The 6 Best Photo Spots in Paris

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The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, taken from the Trocadero.

The light in Paris has been loved by artists for centuries, and is famous for being the colour of champagne. I am far from a professional photographer, and even I have hardly gotten a bad photo in Paris – she is very photogenic.

That said, getting cool photos in Paris can often be difficult because of the number of people at the best spots. Even if you can drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn, you’re never guaranteed a people-free shot in Paris.

I’m not a major fan of waking up early or going out of my way for a photo when I’m on holiday, but I can be convinced to get up early for a beautiful sunrise and a fresh croissant.

Here’s my list of the 6 best photo spots in Paris, including the hidden gems, and the places I always take Paris newbies, plus how to combine them with things you’ll be doing anyway in Paris.

1. Palais Royal

The Colonnes de Buren at the Palais-Royal in Paris. This is the best hidden gem spot for great photos in Paris. — The Colonnes de Buren at the Palais-Royal in Paris

Google Maps location: Colonnes de Buren/Les Deux Plateaux

Closest Metro Station: Palais Royal – Musee du Louvre

The Palais Royal is my favourite secret spot for really cool photos in Paris, because of the Colonnes de Buren, an art installation created by French artist Daniel Buren. We stumbled upon the square on one of our first trips to Paris, and now I absolutely love bringing people here.

The striking black and white striped columns, at different heights, make for fabulous photos. It’s also almost never full of tourists, so you can get pretty good pictures (particularly if you go early).

Go in the morning, and get a coffee at Cafe Kitsune afterwards, or combine it with a trip to the Louvre (an outdoor space and a climb up the columns is very welcome after the Louvre).

I took my friends here on a recent girls’ trip to Paris, and I have the best photos of everyone on the columns (including a hilarious video, which I watch on repeat, of one of my friends who couldn’t get back down on her own).

2. Pont d’Iéna

A photo on the Pont d'Iéna in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. This is one of the best photo spots in Paris. — A photo taken on the Pont d’Iéna in Paris

Google Maps Location: Pont d’Iéna

Closest Metro Station: Trocadero

We discovered this spot entirely by accident on our girls’ trip to Paris. Pont D’Iena is a bridge, right opposite the Champ de Mars (the park on which the Eiffel Tower sits – also a great spot for photos, combined with a picnic).

What makes this spot special is that from the middle of the road, you get almost perfect eye-level views of the Eiffel Tower, which straddles the road.

People stand in the middle of the road, there’s a lovely, excited atmosphere, and everyone is very happy to take your photo for you. Be aware that the road is not pedestrianised, which means there are cars, so you do need to be careful. That said, there is minimal traffic, and the photos are very cool.

I would probably never have dashed into the middle of the road for a photo if I’d been with my husband or my family, but I’m so glad I did it with my besties. That’s actually one of the things I love about Paris – no matter how many times you’ve been, you always discover something new and fun.

3. Trocadero

The Eiffel Tower lit up at night, from the Trocadero. The Trocadero is one of the classic spots for perfect photos in Paris. — The Eiffel Tower lit up at night, from the Trocadero

Google Maps Location: Espl. du Trocadéro

Closest Metro Station: Trocadero

The Trocadero is the classic spot for the best Eiffel Tower views, and I love bringing people here at night.

I will never forget sitting at the Trocadero on my first ever trip to Paris, watching the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, and then starting to sparkle. Even a decade later, after many Paris trips, the sparkles still make me tear up a little bit – I can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkling in Paris.

NB: it does not sparkle all the time. I got this wrong recently, so don’t make my mistake. The Eiffel Tower is lit up at nightfall, and it sparkles for five minutes, every hour on the hour, but only from the first hour after nightfall. When you’re making your plans, make sure you check when the sun sets, but 11 pm and midnight are good bets, even in summer.

The major downside to the Trocadero is how busy it always is. You can beat a large portion of the crowd by going very early – on our second trip to Paris, we got to the Trocadero one morning for sunrise views over the Eiffel Tower, and the reward was very much worth it.

Honestly, I know everyone says the light in Paris is golden, but that is particularly the case at sunrise and sunset – look at the sunrise photo below, taken with an ancient iPhone in 2016.

The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, taken from the Trocadero. This is a great place for photos, but it is often crowded. — The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, taken from the Trocadero

That said, even at 7 am, almost a decade ago (ie, before the Trocadero was Insta-famous), it was definitely not empty, and among the municipal workers cleaning up for the day, there were multiple proposals and wedding photoshoots.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, taken from Girafe Restaurant, with blue skies and clouds. The restaurant is next to the Trocadero, which is one of the best places for photos in Paris. — Views of the Eiffel Tower from Girafe Restaurant in Paris

On a more recent trip to Paris, we had a girls’ lunch at Girafe, which is right next to the Trocadero, and which had perfect Eiffel Tower views. Having lunch here with my besties was a serious pinch-me moment.

