Best of: Views

Because I am all about the views.

1. Eiffel Tower – Well, of course. Best done at night, preferably not in rain and wind. Try a picnic on the Champs de Mars at sunset, then climb or take the elevator up for a view of nighttime Paris.

Night view from the Eiffel Tower

2. Tour Montparnasse – The second Paris tower. The saying goes that this is the best view in Paris, because 1) it actually includes the Eiffel Tower and 2) it doesn’t include the Tour Montparnasse.

Sunset from la Tour Montparnasse

3. L’Arc de Triomphe – Another wonderful night view, although it closes at 10 p.m. It affords the perfect shot of the Champs Elysées at night (which is better seen from afar anyway). More importantly, you get a chance to watch the crazy French drivers using the roundabout below.

View of the Arc de Triomphe from the Champs Elysees

4. Palais de Chaillot – Directly across the river from the Eiffel Tower, this is the place to gather for the hourly light show. The hands-down best view of the Eiffel Tower, Chaillot is always packed on weekend nights.

View of the Eiffel Tower from the Palais de
 Chaillot (with SNOW!)

5. La Grande Arche de la Défense – This is not technically in Paris, situated at the heart of the business district west of the city. La Grande Arche is actually a view in its own right, an avant-garde silver giant that dwarfs the (admitted enormous) Arc de Triomphe.

6. Galeries Lafayette (Haussmann Boulevard) – One of the main shopping centers in Paris, Galeries Lafayette also has a nice little rooftop café with a terrace that is just lovely at sunset.

7. Montmartre – (also see Top 10, coming soon!) Montmartre is a hill (hence the name), so come on a clear day for a stunning vantage point of the city. Although you sometimes have to get a bit creative, as the best views are not necessarily from the iconic front side.

I spy with my little eye...

Montmartre in the sun

8. The Bridges – In a city where almost every famous site is right next to the Seine, you can’t go wrong on the bridges. The most famous is probably the ornate Alexandre III, in between Place de la Concorde and les Invalides. But check out some of the lock bridges, where lovers kiss and fasten locks to the railings. My absolute favorite bridge, though, is Passerelle Debilly, the white pedestrian bridge right near the Eiffel Tower (because, when you look for views in Paris, you’re really just looking for views of the Eiffel Tower).