Honestly, the first time you step into Terminal 1 at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), you feel like you’ve accidentally boarded a flight to a 1970s sci-fi movie set. It’s brutalist. It’s concrete. It’s weird. Most people are too busy stressing about their 45-minute connection to notice, but if you actually stop to look, the pictures of Charles de Gaulle airport tell a story of architectural rebellion that most modern hubs wouldn't dare try today.
You've probably seen those shots of the glass-encased escalators crisscrossing through a central void. They look like clear plastic straws stuck into a giant concrete donut.
The Brutalist Octopus: Why Terminal 1 is a Photographer's Dream
Most travelers hate Terminal 1 because it's "confusing," but photographers love it for the exact same reason. Designed by Paul Andreu when he was only 29 years old, the building was meant to look like an octopus. The central "head" is where you check in, and seven "tentacles" (underground tunnels) lead you out to the gates.
If you want the best pictures of Charles de Gaulle airport, you have to stand in the middle of that central atrium. Look up. The way the light hits the raw concrete—a style known as béton brut—is moody and dramatic. It’s the opposite of the shiny, sterile glass boxes we see in Dubai or Singapore. It’s heavy. It’s French. It’s basically a massive sculpture that happens to have a Duty-Free shop.
The "doughnut" shape means there are no corners. Just endless, sweeping curves. This creates a strange sense of vertigo when you're looking through your lens.
💡 You might also like: Why the Newport Back Bay Science Center is the Best Kept Secret in Orange County
Don't Get Arrested: The Weird Rule About Photo Passes
Here is the thing nobody tells you until the Gendarmerie is tapping you on the shoulder. Technically, you need a permit to take professional-grade photos at CDG.
Yeah, it sounds fake, but it's a real French law from the 1950s that still applies to plane spotters and serious photographers. If you’re just snapping a selfie with your iPhone for Instagram, you’re fine. But if you show up with a tripod and a 600mm lens to catch a Boeing 777 taking off, you technically need a "spotter's pass" issued by the Prefecture of Police.
Getting one is a weirdly old-school process:
- You email a specific department (spotters@interieur.gouv.fr).
- You send a scan of your passport.
- You wait a few weeks for a PDF that basically says "This person is allowed to look at planes."
It’s a bit of a hassle, but having that paper in your pocket makes you feel like a secret agent. Plus, it saves you a very awkward conversation with a guy carrying a FAMAS rifle.
📖 Related: Flights from San Diego to New Jersey: What Most People Get Wrong
Terminal 2: Glass, Light, and the "Bistro" Vibe
If Terminal 1 is a concrete spaceship, Terminal 2 is more like a greenhouse. Specifically Terminal 2E and 2F. This is where you find those massive, curved wooden ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the planes look like they’re parked in your living room.
The light here is incredible. In the early morning, the sun hits the glass at an angle that turns the entire terminal gold. If you’re looking for those "aesthetic" travel photos, the Hall M in Terminal 2E is the spot. They’ve even got a "museum" area (Espace Musées) that features actual rotating exhibits from places like the Louvre or the Rodin Museum. Where else can you photograph an 18th-century sculpture while waiting for a flight to JFK?
Finding the Hidden Concorde
You can't talk about pictures of Charles de Gaulle airport without mentioning the Ghost of Aviation. Tucked away near the Hilton hotel and the Roissypole area, there is a literal Concorde just... sitting there.
It’s the F-BVFF, and it’s mounted on three pylons as if it's still taking off. Most people only see it for three seconds from the window of the CDGVAL shuttle train. But if you have a long layover, take the shuttle to the "Parking PR" or "Roissypole" stop. You can walk right up to the fence. At sunset, the silhouette of that needle-nose against a purple Parisian sky is the best shot you’ll get in the entire department of Val-d'Oise.
👉 See also: Woman on a Plane: What the Viral Trends and Real Travel Stats Actually Tell Us
Why the Design Actually Matters
Andreu, the architect, once said that an airport shouldn't just be a building; it should be a "landscape of movement." When you look at old photos of the airport from 1974, you realize how little has changed in the core structure. While other airports renovate by tearing everything down and putting up drywall, Paris has mostly leaned into the weirdness.
They recently spent 250 million Euros refurbishing Terminal 1, and instead of hiding the concrete, they polished it. They added "Parisian Bistro" seating that looks like something out of a Wes Anderson movie.
It’s a mix of high-tech and "old world" that doesn't quite make sense until you're there.
How to Get the Best Shots (Practical Tips)
- The CDGVAL Tunnel: The automated shuttle train between terminals has a front window. If you stand right against the glass, you can get a "warp speed" photo of the tunnel lights.
- The Terminal 1 Escalators: Use a wide-angle lens. If you try to use a standard zoom, you won't capture the scale of the tubes crossing the atrium.
- Reflections: Terminal 2F has massive glass facades. If you time it right, you can get a double exposure effect of the terminal interior reflected over the planes on the tarmac.
- The "Secret" Balcony: There’s an outdoor terrace at the Ibis Styles hotel (Roissypole) that overlooks the runways. You don't even have to be a guest to grab a coffee and take some shots.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think CDG is just a mess of hallways. It’s not. It’s a series of deliberate circles. If you're taking pictures of Charles de Gaulle airport, stop trying to find straight lines. They don't exist. The airport is a tribute to the curve.
Once you stop fighting the layout and start looking at the geometry, the "World's Most Confusing Airport" becomes the world's most interesting photo subject. Just remember to keep an eye on your gate—it’s very easy to get lost in the "octopus" and miss your flight to Tokyo.
Your Next Steps for the Perfect CDG Gallery
If you’re planning to document your transit, don't just stay in your terminal. Take the CDGVAL—it’s free and runs every few minutes—to hop between the "Brutalist" T1 and the "Modernist" T2. Check the sun position; Terminal 1 is best at midday when the sun is directly over the central skylight, while Terminal 2 shines during the "Golden Hour" before sunset. If you have a professional setup, send that email to the French Ministry of the Interior at least three weeks before you arrive to get your official photography permit.