Top 9 Viewpoints and their Views in Paris

There is so much to see in Paris that it's best to know where to look. In this post, I'll tell you about ten must-see places where you can enjoy unique views. If you want to know where to take the best panoramic photos of the city or where to get an unforgettable souvenir, keep reading!

On this list, you'll find tourist viewpoints and other more hidden ones, places to enjoy the heights or at ground level, from monuments or in the open air. What they all have in common is that they offer you a unique and spectacular view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Enjoy!

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous monument in Paris and one that you cannot miss when traveling to the French capital. At 324 meters high, it also offers two unparalleled viewpoints over the city.

To enjoy the views from the Eiffel Tower, you can take the elevator to the second floor (these are hydraulic elevators that you can take at the "legs" of the tower) or climb the stairs. However, there are quite a few steps: 704 to be exact. In my opinion, each one is worth it.

Don't miss the views from the second floor of the tower: it's 115 meters high and so large that you can share it with up to 1,600 people. From there, you can enjoy an impressive 360º view of the city. To make sure you don't miss a thing, you can hire a guide who will tell you all about the Eiffel Tower and share interesting anecdotes.

If you've already enjoyed the viewpoint on the second floor, you'll probably still want to go higher. Don't worry, you're in the perfect place! There is a second viewpoint at the very top of the Eiffel Tower: at the top of the Tower, you can enjoy the views from the Le Jules Verne restaurant.

It's a place with an impressive window overlooking the city. There is also a small bar where they serve champagne... and it is a typical place for marriage proposals. If you stay there for a while during high season, you are sure to return home with a love story as well as the views.

The height of this second viewing platform is 276 meters. Although it is a little narrower than the one on the second floor, you can still share the views with 400 other people at the same time. To enjoy these views, you can choose to eat at the Eiffel Tower restaurant, or you can simply pay the entrance fee to go up and enjoy the viewpoint. Taking the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower costs approximately €26, and taking the stairs costs around €20.

Useful information

• Where is it? It is located in the Champ de Mars. The Eiffel Tower is very easy to find, as it is clearly visible from the surrounding area. It is also very well connected to Paris' public transport services.
• Opening hours: Every day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.
• Price: The elevator to the second floor costs approximately €17. You can also take the stairs, in which case the ticket costs around €10.
• Do I need to book? You can make a reservation online (I recommend this to avoid queues and not waste time on your trip) or go to the ticket office. I recommend that you book your ticket with a guide to enjoy the full experience.

The Quai du Branly Museum offers visitors a selection of non-Western art, with pieces from Oceania, America, Asia, and Africa. It is located on the banks of the Seine, near the Eiffel Tower.

In addition to the interesting objects you can find there (from musical instruments to textiles), I recommend enjoying the building, especially the views from its top-floor observation deck. There you can have lunch ordinner with one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.

Useful information

• Where is it? At 37 quai Branly. You can also enter via 218 rue de l'Université.
• Opening hours: From 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except on Thursdays, when it is open until 10:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
• Price: Admission to the museum costs approximately €10. The price of meals in the restaurant depends on what you order, of course, but it is not a cheap place.
• Do I need to make a reservation? If you want to have lunch or dinner there, it is best to make a reservation.

It is the second tallest building in Paris, so imagine the views. It is located in the 14th arrondissement (the districts of Paris are numbered) and from its observation deck you can see the neighboring Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Montmartre, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Latin Quarter...

The observation deck is on the 59th floor, 210 meters high, and offers a 360º view of the city. They say the elevators are among the fastest in Europe. It takes 18 seconds to go up.

In winter it's freezing cold, but the views make up for it. Plus, on the floor just below there's a café where you can take a break and shelter from the Parisian cold.

Useful information

• Where is it? On Rue de l'Arrivée.
• Opening hours: You can enjoy the Montparnasse Tower at your leisure: the 360 Café (the highest panoramic bar in Paris) is open until 1 a.m. There is also a restaurant (Le Ciel de Paris) that closes at 11 p.m.
• Price: Around €23 for adults, €9 for children up to 11 years old. Admission is included in the Paris Pass.
• Do I need to book? You can buy your ticket online.

When visiting the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, don't forget to turn around, turn your back on the monument for a moment, and enjoy the views of Paris.

The Basilica is one of the most important monuments in Paris, but its location on a hill (the hill of Montmartre) also makes it a spectacular viewpoint that allows you to enjoy the view of Paris stretching out until it disappears into the horizon.

It is about 130 meters above the city and is free to visit. You can stay there enjoying the views for as long as you like. I recommend going up at dusk, as the sunset from the steps of the Basilica is unforgettable. Sometimes street musicians also contribute to the atmosphere and make the visit even more special.

