Best Eiffel Tower Views
Discover the 28 best Eiffel Tower views – from along the river Seine to the rooftops of Paris – in our detailed guide here.
Seeking out some of the best Eiffel Tower views is a great way to see and enjoy Paris. It’s the most magical and evocative sight in Paris, visible from places all around the city.
It’s also the most visited attraction in Paris, but the views of it are so much better of it rather than those from it. From river to rooftop, a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower is one of the great joys of Paris, and we’ve collected 28 Eiffel Tower views for you to check out.
We have broken down our guide to the best views of the Eiffel Tower by area, including the viewpoints in the immediate vicinity, further along the Seine and further afield across Paris. If you’re pushed for time, we’ve also chosen our top 6 essential, do not miss Eiffel Tower vantage points to visit.
Best Eiffel Tower Views – An Introduction
You can see the Eiffel Tower from many places in Paris, and the best views of the Eiffel Tower are spread out across the city
The Eiffel Tower is over 320 metres (around 1,000 feet high) and you can see it from many open areas and many Paris rooftops
Several Eiffel Tower best views are concentrated close to the Tower, from the Trocadéro area across the river to the side streets off Avenue Rapp in the 7th arrondissement
Many of the best places to view the Eiffel Tower are along the river Seine, from the Ile de la Cite and Pont Neuf in the east to the bridges downstream of the Tower
Some of the best views of the Eiffel Tower in Paris are from other Paris landmarks across the city, including the Arc de Triomphe and the dome of the Panthéon
The highest views of the Eiffel Tower aren’t necessarily the best – many of the best Eiffel Tower views are from rooftop level or 10-20 metres above, from which you still see much of the city’s architecture as well as the Tower
See Also: 32 Famous Landmarks In France
Best Eiffel Tower Views – Our Top 6
Arc de Triomphe
Trocadéro
Pont Alexandre III
Panthéon
Square Rapp
Notre Dame
Best Eiffel Tower Views – Around The Eiffel Tower
Parvis du Trocadéro
I enjoyed my first ever view of the Eiffel Tower in the 1980s, and for me it’s still one of the best places to see it.
Also known as the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, (the Parvis of the Rights of Man), this square sits between the two halves of the Palais de Chaillot, and commands an incredible elevated view of Eiffel’s masterpiece. It’s one of the best Eiffel Tower photo spots, particularly at sunrise, long before the crowds arrive.
Late in the day, if you have sunny weather the golden statues on either side of the square look stunning, and make for wonderful compositions with the Eiffel Tower behind. Even without the statues, the Parvis offers one of the classic Eiffel Tower views.
Best time of day for the view: Sunrise and the hour before sunset are best, but it looks great at any time of day
Getting there: Trocadéro Metro (lines 6 and 9) or bus 63
Co-ordinates: 48.862580, 2.288082
Cost: Free
See Also: What Is France Famous For? 30 Famous French Things
Trocadéro Gardens
The Jardins du Trocadéro are another of the best Eiffel Tower viewpoints. They are two flights of steps down from the Parvis, and the centrepiece is the famous cannon-style fountains (sometimes called the Fontaine de Varsovie).
The fountains are one of the best places to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower because of the possible reflections of the Tower in the water. Ironically my son and I went there one evening hoping for some fountain action, which unfortunately didn’t come to pass. But we got the reflection in the pool, which was wonderful.
Unsurprisingly, for many it’s the best place to see the Eiffel Tower.
Best time of day for the view: Afternoon, evening and twilight – though sunrise would also work
Getting there: Trocadéro Metro (lines 6 and 9) or bus 63
Co-ordinates: 48.861694, 2.289021
Cost: Free
Eiffel Tower Carousel
Another best view of Eiffel Tower candidate is just across the road from it – the Carousel opposite the Eiffel Tower. Because of its location it’s one of the most popular carousels in Paris, and the thrill of the ride beneath the Tour Eiffel makes it one of the best things to do in Paris for kids.
The view of the Carousel and Eiffel Tower is magical. It’s a classic vintage carousel painted with many familiar Paris scenes, and the kids can sit on a variety of horses or a few vehicles as they enjoy their few minutes’ ride.
