4 of the best viewpoints in Paris are free: the Galeries Lafayette terrace, the Sacré-Cœur esplanade, the Parc de Belleville and the Institut du Monde Arabe terrace. Among the paid ones, the Arc de Triomphe (€16 from Oct to Mar, in Nov 2026) and the Notre-Dame towers (€16) cost less than half the top of the Eiffel Tower (€36.70). The Montparnasse Tower is closed.
| Free | Galeries Lafayette (Mon–Sat 10am–7:30pm; Sun 11am–7:30pm), Sacré-Cœur esplanade, Parc de Belleville and the Institut du Monde Arabe terrace (Tue–Sun 10am–6pm) |
|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | 2nd floor €23.50 by lift or €14.80 by stairs; top €36.70 (Nov 2026) |
| Arc de Triomphe | €16 Oct–Mar; €22 Apr–Sep; 284 steps (Nov 2026) |
| Notre-Dame towers | €16, 424 steps, timed entry (Nov 2026) |
| Sacré-Cœur dome | €8 adult; €5 up to age 15 (Sep 2026) |
| Closed | Montparnasse Tower (since Mar 31, 2026) and Centre Pompidou (2025 to 2030) |
| Sunset | 4:56pm on Dec 21; 9:57pm on Jun 21 (Paris time) |
Status checked on Nov 8, 2026 on official channels. Prices and hours checked on official websites.
Where can you see Paris from above for free?
The best free view is the Galeries Lafayette terrace, on the 8th floor of the Haussmann store, which is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7:30pm and on Sundays from 11am to 7:30pm, according to the Galeries Lafayette website. From there you can see the Eiffel Tower to the west, the Sacré-Cœur to the north and the Opéra Garnier right in front.
Dica: Aproveite também para fazer estes passeios em Paris
Tour pelo exterior da catedral de Notre Dame + Ingresso da cripta . Duração: 2 horas
Disneyland Paris Duração: 3 horas ou mais
Passeio de barco pelo Sena. Duração: 1h
Ingresso do 3º andar da Torre Eiffel. Duração: 2 a 3 horas
Ingresso do Palácio de Versalhes. Duração: 2 a 3 horas
Veja mais passeio em Paris aqui.
No booking or purchase required: you go up by lift or escalator from any floor, and the terrace may close in heavy rain or wind. The nearest metro is Chaussée d’Antin – La Fayette (lines 7 and 9).
The other three free options cover hours the store doesn’t:
- Sacré-Cœur esplanade: the basilica is free to enter and, from the forecourt in front, Paris opens up at your feet; in the late afternoon it is where the sunset pays off most. The climb up Montmartre is by stairs, with the funicular as an alternative (Sortiraparis, Sep 2026).
- Parc de Belleville: the Willy Ronis belvedere, at the highest point of the park, gives a panorama of eastern Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background (Sortiraparis, Apr 2026). In 2026/27 the park opens 8am to 5:45pm on weekdays and 9am to 5:45pm on weekends, from Oct 25, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 (City of Paris).
- Institut du Monde Arabe: the panoramic terrace shows the chevet of Notre-Dame and the right bank of the Seine, with free entry Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm (Institut du Monde Arabe); the institute is closed on Mondays.
Seasonal terraces, such as the one at Printemps Haussmann, were not checked for 2026; for the end of the year, see Christmas in Paris 2026. Between April and October, the Philharmonie de Paris belvedere (Wednesday to Sunday) and the Panthéon colonnade also open to the public (Sortiraparis, Apr 2026).
How much do Paris’s paid viewpoints cost in 2026?
