You don’t have to be above sea level to soak in the sights of Paris. A leisurely Seine River cruise along the marina puts Parisian landmarks like the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Île de la Cité front and center. With boat tours running from morning to night, hop-on hop-off tickets, and candlelit dinner options, it’s a sightseeing opportunity that can suit any budget, interest, or itinerary.

Home to the catacombs of Paris, Hemingway’s favorite café, and high-end retail stores, Montparnasse also proudly offers one of the best—and most overlooked—viewpoints in town. Take the subway to this eclectic neighborhood and enjoy sweeping city views from the Montparnasse Observation Deck, including unobstructed visibility of the Eiffel Tower. Perched on the 56th floor at 689 feet (210 meters), the observation deck is second only to the Eiffel Tower’s summit as a Parisian lookout.

Masterworks by Kandinsky, Matisse, and Calle aren’t the only visually pleasing things to see at Centre Pompidou in Paris. This colorful modern art museum also boasts a spectacular panorama of the City of Love from its 5th floor. Don't forget to enjoy a leisurely drink at the museum’s terrace restaurant, Le Georges.

Marking the end of the Champs-Élysée, 164-feet (50-meters) above the 12-lane Place Charles de Gaulle roundabout, the Arc de Triomphe presents visitors with a sweeping yet intimate look at Paris. Make the 284-step ascent to the top by foot, or take an elevator to the attic room, then walk 46 steps to the terrace. Make sure to fit this postcard-worthy view into any sightseeing schedule.

Visitors who like a thrill can see the City of Love from several thousand feet in the air on a round-trip helicopter tour to the Palace of Versailles. Soar over La Défense, Montparnasse, Place du Trocadéro, and numerous other Paris landmarks and also get a bird's-eye view of King Louis XIV’s 17th-century residence, all within a couple of hours.

Resting atop Paris’ vibrant Montmartre, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica guarantees exceptional beauty from the outside, inside, and at the top. The 300-step climb to the basilica’s dome is well worth the reward of the panoramic view of the city. Before making the 272-foot (83-meter) ascent, be sure to explore the famous neighborhood and stop at one of its cafés.

Whether it’s from the 377-foot (103-meter) 2nd-level observation deck or the 906-foot (276-meter) summit, the 360-degree view from the Eiffel Tower is almost as iconic as the external view of the Iron Lady herself. Take the glass elevator to the top, and you’ll see the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Les Invalides, and other recognizable landmarks. With an abundance of skip-the-line, private, nighttime, and self-guided Eiffel Tower tours, reaching these heights couldn’t be simpler.