Top 5 parks where you can watch the sunset in Paris (accessible by public transport)
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There are moments in Paris that are difficult to forget. A sunset on the rooftops, the golden light brushing against the Seine, the long shadows in a silent park. These moments cannot be entirely improvised; they are preparing. Here are five spots, from the most famous to the most confidential, to see Paris fall into the night in its best light. On the programme: Buttes-Chaumont, Belleville, Saint-Cloud, Trocadéro, Terrasse du Fécheray.
1. Buttes-Chaumont Park
The sunset on the hilltop island
The Buttes-Chaumont park (19th arrondissement) is the anti-Tuileries. No symmetry, no straight paths, no bed of well-behaved flowers. Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann had it built in 1867 on former quarries and rubbish dumps to offer a "natural" park to the inhabitants of the north-east of Paris.
The result: artificial cliffs, a cave with stalactites, a lake, a suspension bridge, and above all, at the top of a 30-metre-high island, the Temple of the Sibyl. The Sibyl, in Roman mythology, was a prophetess. Here, she predicts a spectacular sunset.
Must do
- Go up to the Temple of the Sibyl for a 360° view of Paris, Montmartre and La Défense: the best panorama of the north-east of Paris.
- Explore the artificial cave at the foot of the cliffs: stalactites, underground water, Jules Verne atmosphere guaranteed.
- Cross the suspension bridge over the lake, with a bird's-eye view of the water below.
The Île-de-France Mobilités tip
Arrive 30 minutes before sunset and go straight up to the Temple of the Sibyl. The low light on the lake below and the rooftops of Paris in the background are some of the most spectacular images of the capital, while most visitors to the park stay downstairs.
How to get there?
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, 75019
- Metro - line 7bis, "Buttes Chaumont" station: direct exit to the main entrance, 2 min walk to the lake.
- Metro - line 7bis, station "Botzaris": south entrance, ideal for going directly up to the Temple of the Sibyl.
- Metro - line 5, "Laumière" station: north entrance; Walk along the lake to reach the island in 10 minutes.
2. Belleville Park
Panoramic view from an amphitheater overlooking the capital
The Parc de Belleville (20th arrondissement) is the highest park in Paris: 108 meters above sea level, barely less than the Butte Montmartre.
On its 4.5 hectares on a slope, an artificial waterfall tumbles down the terraces, vines produce a neighborhood wine harvested every autumn, and from the upper terrace, Paris unfolds in an amphitheater to the west. On a clear day, the Eiffel Tower, La Défense and the Butte Montmartre line up in the frame, as if placed there, on purpose.
What makes this spot unique: you sit on the slope, facing the city, as if in bleachers. The sunset is experienced collectively; the Parisians of the neighborhood bring their drinks and sandwiches. It is the least touristy spot on this list, and paradoxically the liveliest.
Must do
- The upper terrace: the best point of view, with benches facing west towards the Eiffel Tower.
- The artificial waterfall: it descends along the entire length of the park to a pond at the bottom, a pleasant visual axis against the light.
- The Belleville vineyard: a few rows of vines in the middle of the 20th century, a Parisian curiosity that few people know about.
The Île-de-France Mobilités tip
Come on a Friday night in the summer: the atmosphere on the upper terrace is more like a neighborhood picnic than a tourist spot. Bring something to snack on, sit down the slope and watch Paris gradually light up.
How to get there?
Parc de Belleville, 75020
- Metro - line 2, "Couronnes" station: 5 min walk up Rue de Belleville to the main entrance.
- Metro - line 11, "Pyrénées" station: high entrance to the park, you arrive directly at the level of the panoramic terrace without effort.
3. National Estate of Saint-Cloud
The Great Perspectives Bathed in Gold
The Domaine national de Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine) is Versailles without the crowds. Its 460 hectares classified as a Historic Monument are the former royal estate where Louis XIV lived before building Versailles. The castle burned down in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, but the gardens designed by André Le Nôtre have remained intact: large perspectives, ponds, and the restored Grande Cascade, one of the most beautiful fountains in Île-de-France.
At sunset, the grazing light transforms the paths into golden tunnels. The pools catch the sky on fire, and the view of the Seine loop from the high terraces is simply out of the ordinary.
Must do
- The Great Perspectives: the central aisles open onto a panorama of Paris in the distance. Take the time to turn over regularly; each view is a table.
