Paris Photography Guide: Best Places to Capture the Most Iconic Photos
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This summer I had the awesome opportunity to finish off my 2.5 week trip to Morocco with a week in Paris. Excited didn’t even scratch the surface of my emotions. I have been to Paris before, but it was 8 years ago for only 3 days and with bad weather. Not a great combo. Naturally, I was fixated on getting those iconic photos that I had failed to get in 2010 due to lack of time and the stupid weather. Thankfully, this trip the weather was sunny for the entire week and I was able to get most of the photos I wanted. So I’m sharing my Paris photography guide complete with map locations in hopes of helping you get those photos too!Paris Photography Guide
I’ve organized these Paris photography shots into location categories and listed them by landmarks, neighborhoods, and best city views. There should be a good mix of the icons as well as candid scenic shots. I have included any tips (both photography and general) I picked up along the way. At the end, you will find a map with all of the locations with their photos attached to help you identify them.
If you don’t have much time, this ultimate guide to one day in Paris will help you hit the highlights. If you have extra time, Disneyland Paris is a great location for more photography. And if you are a curious traveler like me, these Paris nicknames will fascinate you!
Let’s get to it! 🙂
Notre Dame
Daytime
Of course, everyone wants the traditional iconic shot of Notre Dame from the front. I actually got this photo back in 2010, but the weather wasn’t the best and mysteriously, my Notre Dame photos are the only ones I’m missing from that trip. My SD card ate them corrupted. So, I made sure I got them again this trip. 😉
This time around, I also shot the side view from across the Seine River.
Dusk
The cathedral also makes for a great dramatic shot at dusk.
Nighttime
And for the encore, the side view at night was a win with a bonus of light trails from a (long-awaited) passing boat!
TIP: If you want both the back of Notre Dame at dusk and light trails and don’t have a lot of time, you can get both from the bridge location. Boats will come through around dusk, but they get fewer and farther between the later it gets. This is also true from the side view location and I had to wait a while for a boat.
MAP COLOR: Notre Dame is Green
Notre Dame is located at 6 Parvis Notre-Dame-Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
Sacré-Cœur
The Sacré-Cœur is always on the “must-see, must-get” list. There are so many different angles from which you can photograph it. In addition to the traditional iconic front side, walk all the way around, and find another aspect of the Sacré-Cœur that you like!
I fell in love with this red door I found on the side of the Sacré-Cœur. If you haven’t figured it out before now by reading my blog or following my Instagram, I love cool doors!
TIP: The Sacré-Cœur isn’t the easiest landmark to photograph especially without people. So rather than get it up close with a lot of people in the foreground, try moving farther back and getting the carousel, some of the flowers and greenery in the photo. You will still get people in it but they will be small and won’t overtake so much of the picture. This is also the perfect place for a good selfie stick!
MAP COLOR: Sacré-Cœur is Orange
Sacré-Cœur is located at 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
Montmartre
Daytime
No trip to Paris is complete without wandering around the famous Montmartre neighborhood. While there’s an endless amount of things to photograph here, I hit the highlights such as Moulin Rouge. Although technically not a part of Montmartre, it sits at the base of the neighborhood and is closely associated with it.
Moulin Rouge is located at 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
My best advice is to just meander through the streets and find things like this street shot with La Maison Rose…
La Maison Rose is located at 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France
and the Wall of Love. The Wall of Love has “I love you” written over 300 times in 250 languages!
Wall of Love is located at Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France
Dusk
I love this classic street shot that is so characteristic of Montmartre.
Return to La Maison Rose at dusk…the light casts an amazing glow on the pink cafe, don’t you think?
Another popular site is the windmill at Le Moulin de la Galette.
Le Moulin de Galette is located at 83 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France
TIP: I found wandering the streets of Montmartre to be charming, relaxing and inspiring. Massive photography potential here!
MAP COLOR: Montmartre is Black
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Musée du Louvre
Daytime
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and the pyramid with the fountains is one of the most iconic shots in all of Paris.
Inside the pyramid (the entrance to the Louvre) is adorned from time to time with different decorations. This was what was present during my visit. Just be sure to notice what might be either inside, right outside or on the pyramid itself.
Nighttime
Also just as iconic is this night shot with the pyramid and its beautiful reflection!
Don’t forget to take a shot from inside the Passage Richelieu. It frames everything up so well!
