The Best Places to take Photos in Paris

Paris is such a gorgeous city! Well known for its historical architecture, the French capital is full of amazing spots to capture! Nevertheless, most of you are visiting Paris for a few days only. It might be hard to choose where to go to see the most beautiful areas in a little time. Therefore I have gathered here for you the best places to take photos in Paris!

Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous landmark of Paris! Therefore you might want to know where to take pictures of it. That’s the reason why I had to put Trocadéro first on the list of the best places to take photos in Paris!

Place du Trocadéro, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is a forecourt offering the most amazing view of the Eiffel Tower! There are many different perspectives here to capture the Iron Lady.

If you want to get closer to the Eiffel Tower in the garden of the Champs de Mars, you can go down the stairs and take the Pont d’Iena, over the River Seine. It will take you only 10 min by walk.

Location: Esplanade du Trocadéro

Closest Metro station: Trocadéro (line 6 or 9).

My secret tip: check out all of the other best places to take photos with the Eiffel Tower! I have gathered 18 amazing spots for you!

The Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is the largest and the most visited museum in the world! Even if you don’t have the time to visit it, you should take the time to admire the exterior! This is one of the most photogenic places of Paris!

The big pyramid built in the 1980s is the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. It has the exact same proportions as the Great Pyramid of Giza! The modern glass structure forms a nice contrast with the historic facades of the Louvre, and has become a landmark in its own! It is surrounded by three smaller pyramids. And there is a fifth pyramid: the inverted pyramid. It is an upside down, suspended pyramid, visible from underground when you use the Carrousel entrance to the Louvre.

This courtyard is free to access from 7pm to around 10pm.

If you want to enjoy a drink with a direct view on the Louvre Pyramids, check out Café Marly. It’s one of the cutest Parisian cafes! You may have seen it in Emily in Paris, as it’s one of the filming locations!

Address: Louvre Museum

Closest Metro station: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7)

My secret tip: to avoid the crowd in your photos, come here early in the morning. The courtyard opens at 7am and people usually start to arrive around 8:30am.  Also on Tuesday when the museum is closed it’s a bit less crowded.

Montmartre

Montmartre is a neighborhood of Paris looking like a village within the capital city! It is located at the top of a hill and is the highest spot of Paris. At the heart of the area and at the very top of this hill you will find the iconic Sacré-Coeur basilica.

Montmartre reunites all the clichés you might have about Paris! It’s really charming and perfect for pictures! The best way to discover it is to get lost in the streets, and to walk up and down the numerous stairs in the area: a good way to workout!

Address: Montmartre

Closest Metro stations: Anvers and Blanche on line 2, and Abbesses and Lamarck Caulaincourt on line 12.

My secret tip: Find here all the Most Instagrammable Places in Montmartre. If you read this dedicated article, you will be sure not to miss any picturesque spot in Montmartre 🙂 !

Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III is the most elegant bridge in Paris and one of my favorites! It was built for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) of 1900. You will love its Art Nouveau Style: it is classified as a French monument historique since 1975! It’s a good area to wander and admire the beautiful view over the Seine river, the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides and the Grand and Petit Palais.

It’s one of the most romantic places in Paris! Therefore I couldn’t but add it to the list of the best places to take photos in Paris! Many people come here for a photoshoot (wedding, couples,…).

Address: Pont Alexandre III

Closest Metro stations: Invalides (line 8 and 13 and RER C) or Champs Élysées Clémenceau (line 1 and 13)

My secret tip: come here to watch the sunset!

Palais Royal

The Palais Royal is a former royal palace located in the 1st arrondissement close to the Louvre Museum. At the rear of the garden, you can find those famous black and white striped column named Colonnes de Buren.

This place looks like a (fancy) playground and is really a good photo spot! You can have a lot of fun here!

