What areas should we avoid in Paris and Munich?
Dec 18th, 2006, 03:51 AM
#1
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What areas should we avoid in Paris and Munich?
We have been to a few large cities in America like Chicago,New York and L.A and we always seem to find ourselves lost in an unsafe part of those cities. We won't be driving in Europe like we were in those cities in America and could lock the doors and roll up the windows. We will be on foot and riding public transportation, so what areas would you not venture into? Thank you.
Dec 18th, 2006, 05:04 AM
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"We won't be driving in Europe like we were in those cities in America and could lock the doors and roll up the windows".
As a tourist, your main risk is that of being pickpocketed.
Please do not visit Europe with North American urban fears in mind. American and European cities are laid out differently. As a tourist, you will not be visiting the "bad areas", if such areas exist in Paris or Munich.
As far as Paris is concerned, there are still socially mixed, or ethnic areas, which you are very unlikely to visit on a short stay, which do not make them particularly unsafe, provided you take the elementary precautions a large city requires, whatever the neighbourhoods.
What is a " bad neighbourhood"? On that respect, do not mix up actual danger and the feeling of being unsafe, and reversely safety and the feeling of being safe. It may be during you walk to the Eiffel tower, across some of Paris' most affluent areas, and among multi-million Euro flats (apartments) and upmarket shops that you will have your wallet stolen.
As a tourist, your main risk is that of being pickpocketed.
Please do not visit Europe with North American urban fears in mind. American and European cities are laid out differently. As a tourist, you will not be visiting the "bad areas", if such areas exist in Paris or Munich.
As far as Paris is concerned, there are still socially mixed, or ethnic areas, which you are very unlikely to visit on a short stay, which do not make them particularly unsafe, provided you take the elementary precautions a large city requires, whatever the neighbourhoods.
What is a " bad neighbourhood"? On that respect, do not mix up actual danger and the feeling of being unsafe, and reversely safety and the feeling of being safe. It may be during you walk to the Eiffel tower, across some of Paris' most affluent areas, and among multi-million Euro flats (apartments) and upmarket shops that you will have your wallet stolen.
Dec 18th, 2006, 05:27 AM
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I agree with the danger of pickpocketing which has nothing to do with so-called "bad" areas of these two cities. Pickpocketing happens wherever large numbers of people are congregated, often under somewhat jammed conditions and no amount of closing and locking windows is going to protect you.
Be aware there are probably some people who might actually consider the are you live in to be not-so-desirable so please be careful in your outlook.
Be aware there are probably some people who might actually consider the are you live in to be not-so-desirable so please be careful in your outlook.
Dec 18th, 2006, 05:55 AM
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Nowhere is 100% safe. However,I walk or cycle around Paris, ride the metro with no particular fear, as I have done in the last twenty years. Violent crime is rare in Paris. Petty theft is not.
Once again, you'll be on the Louvre-Notre Dame-Eiffel tower trail, like millions of other visitors. The thieves know that.
Once again, you'll be on the Louvre-Notre Dame-Eiffel tower trail, like millions of other visitors. The thieves know that.
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:03 AM
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There are some truly rank bits of Paris, as bad as anywhere in America. However these are almost all in the Banlieus (suburbs). This is where the recent riots were. However there is no reason at all for you to be anywhere near these, as they are in the middle of nowhere.
The only bit of Paris proper I would avoid the the Barbes area, and that's not that bad really.
The only bit of Paris proper I would avoid the the Barbes area, and that's not that bad really.
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:28 AM
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Can't imagine how you always end up in "unsafe parts" of all those cities. Tourist sights are generally not in unsafe areas. Don't you take maps? Are you bad at reading them? Do you have an exaggerated idea of what an "unafe area" is?
As with other major cities - major tourist sights in Paris and Munich are not located in "unsafe areas".
Violent crime is very rare in those cities. As noted the most common problem is pickpocketing - which occurs in the most crowded/safest areas most populated by tourists - not the unsafe ones.
As with other major cities - major tourist sights in Paris and Munich are not located in "unsafe areas".
Violent crime is very rare in those cities. As noted the most common problem is pickpocketing - which occurs in the most crowded/safest areas most populated by tourists - not the unsafe ones.
