Want to discover the best photo spots in Paris where you can see the most photogenic places of the French capital city? Here are my top picks as a French girl who lived in Paris for a few years ! These are my best photo spots in Paris and should elicit a surprised “wow” if you’re discovering these little gems for the first time :-).
To continue exploring Paris, check out my travel guides:
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
Stroll through the Butte aux Cailles, with street art and flower gardens
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR DISCOVERING THE BEST PHOTO SPOTS IN PARIS
Getting around Paris
Paris is still a big city, but if you choose to explore one neighborhood at a time, it’s easy to do on foot! And it’s really the best way to discover Paris, with your nose in the air, observing everything that hurried passers-by don’t take the time to look at. You can also easily explore the Opera, the Galeries Lafayette, and the covered passages at the same time, as they are all nearby.
The metro is the fastest and easiest way to get around, while the bus allows you to enjoy the scenery during your journeys.
Where to stay in Paris ?
Paris is, of course, brimming with accommodation options, from private apartments to hotel rooms, in all styles, conditions, and price ranges! However, I recommend staying in central Paris if you are visiting for two, three, or four days to save time during your stay!
Below is a selection of my favorite places to stay in Paris, based on the neighborhood you prefer and your budget!
Find your accommodation in Paris !
3 recommended accommodation for you in Paris
HÔTEL OFF PARIS SEINE
- Sleep on the Seine !
- With a pool
- From €150
HÔTEL DES ARTS MONTMARTRE
- Rated 9,6/10
- Quiet and with a view !
- From €180
HÔTEL JOSÉPHINE BONAPARTE
- In the heart of Paris
- In an old convent
- From €300
How much time do you need to visit these best photo spots in Paris?
Please note that the times given below are approximate and do not include waiting time at the entrance… Don’t forget that between noon and 2pm, waiting times are significantly shorter!
The streets of Montmartre and the Père Lachaise cemetery are easily worth half a day each.
The covered passageways will take you a good two hours, the Opéra Garnier about an hour, as will the Eiffel Tower. But if you prefer to climb the steps of the Iron Lady (the view is worth it!), you’ll need a little more time.
The Pont Alexandre III, Rue de Crémieux, Galeries Lafayette, and Sainte Chapelle require less than an hour.
What to bring back from Paris ?
Among the places listed, the covered passages and Galeries Lafayette offer the widest choice of small souvenirs. In the Passage Jouffroy, you will find beautiful decorative items, old Paris posters, souvenir shops, and beautiful photographs at the “Paris est une photo” gallery at 55 Passage Jouffroy.
For something sweet, Pierre Hermé’s macarons are, in my opinion, the best in the city. They also make a lovely gift (especially for yourself!). The flavor combinations are daring, although some may not be to everyone’s taste. He has several shops in Paris, including one in Galeries Lafayette and one right next to the Opéra Garnier at 39 av. de l’Opéra. You’ll also find chocolates, cakes, and other delicious treats that are well worth the slightly high price.
1. THE SAINTE-CHAPELLE
This is my favorite monument of the city and definitely one of the best photo spots in Paris! Located on the Île de la Cité, just a few meters from the most visited monument in France—the Paris Cathedral—few people know about it, not even Parisians! However, although it is much smaller than its neighbor, its colors are well worth the detour!
It was built in the 13th century at the request of Saint Louis, King of France, to house relics. The exterior could pass for an ordinary chapel, but the interior is as surprising as it is breathtaking! There are two floors: below is the lower chapel, with its magnificent blue vaulted ceiling decorated with fleurs-de-lis and murals. And on the upper floor, the upper chapel will take your breath away as soon as you step through the door! Its sculptures and tall stained-glass windows are simply magnificent!
Practical information:
– Sainte Chapelle: Cité metro station (L4) – Open daily from 9:00 a.m. Admission: €11.50 (free for visitors under 26).
Book your ticket for the Sainte Chapelle!
2. THE PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY
This is a rather unusual place as one of the best photo spots in Paris, and you could almost forget that you are in a cemetery. The site is full of mystery and charm, with its cobbled streets and lush vegetation… A real movie set, worthy of the famous men and women who are buried here.
