10 Must-Visit Filming Locations in Paris

Before certain Paris-based Netflix shows, ahem, inspired whimsical women the world over to move to France, we had Amélie, the film that introduced French actress Audrey Tautou to international audiences. Amélie was critically acclaimed at the time and has since become a staple of French cinema. In this charming rom-com, Tautou’s Amélie Poulain works as a waitress at the Café des Deux Moulins, a real-life location in the hilly Montmartre neighborhood. If you stop by the café, we recommend the crème brulée.

If there’s an Emily that should have been in Paris, it’s Miranda Priestly’s no-nonsense assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt). Alas, as fans of the film will know, that wasn’t to be and it’s actually Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs who makes the trip across the pond to beau Paris. There, she finally waves goodbye to her job, throwing her phone into the ornate Fontaine des Fleuves on the beautiful Place de la Concorde.

A longtime favorite of English-language readers in Paris, the Shakespeare and Company bookstore is already a must-visit for many in the City of Love. It's situated on the Left Bank of the Seine, which is home to the city's famed Latin Quarter and has a reputation as the artsier side of the city, full of old-Paris charm. It's not surprising that it's is where you'll find this beautiful book emporium, which also served as the location for the opening scene of Before Sunset, the 2004 romance starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

Sofia Coppola was granted unparalleled access to the sumptuous Palace of Versailles—former home of French royalty—to shoot her highly-stylized interpretation of Marie Antoinette back in 2005. Particularly notable is the ball which takes place in the famed Hall of Mirrors after Marie Antoinette’s wedding to Louis XVI. Of course, this is far from the only cinematic masterpiece that’s used Versailles as a sweeping backdrop—Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and Funny Face (1957) were also filmed there. You can easily explore Versailles on a day trip from Paris, so you can recreate your favorite scenes from any of these films.

New York City may have been the famed fifth character in late nineties–early aughts favorite Sex and the City, but the shadow of Paris looms large in the fashion-forward series. Not only did Big meet Natasha there back in Season 2, Carrie finally moves to the French capital with Aleksandr in Season 6 and is seen wandering the Place Dauphine with him in a few scenes. However, it’s the Pont des Arts which true SATC fans will want to visit—it was there that Big finally declared his love for Carrie.

Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending Inception introduced us all to the concept of dreams within dreams and gave ol’ wooden spinning tops a real profile boost. While much of the movie was shot in Tokyo, the UK, Los Angeles, and even Morocco, one of the most instantly recognizable scenes took place in the heart of Paris, beneath the architecturally-impressive Bir-Hakeim Bridge. There, Leonardo DiCaprio and Elliot Page discover Page’s character Ariadne can manipulate dreams. And while you likely won't find such a plot twist here, you can take in the grandeur of the Bir-Hakeim Bridge and other Parisian landmarks on an architecture tour.

Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as Sebastian the jazz musician and Mia the aspiring actress, respectively, La La Land is perhaps best remembered for that Best Picture Oscar gaffe. But in the movie itself, eagle-eyed viewers may also recall the scene where Sebastian and Mia are listening to live music in Le Caveau du la Huchette, a real-life jazz club in Paris’ Latin Quarter that’s known for great tunes and even better cocktails.

Art deco details and glorious stained glass have made Bistrot La Renaissance a filming location favorite for decades, but it’s perhaps best-known for its role in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Not only can you visit the spot where Zoller shows up as Shoshanna’s smoking a cigarette, you can also have lunch there—this popular Parisian spot is worth a visit even if you haven't seen the movie. La Renaissance serves up classic French fare, and its interiors are full of 1930s Parisian charm.

Ratatouille is an animated flick about a culinarily-minded rat called Remy, so needless to say that there are no actual filming locations to speak of. However, this popular Pixar film’s fictional Gusteau’s was most definitely inspired in part by Paris’ Michelin-starred La Tour d’Argent. (Not because they have rats in the kitchen though, thankfully.) This restaurant may not have ratatouille on its menu, but you can indulge in French delicacies such as foie gras, a selection of local cheeses, or the restaurant's seasonal, five-course table d'hôte menu—all while you take in views of the Seine River and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Dan Brown’s bestselling book The Da Vinci Code is widely mocked in literary circles, but there’s no denying that the film adaptation in 2006 was a commercial (if not critical) success. Of course, anyone who’s seen it will know that Paris’ famed Louvre takes center stage in both opening and closing Da Vinci Code scenes. A must-visit anyway for first-timers in the French capital, this storied museum is also unmissable for movie fans in general.

Related: Visiting Paris For the First Time? Here's What To See and Do