Top 10 photo spots in Paris: best locations for the perfect pictures!

1. Eiffel Tower: Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was never meant to be a permanent landmark but instead, it was built for the 1889 Paris Exposition? Of course it still stands tall even after 120 years and is the most visited paid monument on the planet. Almost 70-75 % of all the tourists visiting Paris need a picture with the Eiffel and unmistakably, I am one of them too ????. Every time I visit the tower, it gets more fascinating than before and undoubtedly I want pictures of me with it in the best way possible. After many and many successful/unsuccessful attempts, I guess I can give you some valuable suggestions to get that perfect picture! There are several locations where you can get great pictures with Eiffel, but the best are:

Spot 1: Wall for Peace. Yes, you got it right! The best pictures with the whole tower in its full glory can be taken from right in front/back of it. However, there are two sides of the tower with lawns in front and I suggest you go to the lesser green part which is technically the back side of the tower. You will find it in the map by checking for the monument called Wall for Peace.

View: Only the tower in the backdrop

Exact location: Champ de Mars, 2 Allée Adrienne Lecouvreur, 75007 Paris, France

Metro stop: Line 8. Stop is called Ecole Militaire

Crowd: Much less crowded when compared with the ticketing office side of the Eiffel entrance.

Spot 2: Place de Trocadero This is a great spot to get your portrait picture, but I prefer it more for a picture of the tower itself along with the beautiful Trocadero fountains in the front. I didn’t put it in the first place because it’s always and always crowded with tourists and getting a spot for a perfect iconic picture with the tower during the day might get really difficult. I suggest going here when the sun goes down and crowds start heading somewhere else. I usually choose this place to watch the sunset over Eiffel and drink a classy Chardonnay while watching the hourly glitters of the tower in the night! Please don’t miss out on this experience. Remember to buy a bottle of wine from a supermarket before you head to Trocadero for a romantic evening. It’s not uncommon in the evening that you bump into great salsa dancing acts or street music shows here which you can watch and even participate for free. Follow me on instagram for more Paris pictures. Link here!

View: Eiffel with the gardens and fountains in the backdrop

Metro stop: Line 6 or 9. Stop is called Trocadero

Exact location: 75016 Paris France Trocadéro/Iéna, 16ème

Crowd: Very crowded during the day time. Best time to visit is during the sunset/sunrise.

2. Les Invalides: This is perhaps one of the most famous tombs in Paris because the great Napoleon is buried here. The tomb is golden in color and can be spotted from various parts of the city!

Spot 3: Pont Alexander III This bridge in itself is a great photo stop in Paris and shouldn’t be missed at all. The bridge is ornate with a beautiful architecture encrypted with golden cherubs, nymphs and big lamp posts! Views are different on different sides of the bridge! I love both and Les Invalides looks great from this point. Even though Eiffel view is not great from here, but it works for a great backdrop with both the tower and river Seine!

View: Les Invalides, Upper portion of Eiffel and river Seine

Metro stop: Metro 13 or RER A. Stop is called Champs-Elysées- Clemenceau

Exact location: 1 Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France

Crowd: One of the most crowded bridges of Paris.

Spot 4: Hotel National Les Invalides This is a huge building complex with many historic museums and monuments together. The best pictures can be taken if you walk from the Pont Alexander III bridge towards the hotel. There are many grass lawns by the side of the road where you can just sit down for a while to relax and also take great pictures.

View: Grandeur view of Les Invalides

Metro stop: Line 8/RER C and the stop is called Invalides. Line 13 and stop is called Varennes

Exact Location: 129 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France

Crowd: There is a lot of traffic on this road which might be a problem when trying to make a portrait picture. So, watch out for the cars!

3. Montmartre: Montmartre is a big hill in Paris and also forms one of the most happening districts of Paris and mainly famous for the Sacré-Coeur basilica and a magnificent view of Paris. After visiting the basilica, walk down to the Place du Tertre. It also gives a gorgeous view of the city as well.

Spot 5: Sacré-Coeur Basilica This is the best place to take a picture of the hill with the white cathedral. The white dome of the basilica stands tall in the Parisian sky and can be spotted from any part of the city if you have strong eyes. The cathedral is very famous and can be best reached by climbing several stairs. The best shot can be taken both from the bottom of the stairs leading up to it and the garden just in front of the monument.

View: Bridge itself is great with red bricks and cool lanterns across it

Metro stop: Line 12 and the stop is Abbesses and also Lamarck Caulaincourt. For line 2, the stop is Anvers

Exact Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France

Crowd: It’s always crowded and you need to be careful in this district. A valuable tip is to walk from the back side of the cathedral which is from the metro stop of Lamarck Caulaincourt (line 12) rather than try to fight your way up the stairs teeming with people.

