The Eiffel Tower. Holding the title of the most photographed landmark in the world, it’s immediately recognisable. Towering over the iconic city of Paris, the grey beams – bathed in a golden light at night – reach skyward effortlessly. It should be awe-inspiring. And it is, but on our recent trip to Europe, and my second time to Paris, it’s not that I wasn’t impressed, but it just didn’t rank at the top of our Winter trip across Europe.
But what about the landmarks?
Paris has its moments—there’s no denying that. Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour is a spectacle, and landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame is steeped in history. But compared to the warmth and charm of the Christmas markets in Germany, Switzerland, and even Strasbourg, Paris felt… different, and that is what we were there for. I suppose if your expectations or purpose for visiting are different from you might feel different. But for us, it just didn’t hit the mark like many of the other cities we visited on our trip.
For one, there was an edge to the city—a sense of impatience—that we simply didn’t encounter elsewhere. In Munich, vendors cheerfully shared the stories behind their crafts. In Lucerne, strangers offered warm smiles and “Frohe Weihnachten” as we wandered the streets. But in Paris? Short responses felt more common than festive cheer.
And then there was the city itself. While the lights of Place Vendôme shimmered with elegance, much of Paris felt worn. The grandeur of the Champs-Élysées lost some of its luster when framed by overflowing trash bins and graffiti-tagged walls. Compared to the pristine streets of Basel or the storybook beauty of Bern’s Old Town, Paris came across as rough around the edges—more grit than glamour.
Sure, the city delivers when it comes to world-class museums and architectural icons. But during the Christmas season, it lacked the cozy magic that made other cities shine. In Strasbourg, every square felt like a scene from a holiday postcard. In Munich, the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine hung thick in the air. Paris, for all its global allure, couldn’t match that warmth.
It’s still Paris
It’s not that Paris wasn’t worth visiting—there’s a reason it’s a bucket-list city. But on a winter journey filled with twinkling markets and festive charm, it fell short. For all the beauty the Eiffel Tower brings, it simply couldn’t compete with the heartwarming magic we found elsewhere.
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