Paris Photo Spots & Rooftops
Freeby Sébastien Couix
20 Spots
Trocadéro Esplanade
The classic full-frame Eiffel Tower shot from the Parvis des Droits de l'Homme. Come at sunrise to have the terrace nearly to yourself, or at dusk for the hourly sparkle. For a lower angle, walk down to the fountains of the Jardins du Trocadéro.
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
Two-level steel bridge with a central walkway framed by iron columns, famous from Inception and countless fashion shoots. Line up the colonnade for symmetry, then step onto the Île aux Cygnes side for the tower rising above the Seine. Metro Line 6 rumbles overhead, so time your shot between trains.
Rue de l'Université Eiffel View
A quiet Haussmann street where the Eiffel Tower seems to fill the end of the block. Shoot from the middle of the pavement near Avenue Rapp with a longer lens to compress the tower between the buildings. Watch for cars and keep it quick.
Pont Alexandre III
Paris's most ornate bridge, with gilded winged horses, Art Nouveau lamps and the Invalides dome behind. Go down to the lower quay on the Left Bank to frame the arch with the Grand Palais, or shoot the lamps against the Eiffel Tower at golden hour.
Palais Royal – Colonnes de Buren
260 black-and-white striped columns of varying heights in the Palais Royal's Cour d'Honneur, perfect for playful portraits and graphic top-down shots. Walk through to the arcades and the lime-tree garden for calmer, symmetrical frames.
Louvre Pyramid
I. M. Pei's glass pyramid in the Cour Napoléon reflects beautifully in the fountains at night. Arrive before 8AM for empty frames, or return after dark when the pyramid glows. Try the 'touch the tip' forced perspective from the edge of the pools.
Galerie Vivienne
The prettiest of Paris's 19th-century covered passages, with mosaic floors, a glass roof and wooden shopfronts. Shoot down the length of the gallery for leading lines, and grab a coffee at one of the tea rooms inside. Closed late evening.
Rue Crémieux
Cobbled pedestrian lane lined with pastel houses in the 12th, one of the most photographed streets in the city. It is a residential street where locals have pushed back against crowds: come early on a weekday, stay quiet, and don't pose on doorsteps.
La Maison Rose, Montmartre
The pink café with green shutters at the corner of Rue de l'Abreuvoir, painted by Utrillo. Shoot from uphill on Rue de l'Abreuvoir so the lane curves toward it, then walk a few steps to Place Dalida for the Sacré-Cœur peeking over the rooftops.
Le Consulat Corner, Montmartre
The red-awninged café at the fork of Rue Norvins and Rue Saint-Rustique is the postcard Montmartre corner. Stand slightly down Rue Norvins to catch both streets with the Sacré-Cœur dome behind. Quietest right after sunrise.
Sacré-Cœur Steps
The white basilica and the stairs below give a sweeping view over all of Paris. Shoot the dome from the Square Louise-Michel carousel at the bottom, then sit on the steps at sunset as buskers play. Watch for bracelet scammers at the base.
Arc de Triomphe Rooftop
284 steps (ticketed) to a terrace looking straight down the twelve avenues of the Étoile, with the Eiffel Tower and La Défense on either side. Late opening means you can catch sunset and the Champs-Élysées light trails. Free for under-26 EU residents.
Galeries Lafayette Rooftop Terrace
Free rooftop on top of the Haussmann department store with a 360° view of the Opera Garnier roof, the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. No ticket needed, just ride up during store hours; the Balcon bistro there serves drinks if you want to linger. Pop into the stained-glass dome on the way.
Le Perchoir Ménilmontant
The original Paris rooftop bar, 7th floor of an old industrial building, ranked among the world's best rooftops by Time Out in 2026. Wide sunset views to Sacré-Cœur, with a retractable roof and heaters for colder months. No bookings for the bar, so queue early.
Terrass'' Hotel Rooftop
7th-floor rooftop on the Montmartre hill with one of the city's best Eiffel Tower views across the rooftops. Swing seats, cocktails and charcuterie boards; the bar is open to non-guests from mid-afternoon (usually Tuesday to Saturday). Book on weekends.
Kong
Philippe Starck-designed glass-roofed restaurant and bar on the top floors above Pont Neuf, looking straight at the Seine and the Samaritaine. Pricey, but a cocktail at the bar buys you the view. Open daily until late.
Le Tout-Paris at Cheval Blanc
Michelin-starred restaurant and bar on the 7th floor of the palace hotel in the former Samaritaine. The terrace faces the Seine with Notre-Dame, the Pont Neuf and the Eiffel Tower in one sweep. Dress up and reserve ahead.
Les Ombres
Jean Nouvel's glass-roofed rooftop restaurant on the Musée du Quai Branly, with the Eiffel Tower almost close enough to touch. The terrace wraps around a hanging Mediterranean garden. Book a window or terrace table for dinner when the tower sparkles.
Girafe
Art Deco seafood brasserie on top of the Cité de l'Architecture at Trocadéro, with a terrace facing the Eiffel Tower head-on. Open seven days; go for a cocktail and oysters at sunset if dinner is out of budget.
Sequoia Rooftop Bar
Year-round rooftop bar above the Grands Boulevards near the Opéra, with views over Haussmann zinc roofs toward the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. More relaxed than the palace rooftops and a good after-work option.