The Best Photo Spots in Paris: An Insider’s Guide

We all know Paris, France is one of the most photographic cities in the world! Full of beautiful restaurants, monuments, and of course the Eiffel Tower. Many photographers have shot well known locations like Montmartre, Pont Alexander III, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe. But this article is designed to help you find the best photo spots in Paris that you may have missed on your last trip.

We even include exact addresses (linking to maps), timing, and costs for each location. Whether you are just visiting or living in Paris full time, use this article to quickly navigate to the most Instagram-worthy locations in the city of light!

The Best Photography Locations in Paris

1. Eiffel Tower

Everyone dreams of taking a shot with the Eiffel Tower on their arrival to Paris! These are the best locations to shoot the iron lady!

Champ de Mars

If you are looking for the perfect place to picnic at sunset and take gorgeous pictures of the Eiffel Tower, this location should be a the top of your list. In the summer the area is flooded with locals and tourists eating baguettes and waiting for the iron lady to sparkle.

Insider Tip: We recommend arriving a little before sunset to capture the perfect colors as the sun sets behind the tower.

Best time for pics: Sunset/golden hour
Cost: Free 
Address: 2 Allée Adrienne Lecouvreur, 75007 Paris

Trocadero

If you have ever looked at Instagram chances are you have seen a shot from Trocadero with a view of the Eiffel Tower. This is a hot spot for photographers at sunrise to capture the most quintessential shot of the Eiffel Tower.

Insider Tip: It’s important to arrive here at sunrise as it can become very busy in the afternoons, also the sun rises behind it, so if you want a beautiful backlight in your shots, arrive early.

Best time for pics: Sunrise
Cost: Free 
Address: 17 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116

Avenue de Camoens

If you have seen an Eiffel Tower shot on social media, you have probably seen this location in Paris. We love it because it’s a dead-end street straight into the Eiffel Tower! On each side of the street, there are beautiful Haussman style buildings to complete your Parisian look!

Insider Tip: It’s a safe place to walk, jump, and dance for all your best social media shots with the Eiffel Tower in Paris, because there is no traffic.

Best time for pics: Sunrise
Cost: Free 
Address: 4 Avenue de Camoens, 75116

The Carousel

Just down from the large Trocadero platform, you will spot this glittering carousel and one of the best photo spots in Paris. It’s easy to take photos just in front of it with the Eiffel Tower behind you or you can pay for a ticket and ride and take some photos.

Insider Tip: Beware when you go to take your Paris photography, the owners are not very happy when you jump on and try to take photos without paying first.

Best time for pics: Sunrise
Cost: Free or buy a carousel ticket
Address: Place de Varsovie, 75016 Paris

Pont de Bir Hakeim

Trocadero and the Champ Mars can often become crowded when you want to capture your Eiffel Tower shots. This is why local photographers flock to Pont de Bir Hakeim for their Paris photography. But if you visit on a Friday or Saturday afternoon at sunset you can be sure to find lots of brides. But in general, this is a great place to shoot the Eiffel Tower if you want to avoid people while visiting Paris.

Insider Tip: This bridge is only a 15 min walk from the other Eiffel Tower hot spots but offers a great view of the Eiffel Tower without the crowds.

Best time for pics: Sunset
Cost: Free
Address: Pont de Bir Hakeim

2. Rooftops

Want to see Paris from a different point of view? These are some of the most beautiful and accessible rooftops around Paris!

Galeries Lafayette Rooftop

If you want to take pictures in Paris with a grande view, then consider the Galeries Lafayette department store. Their terrace lands among the top Paris Instagram spots offering a free rooftop terrace, where you get fantastic views of the city in all directions. Also, there is a cafe where you can grab some refreshments whilst enjoying the views. 

Insider Tip: The terrace is open until 8 pm most nights and until 10 pm on Thursdays making it one of the more popular places in Paris.

Best time for pics: anytime
Cost: Free – Polite to buy a drink
Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009

La Terrasse Hotel

This fun boutique hotel is situated in the rolling hills of Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It has become a hot spot for rooftop drinks and Paris photography. Even if you are not staying at the hotel you can enter the lobby and take the elevator to the top floor where you will have amazing views of Paris and even the Eiffel Tower off in the distance. From the roof, you can also see the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Saint Michel.

Insider Tip: Simply grab a cocktail and shoot some photographs, don’t forget to ask for a menu too!

Best time for pics: Sunset/golden hour
Cost: Free – Polite to buy a drink
Address: 12-14 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris

3. Museums

Having a photoshoot at a museum may not be the first idea that comes to mind. But just like everything in Paris, the museums are just as beautiful. Check out these classic and new ones to add to your photography list.

