Where to Find the Best Photo Spots in Paris

Paris is one of the most photographed cities in the world, which means the obvious shots are often surrounded by fifty other people trying to get the same frame. From iconic landmarks to quiet streets with Eiffel Tower views, almost every corner of the city was made for photos, but knowing which angle, which time of day, and which quieter alternative to look for makes all the difference.

The best way to find the best photo spots in London is by using a digital map. The StoryHunt app is a great example, as you simply open the interactive map, set your starting point, and it shows you the best spots nearby as you walk, so you spend less time searching and more time shooting.

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The best photo spots in Paris

Paris rewards photographers who plan their timing as carefully as their location. These four areas each offer a distinct visual character and are worth building a walk around.

1. Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower. Trocadéro is one of the most famous photo locations in Paris, offering some of the most unique angles of the Eiffel Tower with the tower sparkling in the background across the Seine. The best shot is from the centre of the square looking south toward the tower, ideally at sunrise before the crowds arrive or at dusk when the tower lights up every hour on the hour.
2. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur. Sacré-Cœur sits at the highest point in Paris and offers one of the best views over the entire city, with the white basilica standing out against the skyline and the wide steps in front creating a natural place to frame the neighbourhood below. The cobblestone streets and narrow alleys of Montmartre itself are equally photogenic, and early morning walks here before the tourist traffic starts feel like a different city entirely.
3. Pont Alexandre III. Pont Alexandre III is one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris, decorated with golden statues, ornate lampposts, and detailed sculptures, with views of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance from the middle of the bridge. It connects Les Invalides to the Grand Palais and works naturally as a midpoint on a riverside walk.
4. The Louvre Pyramid. The Louvre offers a perfect contrast between the modern glass pyramid and the surrounding 19th-century architecture, and the best shots come early in the morning when the courtyard is quietest. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, which makes the exterior one of the least crowded photo spots of the week.

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Practical tips for photographing in Paris

• Go to Trocadéro at sunrise. The Louvre courtyard at 8am in any season has very few visitors, and the same logic applies to Trocadéro. The golden hour light on the tower is worth the early alarm.
• Visit Montmartre on foot, not by tourist train. The narrow streets and hidden staircases are where the best shots are, and they're only reachable on foot.
• Use the Galeries Lafayette rooftop for free panoramic views. The rooftop terrace at Galeries Lafayette is completely free, offering views of the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Sacré-Cœur from the 8th floor without queuing.
• Use the StoryHunt map to find hidden spots. The interactive map reveals photo locations just off the obvious routes, like Rue de l'Université for a framed Eiffel Tower view and the bouquiniste book stalls along the Seine, that most visitors never find.

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Let StoryHunt show you what to photograph

Rather than working from a static list, the StoryHunt app adapts to where you are.

The interactive map shows you the best photo spots in your immediate area, lets you build a walking route based on the time you have, and adds context about each location as you arrive.

It works the same way across Paris's neighbourhoods and in cities worldwide, so the same tool that finds you the best shot at Trocadéro works just as well in London, Copenhagen, or New York.

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