- The Great Waterfall: 36 meters high, superimposed pools, baroque sculptures. On the days of impoundment, the spectacle is exceptional.
- The ruins of the castle: only the basement remains, but the romantic atmosphere of a castle that has disappeared in an intact royal park is unsettling.
The Île-de-France Mobilités tip
The estate is free and open until sunset. During the week, it is almost deserted. Climb up to the high terraces for the best light on the Seine and the meanders that shine against the light.
How to get there?
Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, 92210
- Train - line L from Paris Saint-Lazare or line U from La Défense: Saint-Cloud station, then a 15-minute walk up to the entrance on the city side.
- Metro - line 10, station "Boulogne - Pont de Saint-Cloud": exit "Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny" on the left side, then cross the bridge of Saint-Cloud
- Tram - line T2, stop "Parc de Saint-Cloud"
4. Place du Trocadéro
The unbeatable
Let's be honest: the Trocadero (16th arrondissement) is the most popular, the most photographed, the most "Paris of Paris" spot. And yet. There's a reason why millions of sunset photos on the Eiffel Tower have been taken from this exact location: it's objectively one of the most beautiful panoramas in the world.
The Palais de Chaillot, built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, has two symmetrical wings on either side of the large esplanade. Between them, the fountains of the gardens cascade down to the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower in the central axis and the Champ-de-Mars in the background. At sunset, the golden light on the metal of the structure is a special experience.
Must do
- The central esplanade between the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot: the frontal view of the Eiffel Tower, unstoppable.
- The terraced gardens: gradually descend towards the Seine as the sun goes down; Each level offers a different perspective.
- The twinkle of the Eiffel Tower: every hour after sunset, the tower sparkles for 5 minutes. From the Trocadero, this is the best place to see it.
The Île-de-France Mobilités tip
Avoid the central esplanade in high season (July-August): it is a compact crowd. Go down into the terraced gardens, 50 meters to the left or right, the view is almost identical and there are three times fewer people.
How to get there?
Place du Trocadéro, 75016
- Metro - lines 6 and 9, station "Trocadéro": when exiting, you are directly on the esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower.
- Bus - lines 22, 30, 32, 63, stop "Trocadéro": ideal option if you are going from the Pont d'Iéna or the Pont Alexandre III.
5. Terrace of the Fécheray
The secret spot suspended on Mont-Valérien
Direction Suresnes and the heights of Mont-Valérien, for our last recommendation. Perched at an altitude of more than 160 metres, the Terrasse du Fécheray is a belvedere built in the 1930s that offers one of the most impressive and least frequented panoramas in the region. No tourist trap merchants or compact crowds, but a 360-metre-long promontory facing the city.
Beneath your feet stands an imposing mineral structure leaning against the hill. In front of you, the view opens up 180° without any vis-à-vis: the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Montmartre, the Bois de Boulogne and the skyscrapers of La Défense line up in the same field of vision. The site also borders the Mont-Valérien park, its memorial to fighting France and the Jacques-Baumel promenade trail.
Must do
- The view at dusk: the sun sinks behind you and illuminates all the Parisian monuments.
- The Jacques-Baumel promenade: a 2.5 km route around the fortress to go around the site before the light goes down.
- The observation of contrasts: the rough cutting of the towers of La Défense on one side, the classic silhouette of the capital on the other.
- The Île-de-France Mobilités tip
- The terrace is exposed to the wind due to its altitude and its overhanging layout. Take a jacket or blanket, even in summer, to enjoy the show once the sun goes down.
How to get there?
Terrasse du Fécheray, Rue du Fécheray, 92150 Suresnes
- Train - lines L and U, Suresnes - Mont-Valérien station: 10 to 15 min walk uphill via Rue du Calvaire and Avenue Léon-Bernard.
- Tram - line T2, "Suresnes - Longchamp" station: walk back up or take bus 160, 241 or 360 to the "Cluseret - Hôpital Foch" stop to get closer to the summit.
The golden hour, instructions for use
A few simple rules to make sure you don't miss the show:
- Check the exact time of sunset on the day: it changes by several minutes from one week to the next.
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before. The most beautiful light is often that of the 20 minutes before bedtime, not the bedtime itself.
- Prefer slightly cloudy skies: clouds capture and redistribute golden light much better than a completely clear sky.
- Plan your journey on the Île-de-France Mobilités app.