Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. No one can deny that. But it must also be said that the city is especially beautiful from some of the best viewpoints in Paris from which you can enjoy a full panoramic view of the buildings and greenery of the city centre with iconic buildings such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Sacré-Coeur among many others.
Although most of the city's viewpoints are located on the terraces of shopping centres, office towers, monuments and museums, you can also get incredible views from small hills surrounding the historic centre, such as Montmartre or Belleville, from where you can enjoy unforgettable moments.
The best time to go up to the viewpoints is just before sunset to see the sunset and watch the main monuments of the "City of Light" light up.
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With all this in mind, we have made a list of what we think are the 10 best viewpoints in Paris, based on the many times we have visited this city, the last to update this guide to Paris, which includes a proposed route through Paris in 4 days. Let's get started!
1. 59th floor of the Montparnasse Tower
The best views of Paris, at least our favourites, can be enjoyed by taking the lift to the 59th floor of the Montparnasse Tower, located 210 metres above sea level.
From this floor you will have incredible 360-degree panoramic views over the whole of Paris and you will be able to identify the main monuments of Paris such as the Pantheon, the Sacre Coeur Basilica, the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre Palace, from different information panels as well as the perspective you get of the Eiffel Tower both day and night, when it is illuminated, which is one of our favourites of the city.
Note that the fast lift will first take you to the 56th floor, which has almost identical views to the 59th floor but behind glass, and then walk up to the top floor terrace where you can take photos through small glassless strips and where you also have several chairs to wait for the sunset.
To get to the tower, which is about half an hour's walk from the centre, you can take lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 and get off at the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe stop, just a few metres from the entrance.
If you don't have a Paris Pass, which includes admission, we recommend you book it in advance on this page, especially at weekends and in high season, as there is a limited number of places per day.
Visiting hours: daily from 9:30am to 11pm.
Montparnasse Tower
2. Sacre Cour, one of the viewpoints of Paris
One of the best free things to do in Paris is to go up to the picturesque neighbourhood of Montmartre at sunset, stroll through its narrow streets full of history and enjoy a sunset sitting on the steps in front of the Sacre Cour Basilica while listening to a street musician or sipping a glass of French wine.
Another more expensive viewpoint (6 euros), located a few metres from this one, is the one at the top of the Sacre Coeur dome, but we don't think the effort of climbing 300 steps makes up for the views, which are very similar to those of the previous viewpoint. The only drawback of this viewpoint is that it gets very crowded and it is sometimes difficult to find a place to sit down.
To get to this fantastic viewpoint in Paris you can take metro line 2 to Anvers or line 12 to Abbesses and then take the stairs or the funicular.
Sacre Coeur viewpoint
3. Top floor of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous sights to see in Paris, is also one of the best viewpoints in Paris although from here, you can't see the iconic Eiffel Tower as you'll be right on top of it.
Built by the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, this enormous 324-metre-high iron structure offers two excellent vantage points at 115 metres (first floor) and 275 metres (third floor) respectively.
To avoid wasting a lot of time in the queue, we recommend you book this entrance to the first floor or this one to the third floor, as there is a limited number of tickets per day and, especially in high season and on weekends, they can be sold out if you don't buy them in advance.
Once inside you can take the stairs or lift up to the first floor which offers a unique perspective of the interior of the structure and then take another lift or walk up to the first floor observation deck (700 steps). Depending on the tickets you have purchased, you can take the lift to the third floor for a fantastic 360-degree panoramic view.
For more information you can check this post on how to visit the Eiffel Tower.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:30am to 11:30pm; in winter they close one hour earlier.
Eiffel Tower
4. Terrace of the Institut du Monde Arabe
Strolling along the banks of the Seine, at the height of the Ile Saint-Louis, in the Latin Quarter, is the Institut du Monde Arabe, which offers another of the best views of Paris.
This building, with its surprisingly modern architecture, stands out for its glass façade with symbolism of the Muslim world and for a terrace on the seventh floor with unique views of the Île de la Cité and the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Arab World Institute
5. Notre Dame Towers
Although it is not expected to open until 15 April 2024, after the devastating fire of 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral will always be one of the landmarks and another of the best viewpoints in Paris.
Considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world, this temple built between 1163 and 1345, on the Ile de la Cité, has a beautiful façade with two imposing towers where you can climb its 387 steep steps and get a fantastic view of central Paris with the Seine River in the foreground and its magical gargoyles in the foreground.
Notre Dame Cathedral
6. Place du Trocadéro, one of the best views in Paris.
Arriving by metro early in the morning at the Place du Trocadéro for the best view of the Eiffel Tower is another of the best experiences in Paris.
After taking dozens of photos from the square, you can take the stairs down to the Trocadero Gardens, decorated with ponds, sculptures and fountains, where you also have a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower in the background.
We also recommend you visit this spot at dusk when the whole tower is illuminated and shines with its flashes for 5 minutes every hour, while from its highest point 2 beams of light come out, symbolising the lighthouse of Paris.
Place du Trocadéro
7. Rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette
The top floor of the iconic Galeries Lafayette Haussmann offers another of the best views of central Paris with the Opéra Garnier in the foreground and the Eiffel Tower in the background.
After climbing the 7 circular floors, full of shops of all kinds, you will reach a restaurant area from where you can take the stairs to a magnificent rooftop where you can have a drink or a beer while enjoying the sunset.
A few metres from the Galeries Lafayette is the luxurious Galeries Printemps, which also has a free access terrace with great views of Paris.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 8.30pm and Sundays from 11am to 7pm.
Galeries Lafayette
8. Viewpoint of the Arc de Triomphe
After walking the 2 kilometres of the Avenue des Champs Elysées from the Place de la Concorde, you will arrive at the imposing Arc de Triomphe, built by Napoleon to commemorate a great victory, which has become another of Paris' s must-see viewpoints.
If you don't have a Paris Pass, you'll have to book this skip-the-line ticket in advance to climb its 284 steps that will take you to a viewpoint located 50 metres above the ground, from where you'll have incredible views of the great Parisian avenues that emerge from the roundabout of the arch, such as the Champs Elysées.
If you are looking for a place to stay nearby, consider Hotel De L Esperance Paris. It is located in the heart of Paris and offers you cleanliness, simplicity and many services.
Visiting hours: every day from 10 am to 11 pm.
Arc de Triomphe
9. Sixth floor of the Centre Pompidou
The Pompidou Centre Museum of Modern Art, located in the charming district of Les Halles, is remarkable not only for its works by Picasso and Kandinsky, but also for its original architecture, culminating in a terrace with 360-degree views of Paris.
To go up to the sixth floor of the Pompidou, without having to visit the museum, you can pay just 3 euros for the panoramic ticket, or go free on the first Sunday of every month.
Once at the top you'll see the beautiful rooftops of the Marais and Les Halles districts, and iconic buildings such as the Palais de Justice, the Sainte Chapelle, the Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame.
You can book your ticket in advance on this page.
Visiting hours: Wednesday to Monday from 11am to 9pm.
Pompidou Centre
10. Parc de Belleville hill
To finish this list of the best viewpoints in Paris, we suggest you take metro line 11 to Parc de Belleville, located about 3 kilometres from the centre.
Created in 1988 at the top of Belleville hill (108 metres high), this park offers full views over the city of Paris and is perfect for a picnic with the whole family as it has a children's playground and a beautiful waterfall.
Parc de BellevilleMap of the best viewpoints in Paris
This map will help you locate all the viewpoints in Paris quickly and easily so you can waste as little time as possible.
