Best Views of Paris: 17 Iconic Views & Photography Locations

Paris is one of Europe’s loveliest cities. Without a doubt, a trip up the Eiffel Tower or a stroll down the Champs-Elysees tops the list of best experiences in Paris, especially for first-timers. But getting a magical view over the city is also an unforgettable experience, and there are a lot of magical places to try. If you want to have the best views of Paris, here are seventeen brilliant spots to try.

Best Views of Paris

In no particular order, here are the best views of Paris. At the end of this list, you can see all of them on a map.

1. The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the centerpiece of Paris. Sure, you already have plans to see the Eiffel Tower. Who doesn’t? It is one of Paris’ most popular sites. The Eiffel Tower is also the perfect place to get that first view of the city.

View from the Eiffel Tower

View from the top floor of the Eiffel Tower

How to Visit the Eiffel Tower

There are three levels to the Eiffel Tower: the first floor, the second floor, and top floor. Both the first and second floors are accessible by elevator and by taking the stairs. The only way to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower is to take the elevator.

It is cheaper and the lines are shorter to take the stairs, simply because very few people want to do a major stair climb. But it’s also a great way to skip the line or wait in a shorter line at the Eiffel Tower. If you choose to take the stairs, you can also purchase an elevator ticket to reach the top floor (summit).

More Information: Check out our guide How to Visit the Eiffel Tower, which has a lot more valuable information about how to visit the Eiffel Tower, including dining options and how to avoid a long wait in line.

2. The Arc de Triomphe

This is my favorite view of Paris. There’s just something about looking down the Champs-Élysées to the Louvre, out to La Defense, and of course, having one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower. It’s beautiful during the daytime, but at night you can watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

The view from the Arc de Triomphe

Champs-Élysées at night | Best Views of Paris

How to Visit the Arc de Triomphe

One of the best ways to visit the Arc de Triomphe is to book a skip-the-line ticket, which is available through GetYourGuide.

3. From the Steps of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica

This is one of the best spots to watch the sunset. The Sacre-Coeur sits on the highest hill in Paris so you can enjoy a stunning panorama of the city. If you want, you can climb the dome of the Sacre-Coeur for an even higher view. Just expect to share this spot with a lot of other people.

4. Along the Seine River

Stroll or cruise along the Seine River to enjoy more beautiful views of Paris. From Pont Alexander III enjoy stunning views of the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower.

Pont Alexander III

From Quai de la Tournelle, get a unique perspective of Notre Dame Cathedral.

For a relaxing experience, take a cruise on the Seine River and enjoy the view as the landmarks of Paris drift by. Cruises are offered all day, but for the best experience go at twilight so you can watch as Paris lights up around you.

The view of Notre Dame Cathedral on a Seine River cruise

If you want to cruise the Seine River and not spend a small fortune, this tour includes a Seine River cruise and tickets to the Eiffel Tower, this evening cruise includes three champagne tastings, and this one-hour cruise is one of the cheapest ways to cruise the Seine River.

5. Musee d’Orsay

Really, Musee d’Orsay? Most people come here to see paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas, but you can get a very unique view through the clocks on the upper level of the museum.

How to Visit Musee d’Orsay

Musee d’Orsay is open Tuesday through Sunday. Get updated pricing and hours on the official website and book your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in the ticket line.

6. Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Paris

There are quite a few rooftop bars and restaurants that offer breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower, Seine River, Montmartre, and the Paris skyline.

For a list of the top spots, take a look at our Guide to the Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Paris.

Le Jardin du Raphael

Some of our favorite rooftop bars include Sequoia Rooftop Bar (great views of Palais Garnier and the Eiffel Tower), Le Jardin du Raphael (a gardenlike rooftop terrace), and Bar Sur le Toit (rooftop bar on top of Hotel Rochechouart with a view of the Sacre Coeur).

Several of our favorite rooftop restaurants include Les Ombres (this restaurant gets our vote for best view of the Eiffel Tower from a restaurant), L’Oiseau Blanc (2-star Michelin restaurant with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower), and Langosteria (Italian rooftop restaurant with a view of the Seine River and Notre Dame Cathedral).

L’Oiseau Blanc

7. The Pompidou Center

This is another art museum that offers great views over Paris. Ride the series of elevators up to the upper level for views across the rooftops to the Sacre-Coeur, Notre Dame Cathedral, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.

View from the Pompidou Centre

There is also an upscale restaurant, Georges, on the top of the Pompidou Centre. We dined here and had a mediocre experience (an overpriced meal with very slow service), so we recommend skipping this and just go for the much cheaper view from the top of the elevators instead.

8. Notre Dame Cathedral

The iconic gargoyle’s view of Paris is from tower of Notre Dame Cathedral.

