The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic monuments in the world and is a must-visit attraction for anyone arriving in Paris. There’s nothing quite like wandering the streets of Paris and gazing upon its most famous landmark. We’ve visited Paris many times over the years and have come across many wonderful views of the Eiffel Tower, each one taking our breath away at first glance. For those of you planning your own Paris trips, we’ve put together this list of the locations of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.
The Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
Most of the locations in this list are a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and can be combined with a visit up the tower itself. If you are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower and see Paris from above (which you should, it’s awesome!), then we highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. Tickets for the Eiffel Tower sell out days in advance during busy periods so make sure you book your tickets early – check prices here!
Map of the Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
We’ve put together this handy map with the exact locations of the best views of the Eiffel Tower. Most of the best views are a short walk from the tower itself, while other views (like the Sacre Coeur) can be visited alongside other landmarks around the city.
How to Use This Google Map: Click on the grey star at the top of the map and this map will be added to your Google Maps account. You can then view it on your phone or computer in Google Maps by clicking on the menu button, going to “Your Places” and selecting this map. We use these maps all the time as you can set out your itinerary ahead of time and quickly reference the saved maps.
15 Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
From the well-known and popular spots such as the Place du Trocadero to lesser-known gems like Rue de l’Université, we’ve included all the best views of the Eiffel Tower that you can check out during your trip to Paris.
1 | Rue de l’Université
The view of the Eiffel Tower from Rue de l’Université is our personal favorite and should be at the top of everyone’s list when visiting Paris.
The location itself is 2-minute walk from entrance 2 on the north side of the Eiffel Tower and if you visit early in the morning there is a good chance of no parked cars along the roadside. We visited first thing in the morning just after sunrise and had the place to ourselves.
The buildings at the end of Rue de ‘Université perfectly frame the Eiffel Tower and the greenery of the trees that line the Champs du Mars make it one of our favorite photo locations in Paris.
Best Views of the Eiffel Tower tip: The view from Rue de l’Université would also be pretty epic after dark when the Eiffel Tower is lit up.
2 | Carousel of the Eiffel Tower
One of the most unique views of the Eiffel Tower is from the resident carousel that is located close to the base of the monument along the banks of the Seine river. The carousel is permanently located across the road beside Pont d’Iéna to the north of the Eiffel Tower.
Best Views of the Eiffel Tower tip: The carousel used to be located on the other side of the Seine across Pont d’Iéna but moved closer to the base of the Eiffel Tower in recent years.
Our favorite time to visit the carousel is during dusk when the carousel and Eiffel Tower both light up.
We’ve visited the carousel every time we’ve been to the Eiffel Tower as it’s offers of the best views of the Eiffel Tower and riding it is a lot of fun, even for adults!
Best Views of the Eiffel Tower tip: There can be a temporary fence around the carousel to manage the crowds at peak times so you’ll need to pay for a ride on the carousel to make your way inside the fencing to capture uninterrupted shots of the carousel with the tower in the background
3 | Square Rapp
This beautiful little square is located close to the Eiffel Tower and has one of the best fews we found when we were exploring Paris. Square Rapp is a short walk from the base of the Eiffel Tower and is easily combined with the walk to Rue de l’Universite as they are located close together.
There is a small gated private garden at the end of Square Rapp. From here you get the best view of the Eiffel Tower as it peeks out between the entrance to Square Rapp.
Access to the garden at Square Rapp
We visited Square Rapp early in the morning to avoid any crowds and unfortunately, the small garden at the end of the square was closed and marked as private property. There is also a lot of signage stating no photography inside the square.
Despite this the square is beautiful and the views of the Eiffel Tower from Square Rapp are definitely worth the trip
Best Views of Eiffel Tower tip: Make sure to check out the Lavirotte Building building just down the street from Square Rapp. It’s one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris and well worth a visit.
4 | Montparnasse Tower
Montparnasse Tower is a 210-metre high skyscraper located in the Montparnasse district of Paris. While the building has frequently been called one of the ugliest in Paris, the views of the Eiffel Tower from the panoramic terrace of the 56th Floor are some of the best in the city.