I recommend visiting Père Lachaise in the fall, when the colors of the trees and fallen leaves illuminate the gravestones. It gives the cemetery a whole new dimension! Have fun finding the graves of famous people: some are unusual, others are covered with flowers, and some are completely ordinary. Some graves are hidden among the trees, while others display the wealth of their families with gravestones that are each larger than the last. Père-Lachaise is actually a jumble of graves that hide beautiful stories.
Practical information: Père Lachaise Cemetery:
Père Lachaise metro station (L2,3). Free admission, map available at the entrance.
3. THE COVERED PASSAGES
There’s nothing like a stroll through the covered passages to discover Paris in a different light. Each one has its own personality and history, and that’s what makes them so charming and one of the best photo spots in Paris! Did you know that there are more than twenty of them?
I suggest a stroll through the 2nd arrondissement to discover the most beautiful covered passages in Paris! Filled with pretty shops and covered with glass roofs, they have the old-fashioned charm of the late 19th century…
Let’s start with the Passage du Grand Cerf. It’s less well known than others but it’s the prettiest of the many passages that line the unusual Rue Saint Denis. Don’t miss Rickshaw, a shop selling objects from around the world that’s a real Aladdin’s cave! At the end, the passage leads to the charming Rue Montorgueil, which is home to grocery stores and high-quality food shops. The neighborhood is entirely pedestrianized and perfect for a stroll!
From Rue Montorgueil, head to the beautiful Place des Victoires. Right next door is the Galerie Colbert, one of the few galleries that doesn’t house any shops, as it belongs to the National Library. Its neighbor, the magnificent Galerie Vivienne, is much more popular. Very elegant with its mosaic floor, it dates back to 1823.
4. INSIDE THE OPÉRA GARNIER
5. GALERIES LAFAYETTE HAUSSMANN
6. THE ALLEYS AND STAIRS OF MONTMARTRE
Practical information: Montmartre:
Lamarck metro station (L12).
Musée de Montmartre – 12 rue Cortot. Open every day from 10 a.m. Admission: from €9.50 (reduced rate: from €7.50).
7. THE ALEXANDRE III BRIDGE
The prettiest bridge in Paris was inaugurated for the 1900 World’s Fair, which brought some of the city’s most beautiful monuments to Paris, including the Grand and Petit Palais, located nearby. Its name refers to the Franco-Russian friendship that it symbolized at the time.
Every detail of the bridge’s architecture is so beautifully crafted that it deserves to be photographed. With its monumental golden pillars, bronze candelabra, and sculptures of nymphs on either side, which part do you like best?
Practical information: Pont Alexandre III:
Invalides metro station (L8, 13, RER C)
8. RUE CRÉMIEUX, THE MOST PHOTOGENIC STREET IN PARIS
This is the most colorful street in Paris and one of the cutest… And also one of the best photo spots in Paris !
Located in the 12th arrondissement, right next to the Gare de Lyon, it will take you away from Paris! You can admire pretty pastel-colored facades with patterns painted by the locals and plants that invade the sidewalks… Perfect for taking beautiful photos!
Practical information: Rue Crémieux:
Gare de Lyon metro station (L1, 14, RER A, D)
9. THE ICONIC EIFFEL TOWER
I’ve saved one of the best photo spots in Paris for last! The Eiffel Tower is a real cliché, and Parisians don’t even notice it anymore. And yet, what a monument! Its architecture was innovative and controversial at the time (1889), a beautiful tangle of iron, a landmark in the Paris skyline…
It is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic monuments, where every little detail is worth a look. And what better way to see the Iron Lady up close than to climb it? Don’t hesitate for a second to brave the crowds to get to the top, the view is truly incomparable and well worth the (sometimes long) wait and climb!
Practical information: Eiffel Tower:
Bir Hakeim (L6) or Iéna (L9) metro stations, or Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (RER C). Open daily from 9:30 a.m. until late at night. Admission: from €23, half-price reduced rate.
I hope you enjoyed these gems as they are the best photo spots in Paris !
To continue exploring Paris, check out my travel guides:
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
Stroll through the Butte aux Cailles, with street art and flower gardens
… See you soon!
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