The Eiffel Tower and Carousel simply look fantastic together, whether in daylight or at night when you can try out long exposures with the moving lights of the Carousel.
Best time of day for the view: Afternoon, evening or night
Getting there: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel on RER line C, Bir-Hakeim on Metro line 6 or bus 82
Co-ordinates: 8.858870, 2.292914
Cost: Free to see the Carousel, 3 euros per ride on the Carousel
Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is the open stretch of parkland between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire on the Left Bank of the Seine.
If you’re looking for a clear, uninterrupted full-length Eiffel Tower view (ideally with a clear blue sky) then the Champ de Mars is the place to go.
It’s one of the best places to photograph the Eiffel Tower in springtime, when numerous magnolia and cherry blossom trees flower gloriously for a couple of weeks or so.
And it’s a favourite place among Parisians to watch the Bastille Day fireworks, at 11 pm every July 14th.
Best time of day for the view: Any time
Getting there: École Militaire Metro, line 8 is close by, while buses 42 and 69 cross the Champ de Mars and stop on its edge.
Co-ordinates: 48.856622, 2.297386
Cost: Free
Best Views Of Eiffel Tower – Along The River Seine
Pont Alexandre III
One of the best views of Eiffel Tower in Paris is from the Alexandre III bridge (called Pont Alexandre Trois in French). It’s one of the most famous and beautiful bridges in Paris, with its ornate statues and lamp posts, and it also boasts some of the best views in Paris.
For the best Eiffel Tower views from the Pont Alexandre III, head to the right bank (rive droite), on the northern side of the river, close to the Grand Palais. In one direction you have a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower, with many of the statues offering wonderful foregrounds for your Eiffel Tower photos. There is also a superb view along the bridge to the golden dome of the Hôtel des Invalides.
The Pont Alexandre III also has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower at night. The lamps are bright, so try to get there around sunset, watch the dusky colours of the sky and the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower. The best time to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower from the bridge is in the magic couple of minutes or so when the lights are turned on and aren’t too bright.
Best time of day for the view: Morning, or late afternoon, evening, sunset and twilight
Getting there: On the Invalides side, Metro lines 8 or 13 to Invalides only leaves you with a short walk to the bridge, as does RER line C. Buses 63, 87 and 93 also run very close.
The best viewpoint is only a few minutes’ walk from Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau on Metro lines 1 and 13.
Co-ordinates: 48.864139, 2.313481
Cost: Free
River Seine Cruise
One of the best experiences in Paris is a cruise on the River Seine, and the beauty of it is that you get to enjoy many of the best views of Eiffel Tower in one go. They are a great introduction to Paris, especially if you’re visiting Paris for the first time.
Paris Seine cruises typically last an hour to an hour-and-a-half, taking you up and down the river between the Eiffel Tower and the Jardin des Plantes. During this time you’ll get multiple Eiffel Tower views, and trip can serve as a sort of recce – so you may choose to return to certain spots you see on your cruise.
Paris is at its most magical at night, and we opted for a sunset cruise, enjoying the twilight and the spectacular twinkling Eiffel Tower along the way. The best Eiffel Tower views during the cruise are between the Pont Alexandre III and Pont d’Iena, right below the Tower.
Best time of day for the view: Any time is good, but evening and dusk are extra special
Cost: Variable, usually around 15 euros for adults
Bir Hakeim Bridge
The Pont de Bir-Hakeim, formerly the Viaduc de Passy, is the first bridge downstream after the Eiffel Tower, and it offers some wonderful views of the ‘Iron Lady’.
The bridge, named after a Second World War battle between the Free French and German forces under General Rommel, has two levels – a pedestrian and road section, and an elevated railway section supported by a beautiful colonnade. Some readers may recognize it from the movie Last Tango In Paris, as several scenes were shot there.
Some photographer friends believe Bir Hakeim bridge offers the best view of Eiffel Tower, because the arches of the colonnade frame it so well. People are always walking, riding or skating past, which adds life to the scene.
Just across the road, on the Eiffel Tower side of the bridge, the dramatic France Reborn (France Renaissante) makes for a dynamic composition with the Tower in the background.
