Most romantic views and lookouts in Paris

Every couple needs that picture-perfect photograph with the famous Paris skyline and the Eiffel Tower stretched out behind you.

Be it the golden glow of morning, the shimmer of the afternoon, the dazzling colours of sunset or the diamond-sparkle of Paris at night, these top 6 locations put you and your darling in the perfect place to catch the show in the City of Light.

Tour de Montparnasse

The only other building that rivals the iconic Eiffel Tower for dominance of the Paris skyline is the Tour de Montparnasse.

Though it is occasionally derided as a bit of an eyesore by Parisian purists, from its top-floor terrace 689 feet up, you are gifted with 360 degrees of unimpaired views of Paris. At these dizzying heights, the city is laid out like a map beneath you and the sounds of the city are barely a whisper, making for a picture-perfect intimate moment.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Share a view with some of Paris’ stoniest inhabitants atop the Notre Dame Cathedral. If you can stomach the 387 steps to the top, its easy to understand why Quasimodo wouldn’t want to come down from this tower: the view from the stone-laced parapets of this famous Parisian monument is unmatchable.

In the evening, the rooftops of the Île-de-la-Cité gleam in the sun that sets just behind the Eiffel Tower and lights the sky on fire: an ideal place to savour the romance. 

Square du Vert-Galant

This little park at the tip of the Île-de-la-Cité is unbeatable for anyone who has a fear of heights. Like the prow of a ship, this garden juts into the Seine and is the very heart of the city and is ideal for curling up on a bench with your lover amongst flowers and trees and the gleam of the Seine.

With the river on either side of you, the city sounds retreat behind the sounds of birds and the rustle of leaves while the lights of the city swirl around you.

Centre Georges Pompidou

If art is your thing, try the Centre Pompidou. The contemporary art gallery, with its brightly coloured and twisted facades houses a fantastic collection of artistic installations, sculptures and paintings.

And from the upper floors, open terraces let you and your sweetheart escape to views of the city from amongst the copper rooftops, where, after the sun sets, you can marvel at the brilliant lights of the Eiffel tower.

The Sacré Coeur Basilica

For a view that will take your breath away but leave your wallet untouched, try wandering up the quirky streets of Montmartre to the Sacré Coeur Basilica.

Once Paris’ famed arts quarter, Montmartre still retains its romantic charm and the cafés and little bistros along the way are perfect for a cosy intimate meal. From the top of the hill (there’s a funicular most of the way up, for those who don’t feel like taking the stairs), Paris twinkles romantically below while the towering basilica glows behind you.

Parc de Belleville

To get a superlative view without the crowd, you can’t beat the Parc de Belleville. A bit off the beaten tourist track, stroll through the sun-dappled leaves of the park, through the dazzling flowers to the lookout at the top.

Here all the major sites of Paris are laid out before you as the sun drops behind them and the glimmering light-show of Paris at night takes hold.