In Nov 2026 visitors pay from €8 (Sacré-Cœur dome) to €36.70 (top of the Eiffel Tower) to see Paris from above, and none of these viewpoints charges more to visitors from outside the European Economic Area. The table gives the adult price of each, with the official source.
| Viewpoint | Adult (Nov 2026) | Effort | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower, 2nd floor | €23.50 lift; €14.80 stairs (Nov 2026) | Lift or stairs | Timed entry |
| Eiffel Tower, top | €36.70 by lift; €28 with stairs to the 2nd floor (Nov 2026) | Lift | Timed entry |
| Arc de Triomphe | €16 (Oct–Mar); €22 (Apr–Sep) (Nov 2026) | 284 steps | Recommended |
| Notre-Dame towers | €16 (Nov 2026) | 424 steps | Timed entry |
| Sacré-Cœur dome (Sep 2026) | €8; €5 up to age 15 (Nov 2026) | About 280 to 300 steps, no lift | No booking |
| Montparnasse Tower | Closed | – | – |
The Eiffel Tower fares apply to visits until Jan 10, 2027; from Jan 11, 2027 a new price list takes effect, so check before buying for next year. The full table of Paris tickets, including the Louvre and Versailles, is in Paris ticket prices in 2026, and if you are putting together a 4-day itinerary you can compare it with the Paris Museum Pass, which covers the Arc de Triomphe and the Notre-Dame towers.
The Notre-Dame towers are the cheapest paid viewpoint that puts the Seine and the Eiffel Tower in the same frame. See the history and reopening of Notre-Dame before you climb.
Is the Montparnasse Tower open?
No: the Montparnasse Tower viewpoint has been closed since Mar 31, 2026, because the tower is empty for works and asbestos removal, and there is no reopening date. In Jul 2026 the co-owners abandoned the renovation project of about €800 million.
It is still common to find Montparnasse tickets on sale on old websites; ignore them. The view Montparnasse gave, with the Eiffel Tower framed, can now be had at the Galeries Lafayette (free) or the Notre-Dame towers. The Centre Pompidou, which also had a terrace, is closed until 2030. See Montparnasse Tower closed for the current situation.
Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame: which view is worth it?
To see the Eiffel Tower, choose the Arc de Triomphe or the Notre-Dame towers, both at €16 (Nov 2026); for the experience of going up the Eiffel Tower itself, pay for the 2nd floor at €23.50. The top (€36.70) is only worth it if the sky is clear and you want the highest point in the city.
| I want… | Choose | Cost (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| A free view with no effort | Galeries Lafayette | Free |
| Sunset without paying | Sacré-Cœur esplanade or Belleville | Free |
| See the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées | Arc de Triomphe | €16 (€22 Apr–Sep) (Nov 2026) |
| See the Seine, the Île de la Cité and the gargoyles | Notre-Dame towers | €16 (Nov 2026) |
| Go up the Eiffel Tower itself | 2nd floor by lift | €23.50 (Nov 2026) |
| Avoid steps and pay little | Galeries Lafayette or the Eiffel Tower’s 2nd floor | Free or €23.50 (Nov 2026) |
The Arc de Triomphe terrace sits at the top of Place de l’Étoile. The official website says that, for now, access is only via the 284 steps, because of modernization works (Nov 2026). To book a time slot with an English voucher, there is the Arc de Triomphe ticket on Civitatis.
What is the best time to see Paris from above?
The best time is one hour before sunset, which falls at 4:56pm in late December and 9:57pm in late June (sunrise-sunset.org, Paris time). With the low light you see Paris by day and the city lit up in the same climb.
| Season | Sunset in Paris | Viewpoint that fits |
|---|---|---|
| December 21 | 4:56pm | Galeries Lafayette, Belleville (they close after sunset) |
| March 20 | 7:02pm | Galeries Lafayette, Sacré-Cœur esplanade |
| June 21 | 9:57pm | Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur esplanade |
| September 22 | 7:49pm | Sacré-Cœur esplanade, Arc de Triomphe |
The Galeries Lafayette close at 7:30pm, so in summer sunset is already past closing time; to see Paris lit up, book the Eiffel Tower’s last slot or stay on the Sacré-Cœur esplanade. For winter, see what changes in Paris in winter. To sleep with the tower in your window, see the hotels with a view of the Eiffel Tower or compare hotels in Paris on Booking.com.
Is there a Ferris wheel or balloon in Paris?
