35 Most Instagrammable Places in Paris [2024]
Looking for some of the best photo spots and Instagrammable places in Paris? I’ve got a lot of ideas for you!
Paris is truly one neverending photo-op – it’s one of the big reasons we love the city! Of course, the Eiffel Tower is the most popular backdrop for a photo, but the grand Haussmanian architecture that lines the street, the spectacular river views, the grandiose monuments, and the charming and serene gardens are all spots that make me pull out my phone for just one more picture.
In this post, I’m sharing some of the best spots for gorgeous photos in Paris. I’m going beyond basic spots like “the Eiffel Tower” and sharing exact locations to get a beautiful shot, with a focus on how to get a nice picture without crowds.
I’m also sharing a lot of beautiful hidden gem locations in Paris, beyond the classics of the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe, that are absolutely stunning. I’ve visited France 10 times and Paris 7 times, so I’m super familiar with all the best spots!
35 Most Instagrammable Places in Paris
Best Photo Spots in Montmartre, Paris
Montmartre is a charming neighborhood and arrondissement in Paris, known for its cute village feel and for the impressive Sacré Coeur basilica.
Most people just visit Montmartre for Sacré Coeur and take a picture in front of the basilica, but there are a lot of beautiful photo spots all around the church and neighborhood.
1. The View by the Ramp, the Carousel, and the Basilica
The Sacré Coeur Basilica is an extremely popular destination in Paris – the church is shockingly white, has distinctive domes, and sits on a hill overlooking the rest of the city. Unless you come first thing in the morning, though, the area in front of Sacré Coeur is going to be absolutely packed.
However, even during the middle of a busy day, you can get a really pretty shot of the basilica if you head to the ramp on the left side of Place Sant Pierre, by the carousel. This angle blocks out much of the crowds here, and gives you the pretty carousel in the foreground!
2. The Backside of the Sacré Coeur Basilica
Alternatively, go past the hoards of people to the backside of Sacré Coeur for this unique, beautiful, and much more empty shot of the basilica.
3. Domes of Sacré Coeur
Many people don’t realize that you can actually go up in the domes of Sacré Coeur! The entrance to this panoramic viewpoint is on the side of the church, and you’ll climb a tight spiral staircase to reach the dome, where you’re rewarded with 360° views over the city.
Use the columns of the dome to frame in a really pretty shot with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
4. Rue Juste Metivier Staircase in Montmartre
Besides Sacré Coeur, Montmartre is known for the staircases located throughout the neighborhood – remember, this spot in Paris is located on a hill. There are 38 staircases in Montmartre, and many are great photo spots, but I particularly liked the one at Rue Juste Metivier.
Bonus – it’s tucked away in a back section of the neighborhood so it’s not too busy.
5. Lamarck-Calaincourt Metro Station Staircase
Another great staircase in Montmartre leads down to the metro station at Lamarck-Calaincourt. I love the combination of metro sign, stairs, and pretty buildings in the background.
6. Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is a gorgeous street in the back of the Montmartre neighborhood. The Maison Rose restaurant is at the top of the street and is a popular photo spot, but I like this spot at the far end better. Here, you can appreciate the curving street and see the domes of Sacré Coeur peaking out over the tops of the building.
Fall is a particularly lovely time to stop by this street, as the ivy climbing up the sides of the buildings turns a beautiful shade of red. But no matter what time of year you visit, this is a great stop on any walking tour of Montmartre.
7. Rue Lepic
Rue Lepic is one of my favorite walking streets in Paris, as the charming, cobblestoned street takes you through a large section of Montmartre, and past Le Moulin Radet, an old wooden windmill.
Montmartre used to have many windmills (moulins), but today only four remain. The Moulin Rouge is certainly the most famous, as it’s associated with the cabaret bar of the same name, but I think Moulin Radet is infinitely more charming.
