5 Most Famous Bridges in Paris: Location & Tips

Paris is one of these wonderful cities filled with amazing remains of history in every corner. Monuments, squares, buildings, museums, churches... but also many amazing bridges that made a name all around the world. They cross the Seine River and give a nice perspective of the city. 

You will find 37 bridges in Paris. 5 of them are only accessible to pedestrians, 8 allow access to l'Île de la Cité, 4 to l'Île Saint-Louis and 2 are railway bridges.

You can't miss them while doing your activities in Paris, you might as well know the most populars and take a break to admire them from a close look. That is why you will find 5 most popular bridges of Paris in our list below.

Tip : We recommend you to get a Seine River Cruise Ticket and enjoy the unique feeling of passing below these bridges.

1. Pont Neuf

The Pont Neuf bridge is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris built in 1607. A perfect place to start your discoveries in Paris. It's an excellent idea to watch the sunset over the Seine River after a busy day in Paris. It is at the point of l'Île de la Cité, crossing it from both sides.

Don' forget to see the 12 rounded arch cornices with mascarons carved into stone. This kind of ornamentation used in ancient Roman buildings called as "grotesque" in architecture. There are 384 faces in total with strange features combining human, animal and floral designs..

Stand on the bridge, watch the ships going up and down, wait until it gets dark and see the reflections of lights on the water from the historical buildings. It is impossible not to be captivated by the illuminated landscapes of Notre-Dame and Louvre Museum. 

• Address :  Pont Neuf, 1st arrondissement of Paris - 75001

2. Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III is one of the most magnificent among the 37 bridges on the Seine River located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It is connecting the Avenue Champs-Élysées with the historic complex of Les Invalides.

The construction was finished in 1900. It bears the name of Alexander, the father of Nicholas II who was the Russian Tsar of the time. The arched steel bridge is 107 meters long and 40 meters wide.

There are four lion statues at the entrances of the bridge. Then, four impressive gilded bronze statues rises at the top of four pillars to the right and left. In the middle, on the each side there are bronze statues of nymphs (water fairies in Greek mythology), one side " Nypmphs of the Seine River" and other side "Nypmphs of the Neva River" in St. Petersburg, to honor France-Russian alliance.

• Address : Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris

3. Pont des Arts

Le Pont Des Arts is located between the Louvre Museum, and the Institut de France. It was built in 1884 during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte as the first iron bridge on the Seine river. In 1984, it was rebuilt according to its original plans by the mayor of the time, Jacques Chirac.

It is being used only for pedestrian crossing and is a popular place at all hours of the day. After visiting the Louvre Museum or strolling around the St. Germain neighbourhood, you can direct your way to Pont Des Arts and see beautiful Pont Neuf from there along with many other monuments.

This bridge is also known for this "Love Lock Bridge" name. Couples from all over the world come here to attach personalized padlocks even if the city removed them all and forbid it since 2015.

• Address : Quai François Mitterand, 75006 Paris
• Get your Louvre Museum Tickets, close to this bridge and skip the line !

4. Pont de l'Alma

It was built between 1854 - 1856 and inaugurated by by Napoleon III. Then it underwent a complete reconstruction from 1970 to 1974 due to its narrowness. The name of the bridge as "Pont de l'Alma" was given to commemorate the Battle of Alma (1854) during the Crimean War. 

On August 31, 1997, an accident occurred in the tunnel at the Pont de l'Alma, in which Princess Diana, her friend and driver, lost their lives. Above this tunnel, the Flame of Liberty rises, a life-size replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty.

• Address : Pont de l'Alma, 75008 Paris

5. Pont de Bir-Hakeim

The Pont de Bir-Hakeim is located at the northern tip of the Île aux Cygnes. It was made of steel and stone as the second to be built in the area.

The Pont de Bir-Hakeim was built between 1903 and 1905, replacing a previous bridge that was built in 1878. It is 237 meters long and 24.7 meters wide. It has been registered as a historical monument since 1986.

It was renamed in 1948 to commemorate the Battle of Bir Hakim, a strategic point in the Libyan desert, where the Free French Forces fought against German troops in June 1942, during World War II. It offers a great view of the Eiffel Tower.

You might have seen this bridge in several movies, including Inception. Rings a bell ?

• Address : Pont de Bir-Hakeim, 75015 Paris

Map & Location

(Link to the map)

Now you know the romantic famous bridges not to miss in Paris. Which one is the Parisian bridge you want to see the most? Let us know in the comments below!