Louvre

Make sure to head over to the Napoleon apartments for the best photo opt inside the Louvre for one of the best photo spots in Paris. While standing inside these gorgeous rooms you will feel like you have traveled to Versailles without the trip. Red velvet curtains and wall-to-wall carpets make it one of the best photo spots in Paris. The greatest part is it’s never very busy because people are so focused on finding the Mona Lisa.

Insider Tip: Visit the Napoleon Apartments inside the Louvre.

Best time for pics: Friday afternoon when the museum stays open until 10 pm
Cost: Free if under 25 or 12 euros a ticket
Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Rodin Museum Garden

If you are tired of the Eiffel Tower shots, try frolicking through the private gardens of famous sculpture artist Rodin! The museum is full of his best-known work and complete with a gorgeous large garden in the back for your Paris Instagram feed. If you want to skip the museum and only take photos in the garden, then the price is only 2 euros.

Insider Tip: Pack a picnic and start your photo shoot with a view in this fantastic photo spot.

Best time for pics: Morning to avoid crowds and for the best light
Cost: Free if under 25 or 2 euros for garden entry only
Address: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris

Musée de la Vie romantique

This little gem of a museum is not well known and therefore one of the best spots to take photos. Housed behind a private gate and complete with a mini garden and greenhouse where you can grab lunch, it makes for romantic countryside photos in Paris! We especially recommend the greenhouse for its lovely light and beautiful interior not far from Montmartre.

Insider Tip: Ask about a walking tour on your arrival.

Best time for pics: Afternoon for nice light in the garden
Cost: Free to enter if you are going to the cafe inside the greenhouse
Address: 16 Rue Chaptal, 75009 Paris

Musée d’Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay is one of our most favorite places to take photos in Paris. It was once an old train station but is now an impressionism museum. When you arrive take the escalators or elevator all the way to the top floor. Walk past the restaurant and you will arrive at the large clock face. This is a great place to take photos of yourself or others because of the beautiful silhouettes you can create, framed by the clockface with Paris just behind and an amazing view making for excellent photographs inside the Musee d’Orsay.

Insider Tip: Shoot through the clock face on the top floor.

Best time for pics: Morning to avoid crowds
Cost: 12 euros
Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris

Musée de Montmartre

Another hidden gem museum, the building is complete with a grand garden, several mini buildings, and an atelier. We especially recommend shooting in the garden and the atelier early in the morning. This museum was home to many famous artists who painted the very same gardens including Renoir and Susanne Valadon. Post a view from an artist as you shoot inside this historical museum.

Insider Tip: Take a tea in the garden.

Best time for pics: Anytime, it’s never very busy
Cost: 12 euros
Address: 12 Rue Cortot, 75018 Paris

Petite Palais

This museum is one of our top picks for the best photo spots in Paris. The entrance is one of the most ornate in the city. Golden gates with marble stairs and massive statues are all outside it.

Insider Tip: Try arriving in the morning before they set up the entrance with security and ropes. Most of the museum is free, so peek inside after your photoshoot and find more places to take pictures.

Best time for pics: Morning
Cost: Free
Address: Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008

4. Montmartre

Montmartre is by far my favorite location in Paris to shoot! It’s full of color, artists, and winding cobblestone streets. You are sure to capture wonderful portraits and street photography here!

La Maison Rose

This may be one of the most shot locations in Paris! La Maison Rose is a little pink restaurant situated on the corner of a winding road in the artist district. It’s rare you see a pink house in a city which is why so many tourists flock to this location as one of the key spots in Paris to shoot. It’s best to arrive early in the morning if you don’t want to wait your turn to take a shot with this cute little restaurant.

Insider Tip: The owner isn’t a fan of you taking photos while patrons are eating. So try to arrive in the morning before it opens to avoid any fuss.

Best time for pics: Morning
Cost: Free
Address: 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris

Sacre-Coeur Dome

The Sacre-Coeur Basilica has become the busiest church in France but is also a church with the best view of Paris! It’s always free to enter churches in Paris but what most people do not know about is you can enter the dome that sits on the roof of the church. Climb along the roof as you make your way into the dome for spectacular views of Paris and quite literally the top of our Paris photography locations.

Insider Tip: If you have a mirrorless camera, use it to silently take photos of the stained glass windows while visiting inside.

