Paris, also known as the city of love or the city of light, is one of the most beautiful, charismatic, and photogenic city in the world. It's a dream place for photographers as every corners, alleys, or stairways is worth millions of captures. As a Parisian myself, I had the chance to grow up in that city, so I will show you below the best photo spots in Paris. I also only can recommend you to take photos early in the morning to enjoy the places the fullest.
EIFFEL TOWER
The Eiffel Tower is the absolute emblem of Paris, and it would be a real sacrilege not to at least take a photo in front of it! 325 meters high, the Eiffel Tower was built for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel. She held the record for the tallest monument in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building was built in New York.
Today it is the second most visited monument in France, behind Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral. Brave the queue and the heights, and climb to the top, the view of Paris and the Champ de Mars will not disappoint! Station : Trocadero (M6, M9), Bir-Hakeim (M6).
ARC DE TRIOMPHE - CHAMPS-ELYSEE
Another emblem of French power, the Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon I to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806. Today it commemorates World War I and houses the tomb and flame of the Unknown Soldier. The Arc de Triomphe also overlooks Paris, and in particular the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, which is known to be the most beautiful avenue in the world. The Champs-Elysées are also an ideal place for shopping, as they bring some of the biggest French and international brands!
Station : Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (M1, M6, M9, RER A)
CATHEDRALE NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS
Notre Dame Cathedral was built during the Middle Ages and is one of the most interesting example of French-Gothic architecture. In fact, the inside is worth the visit, but if you wanna avoid the long queue, make sure to arrive before 10AM. The admission is free, but the access to the tower cost €8.50 and to the crypt €6.
Station : Saint-Michel Notre Dame (M4, RER B) Due to the fire, the access inside is not possible at the moment. You can still photograph this beauty from outside, and find nice perspectives along the banks of the Seine River. PONT BIR-HAKEIM Paris has tons of beautiful bridges - of course it isn't Venice, but few of them are really photogenic. A beautiful one to capture the Eiffel Tower is the Bir Hakeim Bridge that crosses over the Seine River. Station : Bir-Hakeim (M6)
MUSEE DU LOUVRE
Both inside and out, Musee du Louvre is incredibly beautiful and is surely one of the best photo spots in Paris. Therefore, it is the most popular museum in the city, and is home to the Mona Lisa. The pyramids outside the museum are the best photo spot, especially when they light up at night - it makes the place a fairytale. Station : Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (M1, M6)
COLONNES DE BUREN
Located in the Palais Royal, this art installation is only a few minutes away walking from Musee du Louvre and consist of 260 different sized black and white columns. Station : Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (M1, M6)
MONTMARTRE - Moulin Rouge, Consulat, Maison Rose, Sacre Coeur
Montmartre can probably be defined as the most photogenic neighborhood of Paris. Proof of this, there are so many spots to photograph : Moulin Rouge, Consulat, Maison Rose, Sacre Coeur and all of them are only walking distance from another. Moreover, Montmartre has been both home and muse to countless influential creatives over the years, including Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso. Station : Abbesses (M12), Blanche (M2), Chateau Rouge (M4)
VERSAILLES
A masterpiece of grandeur, the Palace of Versailles is the symbol of the French monarchy and was the home of the “Sun King” Louis XIV as well as his descendants, Louis XV and Louis XVI. You need to dedicate a full day to visit this place : indeed, it is located about 20 kilometers southwest of the center of Paris. Luckily, the palace is open all year round, and we really suggest you to visit it in summer. In fact, it has huge gardens and parks, it's a great place to relax or do jogging. It's also a pet-friendly park! - Access to the Palace and the estate of Trianon is free for visitors under 18 (or under 26 residing in the EU).
- You can buy your ticket on site but we recommend you to buy it online to avoid waiting at the ticket office.
- To avoid waiting time at the audio guide desk, download now the free mobile app with all audio guides and information about you visit. Station : Versailles Château Rive Gauche (RER C), Versailles Chantiers, Versailles Rive Droite (transilien L), Bus 171 of the RATP system runs between Pont de Sèvres and the Palace of Versailles.
JARDIN DES TUILERIES
Separating the Louvre Museum from the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden was built by André Le Nôtre, famous royal gardener (he notably created the gardens of the Palace of Versailles), to accompany the Tuileries Palace, today faded away. Favorite rendez-vous point of Parisians, the Jardin des Tuileries is not only very pleasant with its large alleys and fountains, but it also features statues of the greatest French artists such as Rodin and Maillol!
Lots of Love, Valerie & Alex
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