The Best Eiffel Tower Views
Towering (pun intended) 324 meters over Paris, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable tourist attractions in the world. She peeks out over rooftops, around street corners and is even marvelous from up close, but sometimes the idea of trekking over to her neck of the woods to go through security checks and lines just to get a glimpse of her seems pretty overwhelming. I have come up with a list of a few of the best alternative views of the Eiffel Tower to help you get the most of your Paris trip!
The Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is a bit of an obvious suggestion, but it really is a great way to see the Eiffel Tower. The park itself is not just the three patches of grass in front of the tower, but also includes trees, paths, a monument dedicated to world peace, a basin and more. In the spring you can catch the Eiffel Tower from behind beautiful cherry blossom branches and in the fall you can wrap up in your coziest blanket and spend hours watching her sparkle.
The Arc de Triomphe
The panoramic view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe is unparalleled. Located at the center of 12 radiating avenues, the Arc de Triomphe is an intricately decorated monument honoring soldiers from various wars and houses France’s version of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. For 12 euros you can climb the 284 steps up to the top (there are elevators available for visitors with limited mobility) and enjoy the view. Plus, you’re getting a good dose of French culture. Win-win.
Métro Line 6
Hear me out on this one, this is one of my favorite unexpected views of the Eiffel Tower. Every time I ride this metro and it passes over the bridge, there is at least one tourist in the car who has no idea they are about the see the Eiffel Tower and their gasp of excitement makes me smile every time. Between the stops of Passy and Bir-Hakeim, be sure to look out the window. It’s even better if you can time it as it’s sparkling, which is the first 5 minutes of every hour starting around sunset.
The bridge at Bir-Hakeim
Once you’ve taken the metro line 6, be sure to check out the underside of the bridge you just rode over! This bridge is my favorite little secret (and an amazing place for a photoshoot) although it’s not so much a secret since the release of the movie Inception in 2010. Le Pont de Bir-Hakeim has a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower, coupled with great architecture and usually, minimal tourist traffic depending on time of year.
The Rooftop at Galeries Lafayette
The rooftop terrace at Galeries Lafayette is another unexpected but lovely view of the Eiffel Tower. Take the escalators all the way up to the very top floor and continue on until you find the staircase that leads you up to the free terrace for a stunning view of Paris’s rooftops, la Tour Eiffel and the incredibly impressive Opéra Garnier. There’s also a bar up there if you get a little bit thirsty, what more could you want?
