The first time culture, language, and localization expert Salvador Ordorica visited two of Paris’ most famous sights, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, he was overcome with an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
“It was about as crowded as Disneyland and offered very little of the charm that I would have first expected from Paris,” Ordorica, the founder of global language translation company The Spanish Group, told Travel + Leisure.
Long before Emily Cooper moved to Paris, the French capital has been a source of wanderlust for travelers the world over, who flock to the city for attractions such as the glittering Chateau de Versailles and the masterful Mona Lisa at the Louvre. But what happens when you arrive and feel deflation rather than inspiration when the City of Light (and Love) doesn’t match the image you had painted in your mind? You wouldn’t be alone. There’s even a name for it—the Paris Syndrome.
The term is nothing new: it was first coined by a Japanese psychiatrist working in France, Hiroaki Ota, in the 1980s. He, and subsequent experts, focused on the experience of Japanese tourists in particular, who reported symptoms such as hallucinations, anxiety, and dizziness from the letdown of the city in real life.
Browse Reddit and other forums today and you’ll quickly realize the term has become a global byword for the disappointment of not stepping into the #Paris hashtag on your Instagram feed.
“Paris is hyped up in movies, social media, and luxury branding and people build up a mental image of an idealized city filled with beauty and romance,” said Ordorica, who studied at renowned Parisian university Sciences Po. When travelers set foot on its pavements and realize that, alongside the pockets of beauty, it is a real city with traffic, bad weather, and the occasional moody resident, it can create a sense of letdown.
“When people arrive expecting perfection and are met with the reality of everyday Paris, the contrast can be a real shock,” he continued.
It’s worth remembering before you go that Paris is not just the leafy Île Saint-Louis, where you’ll find Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral or the charming, music-filled cobbled streets of Montmartre; it’s also home to over two million people.
“Paris is chaotic and poetic, grumpy and generous. It is a regular city, just like any other. It has traffic, noise, political issues, rainy days, and its share of unpleasant people,” Ordorica said. “Yes, it’s stunning in many ways, full of beauty, amazing cuisine, and incredible architecture, but don’t forget there’s a real and imperfect side to it. This will help you enjoy your stay even more.”
Perhaps we should take inspiration from the youngest generation, those who have yet to own phones and have their view of the world colored social media platforms. Last year, my husband and I took our two young daughters to Paris for the first time. As we emerged from Gare de Montparnasse, they looked up to glimpse the Eiffel Tower soaring above the skyline. I’ll never forget their gasps of wonder and awe at the sight. Nor, I doubt, will they.
Having lived in France for over 15 years, I have visited Paris on countless occasions. But seeing the city through the eyes of my children was like discovering the marvels of the city all over again, imperfections and all.