The Best Views in Paris - Part II

Eiffel Tower

Of course, the Eiffel Tower has to be in the list with the best view in Paris, too. But as it's expensive and complicated to get up to the top it is only number three in the ranking. But let's start from the beginning.

How to get there

For many tourists, the large monument is an obligatory stop in the City of Love. You can get there by making a promenade next to the Seine (time depends on your starting point, of course) or going by underground. The best exit is Trocadero, it's some metres away from the monument, but you have that amazing postcard view from there and can take amazing pictures. Furthermore, sometimes there are different events at that square next to the large museum Musée de l'Homme, for example when I've been there during Easter there were some people with rabbit costumes that were posing for tourist pictures. When you have finished taking pictures from up there, you can walk down the stairs, cross the little park with the fountain in the middle (that I've never seen working or with water) and the incredible green grass, and you will find yourself right in front of the Eiffel Tower. You will soon realize that it's not really possible to take nice pictures from down there because the 300m monument is simply too tall.

The way to the top - Elevators everywhere

You have several possibilities to get up to the top. The tower has three platforms at 57, 6 m, 115, 7 m and 276, 1 m. The first two platforms can be reached either by foot (about 720 steps) or by the elevator; for the third platform you have to go by elevator. As the tower has four pillars, two of them have an elevator to platform 1 and 2, and two of them are equipped with stairs. The elevator to platform 3 is situated on platform 2. As walking up 700 steps doesn't sound great to most of the people, the counters to buy tickets for the stairs are not as crowded as the ones for the elevator, of course. Furthermore, you don't have to wait for something there, you can just start to walk up and enjoy the sports session. When you choose the elevator your waiting time depends on the day and the time. It is the same behaviour as at all the other famous monuments all over the world: at weekends and during the holidays there are much more tourists and you have to wait longer (sometimes up to 3 hours, for example when one of the elevators is closed - something that happens quite often). But I have been there on Saturdays twice and we have never waited more than 30 minutes for each elevator (you have to wait on the ground for the elevator to platform 2, and then you have to queue up again for the second elevator to the top, which takes some more time, because there is only one and also the people who took the stairs or the other elevator come there), but waiting for the one on the top can become cold and windy, because you have to wait at 115 metres height.

At the second platform you have already some things to see - an amazing view already, only disturbed by the large web around the tower (but your phone might fit through the loops, so don't worry about your pictures) and the souvenir shop where you can buy everything about Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Furthermore, the famous Michelin Star awarded restaurant Jules Verne is situated on the second platform, but that's reserved to the guests that have reserved a table in there (and the guests have a special private elevator to get up there). When you have finally finished waiting, and reach the third platform, you will find yourself inside. On the top there is a smaller "room" where you can walk in a circle and enjoy the view. You can really see whole Paris, all the monuments, all the buildings - everything. Of course, at 276 metres height there are no details, but it's an amazing panorama up there. Furthermore, on the top of the wall you find signs with different other monuments, towers and famous landmarks in countries all over the world and can see in which direction they are located and how tall they are. It's really interesting, you can get around in a circle and find out a lot about other towers worldwide and see the height of the Eiffel Tower in relation to other buildings. When you are not afraid of wind you can also go up some stairs and get outside on the third platform. There you can take better pictures because the windows in the room downstairs are often not that clean after all those people touching it with their fingers and their nose - upstairs there is only the net.

Getting down is much easier and faster than getting up to the top, as always. The elevator isn't that crowded and you don't have to queue up more than 5 minutes. You can also leave the elevator at the first platform and walk down the rest - something I would definitely recommend when it has become night. You will have stunning views over Paris at night with all the lights, the cars, the romantic atmosphere - it's just wonderful! When it's dark the monument also offers another highlight: between 18:00 and 23:00 every full hour it starts to glitter! That's really amazing - there are many many small LEDs that start to flash and let the monument seem to be magic. So even if you are not in a relationship or want to ask somebody if he wants to marry you - visit that incredible monument and enjoy Paris from almost 300 metres!

Notre Dame

Notre Dame is another quite famous monument in the City of Love, and for most of its visitors it's a Must-See. The cathedral offers two wonderful views. The first one is already on the ground when you leave the metro station that is next to the military museum and walk over the bridge in order to cross the Seine. When you stay in the middle of the bridge you have a wonderful view (and picture) at Notre Dame that looks like a postcard. After 5 minutes walking next to the river you reach the large square in front of the cathedral that is usually crowded and can enjoy the building right there. When you have finished taking pictures, you will recognize the long queue in front of the entrance - sometimes it's up to 100 metres long! The long queue usually is waiting for getting up to the top of the cathedral, when you just want to go into it and see the inside you don't have to wait too long, I've done it once. The inside is impressing as all the catholic churches are, but it's nothing world-shaking (in my opinion). As the queue is always about 100 metres long and I imagine that you have to wait for hours, I have never gone up to the top of the cathedral. I know pictures from friends and it looks incredible, but you have a similar view than from the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower - Paris doesn't change. In summer, the square in front of the cathedral is a nice place to relax and enjoy the sun, and even make a picnic there. The location right next to the Seine is just wonderful!

La Défense

Another quite special view you can enjoy in the business district of Paris - La Defense. You can already see it from the Arc de Triomphe, from the top as well as from the ground already, but it' also worth it going there and seeing it from the other perspective. You can get there with your metro day ticket, it's the terminal stop of the yellow metro line. From the city centre, such as Charles de Gaulle Etoile, you need approx. 25-35 minutes to arrive. The metro station at La Défense is incredibly large, it's the train station at the same time and there are hundreds of exits, so you have to be careful and look for the exit that says "Grande Arche". When you get out of the metro station you find yourself in the middle of skyscrapers and buildings with hundreds of windows that seem to be made completely out of glass. The Grande Arche is a squared building that looks like a frame or something. You can go upstairs and when you look into direction of Paris city centre you will see the Arc de Triomphe there. It's built on one single axis and it's just incredible how it works. From Arc de Triomphe you can see into both directions and from La Defense the Grande Arche is like a kind of window into the past. Even if it's no panoramic view over Paris, for me it's one of the most stunning views in whole Paris.

When you are already at La Défense, you can also visit the large shopping centre that is at the same square as the Grande Arche. It offers all the common stores you can imagine, and also a supermarket where you can take part in market studies (if you agree, of course) which is something exciting in my opinion. You can also visit a funny statue that has the form of a thumb from César Baldaccini. It's two minutes by foot from the square and definitely a place for funny pictures.

So I hope my list might help you to enjoy your stay in Paris even more and to experience some of the most amazing views of the city. I am sure that there are even more, so don't stop exploring!

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