The 5 Best Places To Take Pictures in Paris
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Every inch of Paris is photogenic, try these five spots for a great photo during your visit.
Where to Take Great Paris Photos: (Jump To)
Our house is filled with memories of our travels. We like to buy a small token from each place we visit that can be on display along with our favorite photo from the trip.
Hanging above our couch is an enormous 8-foot by 5-foot black and white photo that I took on our first trip together. People often ask if it’s from IKEA. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, but I can say for sure that it feels better to have something of meaning on display than it would to have a standard IKEA New York City scene.
Paris is one of the most photogenic cities I have ever visited. Every inch of the city is perfect for a postcard. Even things as mundane as house numbers and street signs have a uniquely Parisian charm.
I wanted to share my five favorite places in Paris to take a photo that can be proudly displayed in place of your IKEA design decor.
Under the Eiffel Tower
Map: Google Maps
In both shots, I took my camera under the tower. The first is looking straight up while standing in the middle of the four-tower feet. The arching beams mixed with the repeating square structure create a nice mix of curved and straight lines.
The second shot is from a few steps outside the tower looking straight up. Keep them in color or convert them to black and white, either way, a great place for an iconic photo.
Sacré-Cœur from Arc de Triomphe
Map: Google Maps
If you pay a few euros to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe you’ll be able to take a bunch of great photos. It’s a great place to get a shot down the treelined Champs-Élysées from a high angle. My favorite shot is best made on a clear day. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica sits at the top of Butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. It towers above the city. I converted this one to Black and White.
Eiffel Tower at Night From The Seine
Map: Google Maps
The true magic of Paris comes at night when the lights twinkle and the city’s architectural marvels are lit from below. A night cruise on the Seine will give you the chance to snap some amazing photos of many of the riverside landmarks. I took a ton of shots of the Tower to make sure there were a few in clear focus. In the dark, on a moving boat, it can be hard to get something crisp, especially on a smartphone.
Mona Lisa Through a Lens
Map: Google Maps
It’s a pretty common mantra to hate on the Mona Lisa. People say it’s smaller than they expected, and it’s almost always mobbed by tourists. I liked the idea that people treat the painting like it was a celebrity. I wanted a photo that included the people excited to see the famous artwork.
Sacré-Cœur Skyline
Map: Google Maps
The photo that hangs above my couch was shot from the Sacré-Cœur dome viewing platform. From this highest point in the city, you can capture every monument in the city in a skyline view. I tried to fill the frame with the rooftops of Paris keeping the skyline and the Eiffel Tower toward the top of the frame. I ended up having to merge a few photos to get the quality I needed to blow it up to such a large size, but you can easily frame it in one shot.
Special Mention: View From the Notre Dame
Map: Google Maps
I was fortunate to visit Paris before the devastating fire at Notre Dame. The view of the Seine river from the bell tower still takes my breath away. I can’t wait to see this view again when the historic cathedral has been restored.
If you’re looking for a more spooky photo experience, check out the Catacombs of Paris.
