PARIS
Admiring the Eiffel Tower is a part of the magic of Paris. This guide includes my favourite Eiffel Tower views & experiences, day and night.
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Updated October 2022
This guide to enjoying the best Eiffel Tower views is a combination of moments from my three most recent trips to Paris. In 2019 I visited with my husband and in the fall of 2021 I took a solo trip to Paris and enjoyed 10 magical days on my own in my favourite city. I just returned from a third trip with close girlfriends; we were celebrating a special birthday. There are specific tips here for how, where and when to see the Eiffel Tower, with all spots marked on a Google map. You will also find a collection of favorite Paris moments that I hope will help you plan your own special trip.
Because the Eiffel Tower is so popular, I appreciate the chance to enjoy it away from the crowds, so I’ve included a few less popular spots with beautiful Eiffel Tower views.
Google Map
Paris & The Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower Views - Daytime
Rue de l'Université
One of my favourite spots to see the Eiffel Tower during the day is in the 7th arrondissement. The Rue de l’Université is a residential street which ends at the Champ de Mars park. This little stretch from the Avenue de la Bourdonnais has pretty architecture and the leafy setting of the park at it’s end. The reason I like it during the day is the charming architecture perfectly frames the view of the Eiffel Tower. At night, that’s sort of lost, although the tower is still gorgeous of course.
You’ll get lovely views and photos here, but the word is out, so be prepared to get strategic with your photo taking or wait for a lull in visitors. (I wasn’t exactly alone when this photo was taken on my solo trip – it required a little editing).
This photo was taken on my solo trip to Paris in September 2021. I spent 10 marvelous days on my own and have written all about it here with suggestions for making the most of your time: Solo Trip to Paris – Complete Guide.
Promenade Marie de Roumanie
A daytime stroll on the Promenade Marie de Roumanie on the Left Bank of the Seine gives you a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower. If you happen to be with small children walk along the promenade toward the Pont d’léna, the 19th century bridge located closest to the tower. You’ll find a carousel here with an Eiffel Tower view – you can enjoy the scenery while the children enjoy a ride. (Note that the carousel typically closes around 8 pm.)
Museum of Architecture & Patrimoine
After your stroll along the Left Bank, you can cross the Pont d’léna bridge to the Right Bank and visit a wonderful little lesser-known museum, the Cité de l’Architecture & Du Patrimoine. It offers a collection of French architecture, from the Middle Ages to present day. It’s located in the Palais de Chaillot building at the Trocadero and its secret is the lovely views you will enjoy from inside the museum: its windows frame a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower.
It is open some evenings so check current times if you want to visit during sunset which would be gorgeous. There’s also a 4-star (expensive) restaurant here called Girafe. It has a terrace with gorgeous Eiffel Tower views. (Open for lunch and dinner and reservations recommended.)
Best Views of the Eiffel Tower at Night
If daytime views of the Eiffel Tower are beautiful, evening views are pure magic. Evening in Paris is my favourite time; daytime itineraries make way for more relaxed enjoyment and lights make the city sparkle. The Louvre Museum takes on a magical glow, glimmering boats glide along the Seine, and the Eiffel Tower comes to life.
Place du Trocadero
The Eiffel Tower is on Paris’s Left Bank in the 7th arrondissement and the Place Du Trocadero is directly across the river. On a recent trip when my husband and I were staying in the 16th at a hotel called Le Dokhan’s, we walked from the hotel toward the Place Du Trocadero to get our first evening glimpse of “La Dame de Fer”, the Iron Lady.
The Place Du Trocadero is a large paved esplanade, lined by splendid museums. It was busy with children flying twirly paper helicopters and lines formed at carts preparing delicious smelling crepes. And there was a lot of photo taking.
I could see why. I looked out over the Jardins du Trocadero and it felt as if we had arrived in a grand open theatre with the Eiffel Tower performing on a stage below. The star of the show glowed against a velvet sky. I had a “pinch me, I’m in Paris” moment. This was a spectacular vantage point – I understood why many people say it’s their favourite place for views of the Eiffel Tower.
