10 Famous Paris Landmarks Where the Rooftop Views Steal the Show
Paris has no shortage of rooftop bars and restaurants with great views, but for this list, the focus is on landmarks where the view is part of the experience. These spots let you climb, ride, or step out onto terraces built into many of the city’s most famous monuments. From these rooftops, you’ll see Paris laid out below exactly the way it should be seen – right from the heart of its history.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe sits at the center of one of Paris’s busiest roundabouts, where twelve grand avenues converge, including the famous Champs-Élysées. From the top of the arc, you get a direct view down the Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde (and the Jardin de Tuileries and Louvre right behind), as well as a fantastic close-up view of the Eiffel Tower.
Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette, one of Paris’s most famous department stores, is known for its stunning glass dome and luxury shopping. Its free rooftop terrace overlooks the Opera Garnier just across the street, with the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur visible beyond the rooftops.
Sacré Coeur
At the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre, visitors can climb up into the domes for one of the highest viewpoints in Paris. A narrow staircase leads to the circular walkway around the central dome, where you get sweeping views over the city’s rooftops and landmarks below. From here, you can see nearly all of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower tiny but clearly visible in the distance.
Tour Montparnasse
Tour Montparnasse may be one of Paris’s most disliked buildings (a tall skyscraper sticking out like a sore thumb in central Paris), but the view from the top is incredible. The observation deck gives you a direct, almost drone-like view of the Eiffel Tower and sweeping sights of the Luxembourg Gardens, the Louvre, and the Panthéon.
Tour Saint Jacques
Tour Saint-Jacques, a Gothic bell tower in the 4th arrondissement, is one of central Paris’s most underrated viewpoints. On a guided tour, you can climb the narrow staircase to the top for close views of Notre-Dame, the Seine, Hotel de Ville, and the Pompidou. The tower itself is all that remains of a 16th-century church, making it both a historic landmark and a hidden gem for city views.
Pompidou Centre
The Centre Pompidou, known for its modern, bold, “inside-out design”, offers one of the best vantage points in central Paris. You can ride the glass-enclosed “caterpillar” escalator up the side of the building to the terrace for free, where views stretch across the rooftops toward Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
Notre Dame
From the towers of Notre-Dame, you can stand beside the cathedral’s famous gargoyles while taking in views over the Seine and the Île de la Cité. From the top, you can spot the Eiffel Tower, the dome of the Panthéon, and the white silhouette of Sacré-Cœur rising above Montmartre. The climb also gives a close-up look at the cathedral’s intricate Gothic details.
Arab World Institute
The rooftop terrace of the Arab World Institute, in the Latin Quarter, offers one of the best views of the Seine and the back of Notre-Dame. From here, you can see the cathedral’s flying buttresses up close, along with the islands and bridges of central Paris. Access is free, and the terrace café makes it a great quiet spot for city views.
Printemps
Printemps, one of Paris’s historic luxury department stores, sits right next to Galeries Lafayette and also has a rooftop terrace open to visitors. From here, you get great views of the Eiffel Tower and the Paris skyline, though the Opera Garnier is partly hidden. It’s a beautiful spot that feels much more like a hidden gem compared to its famous neighbor.
Eiffel Tower
Going up the Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic things to do in Paris. From the three observation levels, you get the best view in the city of the Arc de Triomphe and the golden dome of Les Invalides, plus just generally great views over Paris’s rooftops. Each level gives a slightly different but equally impressive view over the city.