TIPS: Get your tickets in advance for the Louvre and skip the long lines. Also, it’s open at night until 9:45 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is a great time to visit and then you can go outside for a night photo shoot!
MAP COLOR: The Louvre is Purple
The Louvre is located at Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe
There are various places to get shots of the Arc de Triomphe which isn’t easy because of its height and the surrounding busy roadways. This one was taken at the base on the Champs-Élysées side.
MAP COLOR: Arc de Triomphe is Blue
Arc de Triomphe is located at Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
Parisian Scenes
Daytime
In 2015, the Pont des Arts stopped playing host as home to “Love Lock Bridge”. Because one of the mesh panels of the bridge collapsed due to the weight of the locks (one panel supposedly weighed 1500 lbs alone), Paris made the decision to remove all of the locks and replace the panels.
When I was taking photos from the bridge, I noticed these locks secured to one of the light poles on the bridge.
Ponts de Arts is located at Ponts de Arts, 75006 Paris, France
Likewise, I noticed these new locks on the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor (formerly Solferino Bridge). Is this one on its way to becoming the new “Love Lock Bridge”? I’m not sure. There are supposedly 13 bridges that now contain love locks, but this was the only one I personally saw.
Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor is located at Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, 75001 Paris, France
Who has time for shopping when this is your view? The Galeries Lafayette Haussman is a photographer’s dream…can you imagine? Okay, okay…after you grab your photos, go get your shop on. 😉
Galeries Lafayette Haussman is located at Boulevard Haussman, Paris, France
There are many cool secret places around Paris. While the Covered Passages aren’t totally a secret, they certainly aren’t the most iconic either. I particularly loved this shot of the Passage Jouffroy.
Passage Jouffroy is located at 10 Boulevard Montmartre – 9 Rue de la Grange-Batelière, Paris, France
Parisian cafés are so, well…Parisian, right? How about the L’Escargot Montorgueil? I absolutely loved how cute it is!
L’Escargot Montorgueil is located at 38 Rue Montorgueil, 75001 Paris, France
Nighttime
Capturing the beauty of Paris’ Statue of Liberty at night is a must especially if you are American. Remember, the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France!
TIP: Looking straight up at the statue is a unique take, but you can also capture it much further back with the Eiffel Tower in the background too.
Statue of Liberty is located below the Pont de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France
MAP COLOR: Parisian Scenes are in Aqua
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles was one of the top things I wanted to see on my second trip to Paris. I remember desperately wanting to see it on my first trip in 2010, but with only 3 days there wasn’t enough time. I made sure I saw it this trip!
The most famous part of the Palace? The Hall of Mirrors, of course! I managed to pull off my goal of getting photos without anyone in them. This isn’t easy to do and there’s really only one way to accomplish it…
TIPS: Buy tickets way in advance of your trip for the opening 9:00 am hour. Get there at least 30 minutes prior (45 minutes is ideal). I arrived around 8:30 and was still second in line. As soon as they open and your ticket is scanned, go straight to the Hall of Mirrors. Everyone else will collect their audio guides (I’m not a fan of these personally) and then will walk through the Palace per the audio guide. Confirming with employees that I could backtrack to see the parts of the Palace I was about to zoom past, I made a fast beeline for the Hall of Mirrors and had about 5 minutes or less to grab photos without anyone else present! Thanks to Amanda from KevinandAmanda for this tip!
MAP COLOR: Versailles is in Yellow
Palace of Versailles is located at Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Palais Garnier
Grand Foyer
The Grand Foyer in Palais Garnier is one of the most stunning rooms I’ve ever been in. It actually reminds me of the Hall of Mirrors and I think I liked it better (shhhh…..).
It was just so much more ornate and had a little more contrast in color.
Auditorium
The Auditorium though is just breathtakingly beautiful and iconic as well. I couldn’t believe I was standing in one of the most famous opera houses in the world!
Please, please don’t forget to look up to see the stunning dome!
Salons
The Salon de Lune is unique with bats on its ceiling…
and likewise, the Salon de Soleil is equally as unique with dragons on its ceiling.
TIP: Take the Phantom of the Opera tour at the Palais Garnier. It’s an after-hours tour that takes you to all the above locations as well as the Phantom’s Box. This is a must for all Phantom of the Opera lovers and photographers alike!
MAP COLOR: Palais Garnier is in Coral
Palais Garnier is located at 8 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris, France
Best City Views
Aerial
If you’re flying into Paris-Orly be sure to see what aerial views you might have. I took this one as we flew in at sunset.
TIP: If you have a TV screen, use the in-flight map to see which direction you are landing and which side of the plane Paris is on. If you are landing to the west like we were, Paris was on the right side and this was our sunset view!
Sacré-Cœur
I loved the late afternoon lighting on the city view from the Sacré-Cœur.
Eiffel Tower
Arguably the best views in all of Paris come from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
All views…
from every side!
TIPS: Tickets to the top go on sale 6-8 weeks in advance and most of the time slots sell out the same day. I got ours the day they went on sale (7 weeks prior to our trip) and still didn’t get my first choice of times. I recommend going late afternoon (which was a 5:30 pm entrance time for us in July) when the lighting is still great. Then you can go down for a picnic with the Eiffel Tower in view and then head over to the Trocadero for sunset photos!
Eiffel Tower is located at Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe also provides nice views of the city…
from all sides…
that include the Eiffel Tower
and the financial district too!
TIP: Buy your tickets online in advance and avoid the LONG ticket booth lines. We actually purchased ours online while standing in the line and then went to the front of it. Not sure if we got lucky or not so I recommend buying them in advance so you don’t have to worry about it!
MAP COLOR: Best City Views are in Gray
Eiffel Tower
Daytime
I saved the best for last, the Eiffel Tower. There are so many places to get photos of the most iconic structure in Paris such as near the base looking up.
Sunset
But my favorite time and place to photograph the Eiffel Tower is from the Trocadero Gardens at sunset.
Blue Hour
Stay after sunset for the Blue Hour and you will get this shot.
Then, walk down to the Seine River and continue to be amazed by what all the Blue Hour can show you!
TIP: If you don’t know, the Blue Hour is the time after the sun sets before the sky is completely black. During this time, the sky is a beautiful blue color that creates beautiful backgrounds. This photo was taken around 10:30 pm in early July.
Nighttime
I wanted to stay in a “room with a view” and I achieved this with my room at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile. This was my nightly view as I was getting ready to go to sleep every night!
These photos were taken near the Pont de la Concorde Bridge.
I loved that I could see not only the Eiffel Tower…
but also the Pont Alexandre III bridge too.
Bonus-all the colors in the water reflections!
TIP: Be sure to get in place by about 10 minutes before the hour (from 11pm-1am) for one of the Eiffel Tower’s light shows. Play with your camera settings and capture both the sharper and softer sides!
MAP COLOR: Eiffel Tower is in Magenta
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And there you have it…I hope this guide helps you capture the best of Paris photography. The City of Light is super colorful and fun to photograph! If you are looking for recommendations for fabulous food while you are getting all these fun photos, don’t miss my Foodie’s Guide to Paris!
Have you been to Paris? Do you have any fun photo spots to add to my Paris Photography guide? If so, I would love to hear about them!
‘Til next time…
Trimm Travels,
Beautiful pictures and a great guide for getting them!
Thanks! And thank you for reading! 🙂
Absolutely GORGEOUS pictures! You made me feel like I was right there. Paris is a stunning city, and you captured it completely.
Hi Juliann-Thank you so much! I’m glad to hear that from someone who has been. Paris is definitely gorgeous! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I love your dusk shot of Notre Dame and your use of colors to capture the door. Great work all around. The map is helpful too. I have been to Paris a couple of times and knew all of the monuments but none of the bridges.