For better pictures and more tips on Paris, check out my post on Paris! Follow me on instagram for many more pictures and travel stories! This is my twitter account!

4. Notre Dame: I wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say that after Eiffel, Paris is famous for this cathedral. Notre-Dame is huge and dates back to the Gothic Architecture being one of the first Gothic churches in Paris.

Spot 6: Notre-Dame Cathedral from the banks of Seine river This is one of my best spots to get a picture with the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It gives a really beautiful view across the river banks of the Seine river.

View: Aerial view of Notre Dame Cathedral and Seine

Metro stop: For RER B or RER C, the stop is St Michel-Notre Dame. For line 4, stop is Cite

Exact Location: 1 rue des Fosses Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France

Crowd: Always crowded in front of the cathedral, but just walk across the Seine river banks and you should be fine.

Spot 7: Arab World Institute This is truly an off-beat path museum of Paris and is best for the scenic views of Notre-Dame from its roof which his at the 15h floor. You don’t need to pay to visit the roof, you only need to pay if you are visiting the museum????. Just go to the reception of the museum and take the elevator to the roof. The views are terrific from the roof of this museum and you will not regret visiting this place as the architecture in itself is unique and spectacular!

View: Aerial view of Notre Dame Cathedral and Seine

Metro stop: Line 7 and the stop is Jussieu. Line 10 and the stop is Cardinal Lemoine

Exact Location: 1 rue des Fosses Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France

Crowd: Never crowded.

5. Arc de Triomphe: Standing tall in the middle of Paris, Arc de Triomphe is a big monument built by Napoleon in honor of the victory of the battle of three emperors. It was one of the most famous battles won by Napoleon and the architecture of the monument is truly Napoleon. The Arc is now dedicated to the victory of all important wars in the French military history.

Spot 8: Champs-Elysses This wide road between that runs between Place Charles de Gaulle and Place de la Concorde is perhaps the best place to get portrait photographs of you with the Arc and also the big Paris ferry wheel in Concorde. This place is always crowded, but for the best picture with the Arc, go when the sun goes down and stand in between the road (you are allowed to do this, but risky) in Champs-Elysses.

View: Arc de Triomphe and Paris Ferry wheel

Metro stop: Line 1,2, 6 and RER A. Stop is Etiole – Charles de Gaulle

Exact Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Crowd: Always crowded.

6. Pont de Bir-Hakeim: Remember the scene from Inception when Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur) enters the dream facility while walking on a bridge? Liked it? Do you also want a dramatic picture with that bridge?

Spot 9: Inception Bridge The bridge connects the two metro stations across the Seine river. To get the best shots, just walk from Bir-Hakeim metro station which is on the left bank of the river to the Passy metro station on the right bank.

View: Bridge itself is great with red bricks and cool lanterns across it

Metro stop: Line 6. Stop is Bir Hakeim

Exact Location: Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France

Crowd: Mind the traffic which includes the cars on both sides and also the bikes which goes right in the middle of the bridge! Try to get your picture when the traffic lights are red.

7. Skyline of Paris: If you are interested in having pictures with a different aka the corporate side of Paris with tall high rise skyscrapers, then this is the place to be. High chances that you might catch me shopping here in the huge 4 TEMPS mall :P!

Spot 10: La Defense This is where the new Paris meets the old architecture. Not really a very touristy place to be in Paris, but I have some really nice portrait pictures here with the new skyline of Paris and also with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. Also a great spot for capturing the skyscrapers around.

View: Grande Arche and Arc de Triomphe

Metro stop: RER A or Metro 1. Stop is called La Defense

Exact Location: 15 Tunnel de Nanterre-La Défense, 92092 Paris La Défense, France

Crowd: Mostly office people on weekdays. Try to be here on a weekend to escape the crowd.

GENERAL GOOD SPOTS: Apart from the above mentioned places, I love getting photographed both inside the Parisian metro and also in the Parisian metro stations. The metro stations in Paris are really unique and trust me, you will like it too!

For better pictures and more tips on Paris, check out my post on Paris! Follw me on instagram for many more pictures and travel stories! This is my twitter account!

P.S. – Most of the pictures in this post are captured by my great friend and photographer Kapil Dubey. This is his personal photography page – Kapil Dubey Photography. Please don’t hesitate to contact him if you want a great portfolio shoot in Paris like this!

Did you find my post helpful? Do you have any other tips? Then, pen them down in the Comment section below!