Best spots in Paris to watch the sunset (whatever your budget)

Depending on the weather and time of year, Paris can have some AMAZING sunsets. I’m a BIG sunset lover, so I am always on the hunt for the best spots to view them across the city. But since Paris is pretty densely packed and is mostly flat, you really have to know the right places to go. From rooftop bars to free vantage points along the river, here are the best spots to watch the sunset in Paris.

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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)

Best free places to watch the sunset in Paris

This is an image of a bridge going over the Seine River with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. There is a beautiful golden light reflecting off the water, which shows it's a great place to watch the sunset in Paris.

Port du Louvre, 1st Arrondissement

The Seine River is very curvy, so there aren’t sunset views along all points of it. But this very spot on the Right Bank is one of my absolute FAVORITES. As you might guess by the name, it’s close to the Louvre and is actually the walkway along the Seine River that runs alongside the world-famous museum.

To be a little more precise, I usually sit down on the river’s edge right before the Pont des Arts bridge, this way you get a GORGEOUS view of the sunset with the bridge in the foreground AND the Eiffel Tower in the distance. If sunset is close to the start of a new hour, you’ll also get to enjoy the tower twinkling. It does this for five minutes every hour from dusk to midnight or 1 am, depending on the time of year. This definitely adds some extra magic.

Port du Louvre | WA

This is an image of the pillars in the Concorde Square in Paris with the backdrop of a burnt orange sunset.

Place de la Concorde, 1st Arrondissement

The largest square in Paris has one of the most FANTASTIC sunset views. Found at the western end of the Tuileries Gardens, and towards the end of Day 1 of our Paris Itinerary, Place de la Concorde is in the spot right before the river turns, so from the corner of Tuileries and the square, you’ve got a straight-on view of the sunset. What makes this place really amazing is that the view features the Egyptian Obelisk, other lovely statues in the square, and the Eiffel Tower. I sometimes take a detour to this spot if I’m in the area at the end of the day, if I think there’s going to be a great sunset.

Place de la Concorde | WA

This is a picture of a famous Paris bridge that goes over the Seine. It is a great spot to watch the sunset on, as you can see the orange haze above it in this image.

Alexandre III Bridge, 8th Arrondissement

Paris’s glitziest bridge is even more spectacular at sunset. Built for the World’s Fair of 1900, it’s a super-decorated bridge with gilded statues and really pretty lamp posts. Since it faces west, you can catch gorgeous views of the sunset ON the bridge or to the east of it, down by the water’s edge, and with the bridge in it. And to make it extra special, you can watch the sunset with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Alexandre III Bridge | WA

This is an image of a bridge in Paris with boats going underneath it across the Seine. Behind it, you can see the Notre Dame and a beautiful pink sunset.

Pont de la Tournelle, 5th Arrondissement

Of all the free best sunset spots in Paris, this one does not have a direct view of the sunset, BUT it’s still pretty special. This is a stretch of the riverbank that has a large, flat walkway down by the river. It’s a FANTASTIC picnic spot, so you might want to bring along some snacks. The view includes the back of Notre-Dame, the sparkling river, and a beautiful golden sky, which is really poetic. This spot is also where you’ll find more Parisians and fewer tourists.

Pont de la Tournelle

This is an image of Paris's sprawling city taken from the top of a hill with a prominent centre view of the Eiffel Tower and a burnt orange sunset around it.

Belvedere de Belleville, 20th Arrondissement

If you want an alternative view of the sunset, hike up to this plaza above Belleville Park. The Belleville neighborhood is on one of the highest hills in Paris, and the Belvedere lookout faces southwest. This means its sunset vista includes a wide view of the whole city with the Eiffel Tower peeking up in the middle. You can also admire the sunset over a drink on the terrace of Moncoeur Belleville, a great local cafe just behind the plaza. This spot is more for locals in the know, so it’s likely the most original sunset spot on this list– and the least busy.

Belvedere de Belleville | WA

Rooftop bars where you can watch the sunset in Paris

This is an image of Paris from a rooftop. You can see the entire city sprawling out in front of you with a pretty pink sunset behind it.

Terrass Hotel Rooftop, 18th Arrondissement

This great rooftop bar in Montmartre has the most STUNNING sunsets. With its wide open view of the south side of the city, it’s got a huge panorama of pink or golden sky when there’s a beautiful sunset. The drinks are a tad pricey, at around 18 euros for a cocktail, but it’s totally worth it to enjoy the gorgeous views. Plan to arrive on the early side, so you can snag one of the tables right next to the edge of the rooftop – these have the best views.

Terrass Hotel Rooftop | Open year-round | WA

This is an image of Paris from above with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. The backdrop is a hazy orange and yellow sky.

Image Courtesy of Hotel des Arts

Rooftop Hotel des Arts, 6th Arrondissement

The Left Bank doesn’t have a lot of rooftop bars, but this nice one in the 6th is great for sunset lovers, since it faces west. The lovely vista includes the rooftops of Saint-Germain and the Eiffel Tower. The bar itself has nice, relaxed seating and good vibes, so it’s a great place for apéritif, a before-dinner drink, before going off for a meal in the area. I’ve included some great dinner options in Saint Germain on Day 2 of our Paris Itinerary. In summer, it’s a good idea to make a reservation in advance as this is a popular spot.

Rooftop Hotel des Arts | Closed from November to mid-April | WA

This is an image of Paris from above with a lit-up, sparkling Eiffel Tower in the centre. There is also a wonderful pink sunset in the distance.

Image Courtesy of Skybar Paris

Skybar at the Tour Montparnasse, 15th Arrondissement

Instead of paying for a ticket to the viewing deck on the Montparnasse Tower, your money can go towards a drink here at the bar on the 32nd floor of the nearby Pullman Hotel. Since it’s up so high, you’ve got a super wide view of the whole city and a pretty close-up view of the Eiffel Tower. So it’s definitely one of the best rooftop bars for sunset views in Paris. It’s a little expensive, at 20 to 25 euros for cocktails, but you can take your time sipping on your stylish drink as you’re taking in the sunset.

Skybar at the Tour Montparnasse | Open year-round

This is an image of a rooftop bar in Paris which has an amazing view of Montmartre and Paris's beautiful cobblestone district.

Image Courtesy of Khayma Rooftop Bar via Instagram

Khayma Rooftop Bar, 10th Arrondissement

For more affordable sunset cocktails, go to this rooftop on the top of the hip Generator hostel. Open to non-guests of the hostel, it’s got fun vibes and a crowd of locals and international travelers. The ambiance heats up on weekend nights when there’s usually a DJ. Although it doesn’t have picture-perfect sunset views, it’s still really nice here, and the vista includes Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur. It’s very close to the cool Canal St-Martin, which is a nice place to stroll, bar hop, or grab a bite.

Khayma Rooftop Bar | Closed from November to mid-April

This is an image of Paris from a rooftop with views of the Seine and its surrounds with a beautiful orange sunset behind it.

Skybar of the CitizenM Gare de Lyon, 12th Arrondissement

Located on the top floor of the trendy CitizenM Gare de Lyon hotel, this bar is a bit of a lesser-known, but it’s a GREAT place to enjoy the sunset. Since the hotel is right on the side of the river and it has massive windows all around, there’s a huge panorama of the city. It also faces west, so the view includes the sunset and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. The drinks are too expensive, which is another plus. After taking in the sunset, you could walk over to Ground Control, a cool bar within former trainyard buildings that’s included on Day 5 of our Paris Itinerary.

Skybar of the CitizenM Gare de Lyon | Open year-round

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