Aglow with twinkling lights, I had a “pinch me, I’m in Paris” moment
And then, the tower came to life. What seemed like a thousand orbs of light flashed on and off in dramatic sequence. I had forgotten that this five-minute light show, “Illuminations”, occurs on the hour, from dusk to 1 am. Our timing was lucky.
To add to the effect of 20,000 flashing bulbs, a beam of light was projected from the tower, radiating up to 80 kilometres, apparently. It was mesmerizing.
We walked toward the end of the terrace, where broad steps descend to the Trocadéro Gardens and on to the Seine. The view from here was even better, but the chance to take a good photo was not. We snapped a few shots, but with so many people, it was a challenge.
Instead I took a few photos of the tower, with the beautiful golden statues of the Palais de Chaillot. The Palais was built in 1937 for the World’s Fair (as were the Trocadero Gardens), and its symmetrical wings are very striking. It has three museums and a restaurant, so is also worth daytime exploration.
I wanted to walk down the steps and admire the Jardins du Trocadéro and its gorgeous fountains. We might have also had a better chance at a photo there, but we were jet-lagged, so returned to the hotel. It was a lovely first evening in Paris.
Parc du Champ-de-Mars
In the 7th arrondissement, just in front of the Eiffel Tower is a lovely green-space called the Champ-de-Mars. It’s a wide-open lawn with spectacular Eiffel Tower views and the perfect place to bring a picnic or bottle of wine. You’ll probably be sharing this space with many other people, but the view is so marvelous, you won’t mind. If you visit in the evening, make sure you stay long enough to see the Eiffel Tower come to life.
Eiffel Tower Views from The Seine
We met a friend for dinner at a traditional French Seafood restaurant, Le Grand Café Capucines. After dinner he suggested we rent scooters and see some of the Paris sites at night. (This friend is 22.) I was hesitant to ride a scooter in Paris, but we agreed to try it and go very slowly. Our first stop was the Louvre.
The Louvre was gorgeous at night and it was a treat to see it without the crowds. We also stopped at the beautiful Palais Garnier, the Paris opera house.
We carried on to the path which follows the right bank of the Seine and soon the Eiffel Tower revealed itself in the distance. We passed Le Grand Palais and stopped to sit. It was nice to have a break from the scooter – although it’s fun, I find them nerve wracking. I actually don’t recommend it, I think they are too dangerous. But we did take some fun photos with a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower.
We continued along the Seine and the view became even more lovely, with the tower’s twinkling lights reflected in the river. We parked the scooters just beyond the Pont de l’Alma (Alma Bridge) and sat admiring the pretty scene with hardly anyone else around. It was a complete contrast to the Trocadero.
The right bank of the Seine was the perfect place to admire the Eiffel Tower at night. We were far enough away to see it all and close enough to feel as if we were right there. The boats and the lights on the river added to the ambiance.
We felt as though we had the scene to ourselves. My husband and I decided to snap some photos since it was just our little Parisian trio: Me, Sean, & La Tour Eiffel.
I would recommend this walk along the Right Bank. For a shorter walk, start at the Pont Alexander. If you don’t want a walk, just the Eiffel Tower view, get off at the Alma Marceau Metro station and walk down to the Seine. You should be well positioned for a pretty view and great photo opportunities.
The Eiffel Tower from Le Metro
Le Metro? Stay with me. One evening we went to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in the 6th arrondissement to have dinner at Le Procope. This is a quintessential bistro experience at what’s considered the oldest cafe in Paris, dating to 1686. Writers and intellectuals famously gathered here, among them Rousseau and Diderot, and a hat of Napoleon Bonaparte’s is on display here. Yes, it was actually Napoleon’s hat – I did ask the waiter.
Le Procope feels like it should be very touristy but it was suggested to us by a Parisian friend, because Parisians also come here. We really enjoyed it. This is the place to order Duck Confit, or Coq au Vin, if you haven’t yet tried one of the Paris bistro classics.
