Where Was Lupin Filmed In Paris? The Landmarks & 4 Walks To See Them
If you loved Lupin and you are planning your trip to Paris, almost every place you saw on screen is real and open to visitors, and many of them are a short walk from the monuments you already have on your list.
What I find interesting, as a Parisian, is how the city takes more and more space from one season to the next, until it becomes almost a character of the show.
Spoiler alert: if you haven’t finished all three seasons yet, a few key scenes are revealed below.
4 Walks To See The Lupin Places
The Lupin places are spread all over Paris, so trying to see them all in one day makes no sense (you would spend your day in the metro). I prefer to group them by theme and by area. Each walk fits in half a day, and you can combine it with what you already planned. You will find more details on each place further down:
For couples, after dark: start at Place Vendome (even better in December, with the Christmas trees), walk to the Louvre pyramid, then down to the Seine banks at Pont Neuf. It's about 30 minutes on foot from one end to the other, and it's a very nice way to end a day.
With kids: start at the Luxembourg Gardens, with the sailboats on the big pond and the playground. If your kids like spooky things, you can then add the Catacombs, two stops away on the RER B. Book as soon as tickets open, because it's more and more popular.
A green stroll, away from the big monuments: this one is really for strolling, with nothing to tick off a list. Climb up to the Temple of the Sibyl at Buttes-Chaumont, then take the metro to Pere Lachaise, about 20 minutes away (on foot it's closer to 40 minutes, and honestly the walk between the 2 is not very interesting). Both places are full of trees and winding paths, and for a few hours you almost forget you are in a big city.
For vintage and antiques lovers: the Puces de Saint-Ouen are a huge market, wonderful if you love old furniture, decor or vintage fashion. I don't feel very comfortable in the area around the market, so I always take a taxi or an Uber, ask to be dropped at the entrance, and book one to come back. Once inside, it can be hard to know which shops are worth it, and I don't always dare to walk into some of them. That's why I think a guided visit is a very good idea here: a guide takes you to the best shops.
Lupin Season 1 Paris Landmarks
The Louvre Museum
The star of season 1 is of course the Louvre, where Assane steals the necklace during the famous night heist. The show gives you some beautiful shots of the pyramid lit up in the dark, and honestly, it looks just like that in real life. My tip is simple: come back after dinner and walk around the pyramid at night. The courtyard is open, you don't need a ticket, and there are far fewer people than during the day, so you can take your photos without twenty strangers in the frame. If you travel as a couple, it's one of the most romantic moments you can have in Paris, and it costs nothing.
For the visit of the museum itself, the big question is how long to stay inside. You could spend 2 days there, but that's rarely reasonable, and if art doesn't interest you that much, it's not worth it. So I made a short quiz that helps you find the type of visit that suits your profile best.
The Luxembourg Gardens
The chase in the Luxembourg Gardens is one of the scenes people remember most from season 1, with Assane's clever trick. It's also a great excuse to discover one of the largest gardens in Paris, and one of the places where you really see how Parisians live. As soon as there is a ray of sun, the garden fills up, whatever the season. I find it fascinating in winter: it can be very cold, and still every green chair is taken by someone with a book or a coffee. Families come for a walk, kids push little wooden sailboats on the big pond, people run around the paths. So grab a green chair and sit down for a while. And why not come with a book? You can read Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar, the first collection of stories by Maurice Leblanc, which is easy to find in English.
Les Puces De Saint Ouen
You never really see it on screen, but Benjamin, Assane's best friend, has his antiques shop at the Puces de Saint-Ouen, the huge flea market just north of Paris. I'll be honest, I have mixed feelings about it, so I give you all my practical advice in the vintage lovers' walk above.
Lupin season 2 Paris landmarks
The Seine Banks Near Pont Neuf
The show often films the banks of the Seine at night, especially around Pont Neuf and the tip of Ile de la Cite. It's one of the walks Parisians love the most, in spring, in summer and even in autumn, during the day or in the evening. Walk down to the lower quays (the ones along the water), and you will see Parisians sitting on the stone edge with friends. It's a short walk from the Louvre, so it works very well right after a visit.
The Orsay Museum
Orsay appears in season 2, with its famous clock, and I have to say I was happy to see it, because it's my favorite museum in Paris (I even have a membership card). Why? Because of the Impressionists, it's an art that touches me in a way I can't really explain, and because the building itself, an old train station, is gorgeous. Go up to the top floor and look at Paris through the big clock, you will recognize the shot from the show.
The Catacombs
Season 2 has some great chases in the Catacombs, and this is one place I really recommend if you like something different. There is no other city (that I know!) where you can do this kind of visit: tunnels 20 metres under Paris, lined with the bones of millions of Parisians. A few practical details before you go. There are more than 100 steps down and to climb back up. And it's about 14°C underground all year, and quite humid, so bring a sweater, even in summer.
The Buttes-Chaumont Park
Assane meets Juliette at the Temple of the Sibyl, a small round temple on top of a rocky island in the middle of the lake. If you want to see a Paris that few visitors know, that’s a great spot! You reach it by a bridge, then a steep path, and once you are up there, you have a lovely view over Paris. It's very Parisian, quite romantic, and on a weekday morning you might have the temple almost to yourself.
Lupin season 3 Paris landmarks
Place Vendome
In season 3, Place Vendome gets its big moment, with Lupin standing at the very top of the column. I know, it's tempting, but the column is closed to visitors, so you will have to enjoy it from below. The scenes are filmed during the Christmas season, and the trees you see in the show are the real decoration: every year, the square is lined with Christmas trees, usually from late November to early January. If you come to Paris at that time of year, go at night, it's very pretty. And the rest of the year, the jewelers' windows are free to look at.
Pere Lachaise cemetery
Pere Lachaise is the setting of Assane's (fake) funeral. It's also one of the most visited cemeteries in the world, and a lovely place for a walk, with its old trees and cobbled alleys. Many Americans come to see the graves of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. The cemetery is big and quite hilly, so take a map at the entrance or download one before you go, otherwise you can walk in circles for a long time.
Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette is a Paris landmark, but above all it's one of the great places for shopping in Paris, for every budget. Yes, you will find the luxury brands. But you will also find everyday brands, the Galeries Lafayette own brand, and more affordable fashion, beauty and jewelry brands. It's not cheap, I won't pretend it is, but it's good value for money. And as a non-EU visitor, you can usually get the VAT back if you spend above a minimum amount in the store on the same day (ask at the welcome desk for the current threshold). There is also a souvenir floor with lots of small things at all kinds of prices, which is very practical if you have gifts to bring home. Before you leave, go up to the rooftop: it's free, and you get a great view of the Opera and the rooftops of Paris.
The Arc de Triomphe
The big scene at the end of season 3 happens at the Arc de Triomphe, where Assane is arrested, along with the man who kidnapped his mother. It's a beautiful monument, and I really recommend going up to the top. There are a lot of steps, that's for sure, but the view from up there is wonderful, with the avenues spread out in a star all around you. And for me, it's one of the best viewpoints in Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.
In short
Lupin is a great way to discover a Paris that goes beyond the postcard: the Louvre at night, the green chairs of the Luxembourg, the Temple of the Sibyl, Père Lachaise... You don't need to see them all. Pick the walk that matches your trip and fit it around the monuments you already booked.
And if you want to prepare a bit more, rewatch the show before you leave, in French with English subtitles (or French subtitles if you already speak a little). You will be surprised how many places you recognize once you are here!
PS: I'm watching season 4 as soon as it comes out, and I'll add the new Paris places to this article.
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