Hi Ed-Thanks! I’m glad you like it and find it helpful. I have this thing with bridges…I love finding cool ones! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Just beautiful! And really making me realize how many iconic photo spots Paris has!! I’ve been to nearly all of these (my all time favorite is the Sacre Coeur), but next time I’d love to see the covered passages and La Maison Rose. I have to say I don’t really like Paris… I didn’t have great experiences either time I went. However, this post is really making me reconsider and maybe giving it a third shot 😉
Hi Sarah-Interesting you should say that…I didn’t really love Paris on my first time there. I didn’t have much time, the weather was awful, we didn’t get to see a lot and all I had been told was that everyone would be rude. Now all of that was true and did happen except that no one was rude. Everyone was so nice. On my 2nd trip this summer, all of that changed. I was there for a week, had beautiful weather the entire time, saw most everything and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so I want to go back at different times of the year. So all that to say, third time might be your charm! 😉 Thanks for reading! 🙂
Still in love with your eiffel tower photos, how all those leading lines point towards that iconic structure. Still cannot get over the framed photo of the Lourve Pyramid, and then you truly shocked me about the piece in the middle of the Pyramid. I have yet to go to France and TRULY tour France properly, so will have to try out some of these spots 😉
Hi Janiel-That was like me after my first trip to Paris. I didn’t get to explore it properly. Now that I have it just leaves me wanting more. I want to go back again and again and again! Thank you for your sweet compliments. I hope you get to go soon! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wow these photos are amazing Heather! Especially the Notre Darm dusk one! They make me want to go back so bad
Hi Leah-Thank you so much! I was so excited about a lot of them, but the Notre Dame photo at dusk was a biggie for me. I hope you get to go back soon and thanks for reading! 🙂
Love your Paris photos, girl! I love the city so much that I want to go back again next year. The last time we were there, we only spent 3-4 days and only went to half of the places you listed. Also, the weather was unusually HOT for May. We need to go back again, maybe in April so we could be out and not suffer from the heat 😛
Hey Cat-Thanks!! That was how my first trip to Paris was 8 years ago…3 days, not even half the places I listed and awful weather. I was there in July and it was pretty hot. April sounds like a great month to go. Since both times I went in July, I want to go in winter maybe for Christmas. But seriously, anytime I get the chance I’m down. Paris is awesome! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wonderful photos! You have a great eye for detail, the composition, and the lighting!
My favorites are the cathedral at the dusk, the street shot with La Maison Rose and the Galeries Lafayette Haussman.
And yes, of course, your photos made me want to go back to Paris again!
Hi Milijana-Aw, thank you! I really appreciate that because I get frustrated with myself a lot. I’m very Type A and my biggest critic! Glad to know your favorites…the Galeries Lafayette is amazing isn’t it? Wish our malls at home looked like that! Haha! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I’ve only been to Paris for ONE day over ten years ago! I think it’s about damn time I get back there too haha. I’ve heard the vegan food scene is unbelievable. Also, I kick my younger self for not taking good pictures. Oh, to have the capability to go back and take good pictures of the places I’ve been.
Girl, you have to get there SOON! I love Paris will there’s still so much I want to explore so let me know if you want to go, I’m always game! And for. real. I would give anything to be able to go back in time to get good photos of places from years ago. My first time to Paris was 8 years ago and I only had 3 days. The weather was awful so I’m thankful I have that as an excuse but if we’re being real I wasn’t on my photography game back then (and still working every day to up my current game)! Thanks for reading! 🙂
The Galeries Lafayette Haussman would be my first stop, simply because it looks so grand and I never heard of it. Next would be Palais Garnier for the same reason – talk about opulent! The Auditorium looks pretty elegant, too.
I often thought certain modern architecture fits in well with older buildings and neighborhoods. Sadly, I think the Louvre does not work well at all in this case. Iconic indeed, but it already looks a bit outdated. What do you think?
Hi Jerry and Fiona-Hmm…what part of the Louvre specifically? The pyramid? Never have thought about it. It’s so iconic one could argue it could never be outdated, but I guess I might could see how the pyramid might be. The building itself is beautiful. Have you seen it in person? To me, it’s just the iconic Louvre and I love photographing it especially at night! Thanks for reading! )
I should have specified the glass pyramid. I cannot help but think of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when I see glass pyramids. Modern architecture often fits in well alongside older styles. Glass pyramids?…..
Hi Jerry and Fiona-Haha! I guessed right then…I can see the glass pyramid for sure! 🙂
This is so useful! I wish I had these tips for every city we visit! I just love Paris. We’ve been twice but have still missed many of these beautiful shots. I just love Sacre Coeur with the carrosel, the view of the Louvre pyramid through the passage Richelieu, and how on earth did you get a photo of the Hall of Mirrors with no one in it??!!
Hi Joanne-I’m so happy to know you find my guide useful! Glad to know I’m on the right track. I love Paris too and this was my second trip to Paris and I was with someone who had been many times so that helped with photo locations. Ha…so the Hall of Mirrors. Get there really early (30-45 minutes before it opens) so you’re first or second in line. When it opens, don’t stop for anything like the audioguides and don’t go in order (don’t pass go, don’t collect $200, LOL). Make a beeline straight for the Hall of Mirrors. I was the first one there and had about 5 min before anyone caught up to me. I made sure I could backtrack but even if I couldn’t have, I wanted those photos and I still would have gone straight there. Hope that helps and thanks for reading! 🙂
I love your photos! And I can’t wait for the end of the year, when I’ll return to Paris. My boyfriend is from Paris, but every time we visit we see family and friends, and we have very little time for me to go exploring. However, this winter will have some days for being a tourist.