Best time of day for the view: Any time
Getting there: Bir-Hakeim Metro
Co-ordinates: 48.855804, 2.287754
Cost: Free
Statue of Liberty
One of the less-known views of the Eiffel Tower is from the Pont Mirabeau, three bridges downstream from the Eiffel Tower and Pont d’Iéna.
This is very much off the beaten path for Paris, and I ventured there to see the replica of the Statue of Liberty in Paris, which stands on the end of the Ile aux Cygnes artificial island, just below the Pont de Grenelle.
From the Pont Mirabeau, you get a great view upstream of the ¼ size Statue of Liberty with the iron outline of la Tour Eiffel just behind, a magnificent sight.
It’s possible to walk from the Pont Mirabeau along to the island and admire the Statue up close. It’s then a short, pleasant Seine-side stroll to the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, another of our best Eiffel Tower views.
Best time of day for the view: Afternoon – or evening in summer
Getting there: Metro line 10 to Javel-André Citroen, then a short walk onto the Mirabeau bridge
Co-ordinates: 48.846898, 2.275259
Cost: Free
Notre Dame Cathedral
It’s not possible to enjoy it at the time of writing, but some would suggest that the best Eiffel Tower view of all is from Notre Dame Cathedral.
The narrow climb up the north tower leads you to the gallery linking it with its twin south tower. From here you get an extraordinary view of Paris, with medieval stone chimeras and gargoyles looking out over the city skyline and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
The top of the south tower, over 100 steps further up, can also be visited, but the view from the gallery is better.
Restoration is ongoing after the terrible fire that ravaged the Cathedral in April 2019, and it’s going to be at least 2024 before anyone can enjoy this amazing view again.
Best time of day for the view: morning through to mid-afternoon
Getting there: Cite (metro line 4) or St Michel RER line B
Best Views Eiffel Tower – Around Avenue Rapp
Square Rapp
This tiny side street and garden has one of the very best views of the Eiffel Tower, and it can be found near the southern end of Avenue Rapp, a great street for Eiffel Tower-spotting, in the 7th arrondissement.
Square Rapp is barely 50 metres end-to-end, with the elegant buildings either side framing the Tower beautifully. There is a garden just behind the railings at the end of the street, but residents have put up a notice asking visitors to kindly not encroach on this private space.
Best time of day for the view: Morning
Getting there: Pont de l’Alma on the RER C line, then walk the length of Avenue Rapp, where several other streets have Eiffel Tower views.
Co-ordinates: 48.858730, 2.301115
Cost: Free
Rue de l’Université
Rue de l’Université runs parallel to the Seine along the rive gauche (Left Bank), from St Germain to the gardens below the Eiffel Tower. It offers a good view of the Eiffel Tower as it crosses the broad Esplanade des Invalides, but the best is saved for the last few metres of the street.
Rue de l’Université ends in a small cul-de-sac, with fine townhouses either side and trees framing one of the most popular Eiffel Tower views.
Best time of day for the view: Morning to midday
Getting there: Pont de l’Alma on the RER C line, then walk
Co-ordinates: 48.859845, 2.296455
Cost: Free
Other Streets Off Avenue Rapp
Several of the best Eiffel Tower photo spots can be found by taking a stroll along Avenue Rapp, a leafy street in the 7th arrondissement a few minutes’ walk from the ‘Iron Lady’.
We’ve singled out Square Rapp and Rue de l’Université,but most of the streets running off the west side of Avenue Rapp have pretty fine Eiffel Tower views.
The buildings in each street frame the Eiffel Tower wonderfully, and give more of a flavour of the city, with its distinctive architecture including its attic apartment windows. Avenue Emile Pouvillon is one of the best Eiffel Tower vantage points, and it’s also taking the short walk up Avenue Rapp to look along Rue du General Camou and Rue de Monttessuy.
Best time of day for the views: Morning to midday
Getting there: Pont de l’Alma RER C as above
Cost: Free
Eiffel Tower Best Views – Champs-Élysées To The Louvre
Arc de Triomphe
One of our picks for the best view of the Eiffel Tower is the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
It’s at just the right height, 50 metres above the busy streets below. The tree-lined Avenue d’Iéna leads the eye from the Place de l’Étoile, most of the way towards the Tour Eiffel, and you can see most of it, including the top of the arch and first ‘floor’.
