BEST VIEWS IN PARIS

View from the 4th arrondissement: Tour Saint-Jacques

Built in the 1500s, this Gothic tower stands alone amongst the surrounding buildings. This one is tricky to get tickets for – it is free to view the tower and admire it from the outside, but to climb the tower is by guided tour only. There are about 300 narrow stairs that you will have to ascend, the tours are currently only offered in French, they only take a small number of visitors up, and the tower is only open between June and November. However, if all of that coincides with your plans, I highly recommend contacting Tour Saint-Jacques to make a reservation.

View from the 4th arrondissement: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Another vantage point in the 4th arrondissement is the iconic Notre-Dame. Due to the 2019 fire, the cathedral is temporarily closed, however, if by the time you are reading this, Notre-Dame is back up and running, here are my tips and tricks. Admission into the church is free, but to climb up to the top to take in spectacular views of the city is for a price. Purchase tickets in advance for the earliest timeslot. Even though you have purchased tickets in advance, you will still have to wait in a line, as only a certain number of people are allowed up at a time. Get to the cathedral 30 to 40 minutes before your timeslot (you will already see people lining up along the side of the cathedral). You will climb a narrow spiral staircase of 387 steps to the top. (This is my favorite view of the city!)

View from the 4th arrondissement: The Centre Pompidou

My third suggestion to climb up in the 4th arrondissement is the Centre Pompidou. This building houses modern and contemporary works (and is mentioned in my Paris museums article here), but also grants you access to a lovely view of the city. Take the escalator up to the terraces on level 5 and 6. Bean bags and beach chairs await you! Spend as long as you like admiring the view, reading a book, or chatting with a friend, as you can access the escalator and the terraces for free without entering the museum portion of the building.

View from the 7th arrondissement: La tour Eiffel

La tour Eiffel, or the Eiffel Tower, is synonymous with Paris. I know it’s touristy, but it does have really wonderful views of the city, as it is 1,083 feet tall. The lines are crazy here, so absolutely purchase your tickets in advance. You can purchase tickets for access to the 2nd floor (it’s kind of in the middle of the tower, before the structure begins to get very narrow) or you can purchase tickets to gain entry to the summit.

View from the 8th arrondissement: Arc de Triomphe

Technically the Arc de Triomphe is between three arrondissements: the 8th, the 16th, and the 17th. Aside from the views from Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe is my second favorite vantage point in Paris. At 164 feet tall, you are able to take in 360-degree views of the city by walking up 284 steps. Purchase a ticket in advance and get there during the first available timeslot, so you are able to relish in unhindered views.

View from the 9th arrondissement: Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann is a high-end department store. I have never seen so many different departments and items in one store, and I’m pretty sure I could spend the entire day just shopping all of the floors (if I had money to burn!) There is a breathtaking Art Nouveau dome that tops off the building, but if you can tear your eyes away from there, you can enjoy wonderful views of the city from the terrace! Head to the 8th floor for La Terrasse des Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and enjoy views of the city. This is free to experience, and no tickets are required.

*view from La Terrasse des Galeries Lafayette Haussmann*

View from the 15th arrondissement: Tour Montparnasse

Tour Montparnasse was built from 1969 to 1973. Standing at 686 feet, do I think it’s an eyesore? Yes. Other people thought so as well, which is why after the construction of this skyscraper, buildings over seven stories high in the city centre of Paris were banned. However, now that we all have to live with it, I must admit once you are on top of the building and can no longer see its façade, it is a nice way to take in the city! I would advise purchasing tickets in advance.

View from the 18th arrondissement: Sacré-Coeur

If you are sick of walking up spiral staircases, there are steps in front of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica that give you lovely views. These are packed with people, but are free to sit and soak in the atmosphere. However, if you are ready to power through, the views from the dome inside the basilica are even better (and my third favorite view of Paris!) Be warned, there are 300 steps to climb and there is no elevator! We went on a weekday in the late afternoon, and it was nice because no one else was climbing the steps with us. (Cardio is not my forte, so I felt a lot of pressure to keep a good pace when I was walking up Notre-Dame and the Arc de Triomphe, as there were so many people itching to get to the top!)

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