Metro, walking and transit tips for linking Paris photo spots
Getting between Paris photo locations is easiest on foot inside the Eiffel Tower area, with metro lines 6 and 9 covering the longer legs. Trocadéro, Pont de Bir-Hakeim, the Seine banks and Avenue de Camoëns sit close together. Most visitors never need a taxi between them.
This guide is for anyone booking a session with 1 to 3 locations. It covers which stations to use, how to pay for the metro now that paper tickets are gone, the metro's early and late hours, and what to do if a line is disrupted. I plan the route and the light for every session, and this is the transit information I give clients before they arrive.
Four stations serve the Eiffel Tower: Bir-Hakeim (line 6), Trocadéro (line 9), École Militaire (line 8) and Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (RER C). The Eiffel Tower official site lists the walking time from each. That is 11 minutes from Bir-Hakeim, 22 from Trocadéro, 16 from École Militaire and 5 from the RER C station.
For photography, the station you pick decides where your session starts. Trocadéro is the station for the esplanade, the lower terrace and the side staircases. Bir-Hakeim is the station for the bridge: it sits on the left bank end of Pont de Bir-Hakeim and is the closest Métro station to the Tower. Pick the station that matches your first location, not the one closest to the monument.
After you book, your confirmation includes the exact meeting time and place. Arrive at that station with a few minutes in hand. The first ten minutes of a session go better when nobody is rushing.
TipWalking times come from the Tower's operator and assume no photo stops. Add time for pictures.
| Package | Price | Duration | Photos | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | €300 | 1 hour | 30 photos | 1 location |
| Signature | €500 | 2 hours | 50 photos | 2 locations |
| Prestige | €800 | 3 hours | 60 photos | 3 locations |
Yes, the locations around the Eiffel Tower link on foot, and every session already includes 3 to 5 km of walking depending on the package. Trocadéro, Pont de Bir-Hakeim, the Seine banks between Pont de l'Alma and Pont d'Iéna, and Avenue de Camoëns are all in the same part of the city. A two-location session in that area is mostly a walk, not a commute.
"I keep the moves between spots short, so the time goes into photographs and not into transit," Finzi says. That is why I build the route around neighbouring locations first. I only add a metro leg when the light or your vision calls for a different part of Paris.
Shoes matter more than any other item you bring. Wear comfortable walking shoes, because cobblestones, stairs and long bridge crossings are part of the route. If someone in your group tires easily, tell me before the session and I will shorten the walking.
TipTell me your date and preferred locations when you write. I plan the route from there.
These two are the most common pairing on a Signature session, and you can move between them by metro. On line 6, Trocadéro is followed by Passy, then Bir-Hakeim. That is two stops. Trocadéro is served by both lines 6 and 9. Either line gets you there, but only line 6 continues to Bir-Hakeim.
Line 6 is above ground on this stretch. The section between Bir-Hakeim and Passy is where the train crosses the Seine. If the light is good, the ride itself shows you the Tower from the train window. It is a useful scouting preview for the bridge you are about to photograph.
Walk it when you have time and the weather is dry. Take the metro when the group includes small children, grandparents, or anyone in formal shoes. A two-stop ride saves energy for the photographs.
TipReverse the order if the sun is lower on the bridge side. I decide this on the day from the light.
Paper t+ tickets are gone, so use a Navigo Easy card or a ticket on your phone. The official tourist office says "the cardboard t+ ticket books have disappeared", according to Paris je t'aime. The Navigo Easy pass can be topped up at the ticket machines in every metro or RER station, at ticket offices, or from your phone.
The phone route uses the Île-de-France Mobilités app or the Bonjour RATP app. Set up the app before you land. Buying a card at a machine in a station works well too. I do not quote fares here, because the transport authorities set and update them.
Buy your travel before the morning of your session. A queue at a ticket machine is the most avoidable reason people arrive late to a meeting point.
TipLoad enough journeys for the session and the return to your hotel at the same time.
Metro trains start in the early morning from the terminus of every line and finish after midnight. The first departures leave on all lines from the early morning, and on Friday and Saturday nights service runs one hour later. A sunrise or golden hour session often falls at the edge of these hours, so check the first train against your start time.
Those figures describe the terminus, not your station. The last train time depends on where you are on the line, and the RATP website and mobile app show timetables station by station. The Bonjour RATP schedule page is the place to confirm the exact time for your stop.
For a night session after sunset, plan your way back before you start. Lines 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 14 can run all night on special occasions, but only at major stations such as Trocadéro. On an ordinary night, assume the metro stops and keep a taxi in mind.
TipAsk me about timing when you book. I match the start to the light and to your travel.
Buses are a backup near the Tower. The official site says the stops serving the Eiffel Tower are all within 10 minutes' walk: lines 82, 30, 42, 69 and 86. A bus is slower than the metro, but it runs above ground, so it suits anyone who wants to avoid station stairs.
RER C is useful if your hotel sits on its line, since Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel is only 5 minutes from the Tower on foot. Keep metro line 6 or 9 as a second option in case of a disruption.
Bonjour RATP shows live schedules for all public transport in Île-de-France, and disruptions are updated as they happen. Check it before you leave your hotel. If a closure or delay breaks the plan, message me. Rescheduling is free, anytime.
TipScreenshot your meeting point and station name in case your signal drops underground.
The number of locations in your package sets how much moving you do. Essential is €300 for 1 hour, 30 photos and 1 location, so there is no travel between spots. You only need to reach the meeting point. Signature is €500 for 2 hours, 50 photos and 2 locations, and it is the most popular. Prestige is €800 for 3 hours, 60 photos and 3 locations.
A proposal session is €300 for 1 hour with a hidden camera. I am already in position before you arrive, so your only job is getting to the agreed spot on time. The Night Session is €450 and takes place after sunset at 1 location.
Of the locations I shoot, one sits outside central Paris, 40 minutes east by train. It is the only one that needs a longer trip, so allow extra time for it. A €30 non-refundable deposit locks your date, and rescheduling is free anytime.
TipDelivery is within 24 hours for every session, so your travel plans do not need to include waiting for the gallery.
Quick answers to the questions visitors ask before they book.
“It was very special. Finzi is very caring and enjoyable. It was a dream photoshoot experience.”
Pick a session. Choose a date. I handle the rest.
BOOK NOW