15 Best Photo Spots in Paris

If you’re planning a visit to the French capital, you may be wondering where you’ll find the best photo spots in Paris. To be totally honest, the best photo spots in Paris are just about everywhere.

Paris is incredibly photogenic, so you’ll have no trouble finding instagrammable places in Paris to capture beautiful pictures to remember your trip by.

But if you’re looking for those iconic shots of the city’s most popular landmarks and neighborhoods, then this post will help you get the photos you’re hoping for.

Here are my 15 Best Photo Spots in Paris that will light up your Instagram.

15 Best Photo Spots in Paris

Just a quick note about finding these spots during your trip.

I use Google Maps to get both walking directions and transit directions when I’m in Paris.

However, if you don’t have international service, you can download these locations via Google Maps to use when you arrive.

1. Montmartre

Montmartre is one of my favorite neighborhoods and it just so happens to be incredibly photogenic, making it one of the most instagrammable places in Paris.

From the Sacré Coeur to the narrow, windy cobblestone streets, Montmartre is the perfect stop for photos and also a unique place to just enjoy this amazing city.

The neighborhood is dotted with local boutiques and cute cafes, making it a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Around midday, local artists set up shop in the main square selling portraits and paintings. So if you’d like to get photos showing the character of the nieghborhood, this is the place to do it.

As you’re walking around, keep an eye out for the Wall of Love, the vineyard, and the colorful street art, all of which make great backdrops for photos.

There’s also a popular shot of the sinking house, where it looks like a house is sinking into the ground due to the angle of the hill in the foreground. You can find the shot of the sinking house by looking to the left while standing on the stairs in front of the Sacre Coeur.

There are also a few musuems in the area that make for great pictures. Consider dropping in if you have the extra time.

Before you leave stop into one of the local cafes for lunch or a snack. A popular option is the picture perfect Instagram worthy La Maison Rose cafe. It’s pink, you can’t miss it.

Since Montmartre is also situated on top of a hill overlooking the city, it’s a nice place to be on a clear day. Arrive early to avoid the crowds, or plan to be there at sunset for the beautiful views over Paris.

You can find Montmartre in the 18th Arrondissement.

2. The Trocadero

The Trocadero is one of the most popular Paris Instagram spots in the whole city. It’s the perfect place to get a picture of yourself with the Eiffel Tower off in the distance as the Trocadero offers unobstructed views of the city’s most famous attraction.

The key to getting photos at the Trocadero is to spend a bit of time playing with the angles. Since it’s considered one of the best photo spots in Paris, just about everybody gets their photos there. So if you want to capture unique images, you’ll have to get creative.

On a clear day the Trocadero can be beautiful at sunset, but it will be very crowded. If you’d like to avoid the crowds, plan to arrive for sunrise instead. In fact, I suggest you arrive before sunrise so you can plan out a few shots before you’re ready to start shooting.

If you have a tripod, be sure to bring it with you, it will make getting your shots significantly easier. However, if you don’t have one, you can use the ledges and flat surfaces to prop your phone on while you get pictures. This is how I did it since I forgot to pack my tripod.

You can find the Trocadero in the 16th Arronissement.

3. Jardins du Trocadero

Once you’ve finished capturing photos from the Trocadero, head down the steps to the Jardins du Trocadero. This was my favorite location from my own photo shoot last year.

Spend some time walking around the gardens to see what looks good for you. You can also try to use the trees and plants to your advantage to make your photos more interesting.

This is another spot you’ll want to arrive early for. The longer you wait the more likely you’ll have to deal with crowds of people.

However, most people start up at the Trocadero first, so if you get an early start on both locations, you should be okay to get shots without the crowds.

You can find the Jardines du Trocadero in the 16th Arrondissement.

4. The Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge is another of the most Instagrammable Places in Paris.

Fortunately, the Moulin Rouge tends to be much less crowded than most of the other best photo spots in Paris, so you should be able to get nice photos without much hassle. Though I would avoid midday just to be safe.

For some of the most popular angles of the Moulin Rouge, you’ll need to shoot low from the ground. A portable mini tripod works great for that.

