Are there any areas of Paris to not walk at night??
Aug 16th, 2009, 12:10 PM
#2
The deserted areas after dark are the worst, meaning the aristocratic areas of the 7th and 16th arrondissements, where people do not go out at night.
In the 'cheap and sleazy' areas (Saint Michel, Pigalle, Montparnasse), people are out until all hours, ensuring that there are no problems out on the street.
I live in what a lot of people consider to be a slum (metro Marx Dormoy), and I would never worry about going at night no matter what the hour. In fact, I have been out at 2 or 3 in the morning to get Turkish bread or a kebab from the places that stay open until dawn.
In terms of the 'tourist center' there are no places at all to avoid, but you should never leave your 'street smarts' back in the hotel room. Very often when problems arise, it is due to tourists having altercations with other tourists.
In the 'cheap and sleazy' areas (Saint Michel, Pigalle, Montparnasse), people are out until all hours, ensuring that there are no problems out on the street.
I live in what a lot of people consider to be a slum (metro Marx Dormoy), and I would never worry about going at night no matter what the hour. In fact, I have been out at 2 or 3 in the morning to get Turkish bread or a kebab from the places that stay open until dawn.
In terms of the 'tourist center' there are no places at all to avoid, but you should never leave your 'street smarts' back in the hotel room. Very often when problems arise, it is due to tourists having altercations with other tourists.
Aug 16th, 2009, 01:31 PM
#3
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I agree that there is nothing weirder than walking down deserted dark streets at night even in the nicer areas of the 7th or the 16th. I've never had any problems anywhere in Paris but I prefer to walk on well-lit populated streets late at night, regardless of the city I'm in. The scariest thing I've seen so far was a large rat in the 2nd late at night. It ran across the street and nearly gave me a heart attack. LOL
Aug 16th, 2009, 03:58 PM
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I personally wouldn't hang around in or near the Chatelet métro station at night. I can't pinpoint what might be wrong there, but it gives me the creeps. Same with the area right around the Gare du Nord. But generally speaking, I'm often out a lot later by myself in Paris than I ever would be here in Washington, DC.
Aug 16th, 2009, 09:12 PM
#9
What makes Châtelet a place to be wary about is simply the fact that it is the #1 transportation hub in the city, so it gets more than its share of lowlife. Of course, it also has extremely high police presence, mostly in plain clothes.
Aug 20th, 2009, 04:51 PM
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Question for kerouac. We will be staying in the 80's block of Rue Dominique next month in an apt. Anything we should be concerned about? Noted your above comment about the 7th. I have only been to Paris once before and only vaguely remember the area where the apt is. Thanks for your input.
Aug 20th, 2009, 05:04 PM
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Smacknmo,
Do you mean Rue Saint-Dominique? If so, you are in the 7th. The only comment on the area was that the streets are deserted. The 7th is an upper class neighborhood, with lots of government offices and upscale buildings. The inhabitants go to other parts of town to party on the streets. Think of walking down your own street late at night. Would there be a lot of people out? I think the only thing you would be in danger of in the neighborhood would be boredom. The street itself is a rather busy one, traffic wise.
Do you mean Rue Saint-Dominique? If so, you are in the 7th. The only comment on the area was that the streets are deserted. The 7th is an upper class neighborhood, with lots of government offices and upscale buildings. The inhabitants go to other parts of town to party on the streets. Think of walking down your own street late at night. Would there be a lot of people out? I think the only thing you would be in danger of in the neighborhood would be boredom. The street itself is a rather busy one, traffic wise.
Aug 20th, 2009, 05:07 PM
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BTW, if you want to see the street, type in your address on Rue Saint-Dominque, Paris, France in Google. Click on the small map that comes up, and an aerial view will come up. Click on the "Street View" button, and you can "walk" up and down your street.
Aug 20th, 2009, 05:42 PM
#16
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sleazy and dangerous are not necessarily the same - areas like Les Halls that may look dicey are i think not dangerous from a physical standpoint
If talking about pickpockets the most busy places (metro stations, etc.) are the worst and often in the daytime. I once conducted group tours to Paris and on one trip, despite warnings, over half the group were pickpocketed in Paris. Now that was a bit ago and i think pickpockets do not operate as brazenly as the once did but there still are many. Be especially vigilant going thru metro turnstiles where someone may be right behind you. Leaving a wallet in a rear pocket is like saying "Take me"
If talking about pickpockets the most busy places (metro stations, etc.) are the worst and often in the daytime. I once conducted group tours to Paris and on one trip, despite warnings, over half the group were pickpocketed in Paris. Now that was a bit ago and i think pickpockets do not operate as brazenly as the once did but there still are many. Be especially vigilant going thru metro turnstiles where someone may be right behind you. Leaving a wallet in a rear pocket is like saying "Take me"