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:38 AM
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I didn't get a sense of insafe parts of Munich.
In Paris the areas where I don't feel comfortable is the area surrounding Sacre Coeur and Pigalle. The other is in the 10th around Strasbourg St Denis and Bonne Nouvelle metro stations.
In Paris the areas where I don't feel comfortable is the area surrounding Sacre Coeur and Pigalle. The other is in the 10th around Strasbourg St Denis and Bonne Nouvelle metro stations.
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:44 AM
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I'm not aware of any particular "unsafe" neighbourhood in Munich, neither did my German colleagues. (They actually said the greatest danger would be drunken tourists during Oktoberfest). Anyway, the central part of town is smaller vs US major cities you've sited. Aside from that, I think you simply have to use your common sense...
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:45 AM
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Well..I don't want to alarm you, but there was a pretty bad story posted here recently about a guy getting robbed on the Champs Elysees across from his hotel...having said that, I don't think you really need to worry much, other than taking normal precautions about not wearing jewelry, etc.
Mr. Dreamer, I wonder if you would tell us where you were in New York City that you felt unsafe....
Mr. Dreamer, I wonder if you would tell us where you were in New York City that you felt unsafe....
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:55 AM
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"In Paris the areas where I don't feel comfortable is the area surrounding Sacre Coeur and Pigalle"
Indeed! These are arch-touristy areas, with busloads of tourists every day.Petty theft certainly happens.
Indeed! These are arch-touristy areas, with busloads of tourists every day.Petty theft certainly happens.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:02 AM
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Pigalle is pretty seedy at night - it's full of sex shops and sex-showa, not to mention the ubiquitous working women.
I have been there (for research purposes of course) and I felt quite safe, but i'm quite a big bloke and I live in London so maybe I'm a bit more "street smart" than some.
I have been there (for research purposes of course) and I felt quite safe, but i'm quite a big bloke and I live in London so maybe I'm a bit more "street smart" than some.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:16 AM
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ekscrunchy, Two years ago we went to the TT site in Manhattan. We landed at La Guardia around 4:30 pm so by the time we got our rental car it was about 6:00pm when I drove out of the airport on I think it was 90 or 94th ave? I missed the on ramp for the expressway to our hotel (Shelburne Murray Hill Hotel) and got lost! Finally at Elmhurst and Junction in Queens at around 7:30 we stopped an Elmhurst police officer and he led us to the tunnle into Manhattan. It was a very bad part of town at night and yes we did have a map that the guy at Hertz gave us.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:18 AM
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"Pigalle is pretty seedy at night - it's full of sex shops and sex-showa, not to mention the ubiquitous working women"
Well, living nearby, those (ailing) "adult" places are there night and day, maybe not for long as the neighbourhood is experiencing the washer effect of mass tourism en rising property prices... not much to fear or to write home about... As to the "ubiquitous working women" please...I don't know how long ago you were there, but, as far as Pigalle is concerned, please to do not conjure up black-and-white images of seedy cafes, dim lampost lights, Gauloise smoke, accordion music and big-hearted prostitutes...
Well, living nearby, those (ailing) "adult" places are there night and day, maybe not for long as the neighbourhood is experiencing the washer effect of mass tourism en rising property prices... not much to fear or to write home about... As to the "ubiquitous working women" please...I don't know how long ago you were there, but, as far as Pigalle is concerned, please to do not conjure up black-and-white images of seedy cafes, dim lampost lights, Gauloise smoke, accordion music and big-hearted prostitutes...
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:36 AM
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When I was 21 (I'm female), I studied in Munich over a course of a summer and never did I once feel unsafe. I even spent a lot of time on my own on the S bahn and I never had any problems. There's so much gorgeous architecture and amazing museums to visit. Also, walking throught Scwabing (the Univ. center) is great day or night. If you want to feel safe, try to blend in as much as possible. Don't wear caps - like a Red Sox hat - or anything with a sports team on it. Even if you are lost, walk briskly as if you know where you are going. You can always pop into a shop and ask for directions or regroup while inside. Enjoy! Gruss Got!