Best time for pics: Morning for airy photos
Cost: 10 euros
Address: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 

The Leaning Apartment of Montmartre

Just down from the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, you will notice a salmon-colored apartment building. The building is perfectly placed to make zany sideways photos that make it appear you are on an angle. Models love climbing along the grassy hill and making silly poses with this beautiful apartment building behind.

Insider Tip: Turn your camera sideways for the best effect.

Best time for pics: Morning for airy photos
Cost: Free
Address: 1 Parvis du Sacré-Cœur

Abbesses Metro

Most of the metro station facades were destroyed by the Nazis during the WWII occupation. But a few of the glass-covered art nouveau-styled metro stations still exist and Montmartre is home to one of them. Strike your best off to work pose as you walk up the stairs of this ornate metro stop.

Insider Tip: Beware if you take the metro to this stop, take the elevator up to the top because it is one of the deepest metro stations in all of Paris and you will be climbing 100s of stairs if you don’t.

Best time for pics: Morning to avoid metro users
Cost: Free
Address: Abbesses Metro Station, 75018

The Wall of Love

The Wall of Love is a love-themed wall of 40 square meters in the Jehan Rictus garden square in Montmartre, Paris, France. The story goes that “I Love You” has been written in many languages all over the wall with red broken heart pieces floating around. The blue tiles and ornate writing makes for one of the best photo spots in Paris.

Insider Tip: It’s just outside the Abbesses Metro.

Best time for pics: Anytime
Cost: Free
Address: Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 

The Painters Square

Painters have been coming here for decades to paint live in-person and sell their work. The square is peaceful and surrounded by trees and historic buildings making it a quintessential place to take original Paris shots.

Insider Tip: You will find the church peaking around in the background as well.

Best time for pics: Morning
Cost: Free
Address: Place du Tertre, 75018

Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet

This secret garden behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is where the locals hang out to read, picnic, and enjoy the view. The garden has epic views of the church and is never very crowded because most of the tourists hang out in front of the church instead of behind making it one of the more quiet photography spots inside the city. Insider’s tip is to sit on the wall of a drained fountain you will find.

Insider Tip: Have your photographer stand below you and you will have an amazing photo with the church behind.

Best time for pics: Anytime
Cost: Free
Address: Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet, 75018 

5. The Islands

The islands and the Latin Quarter of Paris are known for being the oldest in the city! Notre Dame, book shops, and picturesque scenes of the Seine are to be shot here.

Shakespeare and Company

This famous bookstore is the perfect photo opt for book lovers, located in the quaint Latin quarter. The facade is a beautiful green and yellow with a Wallace fountain to complete your Parisian look. It also overlooks Notre Dame, so it’s easy to make your way over for more great Parisian snaps after.

Insider Tip: You are not allowed to take photos inside the shop, but outside is a great opportunity to take your best photos.

Best time for pics: Anytime
Cost: Free
Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris

Notre Dame Book Stalls

Along the Seine, you may have noticed the green boxes propped up on the walls full of books and souvenirs. The stalls are especially beautiful along the Seine with Notre Dame behind.

Insider Tip: Most of the vendors are kind if you simply ask to take a photo or buy something. Most places in Paris have this attitude.

Best time for pics: Anytime
Cost: Free
Address: 67 Quai de Montebello, 75005

Île Saint-Louis

This small island in the middle of Paris makes for the perfect classic photo location. If you stay along the borders of the island along the Seine you never find many people. It’s one of the oldest locations in Paris, so the area provides a backdrop of timeless photography. Old buildings, the river access, and sunset bridge walk make this area a dreamland. You may even discover the two white swans who spend a lot of time basking in the sun near the river.

Insider Tip: Pack a picnic and go at sunset to make new friends.

Best time for pics: Anytime
Cost: Free
Address: Île Saint-Louis

Pont Des Arts

This bridge is also known as the love lock bridge. Tucked just behind the Louvre museum, it used to be covered in small locks. Couples would attach a metal lock, usually with their names engraved, and toss the key into the river, signifying that they would stay together forever. However, the locks have been removed and it’s now illegal to add locks to any gate around Paris but we still recommend taking photos on this gorgeous bridge.

Insider Tip: Sunset is especially special as you gaze down the river Seine. You can achieve city and river backdrops by shooting here.

Best time for pics: Sunset
Cost: Free
Address: Pont Des Arts, 75006

6. The Marais

The Marais are a favorite among locals and tourists. This section of Paris is full of colorful LGBQT hangouts and delicious Jewish cuisine. Not to mention lots of photo opportunities!

Place des Vosges

The Place des Vosges, originally Place Royale, is the oldest planned square in Paris, France. During the summer you are sure to find Parisians in bikinis and during the other seasons, it is always a happening place to read, picnic, and relax in the heart of the Marais.

