in general)
In a massive museum like the Louvre, there shouldn’t be a crowd of people so thick that it feels like it could be a mosh pit at any moment. And yet, there is. The Mona Lisa has gained so much notoriety that you have to wade through a sea of other fans to get close enough to see. Plus, once you do, it’s behind glass that often reflects the light poorly and it’s not as big as you think it’ll be.
That’s the Mona Lisa, but there’s also the rest of the museum. In 2025, the Louvre has been in the news a lot because of the heist, but also the strikes from staff protesting the overcrowding. That means it’s absolutely now at a tipping point where you need to consider if it’s worth going.
VERDICT:
ESCAPE: It pains me to say it, but the overcrowding issues in the Louvre mean that it’s no longer worth some of the hassle, especially when Paris has so many other museums nearby. You can go to the Orangerie or Musée d’Orsay. If you are determined to go the Louvre and see the Mona Lisa or Winged Victory, I strongly recommend you go during extended evening hours on Wednesday and Friday when other people would be dining. You’ll still run into crowds, but not as many.
Sailing the Seine
One of the best ways to see the city is from the river. So much of Paris was built along the water, which means that going by boat not only gives you fantastic views, but can make you feel particularly Parisian to be sailing along with the wind in your hair. Unfortunately, that’s likely a thought that’s in mind of many other tourists on their Paris trips.
VERDICT:
ENJOY, but expect to fight for space during popular times of the year. The boats can get incredibly packed these days, but a sunset cruise on the Seine truly is an unbeatable view.
TRIP TIP: I recommend taking a cruise from the Vedettes du Pont-Neuf instead of Bateaux Parisiens as the latter departs near the Eiffel Tower, which is already a huge hotspot for tourist activity (as mentioned earlier).
There’s so much to see and do in Paris and some of the other options may be busy as well, but there really is a whole next level of crowds at these three just because they are so popular. Plan well and go off season or during off-times. It will help with your stress levels and make it so much easier to enjoy overall!
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