Location: Palais Royal

Closest Metro stations: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7) and Pyramides (line 14)

My secret tip: check out the benches in the garden, they carry some interesting and thought provoking quotes! You light have seen them in Emily in Paris, as it’s one of the filming locations.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous and impressive landmarks of Paris with its exceptional dimensions (about 50 m high, 45 m long and 22 m wide)! This national symbol built in 1836 is dedicated to the armies of the Revolution and the Empire. It is located at the top of the Champs-Élysées, at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle (or Place de l’Étoile).

Location: Arc de Triomphe

Closest Metro stations: Charles de Gaulle Étoile, Metro line 1, 2 or 6 and RER A.

My secret tip: be aware that this place is the meeting point of 12 avenues, which makes it a very busy and congested area… Nevertheless you can always manage to capture the Arch beautifully even if you do not come here too early.

Opera Garnier

Opera Garnier is for sure one of the most prestigious building of Paris: a masterpiece of the 19th century theater art architecture. It is for sure one of the best places to take pictures in Paris: it’s gorgeous outside and inside! I recommend booking a show here (an opera, a classical concert or a balet): it’s a romantic activity to do in Paris!

Location: Palais Garnier

Closest Metro stations: Opéra (line 3,7 and 8) and Chaussée d’Antin Lafayette (line 7 and 9).

My secret tip: If you want to take pictures of the outside you should rather come early. Unfortunately indeed it’s very touristy, and the area is very busy as there are a lot of banks and companies around here. If you want to take pictures of the inside, you can visit it. The entrance fee is 10 to 14 euros.

More info: Visit the Opera Garnier

Pont de Bir Hakeim

Pont de Bir Hakeim is a bridge that crosses the river Seine in Paris. Its architecture and design are pretty unique and highly photogenic. The bridge is a viaduc made of steel and has 2 levels: one for motor vehicles and pedestrians, and the other for the metro. It is an amazing viewpoint for the Eiffel Tower!

Many famous movies have featured the bridge, like Inception. There is no wonder why it is part of the best places to take photos in Paris and one of the best places to capture the Eiffel Tower!

Location: Pont de Bir Hakeim

Closest Metro stations: Bir Hakeim or Passy line 6, and RER C Station Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel

Notre Dame

The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris is one the prefered landmarks of the Parisians and of the French people! It is a magnificent example of medieval French Gothic architecture. After the terrible fire that devastated it on the 15th of April 2019, it will be under renovation for at least 5 years. Therefore you cannot access the interior and the front square at the moment.

Nevertheless you can still admire the 2 front towers from the surroundings so do not hesitate to pass by! It is still very photo worthy! There are also a few typically Parisian open-air bookshops along the banks of the river Seine close to Notre Dame that you might like to see. They are called bouquinistes.

Location: Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Closest Metro stations: Cité (line 4), Hôtel de Ville (line 1 and 11), Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (line 4 and RER C).

Rue Crémieux

Rue Crémieux is a famous street located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, not far from Gare de Lyon. It is well known for its pretty colorful pastel houses! The houses are painted with all the colors of the rainbow.

Location: Rue Crémieux

Closest Metro stations: Gare de Lyon (line 1 and 14) and Quai de la rapée (line 5)

Disclaimer: This street has become so popular that the inhabitants got fed-up and ask the mayor to close it to visitors. It’s still open to the public at the moment but please be respectful of the inhabitants of the street: be discreet, do not walk in private areas and do not take photos in front of the houses with a sign forbidding it!

In Conclusion…

If you are spending only a day in Paris and want to make the most out of it, read this and you will get the itinerary of the best places to see and to capture: The best of Paris in one day!

Maybe you are looking for romantic spots in Paris? Find them all by clicking on the link.

All my tips about Paris: the best photography spots and best places to eat are in my Paris section, take a look!

Last but not least if you want to get some gorgeous pictures of you, you can hire me for a Photoshoot in Paris! And I am also offering my foodie services as your Food Concierge in Paris!

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