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The best high view of Paris is from the top of the Tour Montparnasse, since it's the only place which doesn't include the Tour Montparnasse! Drollery aside, the view is great and, if you go just before closing (say 11PM), you'll see illuminations of all the sights with a rather spectacular view of the Eifel Tower. You have a choice of the roof outdoors or a glassed viewing floor. They charge admission.

As for ground level views, I would list those from the various bridges across the Seine that include the Isle St Louis. There is one place that includes a great view of the back of Notre Dame. It is part of my three great Views of The Backs of Paris: The back of Notre Dame, the back of the Venus de Milo, and the backs of people looking at Mona Lisa (Miss Giaconda not visible).

No one has mentioned the view from the arch at Defense -- quite spectacular where you get a perspective of virtually the whole city at once.

This is a little different... The very 1st time we went to Europe was on an escorted tour. We'd already traveled from London thru Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, ending up in Paris. As the bus began to navigate into the heart of Paris, we turned onto a street, and Voila! the Eiffel Tower stood before us off in the distance. Half the passengers jumped up from their seats, craning, straining to get their first glimpse of the Iron Lady... It was actually exciting, and now amusing, as if it were going to be the only view of the tower over the next 2 days!

Some of my favorites:

night time, on bridge (trying to remember if it is Change or Notre-Dame bridge) between right bank and Notre Dame island, spotlights on bridges and Conciergerie, can see Eiffel tower in background, bateaux mouches going by..I try to make this my last night's visit before going home next day

I like views on Ile St Louis, especially on "right bank side". I have a 30's black and white poster at home of lamposts lit up along here and I like the timelessness of it all

coming out of metro at Trocadero and seeing the Eiffel tower across the river

and more....

walking along above Seine, left bank, south of Notre Dame and coming across
memorial plaque with soldier's name who died at that spot liberating Paris in 1944

some of the old buidings and narrow streets in Village St Paul in the Marais

view out of my window at Hotel Notre Dame, in the rooftop room, looking out my window and seeing sun rise over Notre Dame cathedral.

sitting on a bench in Place Des Vosges, the old buildings, kids playing.

rue de l'Ancienne Comedie, left bank, off of St Germain, alleyway with the ancien Le Procope restaurant where Robespierre, Ben Franklin, Voltaire ate, paved in old stones, and then walk out into Buci marketplace

standing beside St Sulpice church, early January morning, dark day...bit dark and rainy, dull lighting from nearby stores, and seeing one bistro table with a couple of chairs and remaining chairs stacked on patio of small cafe (poor description,you had to be there!)

and more...

Mike

Thank you all for these inputs - you have identified some great spots.

The view from the tower of Notre Dame is my favorite.

I think this one needs an update.

And one update is : Samaritaine closed two years ago !

Good point norween - but it was a good look out spot and free to boot.

I have many fav views in Paris but my best of all is sitting at the end of Square Du Vert-Galant watching the Vedettes & Bateaux-Mouches gliding(downstream?) and then appearing sometime later going upstream(?).
I had my favourite willow tree to lean against but thats now gone and a new vibrant little sapling has taken it's place.

LVSue - the park next to St.-Julien-le-Pauvre is called Square Rene` Viviani and has one of the oldest trees in Paris right next to the church.
I once stayed at the "Bohemian" Hotel Esmeralda across from the Square and had the wonderful view of Notre Dame every morning then lit up in all it's glory every night!

Seine river cruise, passing under Pont Alexander III, the Grand Palais glass domes glowing and their searchlights scouring the night sky. Very festive and beautiful.

Parc Monceau in the afternoon with children playing and elegant older ladies sitting on their park bench soaking up the sun. The beautiful statuary there was a surprise. Well worth a visit, especially if you're going to the Musee Jacquemart-Andres which isn't far away.

As someone said above, though, my favorite mental images of Paris come from my pre-dawn walks. Softly lit monuments and store windows reflected in sidewalks gleaming from their early morning wash. Cafes setting up tables and chairs for the day ahead. Aromas wafting out of already busy patisseries. Ah, Paris. Sigh.

Thanks for asking, Degas. Just reading the replies takes me to a more beautiful place. For big veiws, I am partial to the one across the Seine from the terrace at Musee D'Orsay, up by the clock. Galerie Lafayette rooftop terrace has a cool view of the back of the Opera.

tod, JeanneB, Stokebailey - I love to hear from you incurable romantics.

Add to my To Do List: cool view of the back of the Opera from the Galerie Lafayette rooftop terrace.

Regarding Samaritaine (the dept store), I so enjoyed its roof with a 360° view of all paris, as you stood within a ring of enameled tiles depicting the buildings in all directions (an amazing "ring" portrait of Paris done in the 1920s and amazingly still quite accurate). Ever since I heard that the Dept store had closed (reportedly because Mgt. wanted to break intransigent union of employees) I have wondered what happened to that circle of tiles. Any ideas of how to find out??

There is a roof deck and cafe atop the "Maison" Au Printemps store [the one to the west]. Good for pictures in the AM with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Also head to the roof deck of BHV department store (at the Hotel de Ville metro stop). On rainy days, you won't see anyone there, on other days, you'll still have a chance to get a glimpse.

Also, if you're tooling around out in the suburbs, go to St. Germain-en-Laye via RER, exit the station, head into the park, walk all the way to the end of the big lawn-like area, and there is a fantastic view from there! Not to mention that the park is a lovely one to bike or hike through, plus you can hit the museum in the castle if you have kids who like prehistoric man type of exhibits.

I live near the Grande Arche in La Defense, but I must admit I've never been to the top! It's that elevator out in the middle that puts me off... The Tour Montparnasse has the best view in Paris: because for once you can avoid seeing the Tour Montparnasse!

Inside Ste. Chappelle-esp. if sun is out.

I miss La Samaritaine's rooftop deck too. The last time we got up there for the view was in Oct. 2002. When I visited this past October, the store's bottom level seems to be occupied by another store the name which I have forgotten.