12 Best Photography Spots in Paris for Instagram Influencers
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Paris, France is well recognized as being the city of love. In recent years, however, the city has also deemed itself worthy of being one of the most Instagrammable photo spots in the world.
With romantic neighborhoods like Montmartre, world famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral & the Lourvre (to name a few), along with breathtaking viewpoints throughout the city, it comes as no surprise that Paris is one of the top destinations for Instagram photography.
Throughout this article, you’ll find my top tips & resources for best photography spots in Paris. For each Instagram photo location, I’ve included a Google Maps link and a few Paris photography tips. Read along for the best photography spots in Paris for Instagram Influencers!
Feel free to skip to any specific section using the links below. :)
Table of Contents
1. Eiffel Tower
Best View of Eiffel Tower
What’s a trip to Paris without a visit to the city’s most iconic monument?! There are several viewpoints you can choose from to get that perfect Instagram photo — just make sure to give yourself enough time in the city, as these photo spots aren’t necessarily a quick walk from one another.
Rue de L’Universite
Location on Google Maps
This is one of my favorite Eiffel Tower photo spots, and a popular pick among many Instagram influencers— 228 Rue de L’Universite. This side street is situated at the very bottom of the historic monument, giving you a pretty epic view to admire.
Note for Photographers: I visited this photo spot before investing in my Canon 35mm f/1.4L II wide angle lens, so all I had to work with was my Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens. It got the job done, but it definitely was a tight squeeze. I highly suggest bringing along a 24mm, 35mm or a wide angle zoom lens to really capture the Eiffel Tower in all its glory. But hey— an iPhone will do the trick, too!
View of Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro
Location on Google Maps
Well recognized as one of the best spots to take pictures with the Eiffel Tower— the famous Trocadéro building. This Instagrammable spot offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and is one of my personal favorite photo spots in Paris.
Trocadéro Tips: Head to Trocadéro early in the morning to avoid crowds, and make sure to stay cautious of your surroundings— you’ll run into a lot of tourist traps at this popular spot.
Carousel at bottom of Trocadéro
There are a couple of carousels near the Eiffel Tower, but the one at the bottom of Trocadéro is the one you might have seen pop up on your Instagram feed at some point.
My cousin and I arrived at the carousel a little too late in the evening, so we unfortunately didn’t get the best photos for this iconic spot. I highly recommend heading over early in the morning to get the best lighting for your Instagram photos!
Eiffel Tower Photography Tips
If you arrive at any of the Eiffel Tower photo spots after 10am, you are almost guaranteed to be surrounded by tourists. If you want to get that perfect Instagram shot, I definitely recommend heading there early in the morning for sunrise. And if you do arrive in the afternoon, expect to wait your turn for a good view of the Eiffel tower.
I also suggest bringing along a good wide angle lens if you have one (iPhone works too, of course)— this will give you the best chance at snagging a complete view of the best Eiffel Tower (and will of course make all your Instagram followers super envious of you).
Eiffel Tower photo prop for Instagram
Instagram photo props are a necessity for your trip to Paris! Make sure to bring along your trendy beret— the one I’m wearing in this photo is super cheap on Amazon. And don’t forget to snag a classic French baguette on your way to the photo spot so you can look like a real Parisian. Or not, but its whatever— do it for the Gram.
2. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Location on Google Maps
Built in 1163, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (most commonly known as Notre Dame) is the most-visited monument in Europe and currently brings around 13 million visitors to Paris each year.
There’s a few different Instagram photo spots to choose from— the one below is located just around the corner from Notre Dame and will give you the best view of the cathedral.
Please note that the Notre Dame cathedral is currently CLOSED for renovation until further notice. On April 15, 2019, a tragic fire destroyed portions of the cathedral, resulting in an extensive renovation of the building. While it is not possible to enter the cathedral, you can take photos outside of Notre Dame. Just be aware that you will see scaffolding, so you might have to get a bit creative with your photography.
3. Palais-Royal
Location on Google Maps
Palais-Royal is honestly a photographer’s playground. In fact, as you can see from the photos below, its pretty much anyone’s playground! Once inside this exquisite courtyard, you’ll find an endless supply of black & white striped pedestals which you can use to balance on for your Instagram photos!
Palais-Royal Opening Hours
While the Palais-Royal is completely free to the public, its important to note the opening hours:
October-March: Daily 8am-8:30pm
April-September: Daily 8am-10:30pm
4. Ladurée Paris Champs Elysées
Location on Google Maps
Not your typical “Instagram photo spot”. However, a trip to take photos of the colorful macaroons at Ladurée should most certainly make the cut! Make your way over to the Champs Elysées store— its located super conveniently and will give you access to all the Paris shopping you could ever dream of.
5. Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysées
Location on Google Maps
A walk down Champs Elysées avenue is an absolute must for anyone visiting Paris. This impressive shopping district is home to a few of the city’s most famous sightseeing spots, landmarks and Instagram photo opportunities.
After your shopping spree, you’ll want to make your way over to the world’s tallest arch, Arc de Triomphe, for some of the most breathtaking views in the entire city.
And if you don’t want to visit the top, you can simply stand in front of the monument to get your perfect Instagram photo!
I should warn you, however, that you’ll be standing around for a while if you want to get a photo without anyone in it (or you could just Photoshop the crowds out).
