Catching a view of the Eiffel Tower is as much a part of a trip to Paris as a visit to the Louvre or Notre Dame Cathedral. When we were last in Paris I found some really amazing places to get snaps of the Eiffel Tower. These are the Top 5 places to get the Best Eiffel Tower pictures.
Before you go
Paris is a very walkable city. And when you tire of walking you can easily take the Metro where you need to go. I recommend these sneakers for walking all day in Paris.
Many hotels are getting better about having USB plugs but you really can’t count on them. I love this adapter for my trips to Europe.
Top 5 Places to take the Best Eiffel Tower pictures
From the side streets along Avenue de Suffren or Avenue de la Bourdonnais – There are a number of dead end streets that offer a perfect view of the Eiffel tower. You can find them from the the two avenues that run parallel to the Eiffel Tower and the Champs de Mars. I love the look of the Eiffel Tower peeking through the gorgeous buildings. I took the picture above from Rue de la Universite.
From Champ de Mars – It might be a bit cliche to have a picnic in the park at the base of the Eiffel tower but this area is perfect for picture taking. Don’t just settle for a shot straight on, take some from the various walking paths and different angles.
From the Seine boat cruise – I highly recommend taking a Seine boat cruise. It gives you a view of Paris from a totally different perspective. You get to see how beautiful the city is from the river. Even the bridges are beautiful. You will also have ample opportunity to take Eiffel tower pictures.
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From the Arc de Triomphe – The Eiffel Tower has millions of visitors a year. But you can’t get that quintessential view of Paris. One with the Eiffel Tower in the view. However if you go up the Arc de Tromphe you can get an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower and those Parisian buildings. One tip. We used our Museum Pass to skip the line and walk up the stairs to the top of the Arc de Tromphe. If you have the pass don’t wait in the huge line up! It is for people who have to buy tickets.
From the George Pompidou Centre – I wasn’t even planning on taking more Eiffel Tower pictures the day we went to the George Pompidou Centre. We were up on the top level and there she was. Make sure to check out the views from where the escalators take you on the 5th and 6th floors.
From Galleries Layfaette – Even if you have no intention of shopping at Galleries Layfaette you need to make the trip if just for the 7th floor rooftop terrace. You can also go up to the roof at Les Printemps. However there is less room to roam and take pictures without getting a table at the rooftop restaurant.
Trocadero Gardens – Trocadero Gardens is a park on the other side of the Seine that overlooks the Eiffel Tower. My photos are from the park exiting from Trocadero above. The main part of Trocadero where you get the Eiffel Tower straight on is probably one of the more popular spots to take a picture. I find it a bit too clinical looking with all the stone. Also going a bit more off the beaten path will get you a picture with less tourists in the way.
The banks of the Seine – Along the River Seine, the side opposite to the Eiffel Tower, is a great spot to take photos. As you are coming down from Trocadero and before you cross the Seine there are steps down to the river. You might catch some couples getting professional photos done because it is a pretty fantastic spot to get the Eiffel Tower in the background.
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Avenue Camoens – this is the one street that I didn’t make it to when touring all the best spots to take photos of the Eiffel Tower. I made the mistake of heading straight to Trocadero when we got off the Metro. Don’t make the same mistake as me. Find Avenue de Camoens before you head to Trocadero. Because once you are at Trocadero you are more likely to just walk down the stairs, across the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.
From afar – This is my way of saying you could turn around pretty much anywhere in Paris and catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Well not ANYWHERE. I mean you have to be looking in the right direction. And there can’t be something in the way but you get my idea. It makes for a great picture to capture the Eiffel Tower way off in the distance.
Ok that was 10 places to take Eiffel Tower pictures but you get the idea. There are some general spots and some really specific streets that can give you great snaps.
Best Route to See the Eiffel Tower
I would start from Avenue de Camoens, then head to Trocadero Gardens. Come down from Torcadero, the right had side as you are looking at the Eiffel Tower has the carousel. Before you cross the Seine make sure to walk down the stairs first to capture some snaps by the riverbank. Once you cross the Seine you can walk along either side of the Eiffel Tower following the parallel streets. We wandered down the left side. That is where you will find Rue de l’Universite. We did the picture from above on a different day of touring. You can easily go to Galleries Lafayette and Le Printemps the same day you visit the Arc de Triomphe. We stopped at the George Pompidou center the day we wandered around Le Maris.
Where is your favourite spot to take photos of the Eiffel Tower?