In 2019, Notre Dame closed after a devastating fire destroyed parts of the cathedral. The cathedral underwent a massive restoration project, partially reopening in December 2024.

Visitors can visit the interior of Notre Dame Cathedral but the towers are still closed indefinitely. Get updates about their reopening on the official website.

The photos below were taken before 2019.

View from Notre Dame

9. Printemps Rooftops

Printemps is a shopping mall in Paris, just a short walk from Palais Garnier. There are two sections to this mall, Printemps Men’s (Printemps Homme) and Printemps Women’s (Printemps Femme). Both have rooftop restaurants with a view.

Perruche Restaurant is a gardenlike oasis that sits on top of Printemps Men’s. It is a beautiful setting and from here you get views of the opera house and Eiffel Tower.

The view from Perruche Restaurant | Best Views of Paris

Printemps Gourmet is located one level below Perruche Restaurant. You can order food from the various stalls selling a wide variety of cuisines and dine indoors or sit outside and order off of the table service menu.

Café Messika is a rooftop bar and restaurant that sits on top of the Printemps Women’s shopping mall. It has a very similar view as Perruche Restaurant but is a more laid-back experience.

10. Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette is another famous shopping mall in Paris. It’s well known for its stunning stained-glass ceiling but it also has a rooftop terrace and restaurant.

For free, visit the rooftop terrace and take a photo with the Je t’aime Paris sign. Sitting on the corner of the rooftop is Creatures, an outdoor restaurant with a view of Palais Garnier.

11. La Grande Arche de La Defense

Journey out to La Defense (and leave the crowds behind) for a view from the top of La Grande Arche. This view may not have the same “wow factor” as those from the Arc de Triomphe or Notre Dame Cathedral, but from here you can most of Paris sprawling out in front of you.

View from Le Grande Arche de la Defense

12. The Pantheon

The dome of the Pantheon is referred to as the “Balcony of Paris” because it offers 360° views of Paris. Look out over the Latin Quarter to Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and Luxembourg Gardens.

View from the Pantheon

Get hours, pricing, and purchase your ticket online in advance to skip the ticket line, on the official website.

13. Montparnasse Tower

Montparnasse Tower is the ugly, dark skyscraper that stands out like a sore thumb when you look out across Paris. But from the top of this eyesore you have one of the most spectacular views in Paris.

There are two levels to visit, the 56th floor, which is completely enclosed by windows, and the observation terrace on the roof. This is also completely enclosed by glass panels but there are a few strategic openings in the glass for your camera.

View from Montparnasse

14. The Streets of Montmartre

From the hilly streets of Montmartre you can get glimpses of Paris from between the colorful buildings. You may not get the sweeping, panoramic views like you do from the Eiffel Tower or Montparnasse, but these picturesque streets with their brief glimpses of the Sacre-Coeur and the Paris skyline are a joy to wander.

La Maison Rose

Lamarck Metro and Le Refuge Restaurant

Rue de l’Abreuvoir

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15. From the Louvre

From within the Louvre, there are several places to look out over the glass pyramid and courtyard.

From room 704, which sits next to the Apollo Gallery, you get a view of the courtyard through the windows.

View from room 704

For an even better view, visit Café Molien or Terrasse Colbert, two restaurants with outdoor terraces that overlook the glass pyramid.

View from Terasse Colbert

Don’t miss our guide How to Visit the Louvre, which lists the must see sights and has a quick, efficient walking tour to the Louvre’s must-see artworks and a longer route for those who want to go deeper into the Louvre.

16. The Trocadéro

The wide terrace at the Trocadéro is one of the best places to photograph the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower. It’s busy all day, even more so at sunset, but it is a great place to capture the Eiffel Tower and the colorful evening sky.

The Trocadero | Best Views of Paris

17. From Your Hotel

There are many hotels that offer beautiful views of Paris, either from the rooms or from a terrace on top of the hotel.

On our first visit to Paris we stayed in Hotel Brighton, located right on Rue de Rivoli across from the Tuileries Garden. From our room, we could see Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. It was absolutely incredible.

For more recommendations of hotels with amazing views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower, check out our guide Where to Stay in Paris on Your First Visit.

Map of Paris Viewpoints

How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.

Our Favorite Views of Paris

If you have limited time in Paris and can only visit a few places, we narrowed down the list to our favorite views of Paris:

Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
From a rooftop bar or restaurant
Notre Dame Cathedral
The streets of Montmartre
Along the Seine River
Musee d’Orsay
From the Trocadéro

View from the Arc de Triomphe

If you have any questions about where to get the best views of Paris, or if you want to share your favorite spots, let us know in the comment section below.

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