His grandfather gave me lovely book, which I want to recommend you: Le paris des curieux, by Michel Dansel. I think you’ll like it and find it inspirational for your photos on your next visit. 🙂
Hi Mirela-Thank you, I’m so glad you like my photos and I’m glad you are getting some time to explore Paris for yourself, it’s so pretty! I have noted the book so I can take a look-thanks for the rec and thanks for reading! 🙂
What fun memories we just relived through your photos. We sat right there at La Maison Rose several years ago. And you are right, the Montmartre neighborhood is a place one can spend days wandering around.
Hi Michael-Glad you liked it and it brought up great memories for you. Thanks for reading! 🙂
How have I never seen the Salon de Lune (and Soleil for that matter)! So very beautiful and unexpected. Your ceilings reminded me of all the time I spent taking similar pics in Catherine’s Palace in St Petersburg, while trying not to slip over doing a backflip, as my shoes were covered to protect the parquet floors. But seriously, what a beautiful collection of pictures. I love Notre Dame from the side, and that pic with the light from the boat is gorgeous. I haven’t been to Paris for way too long, and I’m certainly inspired to return and get better photographic memories after reading your guide.
Hi Bernie-I’m so glad you like the ceiling pics…I LOVE to look up because I find so many cool shots that way. St Petersburg definitely (as you mentioned) has many buildings to look up in. I loved it there too! I hope you get to go back to Paris soon-it’s so beautiful. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Stunning photos!! Love the tips here, and you have the images to prove it 😉 I especially liked the shots from the top of the Arc de Triomf (I wish I’d gone up!) and from the Passage Richelieu… gorgeous! You really brought out the beauty of a beautiful city!
Hi Erica-Thanks girl, glad you liked them! Don’t you hate when you see photos of places you wish you had gone up? I’ve made that mistake so many times. I’m now very aware and try to go to the top of everything! Haha! Thanks for reading! 🙂
The dusk photos look amazing! I have never specifically tried to time being at a certain spot for the lighting yet, but now that I’ve been to Paris a couple times, the next time I go I’ll make some specific attempts to do just that. I especially appreciated your tip about getting a shot of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles without people – that’s a great idea!
Hi Cynthia-So glad you find my guide helpful. Lighting is everything I think! And yes, the Hall of Mirrors tip is priceless. My friend gave me that tip and it was amazing to not only get those photos but just be in the Hall of Mirrors by myself! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I’ve been to Paris so many time but you mentioned a few places I still have yet to see. That Statue of Liberty replica is on my list… too funny! Also, I just realized I’ve never seen the back view of the Notre Dame.
Hi Carmen, I think Paris is one of those places you can go a million times and STILL not see everything. I lived in LA for 4 years and there are still things I haven’t heard of much less seen and Paris is the same way! You have to see the Statue of Liberty!! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Heather, I thoroughly enjoyed your pictures of Paris — that you for sharing. It’s been too many years since I visited there, and you are certainly making me yearn for another trip!. Your entire set of images is stunning, but I particularly enjoyed seeing the Chagall ceiling in the Palais Garnier. I love the Phantom of the Opera — and I would love to take that tour.
Hi Ann-Thank you! Yes, that Phantom of the Opera tour is amazing!! If you ever get back to Paris, definitely do that tour! I’m a huge Phantom fan too! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Great Paris views can be had at the top of Notre Dame as well. One of the most unknown 360-degree view of Paris is at the top of the Pantheon. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps have gorgeous skyline views as well. I don’t recommend Sacre Couer for sunrise – the steps are full of broken bottles every morning and it isn’t fun to try to navigate that while looking for a photo spot. Just some of my suggestions!
Hi Andi-Nope, broken bottles are definitely not fun. Those are great suggestions for my next trip, thank you and thanks for reading! 🙂
Beautiful photos! Paris is definitely on our list! I can’t wait to photograph everything in the city 🙂
Hi Brianna-Thank you! I hope you enjoy Paris, it’s gorgeous. Thanks for reading! 🙂