Someone told me that to get one of the best views of P aris is to go to this place called the Semaritan is this true?

For free, the Samaritaine department store has a good view; for a higher view, you can go to the Montparnasse Tower, pay about 6 Euros and take the elevator to the 50-something floor for an enclosed view and then walk to the roof for an outside one.

We enjoyed the view from Samaritaine. What is particularly nice is that it has some info re what you are looking at. If I recall correctly, though, you must walk up a bunch of stairs (elevator to one of the top floors, but a long walk up from there). We enjoyed wandering through the store, too.

I'm not sure about the best view, but it is worth the time.<BR><BR>Semaritain is a department store on the Right bank not far behind the Louvre.<BR><BR>There is a rooftop outdoor cafeteria. I believe one floor up from there is a free observation deck. As someone else mentioned there are arrows pointing to the various sights.<BR><BR>Definitely one of the better values though I don't think I would skip the top of the Arc de Triomphe, etc.<BR><BR>

There's another good view from the top of Galleries Lafayette and it's easier to access than Le Samaritaine. Just stay on the escalator (not sure which one of several) until you get to the top of the store. <BR><BR>When we went to the top of Le Samaritaine, the push to get into the elevators was truly frightening. There was a very rude gang of tourists who were literally elbowing others out of the way. We happened to leave the roof at the same time they did, and we hung back a little so we could avoid them. They literally jumped over a chained stairway because they didn't want to wait for the elevator. They disappeared down the stairs and who knows where they ended up!

I don't know how many of you read Calvin Trillin, who is my type of tourist (he travels on his stomach, and it doesn't have to be Michelin star food). In "Travels with Alice," he relates that his wife (now deceased, and I feel for him--he adored her) didn't collect food--she collected views.<BR><BR>Therefore, on my seventh trip to Paris, at the top of the George Pompideau Centre, I looked out over Paris in all directions and said, "Alice would have collected this view."<BR><BR>The Semartine view is great, the Notre Dame view is great, the Sacre Couer rooftop is great, the Eiffel tower view is great, and the Arc de Triomphe view is great. I think I need to see Paris from the Tour Montparnesse and the Grand Arch before I make my definitive choice.<BR><BR>Until then, I think I enjoyed the Centre Pompidou the most, believe it or not.

It is Samarataine. I don't think there is a Semaritan. I know some of you think that spelling is not important.....well most of us like our name spelled right.

Then why couldn't you get it right 'Samartaine'?

Yes, spelling is important in that it helps you find a website more easily:<BR><BR>www.lasamaritaine.com<BR><BR>Seems it's spelled Samaritaine.

I think that the best view of Paris is from the Montparnasse Tower as it does not include... the Montparnasse Tower! The view from the Samaritaine is enhanced by the mural that circles the pavilion which depicts that which you are seeing.

The best part about the view is that you can get a cup of coffee or a sandwich and sit and look out over Paris. Lunch and a view.

Betsy mentioned the roof deck of Galaries Lafayette. Abetter view can be had on the deck of Au Printemps--the second building of the two [i.e., to the west]. There is a little cafe there as well.

I agree with the person who voted for the view from the Pompdieu. It was unexpected as I didn't see it in the guidebook. I was sorry when I discovered it because it was my last chance to see it. The level is just right to peer out across the roofs of Paris.

It does have a nice view & use the steps. It is worth the climb.