Most Instagrammable Spots by the Louvre
As the most visited museum in the world, the Louvre will certainly be on your Paris itinerary (you shouldn’t miss it!) The Louvre is also an incredibly photogenic spot in Paris, even with the heavy crowds that congregate in the main courtyard.
These are some less obvious ways to get a beautiful picture with the Louvre although you’ll have the best luck getting a good shot if you come first thing in the morning (definitely plan to be here well before the Louvre opens at 9am) for any exterior pictures without heavy crowds.
8. The Covered Passageway from Rue de Rivoli
If you get off at the Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre stop on Metro Line 1 and take the exit for Rue de Rivoli, you’ll be able to enter the main courtyard through this covered passageway – a great photo spot by the Louvre!
9. The Basins and Pyramid Shot by the Louvre
This is another way to get a somewhat unique shot of the Louvre, with the distinctive Pyramid filling the frame. Put that phone low to the water and enjoy the results.
10. Galerie d’Apollon in the Louvre
The Galerie d’Apollon is one of the Louvre’s most stunning halls, with the walls and ceiling completely covered in gold decoration and embellishment, and beautiful paintings and frescos. The display cases in the center of the room display some of France’s crown jewels.
This room is right behind the Winged Victory and not far from the Mona Lisa, making it an easy stop on your visit to the Louvre.
Most Instagrammable Places by the Eiffel Tower
She needs no introduction – La Tour Eiffel is of course the most photographed spot in Paris. There are a ton of great spots to take pictures with the Eiffel Tower around Paris – in this section, I’m highlighting some of my favorites.
11. The Trocadero Fountains
Taking pictures by the Eiffel Tower is just an incredibly romantic thing to do in Paris, and several locations at Trocadero are great for pictures. The first is this ledge right in front of the water fountains (not running in this photo).
12. Trocadero Side Staircase
The stairs leading from the ground up to the viewing platform at Trocadero makes for a cool angle by the Eiffel Tower. As you can see, this was in the middle of the day when there were a lot of people around, but the angle minimizes the other people and gives a nice view of the tower.
13. Rue de l’Université and Rue Buenos-Ayres
Rue de l’Université and Rue Buenos Ayres are two different streets on opposite sides of the Eiffel Tower, leading almost directly to the base. Both of these spots are absolutely gorgeous, with the beautiful buildings and almost the entirety of the tower framed within the street.
Rue de l’Université has grown in popularity over the past couple of years and can be quite crowded, but if you go first thing in the morning, you may be able to sneak in a shot without anyone else there.
While you shouldn’t expect Rue Buenos Ayres to be completely empty, it is lesser known and somewhat less crowded than Rue de l’Université. We were able to get a nice shot after just a few minutes of waiting for a break in the crowd.
14. Bir Hakeim Bridge
The Bir Hakeim Bridge is a unique photo-op spot near the Eiffel Tower due to its “double-decker” nature- Metro Line 6 runs on the top section of the bridge. The middle of the lower section is pedestrian-only, and framing the Eiffel Tower in between the legs of the bridge makes for a great photo.
15. Port Debilly Along the Seine
Port Debilly is the walkway right along the Seine across from the Eiffel Tower. There are quite a few boats moored here on either side of the Pont d’Iena, but there’s also plenty of open space that makes for great pictures. You get the most incredible Eiffel Tower views here right along the water, with the entire tower clearly visible.
Be careful of the river though – there are no guardrails protecting you from falling in.
16. Avenue de Camoens
A little bit farther back from the Eiffel Tower, the viewpoint on Avenue de Camoens is seriously picture-perfect, and because it’s slightly elevated on a hill, you still get a great vantage point of the tower. Expect a line for this spot.
17. Picnic on the Champs de Mars
The Champs de Mars is the large greenspace leading up to the Eiffel Tower and is an adorable picnic location. Pick up supplies for the perfect picnic in Paris at nearby Rue Cler, and then head over to find a patch of grass to enjoy a relaxing lunch in the sun.
Best Photo Spots in the Gardens of Paris
Some of the most Instagrammable places in Paris are found in her many gardens and parks – here are some of my favorite spots.