We planned our Arc de Triomphe visit to make the most of the summer afternoon light on the Tower, but evening – including sunset or twilight – is another great time to enjoy the view, particularly if you get to see the hourly Eiffel Tower light show.
Best time of day for the view: Afternoon, evening, or twilight
Getting there: Charles de Gaulle- Étoile on RER A, or Metro lines 1, 2 and 6
Co-ordinates: 48.874197, 2.294949
Cost: 11 euros for adults
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde – between the Tuileries Gardens and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées – is the largest square in Paris that is a great vantage point for both the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.
Dodge the traffic and walk just about anywhere around the square and you’ll enjoy great Eiffel Tower views. The Place de la Concorde is rich in architectural detail, from the ancient Egyptian obelisk to the ornate fountains (switched off when I visited!). Head there for the last hour of the day and let the light paint you some pictures.
Best time of day for the view: Evening or night
Getting there: Concorde Metro (lines 1, 8 and 12)
Co-ordinates: 48.865016, 2.321028
Cost: Free
Tuileries Gardens
The open spaces of the west (Place de la Concorde) end of the Jardins des Tuileries offer some of the best Eiffel Tower views, and you can also walk through the gates and take in the Place at the same time.
Start at the Bassin Octagonal, the large pond near the gate to the gardens. It’s a classic Parisian scene, with people having an evening picnic and glass of wine, sitting on the free green chairs you find in most Parisian parks.
Some of them will have positioned themselves to watch the late light on the Eiffel Tower, a mile or so away across the river. It’s well worth joining them for a while if there are spare chairs around.
While there, take the short walk up the slope to the viewpoints either side of the gateway – one is close to the Orangerie, the other the Jeu de Paume. Here, the statues make a wonderful foreground, especially around sunset, with the Eiffel Tower off to the left. A magical scene.
Best time of day for the view: Evening or night
Getting there: Concorde Metro (lines 1, 8 and 12)
Co-ordinates: 48.865127, 2.322629
Cost: Free
Pont des Arts
One of the most elegant Paris bridges, the Pont des Arts spans the Seine between the Louvre on the north (right bank) and the Institut de France on the south (left) side of the river.
As you cross the delicate pedestrian wrought-iron bridge you can see the Eiffel Tower peeking above the rooftops of the Left Bank, but you get a better view if you walk to the right bank and turn right towards the Pont Neuf. It’s especially beautiful towards sunset.
Best time of day for the view: Morning or evening
Getting there: Louvre-Rivoli Metro (line 1)
Cost: Free
Best Eiffel Tower Views – Left Bank and Latin Quarter
Panthéon
The dome of the Panthéon is one of the great Paris viewpoints, offering a superb 360-degree panorama from high above the Latin Quarter. Like the Arc de Triomphe, it’s not too high – from there you get a wonderful view over the nearby rooftops and the Luxembourg Gardens to the Eiffel Tower and the dome of Les Invalides.
Bear in mind that you need to buy a ticket to climb the Panthéon dome as well as your ticket to the church. Similarly, if you have a Paris Museum Pass as I did, you need to pay for an additional ticket. It’s well worth it – the price is 1/10 of what you pay to ascend the Eiffel Tower, and the view of Paris is far better.
Best time of day for the view: Morning to early afternoon
Getting there: Luvembourg (RER B), Maubert-Mutualite (Metro line 10) or Place Monge (Metro line 7) are all within a few minutes’ walk
Cost: 3.50 euros for the dome ticket on top of the 11.50 entry fee
Montparnasse Tower
The Paris Montparnasse Observatory, on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper, has one of the most famous Eiffel Tower views.
From the viewing gallery, the Eiffel Tower stands in front of the futuristic (by comparison) skyscrapers of the La Defense business district.
The Eiffel Tower is surprisingly small in the overall field of vision, but a 200mm zoom lens handles the distance just nicely. It looks best at dusk in summer, with the afterglow in the sky and the lights on the Tower.
