views of Paris

[Othersideofthechannel]

We are going to spend a day as tourists in Paris with the DCs.
Now that La Samaritaine has closed, what would you recommend for an inexpensive view of the city, including the Eiffel Tower? We probably won't have time to go up to Montmartre.

Tour du montparnasse. The metro station - Montparnasse has lots of lines linking to it.

I was also going to suggest The American bar which is also at the top of La Tour du montparnasse, (but the prices are (so you don't have to pay for the tourist visit)but it is astronomical for drinks, even with a fairly favourable euro.

• the last sentence was supposed to say:

"I was also going to suggest The American bar which is also at the top of La Tour du montparnasse,(so you don't have to pay for the tourist visit) but it is astronomical for drinks, even with a fairly favourable euro. "

Thanks. Kids go free up the Arc de Triomphe. And adults go up for almost the same price as a can of coke at the American bar.

We enjoyed La Defense, but I've no idea how much it cost. Perhaps it's a bit too far out as well.

View from Sacre Coeur at Montmartre is really great, and free! Just a hike. They do have a little train to haul you up there, but the stairs are more picturesque.

View of Eiffel Tower from Trocodero is the most famous, but it's not a bird eye, just across the river. Great photo opp.

One of the things I like best about Paris isn't the views from on high, but the views from bridges or as you walk down a street, turn a corner and suddenly see the Eiffel Tower or Sacre Coeur.

Oh! another great thing is go up to the museum in the top of Centre Pompidou, and there are great views from the cafe (and affordable coffees)

Not a view, but great thing in this heat is the Petit Palais, off the Champs Elysees. It is free and air conditioned, and has a secret cafe in the garden with really cool plastic Philippe Stark cups.

Centre Pompidou is a great idea.

Does anyone know the name of that little square just off the rue de Rivoli with the black and white columns of different heights?

Isn't that the Palais Royale gardens?

Thanks for the hint. It's the court of honour at the Palais Royal. I don't remember seeing anything resembling a garden last time I went but I haven't been to central Paris for years.

Institute du monde arabe. there's a cafe at the top which is free to get to.