Why this avenue is a classic photo spot
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées runs from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, forming one of the most recognizable views in Paris. Napoleon commissioned the Arc in 1806, and it wasn't inaugurated until 1836 — it still marks the point where the avenue ends and the photo begins.
Walking the avenue with the Arc in the background, or heading up to its paid rooftop terrace, gives you two very different angles on the same landmark: street level, and the city seen from above.
The best (and safest) angles
The classic shot is the avenue itself with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, which works from several spots along the sidewalk without getting close to traffic. The Arc's terrace, reached with a paid ticket, offers an elevated view of the twelve avenues meeting at Place Charles de Gaulle.
For a different mood, Avenue Montaigne — Paris's luxury shopping street — offers calmer, more elegant facades. At the other end of the Champs-Élysées sits Place de la Concorde, and nearby, the Pont Alexandre III and the Grand Palais add architectural variety to a session.
A safety note: the roundabout around the Arc (the Étoile) carries heavy, constant traffic. Reach the Arc through the marked pedestrian underpass, never by crossing the roundabout at street level, and skip posing in the middle of the avenue.
Best time to shoot and how to dodge the crowds
Early morning or late-afternoon light softens the glare off the pavement and leaves the avenue with fewer people crossing your frame. By mid-morning and on weekends, the area fills with tourists and traffic around the Étoile picks up.
If the avenue-with-Arc shot is your priority, arriving early gets you a clearer view. If you'd rather go up to the terrace, check access hours ahead of time, since they change with the season.
How a HolaFlash session works
HolaFlash works like booking a ride: open the app, see which photographers are available near the Champs-Élysées, check their profiles and ratings, and request the one you like. You get your photos right after the session ends.
The Express Session runs 10 minutes for €19. Standard and Pro plans are coming soon. All of it with no agencies, no waiting around, no distrust, and no inflated prices.
Quick tips
- Reach the Arc through the marked underpass, never across the roundabout.
- Morning or late-afternoon light makes the avenue shot noticeably softer.
- Shoot the avenue-with-Arc view from the sidewalk, not near traffic.
- Want the rooftop view? The Arc's terrace needs a paid ticket.
- Avenue Montaigne is a quieter, more elegant alternative.
- Skip posing in the middle of the avenue or the roundabout.
Frequently asked questions
No — shooting the avenue with the Arc in the background from street level is free. A ticket is only needed if you go up to the Arc's terrace.
It's not a good idea — the roundabout carries heavy, constant traffic. Reach the Arc through the marked pedestrian underpass instead.
Open the HolaFlash app, see which photographers are available nearby, check their profiles and ratings, and request one. You get your photos once the session ends.
The Express Session runs 10 minutes for €19. Standard and Pro plans will be available soon.
