#106 Viewing a Property｜French Phrases for Daily Life
Izumi French Garden
#101 Asking About Photo Spots｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi
When traveling, asking local people about good places to take photos can lead you to hidden spots not found in guidebooks or scenic viewpoints that look completely different depending on the time of day.
When asking about photo spots in French, polite request expressions and phrases for asking about the characteristics of a place are particularly useful.
In this lesson, I introduce natural French expressions that travelers can use to ask for recommended photo spots, together with sample dialogues.
Contents
Dialogue
Excusez-moi. Pourriez-vous me recommander un endroit agréable pour prendre des photos ?
（Excuse me. Could you recommend a nice place to take photos?）
Bien sûr. Vous pouvez aller jusqu’à la vieille place, elle offre une vue magnifique sur la ville.
（Of course. If you go to the old town square, you’ll find a wonderful view over the city.）
Ça a l’air très intéressant. Est-ce que c’est loin d’ici ?
（That sounds very interesting. Is it far from here?）
Non, pas du tout. Vous y serez en dix minutes à pied.
（Not at all. You’ll be there in about ten minutes on foot.）
Merci beaucoup ! Et y a-t-il d’autres endroits photogéniques dans les environs ?
（Thank you very much! Are there any other photogenic spots around here?）
Oui, si vous continuez vers le fleuve, il y a une promenade qui est très appréciée au coucher du soleil.
（Yes, if you continue toward the river, there is a walkway that is very popular at sunset.）
Super, je vais y jeter un œil. Merci encore !
（Great, I’ll take a look. Thanks again!）
1. Asking for Recommended Spots
Here are essential expressions for asking about good places for photography:
- Pourriez-vous me recommander un endroit agréable pour prendre des photos ?
（Could you recommend a nice place to take photos?）
“Pourriez-vous 〜 ?” is a polite way of asking “Could you…?” and using the verb recommander (to recommend) makes the request even more courteous.
Alternative expressions:
- Connaissez-vous un endroit où l’on peut prendre de belles photos ?
(Do you know a place where one can take beautiful photos?) - Où puis-je trouver un bon point de vue ?
(Where can I find a good viewpoint?)
“point de vue” (viewpoint) is a useful term often used when talking about photography.
2. Asking About the Atmosphere or Characteristics of a Place
When responding to information or expressing your impression, the following expression is helpful:
- Ça a l’air très intéressant.
(That looks very interesting.)
“ça a l’air + adjective” expresses the impression “It looks…” or “It seems…”.
To ask for more detailed information:
- C’est un endroit calme ?
(Is it a quiet place?) - Quel genre de vue peut-on avoir là-bas ?
(What kind of view can one see there?)
It is useful to know in advance what kind of scenery a recommended spot offers.
3. Confirming Distance and Access
These expressions help confirm whether a spot is accessible by foot or by public transportation:
- Est-ce accessible en transport en commun ?
(Is it accessible by public transportation?) - Comment puis-je m’y rendre ?
(How can I get there?)
Example of a response:
- Vous y serez en dix minutes à pied.
(You’ll be there in about ten minutes on foot.)
Here, “y serez” uses the neutral pronoun y, meaning “there.”
4. Asking About Other Photo Spots
If you want to know more than one location, these phrases are useful:
- Y a-t-il d’autres endroits photogéniques dans les environs ?
(Are there other photogenic places nearby?)
photogénique (photogenic) is widely used in French.
Additional useful expressions:
- Avez-vous d’autres recommandations ?
(Do you have any other recommendations?) - Quels sont les lieux les plus appréciés par les habitants ?
(Which places are the most appreciated by the locals?)
Local favorites often turn out to be hidden gems.
Summary
- Pourriez-vous me recommander un endroit pour prendre des photos ?
→ Useful for asking about good places to take photos. - Où puis-je trouver un point de vue intéressant ?
→ Use this when looking for scenic viewpoints. - Est-ce que c’est loin d’ici ? / Comment puis-je m’y rendre ?
→ Helpful for checking distance or access. - Y a-t-il d’autres endroits photogéniques ?
→ Convenient expression for asking about additional photo spots.