18. Across the Basins in the Jardins de Tuileries
The Jardin de Tuileries is one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris. There’s a lot of spots to capture beautiful pictures in the Jardin de Tuileries, but I’m partial to the view over the basin with the Eiffel Tower peaking out behind the trees!
19. The Medici Fountain in the Jardin de Luxembourg
The Medici Fountain is on the east side of the Jardin de Luxembourg, right against the east side of the Palais on the grounds. This stunning fountain is a beautiful location in the gardens.
20. In Front of the Palais de Luxembourg
This garden, the Jardin de Luxembourg, is hugely popular with locals, and also with tourists. Enjoy the flowering gardens, lounging in the chairs scattered around the grounds, or sail a toy boat in this large basin in front of the Palais de Luxembourg, the building where the French Senate meets.
21. The West Gate of Parc Monceau
This gorgeous, gold-tipped, wrought iron gate is on the west edge of Parc Monceau, at the end of Avenue Hoch. It’s a perfect Instagram spot in Paris thanks not only to the gate, but also the Arc de Triomphe that you can see in the background!
22. Petit Palais Garden
The Petit Palais is a fantastic free museum in Paris with a beautiful courtyard garden, complete with a small cafe (thus the little tables) that is set up along a columned archway.
Other Great Photo Spots in Paris
These don’t fit into any tidy category, but are still amazingly beautiful photo spots in Paris.
23. Opera Garnier Grand Staircase
The Opera Garnier is hands-down one of the most gorgeous buildings in Paris and is the building that inspired “The Phantom of the Opera.” I particularly love the grand staircase up to the second level.
While the opera used to be more of a hidden gem in Paris, it has (deservedly) become much more popular in recent years – if you want a photo without a lot of people, you’ll need a lot of patience or need to be here at opening or closing.
The cover picture at the top of this post is also from the Opera Garnier in the Grand Foyer, a room that rivals anything you can find at Versailles.
24. In Front of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees
The Arc de Triomphe is one of my favorite spots in Paris. Yes, there are always tons of tourists and it can be crowded, but the arch is just so dang magnificent!
The most classic shot of the Arc de Triomphe is straight on, and you can access this stunning location by crossing the Champs Elysees at the crosswalk closest to the Arc de Triomphe. There’s a small little “median” of sorts where you can take pictures! Expect a line, though!
Alternatively, walk around the perimeter of the roundabout around the Arc to the backside (which is the beginning of Avenue de la Grande Armée). This is technically the backside of the Arc, but it’s virtually identical and there is usually no line for a picture here. My photo above is taken from La Grande Armée!
25. To the Side of the Arc de Triomphe
As much as I love the straight on shot of the Arc, I also really love the side shot angle as well. You can get this picture anywhere along the sidewalk of the big roundabout around the Arc – just be careful and don’t go into the street.
Right near the Champs Elysées is very crowded, but remember, the Arc is nearly identical on both sides – you can get a great shot on the backside (where this one was taken) with very few crowds.
26. In Front of the Metro Station
One fun and unique picture location is in front of the whimsical Art Nouveau style metro signs found around the city. While not every metro station has this style, you’ll certainly run into at least a few of these signs during your time in Paris.
The station at Abbesses is particularly noteworthy, because its one of only two stations left with a glass roof (below, left). Another fun station is the Palais Royal metro entrance (below, right) located at 155, Rue Saint Honoré.
27. Carette Cafe
Paris has many beautiful cafes and restaurants, including the popular Carette, where all your dreams of a cute hot chocolate service can come true.
There are a couple of locations in Paris, including one near the Eiffel Tower, one in Montmartre, and one in the Marais. The Eiffel Tower location is always quite busy, so we opted to visit the cafe in the Marais.
28. The Ladurée Cafe on the Champs Elysées
Ladurée is a well-known shop that sells pastries and macarons (and actually has some of my favorite macarons in Paris). While they have locations all around Paris, you need to come to the café on 75, Avenue des Champs Elysées for the most beautiful decor and tablescapes.