Due to its large size and elevation, the panoramic terrace on the 56th floor offers lots of opportunities for great views of the Eiffel Tower. There are also great views of other landmarks in Paris such as Les Invalides (the tomb of Napoleon) and The Arc de Triomphe. We were able to take our tripod onto the terrace and really enjoyed the after-dark views of the city on our last visit.
We find the best time to visit Montparnasse Tower is during sunset. The golden hour light makes for stunning images of the Eiffel Tower and after dark, the tower and city are beautifully lit up. It’s worth booking your tickets for Montparnasse Tower ahead of time. You can buy skip-the-line tickets which can save a lot of time when the tower is busy, especially just before sunset – check prices now
There is also a cafe, Cafe 360, on the 56th floor is open until 7.30 pm each day.
The quickest way to get to Montparnasse Tower from the Eiffel Tower is via the Paris Metro, line 6, which leaves from the station at Bir-Hakem Bridge.
Buy our Montparnasse Tower tickets here
5 | Place du Trocadéro
The elevated view of the Eiffel Tower from the Place du Trocadéro is one of the most iconic shots in Paris and one most visitors will want to experience. You’ll want to visit here early in the morning to avoid the crowds as this is one of the most popular views of the Eiffel Tower.
The Place du Trocadéro has been undergoing significant renovations for the last few years in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games. As a result of the renovation work, there is wooden boarding obstructing most of the iconic view of the Eiffel Tower from the Place du Trocadero.
Despite this, you can still get fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower from the square and there is a section of the view from the north steps that is not affected by the renovations.
6 | Jardins du Trocadéro
Before you leave Place du Trocadéro make sure to head down the steps to the Jardins du Trocadéro (Trocadéro gardens) which are located just in front of the square as you walk to the Eiffel Tower.
Best Views of the Eiffel Tower tip: Due to the construction work at Place de Trocadéro we recommend heading down the steps from the square where there is still an elevated view from the Trocadéro Gardens.
The Jardins du Trocadéro were originally created as a wide open green space for the 1937’s Worlds Fair and are a great place for sunrise and the water features provide lots of opportunities for epic reflections of the Eiffel Tower.
7 | Pont d’Iéna
Pont d’Iéna is the bridge of the Seine River that connects Trocadero Gardens and the Eiffel Tower. Due to its location, the view from the center of the road on Pont d’Iéna perfectly lines up with the Eiffel Tower and offers a really awesome view.
The best way to see this view is from the pedestrian crossing that runs across Pont d’Iéna on the Trocadero side of the bridge. From here you can safely cross the road on the pedestrian crossing and safely see the view of the Eiffel Tower.
Best Views of Eiffel Tower tip: You will likely see tourists walking into the middle of the road on Pont d’Iéna to take photos of the Eiffel Tower. This is super dangerous as it is a busy Parisian road, so we recommend only crossing the road at marked pedestrian crossings!
8 | Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is the large public greenspace that sits in front of the Eiffel Tower. The lawns are a popular place for locals and tourists to hang out, especially at sunset, and enjoy the view of the Eiffel Tower.
We’ve found the best view of the Eiffel Tower is in front of The Grand Palais Éphémère. This is a large entertainment venue located at the end of the Champ de Mars, allowing you to see the entire Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower rising above it.
9 | Top of the Eiffel Tower
While not a view of the tower exactly, we can’t leave out one of the best views in Paris! The views from the top of the Eiffel Tower are, in our opinion, the best in the city and on a clear day you can see everything in the city for miles around.
The Eiffel Tower has two access levels, with tickets required for both. Stair and elevator access tickets are available for the second floor, the first access level, and the summit level is only accessible via elevator. We highly recommend buying your tickets for the summit of the Eiffel Tower in advance as during peak times tickets for purchase sell out days in advance – check prices here!
Buy your Eiffel Tickets Summit tickets now
The summit of the Eiffel Tower has two levels with an indoor level and an outdoor viewing deck above it. For the best views make your way to the upper deck where you can get clearer shots and a better perspective of the city below.
10 | Under the Eiffel Tower Itself
Often overlooked is the view from under the Eiffel tower itself. The sheer scale of the intricate iron beams that make up the Eiffel Tower is best appreciated from underneath the tower.