Useful information

• Where is it? 35 rue du Chevalier de la Barre, in the Montmartre district.
• Opening hours: The viewpoint is outside the Basilica, so you can visit it whenever you want. The Basilica does have opening and closing times: every day, from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Price: Admission to the basilica is free. The viewpoint is also free.
• Do I need to book? No, the viewpoint is open to the public. I recommend taking advantage of your visit to the Basilica and Montmartre to enjoy the views.

Don't miss the panoramic view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

This monument islocated in the center of the city, right where the twelve most important avenues in Paris meet. The Arc de Triomphe is equally impressive in size: it is 22 meters wide, 45 meters long, and 50 meters high.

At the top of these 50 meters is a terrace from which you can enjoy the city. You can reach it from the inside via a spiral staircase with 286 steps that takes you to the highest point, where there is a viewpoint. From the top, you can see the city bustling around you.

Please note: If you like taking photos on this route of Paris's viewpoints, it is forbidden to enter the Arc de Triomphe monument with a selfie stick or camera tripod.

Useful information

• Where is it? Place Charles-de-Gaulle.
• Opening hours: The monument is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Last admission is at 9:45 p.m.
• Price: Admission costs around €13. Children under 18, disabled people and their companions, and young Europeans between 18 and 25 years old can enter for free. Admission is also free on Sundays.
• Do I need to book? I recommend buying your ticket online to ensure there are places available at your preferred time.

The Defense Arch is located in the financial center of Paris. You've probably seen it if you've gone up to see the views from the Arc de Triomphe. In France, it is known as the "Grand Arche de la Fraternité" and from the top of its 35 floors (110 meters high) you have a breathtaking view of the city.

Among other things, the arch houses a photojournalism museum, but you can take the elevators directly to the top of the building and enjoy Paris from above. The viewpoint is called "La Promenade," and it is an open terrace from which you can see many of Paris's most recognizable monuments, such as the Louvre.

Useful information

• Where is it? At 1 Parvis de la Défense.
• Opening hours: On the days it is open, you can go up to the viewpoint between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The last ascent is at 6:30 p.m. Check the days when you can go up on their website, as it is not always open to the public.
• Price: Adults pay around €16 and children under 18 pay around €8.
• Do I need to book? You can buy your ticket there, but I recommend booking and checking availability before you go. It's not a very touristy neighborhood, and there are restrictions on visiting the monument.

Take in Paris from the terrace of a unique building. Near the Place de l'Opéra, on Boulevard Haussmann, Galeries Lafayette is a classic destination for visitors who want to experience an afternoon of shopping in Paris. In fact, it is the largest shopping center in Europe.

In addition, this building offers an extra advantage: the terrace is a viewpoint overlooking the city. You can visit completely free of charge, no purchase necessary. From there you can see the rear facade of the Opera House, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and, in the distance, the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower.

The building itself is also worth seeing: it has been declared a historical monument. Take a look at the dome and its stained glass windows, it's amazing!

Useful information

• Where is it? At 40 Boulevard Haussmann.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Price: Admission to the building is free and access to the terrace to enjoy the views is free.
• Do I need to book? No, as long as the shopping center is open, you can come and enjoy the viewpoint.

If you still want more heights, I recommend climbing the Saint Jacques Tower. It is all that remains of the monument to which it belonged, the flamboyant Gothic church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie.

Climbing to the viewpoint at the highest point of the tower is an exercise of 300 steps that has its reward: the views are incredible. However, it is a narrow medieval building. If you don't like enclosed spaces, you may find the staircase a little overwhelming.

This building is also interesting for other reasons: it houses a small weather station and is the starting point of one of the routes to Compostela that make up the Camino de Santiago, the Tours route.

Useful information

• Where is it? In the Place de la tour Saint-Jacques
• Opening hours: Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Price: Admission costs approximately €12.
• Do I need to book? Yes, you need to book because this viewpoint only allows 17 people at a time.

Take a look at one of the least known and least crowded viewpoints in Paris: the Louis Vuitton Foundation is a museum located in a unique building with several terraces offering spectacular views. You can take advantage of this visit to the heights to take a look at the contemporary art exhibitions housed in the building.

If the building catches your eye, it's no surprise. It was designed by Frank Gehry, the same architect who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. It is a glass and metal building that has created a very special space, playing with light in the City of Light.

Useful information

• Where is it? The address is Bois de Boulogne - 8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi.
• Opening hours: The museum is closed on Tuesdays. On other days, it is open from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with extended hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, when it is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Price: Admission costs approximately €9.
• Do I need to book? Although you can buy your ticket at the ticket office, I recommend booking in advance to avoid unnecessary queues.