Best time of day for the view: Sunset and dusk in summer – any time of day the rest of the year
Getting there: Gare Montparnasse Metro lines 4, 6, 12 and 13
Cost: 19 euros for an adult, or 25 euros for two visits (One daytime and one night) within 48 hours
Hôtel des Invalides
Many visitors to the Invalides head for the southern end of the complex, where the entry to the National Army Museum and church housing Napoleon’s tomb is located. They don’t get to enjoy the gardens at the northern end of the complex, which offer some of the best Eiffel Tower views.
We particularly like the view from the north-east corner of the Invalides, with the row of cannons lined up in the foreground and the Tower in the distance. There is also a beautiful small park, Square d’Ajaccio, around 50 metres around the corner with another great view of the Eiffel Tower.
Best time of day for the view: Morning through to early afternoon, though later would be OK too
Getting there: Varenne Metro (line 13) is little more than 100 metres away
Co-ordinates: 48.858144, 2.314360
Cost: Free
Best Eiffel Tower Views Paris – Grands Boulevards, Beaubourg and Montmartre
Galeries Lafayette Rooftop
The terrace of the Galeries Lafayette department store offers a great rooftop Eiffel Tower view. From this vantage point above Boulevard Haussmann you have a wonderful 180-degree panorama looking south, with the rear of the splendid Opera Garnier building and, to the right, the Eiffel Tower looming high above the rive gauche.
The Galeries Lafayette rooftop terrace is at the top of the Coupole (Dome) building, one of three buildings in a row belonging to the store. Take a look at the gorgeous Art Nouveau stained glass dome before heading up to the Terrasse (T on the elevator keypad) for the view outside.
Best time of day for the view: Any time
Getting there: Auber (RER A), or Chaussee d’Antin – La Fayette Metro (lines 7 and 9)
Cost: Free
Au Printemps Rooftop Café
A few doors along Boulevard Haussmann, the rooftop café at neighbouring grand magasin Au Printemps also commands a great view of the Eiffel Tower.
Theoretically you need to order a drink or something to eat, but when we visited, we found empty tables and nobody around to serve us, so we took a quick look.
From there, the Eiffel Tower rises up behind the classic Parisian apatment buildings on Boulevard Haussmann.
Best time of day for the view: Any time
Getting there: Havre-Caumartin Metro (lines 3 and 9)
Cost: the price of a drink
Montmartre and Sacre Coeur
Atmospheric Montmartre and its Basilica, the bright white Byzantine-style Sacre Coeur, offer the most distant Eiffel Tower views that we describe in our article. I’ve left them until near the end as I think the other Eiffel Tower views are better.
That said, Montmartre is wonderful and I would try to set aside a few hours to visit it and explore its wonderful back streets.
During the winter months, when the trees are bare, the Eiffel Tower is visible from more places than when they are laden with leaves in the warmer months. In summer, one of the few Montmartre Eiffel Tower views is from Square Nadar, a tiny park on Rue St Eleuthere, just below Sacre Coeur.
One way of avoiding trees blocking your view is to climb Sacre Coeur dome, a 300-step trudge to one of the highest viewpoints in Paris. I don’t think it’s that great a view, as I don’t rate the Eiffel Tower top view, because it’s so far above the city that you almost ‘lose’ even landmarks like the Eiffel Tower.
Best time of day for the view: Morning or late afternoon through to dusk
Getting there: The Montmartre funicular or bus 40 take you very close to Sacre Coeur.
Co-ordinates for Rue St Eleuthere: 48.885850, 2.341464
Cost: Free for the street views, 6 euros for Sacre Coeur dome
Centre Pompidou
The Pompidou Centre, housing the outstanding Musee National d’Art Moderne, is about to close for four years (2023-27) for an extensive refurbishment. Nonetheless it still deserves mention for the superb view over the rooftops of Paris from the sixth-floor restaurant, Le Georges.
Best Views Of The Eiffel Tower – Passy
La Maison de Balzac
The Museum in the former home of 19th century French author Honore de Balzac is one of the least-known but best Eiffel Tower views.
Balzac, one of the greatest French writers, wrote La comedie humaine while living in this house in Passy, just across the river from the Eiffel Tower.
He died in 1850, almost 40 years before completion of the Tower, but visitors get an exceptional view of it from the house and garden.
Best time of day for the view: Midday and afternoon
Getting there: Passy (Metro line 6)
Address: 47 Rue Raynouard Paris 75016
Cost: Free
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