7 Insane Paris Viewpoints You’re Probably Missing

Paris has some pretty spectacular viewpoints, but some of the best ones are hiding in places you’d never think to look.

I’m talking about the kind of views that make you stop in your tracks and wonder why on earth nobody told you about them sooner.

For this list, I’ve rounded up seven incredible places to admire Paris from above that I think far too many people are missing. These are all places I’ve personally visited, photographed, and fallen in love with.

1. Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine

It took me waaaay too long to finally visit the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, because this place really blew me away. This museum, located inside the Palais de Chaillot at Trocadéro, is dedicated to French architecture from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The ground floor has enormous galleries filled with full-size plaster casts of architectural elements from churches, cathedrals, and other historic buildings across France. You can walk right up to intricately carved archways, columns, and sculptures, with beautiful examples of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture displayed under one light-filled roof.

But what makes this museum even more special are the enormous windows overlooking the Trocadéro Gardens and the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the tower framed behind these elaborate architectural displays is pretty spectacular, and my jaw literally dropped when I walked into several rooms.

Upstairs, you’ll find exhibits on modern and contemporary architecture, and the Eiffel Tower views might be even better than downstairs. There’s also a beautiful section of reproductions of medieval murals and painted chapels.

Tip: The museum is right at Trocadéro, making it easy to combine with a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Admission is included in the Paris Museum Pass.

2. Musée des Arts Décoratifs

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is located in the same enormous palace complex as the Louvre Museum, occupying the far end of its northern wing. But it’s an entirely separate museum, with its own entrance and admission ticket.

It’s a surprisingly large museum dedicated to decorative arts, with collections covering everything from medieval furniture and tapestries to Art Nouveau and Art Deco design, jewelry, ceramics, and beautiful reconstructed rooms from historic French mansions.

There’s a lot to see here, but my favorite discovery was the fifth floor, where the museum has some of the most incredible views of Paris that hardly anyone seems to know about. You can look down over Rue de Rivoli and towards the Musée d’Orsay, but the pièce de la résistance was the view across the Jardin des Tuileries toward the Eiffel Tower.

This view was just incredible, and I’m honestly shocked that no one talks about it.

Tip: The museum’s layout is a bit of a maze, and not all the staircases and elevators reach the upper floors. To get to the fifth floor, head toward the far end of the museum, where you’ll find the stairs and elevator serving the upper galleries. I recommend grabbing a museum map when you arrive. Admission is also included in the Paris Museum Pass.

3. Arab World Institute

The Arab World Institute is a great place to admire Paris from above, and it flies well below the radar.

Take the elevator to the ninth floor, step out onto the free rooftop terrace, and you’ll get a fantastic view of the back of Notre-Dame, the Île Saint-Louis, the Marais, and the Seine stretching away in both directions.

The building itself is also worth a look, with an unusual facade of geometric steel and glass inspired by traditional Arabic latticework. There’s a museum inside (ticket required) dedicated to Arab art, history, and culture if you want to spend more time exploring.

4. Printemps

Galeries Lafayette is famous for its beautiful Art Nouveau dome and free rooftop terrace, which draws big crowds. However, just next door is Printemps, another luxury department store with a fantastic rooftop terrace and a fraction of the crowds.

It’s a smaller spot, but the views are just as good, looking out over the beautiful Haussmann rooftops toward the Eiffel Tower. You’re also right beside the store’s ornate golden domes, and you can see the Opéra Garnier just off to the side.

During the warmer months, there’s often a little rooftop café and bar where you can sit outside and enjoy the views with a drink or something to eat.

And before you head out to the terrace, take a moment to admire the glass dome on the store’s top floor. It’s not as elaborate as the famous dome at Galeries Lafayette, but it’s still a very beautiful space.

5. Musée d’Orsay

The Musée d’Orsay is one of Paris’s most popular museums, and most visitors head straight for the famous Impressionist galleries on the fifth floor.

But tucked away at the far western end of that same floor are galleries dedicated to Neo-Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Symbolism, with paintings by Seurat, Signac, Gauguin, and others.

These rooms tend to be quite a bit quieter, and several have large windows overlooking Paris. You’ll find beautiful views across the Seine toward Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, along with a few glimpses of the Eiffel Tower.

The Orsay is included in the Paris Museum Pass.

6. Dome of Sacré-Cœur

The terrace in front of Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre is always chock full of visitors, but far fewer people realize you can actually go up inside the main dome.

Just before you enter the basilica, look for the sign pointing to the panoramic viewpoint, which leads you down and to the left of the church. From there you pay the entrance fee and start climbing 292 steps up a spiral staircase.

You’ll come out on the rooftop, where you walk a short pathway between the domes and spires (which is very cool). Then up one more short staircase and you’re inside the main dome, with a circular walkway that takes you all the way around.

The views here are just incredible. The whole of Paris stretches out beneath you as you look down over the white, gleaming domes of the basilica. The Eiffel Tower is visible far away in the distance— it almost looked like a child’s toy!

Sunset is a particularly beautiful time to be up here. Just keep in mind that the dome usually closes before sunset during the summer months, so check the opening hours before planning your visit.

7. Tour Saint-Jacques

Note: The Tour Saint-Jacques is currently closed for renovations.

The Tour Saint-Jacques is a tall Gothic tower rising up in a small garden near the Hôtel de Ville, right in one of the busiest parts of central Paris. Most people walk straight past it without a second glance, which is a shame because it’s one of the more interesting spots in the city.

The tower is all that remains of a 16th-century church built by the local butchers’ guild and dedicated to Saint James. Standing 54 meters tall, it was once the second-highest structure in Paris after Notre-Dame. The rest of the church was demolished during the French Revolution, leaving just the bell tower behind.

When tours are operating, they’re typically offered between May and November. The climb is 300 steps, with a stop inside along the way, and the views from the top are worth every single step.

What makes this viewpoint so interesting is its location right in the heart of Paris. You’re looking out over a sea of rooftops, with fantastic views of Notre-Dame’s towers, the Hôtel de Ville, and the Centre Pompidou, all from angles you don’t normally get to see. The Eiffel Tower is visible in the distance, too.

It’s highly recommended to book in advance.

Looking for More Interesting Places to Visit in Paris?

There are so many incredible things to see in Paris beyond the usual tourist attractions, and I’m always finding new places to add to my list. If you’re looking for more ideas for your trip, check out these guides:

• 30 Hidden Gems in Paris – Some of my favorite overlooked attractions and unusual places around the city.
• 25 Beautiful Churches in Paris – Discover some of the city’s most impressive churches beyond the famous landmarks.
• Best Eiffel Tower Views in Paris – More places to admire and photograph Paris’s most famous landmark.

If you want everything in one place, my Paris travel guide page pulls together neighborhood guides, attraction and museum guides, foodie recommendations, and travel tips in one hub.