Paris panoramas: We've rounded up the top eight spots in the capital to get the best views of the city
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Brimming with instantly recognisable landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Sacré Coeur, Paris is famously one of the most photographed cities in the world. Check out these eight iconic spots for the best Instagram-worthy views of the French capital.
Stunning view from the Notre-Dame overlooking the skyline of Paris
Stunning view from the Notre-Dame overlooking the skyline of Paris
Le Sommet of the Eiffel Tower
The one and only downside about the far-reaching views from the Eiffel Tower is the absence of Paris’s most iconic monument. But there’s good reason that seven million visitors ride to the top of the tower each year. At 1063ft (324m) high, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in Paris. From Le Sommet, the observation deck at 984ft (300m), you can see the whole of Paris laid out in front of you like a map. Grab a glass of fizz from the Champagne Bar and see everything from the unmissable white turrets of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica to the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne.
Metro: Trocadero
The observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower
Standing 689ft (210m), the city's iconic 1970s skyscraper famously has one of the best views in Paris. Maligned by city residents when it was first built, this unappealing office block has a jewel in its crown; the panoramic observation deck on the 56th floor. A spacious open-air terrace promises 360-degree views of the city. Get your phones/cameras ready for one of the finest shots of the Eiffel Tower in the city. Aside from the Iron Lady, you’ll capture a bird’s-eye view of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in one fell swoop.
Metro: Gare Montparnasse
The dome of Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Reverse the view from the Eiffel Tower, by heading to the gleaming white turrets of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre. Perched on top of Montmartre Hill, the ornate, meringue-white church was built in the early 1900s and can be reached by climbing the 270 steps or hopping on the funicular. For the very best views, climb the 300 narrow stone steps to the dome where you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city and the perfect shot rolling down to the Eiffel Tower.
Metro: Anvers  
Notre-Dame Towers
Climbing up the windy Gothic towers of the 12th century Notre-Dame Cathedral is not for the faint-hearted, however, it’s a rare opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the churches famous gargoyles. Follow in the fictional footsteps of Victor Hugo’s Quasimodo as you squeeze past the bell in the belfry to the cathedral’s panoramic terrace and witness some of the finest views in Paris, including the gracious Eiffel Tower, the golden dome of Les Invalides, and the River Seine as it snakes through the city.
Metro: Cité
Paris is a beautiful city and the views are always spectacular
Paris is a beautiful city and the views are always spectacular
Le 43 Up on the Roof bar at the Holiday Inn, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Finding a bar with amazing views is one of the highlights of a visit to Paris. Located on the ninth floor of the Holiday Inn Notre-Dame is 'Le 43 Up on the Roof' bar which is famous for its iconic front-facing view of the Eiffel Tower. Guests of the hotel have free access to the terrace, while visitors must make a reservation. However, it's hard to find a better spot for a sundowner overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
Metro: Odéon
Le Georges at Centre Pompidou
Promising rooftop views of Les Halles, the winding streets of Le Marais, the twin towers of Notre-Dame, and of course, the Eiffel Tower, dinner at Le Georges restaurant on the top floor of the Centre Pompidou is regarded as one of the most romantic restaurants in Paris. This modern restaurant and bar makes the most of its prestigious corner spot position with floor-to-ceiling windows and a vast open-air terrace with 180-degree views of the city.
Metro: Rambuteau
You can't miss a sighting of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris
You can't miss a sighting of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris
The terrace from Parc de Belleville
Perched on the hills of Montmartre, the lush green Parc de Belleville has some of the prettiest viewing point of the city. Home to one of the city's last remaining vineyards, the park has a 98ft (30m) tall terrace which boasts sweeping views of Paris from the peaks of the 20th arrondissement. It's also a short stroll to Belleville stalwart, Le Baratin Bistro, a favourite haunt of foodies throughout the city.
Metro: Pyrénées
The Roof of Printemps Haussmann department store
After spending a king's ransom on designer threads in one of Paris's premier luxury department stores, recover with a coffee or a pastis on the rooftop café and terrace on the ninth floor of the department store. From this prime perch, shoppers are rewarded with magnificent 360-degree views of the city, from the rooftops of Boulevard Haussmann, the famed golden statues on the roof of Palais Garnier opera house, to the Gothic twin towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral.