This red light district Paris France visit storytime is one of Fordee’s best. It’s 2000, he’s 23, first time visiting Paris France with his then-girlfriend, and what was supposed to be a fun day of sightseeing turned into an evening nobody could have scripted. From a nightmare hostel to a traumatizing red light district Paris strip club, and finally the Moulin Rouge — this is a European trip to remember.
Red Light District Paris France Visit: The Setup
This red light district Paris France visit story begins at the airport. Fordee and his girlfriend land in Paris as their first stop on a Whirlwind European tour. The plan: stay in hostels, stretch the money, see everything for six months. Reality: two and a half months before homesickness won.
The first hostel was a disaster — a room with 15 bunk beds, sheets that hadn’t been changed in what felt like decades, and showers so clogged with hair that a wooden platform had been installed above the drain so you wouldn’t stand in rising water. Oh, and a security camera in the dorm room that management clearly watched. They moved to a hotel the next morning and never looked back.
First Time Visiting Paris France: The Red Light District Plan
After checking into the hotel, the first time visiting Paris France wasn’t going to be spent at the Eiffel Tower — it was going to be spent having fun. A Lonely Planet travel book mentioned the red light district, noting it wasn’t quite Amsterdam but had bars, strip clubs, sex shops, and the Moulin Rouge. Good enough. They went in the afternoon.
The red light district Paris France visit started innocently: a “fisherman” (street tout) hooked them into having a massive German Stein-sized beer — a full litre each. Tipsy and curious, when the next fisherman reeled them into a strip club with promises of beautiful women and a discount on the first drink, they said yes before he’d finished the pitch.
The Red Light District Paris Strip Club: A Story in 5 Moments
The red light district Paris strip club was dimly lit like a diner — booths on one side, a bar on the other, and a tiny circular pole stage in the back. No dancers when they arrived. The drinks arrived first: mostly juice, barely any alcohol, and already overpriced. Then the lights dimmed further. Music got louder. A woman appeared. These are the 5 moments that defined this red light district Paris France visit:
- The outfit — full leg tights from foot to hip, a strange corset on top. Fordee had never seen anything like it. Neither had his girlfriend.
- The dance — more violent shaking than dancing. Fordee was genuinely unsure if it was a performance or a medical emergency.
- The reveal — the tights started coming down. From knee to knee: a bush that, in Fordee’s words, could have concealed tanks and a full biodiversification of animals. Glistening.
- The exit — eye contact with girlfriend. Unspoken agreement. They grabbed each other’s hands and ran.
- The reflection — later, Fordee theorized that this was probably why the performer hated everyone: people kept running when the tights came down.
Moulin Rouge Paris Experience: The Redemption Arc
Not ready to give up on the day, they found the Moulin Rouge Paris experience as a recovery plan. Good seats near the front, reasonable wait for the early show. The Moulin Rouge Paris experience was like a Las Vegas cabaret show — if the Las Vegas cabaret show was from Fremont Street in the old, budget-hotel era of Vegas.
The highlight: a woman in a large water tank with two enormous boa constrictors. She floated, moved around “seductively,” the snakes mostly tried to get out of the tank, and then someone handed the snakes to her for a ta-da moment. Fordee was not impressed. There was some acrobatics, some other cabaret acts — a budget backpacking Europe storytime classic.
Tips for Your First Time Visiting Paris France
Based on this budget backpacking Europe storytime, here’s what to keep in mind for your first time visiting Paris France:
- Research your hostel before booking — not all hostels are bad, but this one was a crime scene. Read reviews carefully.
- Be cautious of street touts — the fishermen outside red light district Paris strip clubs are good at their jobs. Know your budget before they start talking.
- Pre-drink wisely — showing up to a sketchy venue already tipsy on litre-beers reduces your ability to make good decisions.
- The Moulin Rouge is worth it — even the budget version. Book tickets in advance for better seats and pricing.
- Have an escape plan — you may need to run. Fordee did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a red light district in Paris France?
Yes — Paris has a red light district, historically centered around Pigalle in the 18th arrondissement. It’s home to the Moulin Rouge, adult entertainment venues, sex shops, and strip clubs. It’s a far tamer version of Amsterdam’s red light district but still has its own character. A red light district Paris France visit during the day is generally safe for curious tourists.
Is the Moulin Rouge in the red light district?
Yes — the Moulin Rouge is located in Pigalle, the same area as Paris’s red light district. The famous cabaret is actually one of the most tourist-friendly venues in the neighborhood, offering ticketed shows that range from dinner-and-show packages to show-only tickets. The Moulin Rouge Paris experience is very different from the seedier side of Pigalle.
Is budget backpacking Europe worth it?
Absolutely. This budget backpacking Europe storytime is proof that the wildest experiences don’t come from luxury hotels. They come from wandering into unfamiliar neighborhoods with enough money for a litre of beer and a questionable door charge. Fordee’s two and a half months in Europe produced enough stories for years of content.
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