3 Reasons Why I Loved to Live in Paris, France

Even the most skeptical need to agree on these points

I’m asked often how long I lived in France, but I don’t know.

I lived there for several stints of 3–9 months, and I paid many shorter visits for work. It was the first country where I lived outside of my own (Portugal), and one I have always been eager to explore.

Despite living in Paris, I traveled to the whole country, for work and leisure. The more time I spent there, the more I realized how amazing the country is.

Now, 7 years since I lived in France, I still miss it. Mostly, I miss the 3 points below.

They Do This Like Nobody Else

France boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other country in the world. But this kind of place is not even the epitome of French cuisine — everything they eat is.

I have never seen another country where people take such great care in eating well and healthy, sourcing the best produce, and eating locally.

The French don’t eat big portions. They eat high-quality, refined, tasty small plates. They think through every detail and serve only the best.

The thing: it’s easy to find the best. Wander through any market in any French town, and your mouth will fill with water as your eyes appreciate a variety of colors and your nose discovers what real strawberries smell like. It’s a feast for the senses, all of them.

The French take pleasure in sharing food with friends and family. And as soon as the sun comes out, you see the parks filling up with groups having picnics. Even on such occasions, they pick healthy, high-quality foods: cherry tomatoes, vegetable sticks, fresh baguette, cheese, and, obviously, great French wine.

Eating well is the default in France. It’s amazing to live in a country where every day, effortlessly, you feed your body with the nutrients it needs to thrive.

They Are the Best at This Important “Detail”

France is the country most committed to social benefits, with almost a third of the GDP spent on social services by the government in 2019.

You can feel this when you live in the country.

People rely on the state to support them in times of need, and they know they won’t be let down. This encompasses health, education, employment, or social rights.

In Portugal, all my friends struggle. If we go out for dinner, we pick a cheap restaurant. If we don’t like our jobs, we still stick to them because if we quit, we’ll be left with nothing. In France, people have a certain légèreté, or lightness to them, provided by this safety net that is always there for them.

I’ll give you an example: my sister is a 3D artist. That means heavily unstable work, usually in contracts that last only a few months. When she worked in France, she still got a salary (provided by the state) during those periods in-between contracts. Now she lives in Portugal and whenever she doesn’t have work… well, she doesn’t have money.

This way of living is so ingrained in the culture, that the French will go to great lengths to protect it. If a new law threatens some well-established benefit, they will go on the streets and protest. In Portugal, people protest one day, and nothing happens. In France, people stay on the streets for as many days as needed, until get heard.

They Are Definitely in the European Top 3 for This

Tell me a European country that is more beautiful than France.

Maybe Slovenia. Maybe Italy, in some ways. But France has got to be in the top 3, if not leading the ranking.

The diversity of landscapes is mind-blowing! You have the picturesque Bretagne countryside, the fairytale of the Alps region, or the dreamy beaches in the south of the country.

France also boasts incredible cities, with beautiful architecture and plenty to do. Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, and Toulouse, to name only a few, are a delight to any visitor.

And, of course, the jewel of the crown, the most beautiful city in the world (for me!), Paris.

France is a diverse, gorgeous place that, rightfully, is the most visited country in the world, with around 83 million visitors arriving every year.

Takeaway

France has a certain je ne sais quoi.

It’s chic and a country of the people, at the same time.

It’s hated by many, and loved by many others. Only a country with a strong personality can attract such polarising emotions.

It’s not a fairy tale, I concede on that. The bureaucracy is too complicated, Paris is too expensive, and the language barrier can be hard. But no country in the world is perfect. And with all its imperfections, France is quite a remarkable place. In my opinion, of course.

If you want more stories about travel, consider joining my monthly newsletter.