Top spots in Paris to catch the attention of your Instagram community!
© Wikimédia
Maybe you have caught sight of this bridge in Inception, Zazie in the metro, Last Tango in Paris or even in the clip Come Back to Me by Janet Jackson … The Pont de Bir-Hakeim is a star on all screens. The views from underneath its arcades are breathtaking. Not surprising then that this impressive century-old iron bridge, a favourite for wedding photo shots, is so media-friendly!
Pont de Bir-Hakeim, 75015
© Gil Lefauconnier
Although far from the traditional tourist hotspots, the 19th arrondissement of Paris holds many treasures. Notably, the monumental undulating and scintillating Philharmonie de Paris. This contemporary building is by far one of the zaniest to post on your Instagram account. Experiment with the mirror effects of light, the angles …. and capture the 340,000 or so aluminium birds in different shades of grey that adorn the building.
221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019
© Mary Quincy
With its flashy colours, the basketball court on Rue Duperré has been a big hit on social networks since it was painted in 2015. Thanks to a partnership between Nike and the Pigalle district, the decor is regularly relooked. Perfect for zingy-coloured urban photos!
22 rue Duperré, 75009
© Molitor
Blue, white, yellow … Instagrammers adore summery colours! In summertime, you can gaze down on the Art Deco architecture from above as you sip a cocktail on the rooftop terrace of the Molitor - a hotel with 124 rooms overlooking the swimming pool. And in colder weather, what could be better than snapping a few photos down by the winter poolside?
13 rue Nungesser et Coli, 75016
© Wikimédia
A flowery cul-de-sac, Art Nouveau-Art Deco buildings and a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower: Welcome to Square Rapp! It is an ideal place to pose during the day or at night when the Eiffel Tower is lit up. Great results guaranteed …
Square Rapp, 75007
Wikimédia
Surrounded by greenery in summer and a mantel of warm colours in autumn, the monumental Medici fountain is a poetic gem situated in the Luxembourg Gardens. The fountain is a vestige of the grottoes and water features commissioned by queen Marie de Medici around 1630. Victor Hugo, Chopin, Musset, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre … all admired this romantic fountain draped in ivy.
Jardin du Luxembourg, 75006
© Jason Robillard via Flickr
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the rooftop terrace of the Institut du Monde Arabe affords an outstanding view of the Seine, Notre-Dame cathedral, and old Paris. An opportunity to photograph the capital from a great angle!
1 rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 75005
© Terrass Hotel
Looking for breathtaking Instagram photo opportunities? Head to the Terrass’ Hotel for one of the most striking views of the city! Simply put, you can see the entire city from the top of this Haussmann building in the 18th arrondissement.
12-14 rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018
© Wikimédia
To give your Instagram photos a quintessentially Parisian look, there's nothing like including some old painted and wood facades. That of Café de Flore has hardly changed in a century and the wood panelling in the Lapérouse restaurant and Rocher de Cancale are full of charm. In the very pretty rue Sainte-Marthe in the 10th arrondissement, you’ll find little shops and colourful artists’ studios. The facade of Vieux Paris d’Arcole in a sea-green colour is magnified in late springtime by huge wisteria flowers giving a picturesque charm to this street near to Notre-Dame cathedral. A pleasure for the eyes and lens!
© John Towner Unsplash
With 303 metro stations, Paris has notched up some architectural gems. From Art Nouveau metro entrances above ground to characteristic earthenware tiles inside, these stations have a resolutely Parisian charm that is recognizable worldwide. Some stand out in particular by their originality, like for example the station Arts et Métiers on line 11. With its copper-covered walls, the station gives travellers the impression they are arriving in the imaginary Nautilus submarine of Jules Vernes. Or the station at Concorde, on line 12, where the text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 is written across the walls. Optical effect guaranteed!
And outside, the station Lamarck-Caulaincourt, seen from above, is one of the most Instagrammable places in the capital with inimitable Parisian charm. At the Palais Royal, the metro entrance Kiosque des Noctambules, a work of art in aluminium and Murano glass, is a unique bijou. On the western edge of the city, at Dauphine, the delightful metro entrance designed by Hector Guimard is in the Art Nouveau style. It is even listed as a historical monument!
Museum of Illusions
For fans of optical effects, the Musée de l’Illusion will delight your Instagram followers! Just a short distance from Châtelet-les-Halles, come and defy the laws of physics with life-size illusions for kids and grown-ups! With some 70 or so amazing experiences, this is the perfect opportunity to play with perspectives through your lens.
98 rue Saint-Denis, 75001
© Louis Paulin via Unsplash
Dear Instagrammers, please note that Pisa is not the only place to have a leaning building. With a bit of imagination, the ‘Sinking House’, a building in Montmartre can appear to be leaning just as much … Smartphones at the ready!
Photo to take from the bottom of Square Louise Michel, Place Saint-Pierre, 75018