4. Department Store Rooftops

The Eiffel Tower, on a cloudy day, viewed from the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette department store in a Paris. The rooftop at Galeries Lafayette is the best place for free panoramic views of Paris. — The Eiffel Tower, taken from the Galeries Lafayette rooftop

Google Maps Location: Galeries Lafayette | Rooftop or Perruche (on the Printemps rooftop)

Closest Metro Station: Chausee D’Antin-La Fayette or Havre-Caumartin

Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, both on Boulevard Haussmann, are the two most famous Paris department stores, and both are worth a visit when you’re in Paris.

The rooftop at Galeries Lafayette is the best place for free panoramic views of Paris. I love the store itself, and I always go to the food halls for French treats as my last stop on a trip to Paris.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, lit up at night, taken from Perruche restaurant. Perruche is on the rooftop of the famous Printemps department store, and is one of the best places for photos in Paris. — The Eiffel Tower in Paris, lit up at night, taken from Perruche

Alternatively, Printemps has restaurants on its rooftops, which have stunning views of Paris. At night, with the Eiffel Tower lit up, Perruche is a lovely, very Paris-fabulous option, which is open late and serves Provençal food. Think truffle pasta, which perfectly matches the decadence of Paris.

5. Anywhere Along the Seine

The Eiffel Tower at night, lit up and sparkling. This photo was taken on the Avenue de New York, which is one of the best spots for photos in Paris. — The Eiffel Tower, lit up and sparkling at night, on the Avenue de New York

Google Maps Location: Av. de New York

Closest Metro Station: Alma-Marceau

You can get Eiffel Tower views along the Seine, almost anywhere from the Pont de Bir Hakim to the Pont Alexandre III (the Avenue de New York is a good bet).

The Seine is a lovely spot for a picnic during the daytime, beloved by both tourists and locals. At night, when the Eiffel Tower is lit up, and particularly when it sparkles, the Seine is a perfect spot to see it. The photo below was taken at the Port Debilly, on my first ever trip to Paris.

The Eiffel Tower at night, from the Port Debilly, which is a great place for photos in Paris. — The Eiffel Tower at night, from the Port Debilly

We did a Seine cruise on a recent trip to Paris, which was stunning at sunset. Then we got a bottle of Champagne and sat with our feet dangling off the edge (just past the Pont d’Iéna), and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle – Paris perfection.

6. The Louvre Pyramids

The Louvre Pyramid in Paris. This is a great place for Paris photos, although it is often crowded.

Google Maps location: Louvre Museum

Closest Metro station: Louvre-Rivoli or Palais Royal – Musee du Louvre

I almost didn’t include this one because it is hardly a secret, but the Louvre pyramids are a great spot for a photo.

The problem is that there are always so many people around, which can really mess up your perfect shot. If you go very early, as the sun comes up, you might get lucky.

The Louvre pyramids from Cafe Marly. Cafe Marly is one of the best photo spots in Paris. — Breakfast views of the Louvre Pyramids at Café Marly

One of my favourite spots for breakfast in Paris is Café Marly, which overlooks the Louvre pyramids. Make a booking for as early as you can, before the hordes descend, and enjoy your croissant with views of the Louvre pyramids.

The Louve Pyramid, taken from inside the Louvre. Taking your photo from inside the Louvre means you're less likely to have other people in your shot. — The Louvre Pyramid, taken from inside the Louvre

Another great way of getting a pyramid shot without other people in it is to take it from inside the Louvre – the one above was taken on the escalators.

When It’s Not All Picture Perfect

A photo of a Paris street with mountains of rubbish piled on it, taken during the refuse workers' strikes in Paris in 2023. — Rubbish piled on the road during the refuse workers’ strikes in Paris in 2023

For all the glittering delights of Paris, remember to keep a sense of humour. Paris is not all loveliness and glamour, but the grit is part of its charm.

The refuse workers’ strikes in Paris in 2023 meant a lot of photos like the one above.

Our romantic sunrise at the Trocadero was interrupted by municipal workers jetwashing the square, and multiple couples getting engaged or doing wedding shots.

On a previous trip, our perfect Eiffel Tower picnic at the Champ de Mars, which I’d been dreaming of for most of my adult life, was interrupted by the wafts coming from the nearby public portaloos.

My husband loves to tell me about “Paris syndrome”, where tourists become depressed and disillusioned after visiting Paris. Apparently, part of the reason is that Paris doesn’t live up to their glamorised expectations.

IMHO, realising that the city you’re in is a lot more real, messy and interesting than what you’ve seen in photos is one of the best things about travelling anywhere. Paris is gritty and grungy and dirty, as well as golden and glamorous and decadent, but the juxtaposition is what makes it special.