Insider Tip: We recommend setting up a picnic shoot here.

Best time for pics: anytime
Cost: Free
Address: Place des Vosges, 75004 

Hôtel de Sully Garden

This is a super-secret garden in the Marais. As you exit Place des Vosges you will find a little door in the corner of the shops, go through to arrive at a quiet garden perfect for photos of you in a garden from the 17th century and one of the best photo spots in Paris.

Insider Tip: It’s very close to the Victor Hugo Museum.

Best time for pics: anytime (does close at sunset)
Cost: Free
Address: 5 Place des Vosges, 75004 

The Riverbanks of the Seine

The riverbanks of the Seine are not far from the Marais and recently cars have been blocked from driving along them, making them even more perfect for pictures. We recommend packing a picnic for your photoshoot and watching the sunset to capture golden hues as you snap away while making a new friend.

Best time for pics: anytime but sunset is best
Cost: Free
Address: Place Louis Aragon, 75004

7. Bridges

Paris is famous for its ornate bridges. They make for perfect backdrops to any model or city view. Here are our favorites.

Pont Alexander III

This historic bridge is often used for perfume and car commercials and named Pont Alexander III after the king of its time. It connects you with Napoleon’s tomb across to the Eiffel Tower side of Paris and is not far from the Arc de Triomphe. The bridge is known as being the most ornate and extravagant in Paris and includes a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Photographers also love using its gorgeous light posts to lead into their subjects while creating symmetry.

Insider Tip: Use a portrait lens for the best results.

Best time for pics: Sunrise
Cost: Free
Address: Pont Alexandre III, 75008 

Pont Neuf

This name literally means “new bridge” because it was first built by the king in 1578 and remains one of the oldest bridges still standing in Paris! You can get great shots of the sunset over the Seine while standing on this historic bridge.

Insider Tip: Make your way over to Sainte Chapelle after visiting this location for another one of our best photo spots in Paris.

Best time for pics: sunset
Cost: Free
Address: Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris

Pont d’Iéna

If you are standing at the top of Trocadero and head straight down to the river you will arrive at this bridge! We love it because if you take the steps down just next to it on the right, you will arrive at the banks of the Seine and no crowds.

Insider Tip: You can take amazing photos of the Eiffel Tower and this bridge during sunrise.

Best time for pics: sunrise
Cost: Free
Address: Pont d’Iéna, 75116 

8. Gardens

If you prefer to take a stroll around a city garden, Paris has plenty for you to explore. You may recognize some of these, but some are surely new for you!

Jardin du Palais-Royal

This hidden garden is just behind the Louvre pyramid location. It’s a favorite among locals for its parallel lines of trees, fountains, and rose gardens. There are so many photo opportunities here you basically just walk around and bump into them!

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to make use of the black and white columns as well for some funky pictures.

Best time for pics: anytime, closest in the evening
Cost: Free
Address: 43 Rue de Valois, 75001

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

The Jardin du Luxembourg, also known in English as the Luxembourg Gardens, is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. Created in 1612 by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France. The garden is full of beautiful statues, fountains, and a palace which is now a government building.

Insider Tip: They are very picky about you touching the grass so make sure you stick to the trails and only go on the grass which is marked touchable.

Best time for pics: anytime 
Cost: Free
Address: Le Jardin du Luxembourg, 75006

Tuileries Garden

One of the most well-known gardens and one of the best photo spots in Paris. This is a great garden to visit on your way to the Louvre. But instead of shooting in just any old place in the garden, we recommend you head to one of the side tree paths that lead straight up to the Louvre to avoid crowds and for a different look than everyone else has shot here.

Insider Tip: Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dusty.

Best time for pics: anytime 
Cost: Free
Address: Place de la Concorde, 75001

Jardin des Plantes

Many tourists are not aware of this luscious garden just at the edges of Paris. The garden contains many large greenhouses which you can visit for a small fee as well as a zoo! Not to mention, rows and rows of gorgeous trees and flowers. If you are looking for a floral shoot, make your way to Jardin des Plantes.

Insider Tip: After head towards the Seine to board a boat bar called OFF Paris Seine.

Best time for pics: anytime 
Cost: Free (small fee for greenhouses and zoo)
Address: 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this post with the best photo spots in Paris! Did we miss any? Drop us a comment to add your favorite places to take pictures in the city of light!

Want more? Check out our article on the most famous French photographers to be inspired by Paris and learn how to become a better travel photographer.