Ah, la Paris - the city of love, so named for its romantic air, elegant streets and extravagant architecture. The city is bursting with some of Europe’s most photogenic sights so a visit ‘sans’ camera would be simply criminal. Some of the most glorious of Paris’ photo opportunities are a little hidden away, so to help you get the most perfect shots from your trip, we’ve gathered together 23 of the most Instagrammable sights in the city...
1. THE EIFFEL TOWER
Fun fact: The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world with over 250 million people having visited since it was built in 1889. It wasn’t even meant to be permanent!
Nearest station: Champ de Mars or Tour Eiffel
2. MUSÉE D’ORSAY
Fun fact: Whilst the museum itself is picture-perfect, head up to the clock where one of the best Insta-opportunities in Paris is tucked away...
Nearest station: Musée D’Orsay
3. RUE CRÉMIEUX
Fun fact: This road was named after the lawyer Adolphe Crémieux, who defended the rights of the Jews in France during the 19th century.
Nearest station: Gare de Lyon
4. JARDINS DES TUILERIES
Fun fact: Before the French Revolution, the gardens were only accessible for “respectable” people to walk through, as if they were on display, by order of King Louis XIV.
Nearest station: Concorde
5. GALERIE VIVIENNE
Fun fact: Built in 1823, this Galerie Vivienne is Paris’ most iconic covered arcade.
Nearest station: Bourse
6. PLAZA ATHÉNÉE
Fun fact: Sex and the City fans will recognise this hotel’s views from the season finale when Carrie reunites with Mr Big!
Nearest station: Alma-Marceau
7. SACRÉ COEUR
Fun fact: The Sacre Coeur is the highest point in the city, so you’re guaranteed some amazing Parisian views.
Nearest station: Anvers
8. THE LOUVRE
Fun fact: The Louvre is the biggest museum in the world and it would actually take 100 whole days to see every piece if you were to spend 30 seconds at each 24/7!
Nearest station: Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre
9. JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG
Fun fact: Jardin du Luxembourg is the biggest park in Paris.
Nearest station: Odeon
10. MOULIN ROUGE
Fun fact: The Moulin Rouge is actually home to a feather company, because they use THAT many feathers in their shows! There’s also an entire room dedicated to sequins.
Nearest station: Blanche
11. THE VIEW FROM THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Fun fact: There are 284 steps from the ground to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
Nearest station: Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile
12. THE CHAMPS ÉLYSÉES
Fun fact: The Champs Élysées is the second most expensive street for real estate in Europe (after London’s Bond Street).
Nearest station: Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, George V or Franklin D. Roosevelt
13. LE VIEUX PARIS
Fun fact: The food tastes as good as the outside looks!
Nearest station: Cité
14. LADURÉE
Fun fact: The Ladurée family claim to have invented the macaron back in the 1830s. Whether or not that’s true they still make some of the best macarons in the whole city.
Nearest station: George V
15. NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL
Fun fact: Victor Hugo wrote the world-famous book The Hunchback of Notre-Dame to increase people’s appreciation of the cathedral.
Nearest station: Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame
16. THE LATIN QUARTER
Fun fact: Some of the history in the Latin Quarter date all the way back to the 1st century!
Nearest station: Cluny - La Sorbonne
17. STREETS OF SAINT GERMAIN
Fun fact: The upmarket boulevard Saint-Germain is home to Cafe Du Flore, one of the oldest coffee houses in Paris known for its famous clientele. Back in the day, high profile writers and artists such as Picasso were spotted here.
Nearest station: Saint-Germain-Des-Pres
18. GALERIES LAFAYETTE
Fun fact: Cousins Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened the first Galeries Lafayette in 1894. The best time to visit the luxury department store is in Christmas time when it lights up with decoration and Paris’ most elaborate Christmas tree.
Nearest station: Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette
19. PONT ALEXANDRE III
Fun fact: The most ornate, extravagant bridge in the entire city. The bridge was built at the end of the 19th century to celebrate the friendship between France and Russia.
Nearest station: Invalides
20. PALAIS GARNIER
Fun fact: The Opera held at Palais Garnier is renowned as the set of the famous 1910 gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera. A giant chandelier (that was once on the ceiling) did actually fall to the ground, inspiring the story for the current West End hit.
Nearest station: Opéra
21. BELLEVILLE STREET ART
Fun fact: Belleville means ‘beautiful town’ in French - it’s easy to see why! Today, the colourful area is one of the best examples of street art in Paris.
Nearest station: Belleville
22. THE STAINED GLASS AT SAINTE-CHAPELLE
Fun fact: The stained glass windows are some of the oldest in Paris. The 618 m2 of stained glass windows in the upper chapel portray biblical scenes the Bible, tributing 1,130 biblical figures.
Nearest station: Cité
23. MONET'S WATER LILIES IN MUSÉE DE L'ORANGERIE
Fun fact: Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’ piece actually comprises of around 250 oil paintings (and countless lilies).
Nearest station: Concorde