Best places to watch the sunset in Paris

The best free sunset spots in Paris are the Sacré-Cœur steps, the Trocadéro and the Pont Alexandre III. For paid views, pick the Eiffel Tower summit, the Arc de Triomphe roof or a Seine cruise, and arrive 30 minutes before sunset.

The steps below the Sacré-Cœur basilica look south over the whole city from the top of Montmartre. The sun goes down on the right of the view while the rooftops turn gold, and on clear evenings the Eiffel Tower stands out to the southwest. Expect a crowd on every fine evening, with buskers, picnics on the lawns and sellers working the stairs, so keep bags closed. In summer, climb up 45 minutes early to find a seat on the upper steps. Stay after sunset to watch the lights come on across Paris.

Faces: South and southwest over central Paris

Crowds: Busy from spring to autumn, packed on weekends

Nearest metro: Anvers (line 2), then the climb up through the gardens

The esplanade between the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot looks southeast across the Seine at the Eiffel Tower. The sun sets behind the viewer and lights the tower orange from the top down. It is the classic Eiffel Tower sunset photo, and it draws the biggest sunset crowd in Paris, with wedding shoots, tour groups and souvenir sellers along the balustrade. Stay on for the first sparkle at the start of the hour. Then walk down through the Trocadéro gardens toward the Pont d'Iéna for a closer angle on the lit tower.

Faces: Southeast, Eiffel Tower in the frame

Best time: The last 30 minutes of daylight and the first sparkle after dark

Nearest metro: Trocadéro (lines 6 and 9)

This bridge links the Invalides to the Grand Palais, and its downstream side looks west along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. From May to August the sun sets to the right of the tower, and in winter to its left. Either way, the river, the gilded statues on the bridge pillars and the tower all fit in one frame, which suits photographers who want water in the shot. Crowds stay lighter than at the Trocadéro, though photographers line the parapet during the blue hour. The Left Bank quay below the bridge gives a calmer seat close to the water.

Faces: West along the Seine, Eiffel Tower in the frame

Crowds: Moderate, busier at blue hour

Nearest metro: Invalides (lines 8 and 13, RER C)

Steps lead down from the Pont Neuf to this small garden on the western tip of the Île de la Cité. The view runs west toward the Pont des Arts, with the Louvre on the right bank, and it centres on the river and its bridges rather than on the Eiffel Tower. On warm evenings Parisians bring a bottle and sit along the stone edge above the water. The city lists the garden as open around the clock, but it closes in strong wind or bad weather. Space on the tip runs out on summer weekends.

Faces: West down the Seine

Crowds: Locals more than tour groups, full on warm weekends

Nearest metro: Pont Neuf (line 7)

The lookout at the corner of rue Piat and rue des Envierges sits at the top of the park, on a hill that rises to 108 metres. It faces southwest across the city to the Eiffel Tower on the far skyline. Fewer visitors make the trip than to Montmartre, so a place at the railing comes without a fight. The park gates close in the evening, at 19:30 in October and earlier in winter. In June and July, when sunset falls close to 22:00, check the times posted at the gate before planning around this spot.

Faces: Southwest, Eiffel Tower on the horizon

Crowds: Light, more locals than tourists

Nearest metro: Pyrénées (line 11) for the top, Couronnes (line 2) for the lower entrance

The free rooftop terrace of the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann store looks over the Opéra Garnier to the Eiffel Tower in the southwest. The Sacré-Cœur sits on the hill behind, and the store dome rises beside the terrace. The roof follows store hours, opening at 10:00 from Monday to Saturday and at 11:00 on Sundays, and it closes at 20:00. A sunset visit therefore works only from late September until the clocks go forward at the end of March. Staff close the terrace in rain or strong wind, and in winter an ice rink takes over part of the roof.

Faces: Southwest to the Eiffel Tower, north to the Sacré-Cœur

Best time: October to March, before the 20:00 closing

Nearest metro: Chaussée d'Antin-La Fayette (lines 7 and 9)

The free terrace on the roof of the Institut du monde arabe looks across the Seine to the apse of Notre-Dame and along the Right Bank. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. A sunset here works only from the end of October to early February, when the sun goes down before closing and the cathedral darkens against the sky. Few tourists know about the terrace, which keeps it calm. Staff clear it at 18:00, and it stays shut on Mondays.

Faces: West over the Seine to Notre-Dame

Best time: November to January, Tuesday to Sunday

Nearest metro: Jussieu (lines 7 and 10)

Photo: "Notre-Dame de Paris and the Pont de la Tournelle from the terrace of the Institut du monde arabe" by Romainbehar (CC0).

From the top floor, visitors watch the sun go down over the western half of Paris, toward the Bois de Boulogne and the towers of La Défense. The Eiffel Tower itself is the one sight missing from the view. The tower opens every day and its lifts keep running past the latest summer sunset, so the summit works in every season. Book a time slot 60 to 90 minutes before sunset, because security checks and the lift change at the second floor take time. Expect the top to close at short notice in high wind.

Faces: All directions, sunset to the west and northwest

Crowds: Queues for the summit lift at the second floor

Nearest metro: Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or RER C Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel

After 284 steps, the roof terrace of the Arc de Triomphe puts the Eiffel Tower to the southwest and the Champs-Élysées to the east. Twelve avenues spread out from the Place de l'Étoile below, and the Avenue de la Grande Armée leads the eye west toward La Défense. The monument stays open until 22:30 from October to March and until 23:00 from April to September. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing, so even June sunsets fit. A lift serves visitors who need it, and ceremonies or heatwaves can change the hours at short notice.

Faces: All directions, Eiffel Tower to the southwest

Crowds: Moderate, a queue at the stairs on summer evenings

Nearest metro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile (lines 1, 2 and 6, RER A)

A sunset cruise passes the Louvre, the Pont Alexandre III and the Eiffel Tower as the light fades. Standard sightseeing cruises last about an hour. Operators also run champagne and dinner sailings from piers near the Eiffel Tower and the Pont Alexandre III, which suit couples who want the sunset and the meal in one booking. Pick a departure 30 to 45 minutes before sunset for golden light on the way out and the lit tower on the way back. Seats on the open upper deck go first, and that deck turns cold after dark from October to April.

Best time: A departure 30 to 45 minutes before sunset

Crowds: Full boats on summer evenings, book ahead