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The top ten tourist traps to avoid in France

The top ten tourist traps to avoid in France

Here’s the 10 tourist traps you should avoid on your next trip in France. They’re the places that are so expensive, so cheesy or so crowded it feels like all of the 84 million tourists who visit the country each year are there at the same time. You may not agree with the entries on this list, so let us know what places would make your top ten.

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<b>Eiffel Tour:</b> Rejecting this eternal symbol of Paris may sound like sacrilege, but climbing to its top is something to avoid. Queuing for hours or booking months in advance are the only two options to secure a place on one of the elevators that will take you skyward. Instead you should spend €15 euros on a ride to the top of the equally impressive Tour Montparnasse or the Arc de Triomphe.Photo: Myahya/Flickr
<b>The tourist train of Montmartre:</b> It'll cost you €6 for the privilege of climbing aboard this cheesy little train that will then creep through the crowded streets of Montmartre, which you could have walked on your own for free. In fact walking is pretty much always the best option in Paris because it allows you to properly wander and find the really interesting stuff.Photo: David McSpadden/Flickr
<b>Moulin Rouge:</b> It's not much like the movie, that's for sure. Between the tourist buses parked several deep out front, to being herded in like bovines and finally treated to what passed for family fun in 1986, there ain't much authentic about Moulin Rougue. All of this for the modest sum of €215 (if you opt for an all-inclusive deal)! Better to just snap a pic of yourself in front of the sign and enjoy the incredible people watching in the area.Photo: Jose Ramirez/Flickr
<b>Les Bateaux-Mouches:</b> Ready to freeze in rain or fry in the sun with a crowd of tourists on the River Seine? A Bateaux-Mouches boat ride may conjure images of the City of Light's most beautiful sites, set to accordion music with love simply pouring out of the sky. The truth is it's mostly fighting to get a seat and rain or merciless sun are the only gifts from above. And you'll never guess how the people on the banks of the river will respond as you wave joyfully at them...
<b>Mont Saint-Michel:</b> Yes, it’s beautiful. But it is also the second most-visited place in France, after Paris, with three million tourists per year. So don’t expect to have a spiritual experience. Also you cannot drive up to the Mont, but rather have to take a shuttle that last leg of the trip. Best not be in a hurry. Finally, once inside, your efforts will be rewarded with a wide variety of medieval-themed shops. But it's such a beautiful place it might actually be worth all the hassle.Photo: Miguel Medina/Flickr
<b>Disneyland Paris:</b> It's a fun place for the whole family (or at least for those not paying the triple-digit entrance fees). But you better be very patient if you do decide to visit the 'Magique' Kingdom. Queues for the rides can be hours long, especially the attraction where you get to meet (actors playing) some of Disney's famous ladies like Snow White. For a slightly cheaper and more French theme park experience check out , Parc Astérix which is just north of Paris.Photo: Glen Gutierrez/Flickr
<b>Château de Chambord:</b> It’s not that the place is not beautiful, but shuffling through the exceptionally golden and tacky interior with a crowd may not be what you had in mind. Fortunately France is absolutely overflowing with châteaux, especially in the Loire Valley. For example, the Château de Chenonceau may be equally touristy, but you can appreciate the beauty of the water flowing beneath it without having to get inside.Photo: Michal Osmenda/Flickr
<b>Saint-Tropez:</b> It's THE place to be in the summer for the rich and famous. But if you want to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and turquoise water of the French Riviera without the bling-bling mafia, there are plenty of other places which are just as good or better. And most of them have fewer people and are cleaner. Consider the La Mala Beach in Cap D'Ail or La Paloma beach on the Cap Ferrat Peninsula.Photo: Jos Dielis/Flickr
<b>Braderie de Lille:</b> If you are into flea markets then you've probably heard of the Grande Braderie de Lille in northern France. It happens every year on the first weekend in September and draws mobs of bargain hunters and sellers of old-ish stuff alike. But as the market has boomed in popularity and renown it has gone from being charming and authentic to being a great place to get pickpocketed. Consider it a must don't.Photo: Jean-François Cornet/Flickr
<b>Fête de Bayonne:</b> In addition to great food and warm people, Basque Country is home to an annual tradition of outdoor festivals or 'ferias' in its various towns. One of the most famous is in Bayonne, yet sadly many accidents and much violence are reported every year in the wake of the event. Smaller 'ferias' like the one in the town of Guethary can be a lot more fun.Photo: Ville de Bayonne


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