Last Updated on 23rd September 2021 by Sophie Nadeau

There’s nowhere in the world quite like Paris. With its Parisian rooftops, wide open boulevards and streetside cafés, it’s perhaps no surprise that the city has inspired, fascinated and even become a muse for some of the greatest artists and writers of all time.

It is often said that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the World. And they’re not wrong. Writing a post on Le Marais recently, I mentioned how Haussmann completely revamped Paris in the 19th Century so that much of it looked very similar. What better way to gaze at the grand boulevards than from a bird’s eye point of view? So here are some of the very best views of Paris (what you’re doing for sunrise tomorrow is totally sorted!)

My introduction to Parisian Rooftops came about on a cold, frosty day. The kind of day where you can see your breath in the air and experience a slight sense of panic when you forget your hat and gloves.

We’d taken a rickety elevator to the fifth floor, and walked the final set of stairs to the sixth. Many Parisian buildings function like this, whereby the final floor often doesn’t have elevator access.

From there, we located the less than stable (in my opinion) ladder and affixed it to the loft hatch. From this point onwards, it would be a short, steep climb up before we emerged onto the rooftop…

Best Parisian Rooftop Bars in Paris Open to the Public:

Now, of course, we had permission to visit the rooftop in question. But if you want your own rooftop adventure, then there are plenty of rooftop bars in the city with a fantastic view (as well as other sites as outlined below)…

Deli-Cieux Bar, Printemps

66 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France

Located at the top of Printemps Department store, and not far from the Opera House, the Deli-Cieux Café Bar above Printemps is the perfect place to pick up a coffee…. All the while admiring the Eiffel Tower, of course! From here, you can see some of the most iconic rooftops that Paris has to offer; including that of the Opera House and all of those over towards the Sacré-Coeur.

Café Richelieu (Café Angelina)

Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France

Located above the iconic Louvre Pyramid, sip on an espresso and enjoy one of the most famous courtyards in the world… There’s indoor and outdoor seating, meaning that it’s possible to enjoy a view over the Louvre Courtyard no matter what the weather!

Bar Le Perchoir

Hip, trendy and chic, Bar Le Perchoir is located in the middle of Le Marais, not far from Hôtel de Ville. The open-air bar is open on a daily basis and offers 360-degree views over the city. Pick up a glass of French wine here and admire the view with your friends.

L’Oiseau Blanc – Rooftop restaurant & La terrasse Kléber

19 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France

Not far from the Eiffel Tower and offering fantastic views over the city, there’s an indoor and outdoor area, making the rooftop restaurant and bar perfect for all weather situations.

Terrasse de l’hôtel Raphael

17 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France

Just next door to l’Oiseau Blanc, you’ll find the Raphael Hotel terrace. And with one of the best views over Paris, it should come as no surprise that food, and indeed drinks, here do not come cheap. With glasses of wine starting at over €15, this is not somewhere to come on a whim, but more of the kind of place to save for a special occasion…

Best Parisian Rooftops in Paris Open to the Public:

If you can’t/ don’t want to visit a bar or hotel, then there are plenty of other options available to you. After all, some of the best Parisian Rooftop Terraces come in the form of shopping centres and museums. Here are some of my favourite terraces the city of love has to offer:

Galeries Lafayette

40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France

This rooftop terrace sits atop of one of the city’s most famous department stores. Located in an easy to reach location, not far from the Louvre, it’s accessible via a set of escalators on the 6th floor of the building. It’s also worth noting that a trip to Galeries Lafayette can easily be combined with a visit to the nearby Printemps rooftop terrace. Although both rooftops are in similar locations, they offer completely different views over the city.

Georges Pompidou Centre

Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France

This art museum sits squarely in the middle of Le Marais and is home to plenty of modern masterpieces. Not only is it home to the likes of Picasso and Braques, but it is also the location of one of the best Parisian rooftops in the city. From here, you can garner a bird’s eye perspective of the Notre Dame Cathedral, among other iconic Parisian sites.

Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

You often have to queue to visit the top of Notre Dame de Paris for a couple of hours, meaning that this trip is only worth it if you have plenty of time in Paris. Located at the very heart of Île de la Cité, Notre Dame sits on its own, separated from the rest of the city by the Seine. Wait in line to climb the tower, and you’ll come face to face with some of the site’s infamous gargoyles, and gigcantic bells.

Arc de Triomphe

Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Of all the Parisian rooftops on this list, the Arc de Triomphe offers my favourite view of the city. I’ve said it before, and no doubt I’ll say it again, but one of my all time favourite views over the city comes in the form of the Arc de Triomphe. And with views over the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs Élysées, it’s hard not to fall in love with the gorgeous view…