Make sure you order 4 macarons so you can get this cute little macaron tower, and the hot chocolate was very cute and very delicious.
29. Hotel de la Marine
Hotel de la Marine is an incredibly opulent historical building – almost a palace – that faces Place de la Concorde.
It was originally established as the “Garde-Meuble Royal,” or the institution and location in charge of keeping and supplying the king’s furniture for his numerous palaces around France. The head of the Garde Meuble took the opportunity to have the entire residence fitted out as a palace.
Yesterday’s over-the-top opulence is today’s dreamy museum – most of the Hotel de la Marine is museum-like, where you tour through the rooms and learn about their purpose and history, but the ballroom is just open to wander and feast your eyes. Of course, all the sumptuous gold detailing makes for the perfect Instagram photo.
The best part? It’s as opulent and gorgeous as Versailles, but is a total hidden gem with few visitors.
30. Petit Pont Cardinal Lustiger Bridge by Notre Dame
Notre Dame is certainly Paris’s most famous church, and is a magnificent monument to visit. While the square in front of the church is almost always packed, this spot on The Petit Pont Cardinal Lustiger bridge gives a unique angle without the crowds around you.
31. Galerie Vivienne
One of Paris’s many hidden gems is her covered passageways, and the most beautiful is Galerie Vivienne. This passageway is absolutely lovely, with arched ceilings and skylights above and mosaics on the floor, and is full of cafes, bistros, and boutique shops and bookstores.
32. Buren Columns of Palais Royale
The Buren Columns is an art installation in a courtyard of the Palais Royal, which is essentially just across the street from the Louvre. This unique courtyard is full of black and white striped, short columns of various sizes, and is surrounded by beautiful Parisian buildings, making for a distinctive photo.
33. Pont Alexandre III
The Pont Alexandre III is by far the fanciest and most beautiful bridge in all of Paris, and is named after the Tsar Alexandre III of Russia.
It is designed in an intricate Beaux-Arts style, decorated with massive sculptures, decorative reliefs, and wrought iron Art Nouveau lampposts all along the bridge. A nice, semi-obstructed view of the tower from the right bank.
The right bank of the river is more popular and gives you an Eiffel Tower view in the background, but we really liked this spot on the left bank (southern side) of the Seine. It was way less crowded, and I liked having the Grand Palais in the background (the building that looks like a big greenhouse).
All four corners of the bridge have a little curved jutout perfect for capturing a great photo of the bridge.
34. The Fountains of Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is one of the most beautiful squares in Paris (its beauty belying its rather ugly past – it was the site of the main guillotine in the French Revolution).
Today, Place de la Concorde is marked by a tall obelisk, which was a gift from Egypt, which is flanked by two fancy and elaborate fountains on either side.
35. Galeries Lafayette Rooftop Terrace + Dome
Galeries Lafayette is a famous luxury department store in Paris that has locations all around France. Its flagship shop is truly stunning, with an elaborate glass dome soaring above the store.
If you take the escalators all the way up to the 7th floor, you can access the free panoramic terrace with incredible views over the nearby Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, and the Parisian landscape.
Map of the Best Instagram Locations in Paris
Feel free to save this map to refer back to later when you’re visiting Paris! I tried to pin the exact locations to help you find the exact spots I mention here – for example, I pinned the side of the Pont Alexandre III where I took my picture, not just the bridge itself.
Beautiful Photo Spots in Paris – Final Thoughts
I hope this gives you some good ideas for great photo spots in Paris! Crowds are always something to work around. Some places you do have to come early or have patience to get a great picture, but a lot of the spots on this list are for alternative angles that should give you a great photo no matter the time of day.
I hope this article has given you some inspiration on how to capture those memories. If you end up getting a great shot at one of the spots I share here, feel free to send it to me – I’d love to see it! Have a great trip to Paris 🙂