You may also wish to consider arriving in the early evening. The lighting is perfect right around sunset. Plus, the building lights up giving you the opportunity for more dynamic photos.

More importantly, there’s some great bars in the area so be sure to find a spot for cocktails after you’ve gotten your pictures.

If you’d like to also see a show at the Moulin Rouge, be sure to get your tickets in advance. Be advised the tickets are pricey. Select one of the earlier shows for reduced prices.

You can find the Moulin Rouge in the 18th Arrondissement.

5. Rue Cremieux

Rue Cremieux is one of the most popular Paris Instagram spots due to the charming pastel painted houses that line the street. It’s also a pedestrian only street closed to vehicle traffic, making it all the more hospitable to tourists and photographers.

Rue Cremiuex is a popular place for photo shoots for obvious reasons, but please be respectful if you plan to visit and snap photos. This is a residential neighborhood, so keep your voices down and don’t linger.

You can find Rue Cremieux in the 12th Arrondissement.

6. The Love Lock Bridges

There are actually a couple of different bridges over the Seine River in Paris that have these locks on them, but my favorite bridge for photos in the one with the Eiffel Tower views. I just love having the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, and the love locks all in the same shot.

The official Love Lock Bridge is the Pont Des Arts over by the Notre Dame Cathedral. Pont Des Arts is actually great for photos too, so if you’re in that area be sure to stop by.

The great thing about getting photos on the Love Lock Bridges is that there are rarely crowds. You’ll having people walking by now and then, but you should have no trouble getting the shots you’re looking for.

While we’re talking about bridges I’d also like to mention the Pont Alexandre III, located about halfway between the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral. This is an ornate bridge that also looks incredible in photos. It’s about a 22 minute walk from the Louvre if you’d like to also get pictures there.

You can find the Love Lock Bridge near the Eiffel Tower between the 7th and 8th Arrondissements. You can find the Pont Des Arts near the Notre Dame Cathedral in the 1st Arrondissement.

7. The Louvre Musuem

I personally find the Louvre Museum to be one of the best places to take pictures in Paris. There are multiple pyramids, plenty of surfaces to sit on, unlimited angles, and beautiful architecture all around you. I think it’s almost impossible to get bad photos at the Louvre.

The great thing about the courtyard at the Louvre is that it’s fairly large, so even when it’s crowded, you can still get great shots there.

A photo with the Louvre pyramid is one of the must take Pictures in Paris, but try to be creative and have fun with it. You don’t want to return home with the same photos as everybody else, so make it your own.

I also recommend using the arches from the walkways to the courtyard to frame your photos. You can get some really stunning shots this way.

If you’re an early riser, this is the place to be at sunrise as well. While you won’t be the only one there, you’ll have plenty of space to yourself and should be able to get all the photos you want without people in them.

If you prefer to photograph the Louvre at night when it’s lit up, plan to arrive later in the evening. The later you arrive the fewer people will be walking around.

You can find the Louvre Musuem in the 1st Arrondissement.

8. Jardines Des Tuileries

Once you’ve finished getting your photos at the Louvre, make your way over to the Jardines Des Tuileries opposite the musuem.

The Jardines Des Tuileries is a large public park between the Louvre Musuem and the Place de la Concorde. There are large walkways, plenty of flowers and plants, lots of open space, and a few carnival rides all spread out around the park.

You will find Jardines Des Tuileries in the 1st Arrondissement.

9. Ferris Wheel at Jardines Des Tuileries

Both the ferris wheel and the swings at Jardines Des Tuileries are suggested in just about every photographers guide to Paris.

The geometric shapes and the colorful rides make a nice contrast against the sky and also make for some really fun photos of the city.

Photos like this are all about the angles, but since you’re pointing your camera up at the sky, at least you don’t have crowds to worry about.

Also, if you don’t mind spending the money, the swings are really fun. They are expensive, but worth it.

You can find the ferris wheel at Jardines Des Tuileries in the 1st Arrondissement.

10. Jardin du Luxembourg

For some of the best photo spots in Paris with beautiful fresh flowers, head over to the Jardin du Luxembourg near the Latin Quarter.

