27 October 2023
As one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris is perfect for filling your Instagram grid. The City of Lights is both romantic and photogenic with its cobblestone streets and cotton-candy-hued cafés as well as the iconic landmarks.
Keep your phone out as these spots in Paris are the places to get the best Instagram photos to share.
At the top of the list, capturing the Eiffel Tower is an absolute must. The 'Iron Lady' has dominated the Parisian skyline since 1889 and there are lots of locations to get a great view.
For a sunrise image, Trocadéro is probably the best location. It's a large open square with beautiful patterns on the ground which you can use to frame your picture. Sitting on the stairs with the Tower in the background is a popular shot but do also go down the steps as there is a water feature that will look good in your photos too. Consider coming back in the evening as the Tower's lights come on at sunset and they 'twinkle' on the hour until 1am.
Rue Saint-Dominique is also a great choice as is Rue de l'Universite and the banks of the Seine. The fairground carousels at the base of Trocadéro can look amazing in the foreground, and you can get a wonderfully framed shot from the lower level of the Bir-Hakeim bridge.
Tip: If you want to take a photo from a higher level, the Montparnasse Tower is perfect but be aware it gets busy for sunset so do go early to get a good spot.
This charming cobblestone street near Gare de Lyon in the 12th arrondissement is perfect for your Instagram feed. No cars are allowed along Rue Crémiuex making it easier to get the best shot. The pastel pink, yellow and blue homes might remind you of Notting Hill in London.
It's a beautiful street but be aware it is residential so always respect the people who live there and their homes. Rue Crémieux is off Rue de Lyon and Avenue Ledru-Rollin, and the closest metro stop is Quai de la Rapée.
The most famous cabaret in the world, Moulin Rouge is an iconic location in Paris. The translation is 'Red Mill' so you'll want a photo with the windmill in the background.
This is the birthplace of the can-can dance but you don't need to go inside as the building looks amazing at night – and there are fewer people and less traffic then so you can get better views.
This world famous monument is on the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of twelve radiating avenues. The traffic can be really busy so, to get that iconic crossing the road shot, you'll need to come early in the morning.
For a view of the Arc de Triomphe from above, the 59th floor of Montparnasse Tower is great, and for a romantic dinner, Le Ciel de Paris (The Sky of Paris) is on the 56th floor.
Tip: You should also consider going up to the Arc De Triomphe viewing platform for those panoramic views of the city. It's another great spot to get Eiffel Tower photos.
The stained glass windows in the 13th century Sainte-Chapelle royal chapel are truly spectacular. Each window is 15 metres high and the stained glass panes depict 1113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
To get the best photos, you need to walk up a small spiral staircase to reach the main chapel with its stunning Gothic interior. Light floods the room all day but try to visit early to avoid having to wait in line to enter. If you are using a DSLR instead of your phone, you will need a wide angle lens such as 24mm or wider to capture as much as possible.
Situated in the hilly heights to the north of the capital, it's worth visiting Montmartre for the impressive views of the city it can offer. It's also a real delight to explore the neighbourhood with its picturesque architecture, cobblestone streets and its coffee shops like Le Consulat and La Maison Rose.
We all know pink is loved by Instagrammers (every building is framed better with cherry blossom, right?) so you will instantly understand why La Maison Rose (the pink house) is so popular. It's on the corner of the ivy-lined Rue de l'Abreuvoir and Rue des Saules and is the most charming pink restaurant with green shutters. It's been open since 1905, and Picasso dined here regularly, so do stop here for coffee, lunch or a glass of rosé. Just be aware, it does get busy here so allow extra time.
Tip: Once there, Montmartre is a great district for shopping at independent stores and, of course, to visit the Sacré-Cœur.
Okay, the house isn't really sinking but this is a fantastic optical illusion that makes for a fun photo. You simply need to angle your camera and use a steep grass hill to make it look that way.
You can take this cool photograph near the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. To find it, walk up the steps leading up to the Sacré-Cœur. When you reach the final set of steps, you will see the sinking house on your right-hand side if you are facing the basilica. Go into the garden to get your photo.
Musée du Louvre is so much more than one painting. In fact, there are over 35,000 artworks on display. Everyone wants to see Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa but that does mean you are likely to only see it from the edge of a crowd of visitors. This is the largest art museum in France, and the Louvre is stunning both inside and out.
While you're waiting in line to go inside, it's worth taking shots of the different angles of the exterior glass pyramids. Do try 'pricking' your finger on the top of the point or look at the reflections. If you go before the museum opens, you can get the courtyard view without the people. Or go late in the evening for some long exposure photographs.
Just across the bridge from the Louvre is Musée d'Orsay on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay – a grand Beaux-Arts railway station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. It now houses one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist art.
While photography is forbidden throughout the galleries, head upstairs to see the huge clock face that once informed passengers of the train departure times and now offers some inspiring photo opportunities. You can stand behind the clock face and create cool silhouetted images as well as looking through at the Seine and the Sacré-Cœur.
The museum has excellent cafés and the former restaurant of the Hôtel d'Orsay, on the first floor of the museum, is still as magnificent as it was when it opened in 1900. The dining room is listed as a Historic Monument and the menu is well-priced so it's worth getting an eclair and a coffee for more photo opportunities.
Musée de l’Orangerie is smaller and much less crowded than the Louvre. It's an art gallery of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings located in the west corner of the Tuileries Gardens next to the Place de la Concorde. And there is a lovely oval gallery where the walls are covered in Monet's Water Lillies paintings. This is the room where you want to get some Instagram symmetry pics and a few selfies too. The Gallery Attendants are tolerant of photography with the paintings as long as you do not block the views for other visitors so aim to visit as soon as it opens, so you can get some great photos and then sit and enjoy the paintings without the crowds.
Petit Palais is the Paris Museum of Fine Arts. If you enjoy taking photos, this is a hidden gem for its stunning architecture – the grand staircase is incredible! – and beautiful galleries. It's free to visit and you will want to see the pretty semi-circle column-lined courtyard. Look up for the ceiling frescos over the seating area of the café.
Pont Alexandre III is one of the finest bridges in Paris. Built over the Seine for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, it is decorated with detailed ornaments and impressive gilded statues on each end.
You can get some great views if you pass underneath on a boat but it's also worth some photos from the riverbank too as you can include the Eiffel Tower in the image too. At night-time, it's fun to take some long exposure shots with boats passing under the bridge so you have some light trails in the photo.
Throughout Paris there are lovely covered passageways and one of the oldest and most beautiful is Galerie Vivienne in the 2nd Arrondissement. It has mosaic floor tiles and a curved ornate glass roof. The luxury shop façades make for some wonderful symmetry shots and you could even do some shopping or stop for coffee while you are here too.
Domaine National du Palais-Royal is a former royal palace located in the 1st Arrondissement. The 17th century arcades and iconic striped columns in its inner courtyard make it one of the most Instagrammable spots in Paris.
Buren's Columns are all different heights, and you can sit and stand on them to get creative balancing shots. It's incredibly popular during Paris Fashion Week.
Ladurée makes the most Instagrammable treats. Their pastel-coloured macarons are always picture perfect. There are branches across the city but Ladurée Paris Champs Elysées is a gorgeous location too. Whether you pick up an iconic pale green box of macarons to take away or stay for tea, it's hard to resist these sweet delights.
Are you ready to capture these instagrammable moments in the romantic city of Paris? Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris La Défense and Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysees are located where you want to be! Within easy access to shopping, historical sights and patisseries. These should all be a part of your experience in this wonderful city where culture thrives and there’s always something to discover around the next corner!
Reminder: bring comfortable shoes!