6. Jardin Du Luxembourg
Location on Google Maps
One of the most beautiful gardens in the entire city and an obvious candidate for best photography spots in Paris — Jardin Du Luxembourg. Boasting numerous fountains, carefully trimmed hedges and stunning architecture & statues, this vibrant garden is any photographer’s dream.
You can’t argue that this place was seriously made for Instagram photos. You’ll even find tables & chairs all throughout the garden that can be used as Instagram props. My cousin and I also snagged a magazine at one of the local stands to use as a photo prop— came in handy for the pictures below!
7. The Louvre Museum & Louvre Pyramid
Location on Google Maps
Home to the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinvi, the Louvre Museum is one of the most famous art galleries in the world today. Even if you don’t visit the museum itself, you simply can’t travel to Paris without taking at least one picture in front of the impressive Louvre Pyramid.
Back in 2016, I actually took a few of those touristy pictures pointing to the top of the Louvre Pyramid… but no need to show those off here.
Lol who am I kidding— here you go. You’re welcome.
Louvre Museum Photography Tips
The Louvre courtyard can get very crowded— particularly if you choose to visit on a weekend or during the busy summer season. If you want to get that perfect Instagram photo (without photo-bombers in the back), consider following these tips:
Head to the Pyramid for sunrise. Alright, I know what you’re thinking— I’m not a morning person either. But it might just be worth your while to wake up early for this one!
If you don’t go for sunrise, you can still make it work. You just have to get creative with your photography! Bring a solid prime lens (35mm f/1.4 is my go-to) and get up-close-and-personal with the Louvre; try a few different angles but don’t worry about getting the entire pyramid in your shot.
I’ve seen some very stunning photographs of the Louvre at night— so consider bringing your tripod along and use a slow shutter speed to get that perfect shot!
If you feel like being adventurous, you can even repeat what my cousin and I did and climb up on one of the lanterns for your Instagram shot (see below). Please note: this is at your own risk— I take zero responsibility for injuries incurred. :)
8. Montmartre Neighborhood
Location on Google Maps
Montmartre is a quaint and romantic neighborhood in Paris that offers SO much for any Paris photographer. You’ll find a seemingly endless supply of shops & restaurants in the village, along with local art markets offering beautiful, handcrafted goods for purchase. In terms of photography in the neighborhood, I’ve listed a few of the best Instagram spots below.
9. La Maison Rose
Location on Google Maps
La Maison Rose is one of the famous “Paris Instagram Spots” and is typically a good starting point for your Montmartre journey. You unfortunately won’t be seeing this adorable vehicle posted up at La Maison Rose (see photos below); my friend actually secured a collaboration with a vintage car company to make our Paris journey a little more fun (the company is called 2CVParisTour). However, we spotted plenty of vintage cars in the Montmartre neighborhood, so I have no doubt you’ll be able to find one to take a photo with!
10. Le Consulat
Le Consulat is another popular spot for Instagram photos in Paris. However, as you can see below, it gets pretty crowded at the Montmartre restaurant, so I would suggest trying to take your photo early in the day before crowds arrive.
11. Moulin Rouge
Location on Google Maps
Another timeless Instagram photo spot— the Moulin Rouge cabaret bar. You can head to this famous show for a fun night out on the town, or just to take some Insta photos from the exterior of the building. While I’ve personally never booked one of the shows, its definitely on my Paris bucket list and will be checked off during the next trip!
During my second visit to Paris, my friends and I snagged this Instagram-worthy photo in front of Moulin Rouge, posing in an adorable vintage car we had rented for the day (10/10 recommend).
12. Pink Mamma Paris
Location on Google Maps
Pink Mamma is a trendy little restaurant in Paris featuring authentic cuisine, multiple levels of dining & amazing service. My friends and I dined at Pink Mamma for my birthday in 2018 and the ambience at this place was truly incredible— this spot is perfect for Instagram photos.
You’ll find beautiful decor all throughout the restaurant, including chandeliers & lighting fixtures that create a stunning bokeh effect for DSLR portrait photography (remember to keep that f-stop/aperture as low as possible!).
Paris Photoshoot — hire a Paris Photographer
If you’re like me and don’t have your own personal paparazzi (AKA Instagram boyfriend), then consider hiring a Paris photographer! It will honestly make your trip SO much easier, particularly if you are a solo traveler and feel uncomfortable asking strangers to take photos of you.
There are several ways to go about this, however, I recommend the following options:
Connect with local Paris photographers on Instagram (this will require more work)
Book through platforms such as Airbnb experiences
Book a Paris Photo tour (see below)
Best photo tours in Paris
I hope you enjoyed my guide on the best photography spots in Paris for Instagram Influencers! I can’t wait to see your beautiful Paris photography — be sure pop over a message to my Instagram account so I can follow along your journey in the city of love!
If you found this article useful and want to keep these photos in mind for your next trip, feel free to save it for later by “pinning” any of the images in this blog post to your Paris travel board(s) on Pinterest!
Products seen in this post
Hi there! I’m Fallon. A Florida native who, after receiving my masters degree in the U.K., decided to nix the 9-5 path in search of something more. Now, I run my graphic and web design business straight from my laptop, all while traveling the world. I’ve now traveled to over 25 countries and have knocked some pretty big adventures off my bucket list… and I’m just getting started. Follow along my journey as I present tips, guides and resources on solo female travel, photography, videography, entrepreneurship & the crazy lifestyle of a digital nomad.