Our dinner at Le Procope required a Metro trip on line 6 which crosses over the Seine on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim (Bir-Hakeim Bridge) and offers a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower and the lights of the river.
There was something special about passing over the Seine at night – we were elevated with an unobstructed view. I think the surprise of it made it one of my favourite Eiffel Tower views of the trip. Even a Metro ride can feel magical in Paris.
Rooftop Cocktails with Eiffel Tower Views
I asked our concierge at Le Dokhan’s where to go for a special cocktail in Paris. He did not hesitate: The Peninsula Paris. This stunning hotel was built in 1908 and has a fascinating history. It was a field hospital in World War I and headquarters of the German high command during the German occupation of Paris in World War II. In between the wars, it served as the offices for the French Ministry of Defense.
The rooftop bar, known as “Le Rooftop” is on the 6th floor of the hotel, a perfect vantage point for views across the Paris’s 16th arrondissement.
In one direction is Montmartre and in the other, the Eiffel Tower. Around the corner is the Arc de Triomphe, so you could visit it at the same time and enjoy another gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc. (Ticket required.)
Le Rooftop is expensive, requiring a minimum spend of 26€ per person, essentially the cost of a special cocktail. But it is charming and beautiful, and if you are asking me, special cocktail experiences in special places are worth the splurge.
On my most recent trip in September of 2021, I visited another rooftop bar, this one at the new CitizenM Hotel Champs Elysees. The CloudM bar is located on the 6th floor. Order a Kir Royale (champagne and creme de cassis) and go to the outdoor terrace which faces the Champs Elysees. Try to time it for the Illuminations light show on the hour. You are a distance from the tower here but it’s still a very pretty Eiffel Tower view, and drinks are more reasonably priced at CloudM than the fancier hotels nearby.
Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise
I had done a Seine river cruise on a past trip, but a daytime one. I decided to try a dinner cruise with Bateaux Parisiens hoping to enjoy wonderful evening views of Paris from the river. The pier is very near the tower, but the cruise began by heading away from it. So it wasn’t until the end of the trip that we got to really enjoy a view of the Eiffel Tower. It was well worth the wait; it was spectacular. Even with a little rain on this September evening, the tower appeared shimmering on the banks of the Seine during the last few minutes of the cruise. With its reflection in the water the view was lovely and we were able to enjoy it as we disembarked, as well.
I thought the food, service and views along the river were fantastic. The Seine River Cruise was one of my favourite experiences on my recent trip to Paris. (Full review coming). You can learn more here: Bateaux Parisiens.
No matter how many times I visit Paris, whether I’m with my husband or solo as I was on my most recent trip, I never tire of seeing the Eiffel Tower. At sunset from one of Paris’s beautiful bridges or watching it sparkle against the night sky, I get that “pinch me, I’m in Paris” feeling each and every time.
Paris: Where to Stay Near the Eiffel Tower
Le Dokhan's in the Stylish 16th
I loved our stay at Le Dokhan’s a charming Belle Epoque-Style hotel in the 16th arrondissement. The rooms are beautiful and the service was excellent. It has Paris’s cutest elevator made from vintage Louis Vuitton steamer trunks and an adorable champagne bar. If you don’t drink champagne, the included continental breakfast is served here as well. And it’s a walk to the Eiffel Tower. (Full review coming soon.)
Affordable Paris - Hotel Muguet with Eiffel Tower Views
If you are looking for a budget-friendly option near the Eiffel Tower, I stayed most recently at the Hotel Muguet. It’s a three-star hotel where you can reserve for as little as 130 euros a night in high season – less at other times. If you want to splurge, some rooms offer Eiffel Tower views (these are more expensive). I thought it was great value with comfortable, well-appointed rooms, and a wonderful location.
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Beyond Paris
If you would like to explore France beyond Paris, I highly recommend the Loire Valley because it is so easy to reach from Paris and the lovely countryside is filled with beautiful chateaux to explore. For more information, see my travel guide to the Loire Valley and my favourite French country hotel, Le Moulin Brégeon (pictured above).