Due to increased security measures in France, visitors now have to pass through security screening to access the base of the Eiffel Tower. It’s best to combine this view with a visit to the upper decks of the Eiffel tower as you’ll be queuing anyway to access the lifts to the top.
2022 update: As the Eiffel Tower is undergoing refurbishment works ahead of the 2024 Olympics in France there is a considerable amount of scaffold and additional cranes under the Eiffel Tower. As a result it can be tricky to get a clean shot from under the tower, however this work should be completed by end of 2023
11 | From a Cruise on the Seine
One of the best views of the Eiffel Tower is from a cruise on the Seine river, one of the most popular things to do in Paris. The views from the Seine are always wonderful and it’s one of our favorite things to do in Paris.
There are a number of cruise operators that offer various cruises but we’ve found our favourite is Bateaux Mouches. We like Bateaux Mouches as they are the original Seine cruise company and have been running boat cruises since 1949. Their open-top boats give visitors amazing views of the city and epic views of the Eiffel Tower.
Their cruises depart from Pont de l’Alma, a short walk from the Eiffel tower. We recommend booking your tickets in advance as they sell out during peak times – check prices now!
12 | Dome of the Sacré Coeur Bascilica
The Basilica of the Sacré Coeur is one of the most recognizable buildings in Paris and its vivid white facade is visible from almost every part of the city. The Sacré Coeur is located in the Montmartre district of Paris and offers incredible views across the city. The dome at the top of the Sacré Coeur also has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower in Paris!
There are 300 steps to the top and no lift so this is a view you will definitely earn this stunning view! Once you emerge at the top of the stairs and out onto the dome viewing area the views are truly breathtaking.
The Eiffel Tower is located to the southwest of the Sacré Coeur so the best views are from the right-hand side of the viewing area as you look over the city.
Accessing the Sacré Coeur Dome
The Sacré Coeur basilica is open from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm each day and entrance is free. However, the dome is only open from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm. The stairs to the dome are just on the left as you enter the church.
Entrance to the dome is around €6-8 euros and includes access to the basilica crypts which are worth a look when you’re finished at the dome.
We’ve been to the dome of the Sacre Couer a number of times and recommend visiting early on a weekday for the best experience. The stairs access and dome viewing deck are limited in space and it can get very busy at peak times, especially at weekends.
Best views of the Eiffel Tower tip: Due to the distance of the Sacré Couer from the Eiffel Tower it is best to visit the dome on a clear day for the best views. We had slight haze during our last visit and the Eiffel Tower was just about visible!
13 | Top of the Arc de Triomphe
All visitors to Paris will know of the Arc de Triomphe. However, many may not realise that there is a panoramic terrace at the top that offers breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower and the rest of Paris.
Located at the end of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe is situated in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle and has 12 avenues emanating from the arc. It sits in the center of a large roundabout and is accessed via a subway tunnel which takes visitors to the base of the monument.
The views from the observation deck are incredible and are among our favorite in Paris. The views are uninterrupted due to the clever barrier (metal poles instead of glass) that surrounds the viewing deck.
Make sure to purchase your tickets in advance as the arc gets super busy at peak times- check prices here!
Buy your Arc de Triomphe Tickets now
14 | Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III is, without doubt, the most ornate and beautiful bridge in Paris and has some excellent views of the Eiffel Tower.
The best views are from the northwest side of the bridge which overlooks the Seine with the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
15 | Pont Mirabeau
Another of the lesser-known views of the Eiffel Tower is from Pont Mirabeau and it includes the Statue of Liberty. Everyone knows of the Statue of Liberty that sits in the New York harbor in the USA, however, less know about the quarter-scale replica that sits in the middle of the Seine on Pont de Grenelle.
Installed 3 years after the original Statue of Liberty was erected in New York City, it is possible to walk to the statue itself via Pont de Bir Hakim or Pont de Grenelle. However, there is a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty with the Eiffel Tower in the background from Pont Mirabeau.
Best views of Eifel Tower tip: if you walk to Pont Mirabeau from the Eiffel Tower make sure to walk across Pont de Bir-Hakeim (or Inception Bridge) which is featured in the movie Inception.
