Top 7 Best *Free* Views of Paris

Bonjour!

If you know me as a traveler, one of my favorite things to do when visiting a city is to check out its views. Sometimes, it’s a matter of scaling a hill or climbing stairs, in order to get that gorgeous scenery at the top. It can be tiring at times, but it’s very much rewarding in the end.

Without a doubt, Paris is one of the most-visited cities in the world. People flock to the French capital not only for the culture, but also the architecture, food, and overall romantic atmosphere. Everywhere you turn, you find something new and beautiful, and it’s no wonder that Paris captures the hearts of millions each year.

Since it’s so pretty, Paris makes for the ideal travel spot to take photos. The Eiffel Tower is on everyone’s bucket list, and getting the right photo of it is never a problem. However, to access stunning views of the entire city, it can be a bit trickier, if you don’t know where to look. True, you can try for the top of the Eiffel Tower or la Tour Montparnasse, but in my opinion, the views aren’t that great, let alone requiring a pricey fee, respectively.

That said, I’ll be offering some locations within the city that offers some of the best views of Paris…for free! Next time you’re in the capital, you’ll have the best photos to capture as life-long memories to cherish. Allons-y!

7 Best *Free* Views of Paris

1. Arc de Triomphe. Okay, so this monument isn’t actually free (12€), but if you happen to be an educator in France, you’re entitled to what’s known as a Pass Education. This pass gets you in to certain museums and national monuments in France either for free or a reduced cost.

I had a Pass Education when I was an assistante, and I used it as much as I could, including access to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. While the views aren’t that high, I would say that it’s one of the best ones, as it gives you the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and all of the classic, Haussmannian architecture that characterizes Paris as so today.

2. Parc de Belleville. Located east of Paris in the 20th arrondissement, Parc de Belleville is a large, but quiet park that’s not packed with tourists. I would say that it’s quite underrated, as it’s more of a local attraction for residents in the area. To access the observation deck, it’s a matter of climbing a few flights of stairs through the bushes and grass, and at the top, you get distance views of the Eiffel Tower and la Tour Montparnasse. Granted, the view might be a bit hazy due to the pollution, but it makes for a reward in a tranquil part of town.

3. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Not too far from the Parc de Belleville is that of Buttes-Chaumont. It is a massive sprawl in the 19th arrondissement, covering 61 acres and providing plenty of area for park-goers– both locals and tourists– to relax on a warm spring day. As it’s hilly, you can access the top of the Temple de la Sibylle for views of the Sacré Coeur in the distance on a clear day, along with the Montmartre district. While it’s no Eiffel Tower, it’s still a beautiful view of one of the icons of Paris, all the while worth a visit for a casual stroll, morning or afternoon.

4. Galeries Lafayette. In the heart of the city is the bustling Galeries Lafayette, a large department store which sells top-end brands like Gucci, Prada, and Dior for shoppers with refined tastes. I’m by no means a shopper, let alone for high-end products, but what the Galeries Lafayette also has is an opulent interior, along with a decent rooftop view on its 7th-floor terrace. I encourage tourists just to head directly to the top floor of the store, where they can get free views not only of the Eiffel Tower, but also the Palais Garnier and the Haussmannian rooftops that are quintessential of the city itself.

5. Pont de la Concorde. Between the Place de la Concorde and the Palais Bourbon is the Pont de la Concorde, an otherwise-unassuming bridge, but one which I believe offers a lovely view of Paris along the Seine. From the bridge, you can see the Pont Alexandre III, which is probably the most-beautiful, ornate bridge in the city, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Especially on a bright day, the Seine is a sparkling blue color, which makes for the perfect scene for photos to be taken!

6. Rue Saint Dominique. Granted, this place offers only an eye-level view of the city, but it does offer that romantic, stereotypical view of Paris that many amateur photographers (such as myself) look for. With a combination of narrow, winding streets, cute cafés, and the Eiffel Tower in the distance, it’s the scene of every postcard of Paris– who needs to buy a postcard when you can make one yourself on Rue Saint Dominique?

 

7. Trocadéro. Touristy as it is, the Trocadéro is packed for a reason, as its viewing platform offers the perfect close-up of the Eiffel Tower, along with the 7th arrondissement sprawl around it. If anything, it’s probably the most-popular location for free photos of the views, although I wouldn’t say that it offers the best panorama of Paris. All the same, it’s worth it for that cheeky photo, whether solo or with your loved one. Just don’t stay too long, or else you’ll get hassled by tourists and street vendors!

…where else you know has great views of Paris? Let me know! À bientôt. 🙂

 

— Rebecca