The 60-metre Grande Roue de Paris operated in 2026 as part of the Fête des Tuileries, from Jun 20 to Aug 23, in the Tuileries Garden, with views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and Montmartre (Sortiraparis, Jun 2026). Dates and price for 2027 have not been checked; see on site.
The other sightseeing viewpoint is the Ballon de Paris Generali, a captive balloon in André-Citroën Park, with a 10 to 12 minute flight, sold on Civitatis (Nov 2026); check the current price. The ride depends on the weather.
How much does a day of viewpoints in Paris cost?
A day of viewpoints costs from zero to €76.70 per person, depending on the itinerary. In torreeiffel.com.br’s Nov 2026 check, three paid views add up to €40 (Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame towers and Sacré-Cœur dome); with the top of the Eiffel Tower, the total reaches €76.70.
| Itinerary | What it includes | Total per adult (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Free only | Galeries Lafayette, Sacré-Cœur, Belleville, Institut du Monde Arabe | Free |
| Budget | Galeries Lafayette + Arc de Triomphe | €16 (Nov 2026) |
| Complete | Arc + Notre-Dame towers + Sacré-Cœur dome | €40 (Nov 2026) |
| Complete with the Eiffel Tower | The three above + top of the Eiffel Tower | €76.70 (Nov 2026) |
What nobody tells you about Paris’s viewpoints
- Steps: the Arc de Triomphe has 284 steps (no lift for now), the Notre-Dame towers 424 and the Sacré-Cœur about 280 to 300; with small children or reduced mobility, prefer the Galeries Lafayette or the Eiffel Tower by lift.
- Timed entry: the Eiffel Tower and the Notre-Dame towers require a time slot; without an online booking you lose the day or face a queue.
- Store closed, terrace closed: the Galeries Lafayette terrace follows the store’s hours (11am on Sundays) and may close in heavy rain or wind.
- Monday: the Institut du Monde Arabe and its terrace are closed.
- Early closing at the park: the Parc de Belleville closes at 5:45pm from Oct 25, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, close to winter sunset.
- Montparnasse tickets: the tower is closed; don’t pay a reseller for a ticket.
Before the FAQ, see the bookable activities in Paris:
Frequently asked questions
Is the Galeries Lafayette terrace free?
The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann terrace is free and requires no purchase: just go up to the 8th floor by lift or escalator, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7:30pm and on Sundays from 11am to 7:30pm, according to the store’s website.
Can you take a lift up the Arc de Triomphe?
The Arc de Triomphe has access only via the 284 steps in Nov 2026, because of modernization works, according to the official website. The ticket costs €16 from October to March.
Is the top of the Eiffel Tower worth paying for?
The top of the Eiffel Tower costs €36.70 by lift in Nov 2026, €13.20 more than the 2nd floor (€23.50). It is worth it for the highest point in the city; if you just want to see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe (€16) and the Notre-Dame towers (€16) are cheaper.
What is the best free viewpoint in Paris?
The Galeries Lafayette terrace is the easiest free viewpoint in Paris: it is in the center, shows the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Cœur and the Opéra Garnier, and requires no booking. For sunset, the Sacré-Cœur esplanade and the Parc de Belleville work better.
When does the Montparnasse Tower reopen?
The Montparnasse Tower has no reopening date: the viewpoint is closed and, in Jul 2026, the co-owners abandoned the renovation project of about €800 million.
Conclusion
Start with the Galeries Lafayette, which cost nothing, and save your money for a single paid viewpoint: the Arc de Triomphe (€16, Nov 2026) if you want to see the Eiffel Tower and the avenues, or the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower itself (€23.50) if you want the experience of going up. Forget Montparnasse. To build the rest of your itinerary, use the guide to Paris ticket prices and the Eiffel Tower guide. torreeiffel.com.br updates prices every season.
How we checked this information
Prices and hours checked on Nov 8, 2026 on the websites of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame towers, the Galeries Lafayette, the Institut du Monde Arabe and the City of Paris. The Sacré-Cœur dome price is from Sep 2026 (Sortiraparis) and the Ballon de Paris price is from Civitatis. Photos: Pexels, free use.