The Jardin du Luxembourg is a massive 56 acre public park that features large lawns, a picturesque Medici fountain, tree lined walkways, and plenty of flowerbeds.

This is the perfect place to get away from the crowds and take yourself on a walking tour around the park in search of unique photo locations. This park is so big you’ve got unlimited options for subjects and angles, just have fun with it.

If you have extra time after finishing up at Jardines du Luxembourg, consider heading over to the Montparnasse Tower for some of the best views over Paris you’ll find anywhere in the city. The Montparnasse Tower is about a 15 minute walk from the Jardines du Luxembourg.

You can find the Jardines du Luxembourg in the 6th Arronissement.

11. The Arch de Triomphe

The Arch de Triomphe is another of the best photo spots in Paris. This iconic landmark is one of the most visited in the city, so you’ll have to battle the crowds on this one. Like everywhere else, if you arrive early your chances are better for lighter crowds.

I recommend starting off from a distance so you can get shots of the full Arch, then move in closer to photograph smaller sections. I’ve some really artsy shots of the Arch de Triomphe, so don’t be afraid to get creative.

You’ll find the Arch de Triomphe in the 8th Arrondissement.

12. Buren Columns

The Buren Columns, or Les Deux Plateaux, is an art installation in the center of Paris just across the street from the Louvre. The installation is by French artist Daniel Buren and features rows of black and white striped columns of varying heights arranged in the inner courtyard of the Palais Royal.

Similar to the Rue Cremieux, this is a popular Paris photography location so you’ll often see photo shoots happending here.

If you’re traveling in the off season or shoulder season, you may get lucky and have the place to yourself if you arrive early.

Your best bet for photos here is to arrive around sunrise. Start by getting your wide angle shots first before others show up. After you get your wide shots, you can set yourself up in a smaller section to get any additional photos you might want.

You can find the Buren Columns in the 1st Arronissement.

13. The clock at Musee d’Orsay

The massive clock at Musee d’Orsay has become one of the most popular Paris photo spots.

Visitors to the musuem can get to the clock by accessing the 5th floor of the museum. Since it’s so popular, it will be hard to get photos without people in them, so have patience when you arrive if that’s your plan.

Your best bet is to arrive right when the museum opens or get your photos at the end of the day just before closing.

Also, please don’t visit the Musee d’Orsay just to get a photo of the clock. This musuem has in impressive collection of art by some of the most famous artists in the world. Plan to arrive with time to spend enjoying some of the musuem’s many paintings by van Gogh, Monet, and Matisse, just to name a few.

You can find the Musee d’Orsay in the 7th Arronissement.

14. The Galeries Lafayette

One of the most colorful Paris photography locations can be found inside the Galeries Lafayette, an ornately decorated department store in the heart of Paris. There are several locations of the Galeries Lafayette, but head to the Haussman location for its exceptional design.

Once inside, make your way to the center of the store to see the colorful stained glass windows in the dome overhead. This area is especially beautiful during the holidays when the store is decorated for Christmas.

You can find the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussman in the 9th Arronissement.

15. Rue de l’Université

Next to the Trocadero, and the lawn in front of it (the Champ de Mars), Rue de l’Universite is one of the most popular Paris Instagram spots for photos of the Eiffel Tower.

You can find this street adjacent to the Eiffel Tower. It’s definitely worth a quck stop before heading on to your next location.

In my own experience it’s usually not too busy here, though I tend to travel in the shoulder season. If you’re visiting Paris during the summer you may have to share the space and be patient to get the photo you want.

Due to the narrow line of sight to the Eiffel Tower and the tall buildings on either side, it is challenging to take pictures with unique angles. Instead, be creative with your outfits and posing to come away with unique images from this location.

I recommend getting here just before sunset for some especially nice shots.

You can find Rue de l’Universite in the 7th Arrondissement.

More of the most Instagrammable places in Paris

Here’s a quick video showing some of the locations I mention above, but also a few new ones. Enjoy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about the 15 Best Photo Spots in Paris and that you found it helpful in planning your own trip. Paris is absolutely amazing and I just know you’ll have an amazing time. If you enjoyed this post please consider sharing it. Thanks for reading.

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