1. The Top of Notre Dame
Pros: The Cathedral itself is gorgeous, and the eiffel tower is close enough to get some great pics with a normal phone camera (see above). The surrounding buildings/setting of Notre Dame adds a lot to the view too. Of course, it is also near Paris' Glace Berthillon, which is a must.
Cons: The Line. Wow. It goes faster than you think, but it can be pretty long, especially in the touristy season (Mayish-Septemberish). I personally think the wait is worth it, but if someone in your group isn't the type to wait in lines (there's always somebody), they can look through the tourist shops across the street or get ice cream while you wait. --> UPDATE: they've fixed the line situation. you go by and get a ticket that gives you a time to come back when you're guaranteed to get in.
2. L'Arc de Triomphe
(photo 1 was taken with an Iphone 4s & photos 2 & 3 were taken on a DSLR camera)
Pros: There is rarely ever a line--or if there is, it's less than 15 minutes in my experience. L'arc de triomphe has great views of the Champs Elysées, La defense (the square monument surrounded by skyscrapers), and the Eiffel Tower.
Cons: This isn't that much of a con, but there are a lot of spikes around the terrace, so if there are a lot of tourists it can be slightly difficult to maneuver your way into a good shot. You might get hit with a selfie stick while you're up there too. Godspeed.
3. The Centre Pompidou Balcony
Pros: Centre Pompidou is a great museum if you're into modern art, so you can kill two birds with one stone here. Alternatively if you like making fun of modern art, you'll have a good time with piece's like DuChamp's La Fontaine, which is a literal urinal turned on its side. The balcony view on the top floor lets you see Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, and La Defense. It's also relatively close to l'as du falafel, which is supposed to be the best place for falafel in Paris.
Cons: The only real con is that the balcony of the Centre Pompidou is a little further than it is from the other places, but the vantage point itself is still great. The picture above was taken on an Iphone 4s, so a DSLR camera would definitely be able to capture the view better.
4. Place du Trocadero
Pros: The Trocadero fits less into the category of best views of Paris and more into the category of best views of the eiffel tower. This picture was taken in dense early morning fog, but the tower is still visible from this plaza. The Trocadero is the best spot to get a picture of/with the eiffel tower up close without the awkward below the tower angle. All you need to do is cross the river and you can take as many basic pics as you want!
Cons: The only problem with the Trocadero plaza view is that since it isn't elevated, there isn't as much surrounding scenery to add to the view.
5. The Eiffel Tower
Pros: Since there's a Parisian law saying that buildings within the city limits can't be taller than a certain height as to not block the Eiffel Tower, if you get to the top (or at least the 2nd balcony) you'll be able to see the most expansive view of the city. Specifically, you can see the grid patterns of the city which are fun for architects or historians or just people who like to take fun urban pictures.
Cons: The biggest con of the views at the eiffel tower is obvious: since you're in the tower, you don't get to admire it as part of the skyline. Also, the stairs are damn hard, and the elevator line is extensive, so you need to book tickets ahead of time. Going up the tower is almost a rite of passage for your first time in Paris, so it's definitely worth the trip once.
6. Sacre Coeur
Pros: If you have a few days in the city (or you've been to a lot of the main attractions already), the basilica is gorgeous and worth seeing. If you don't want to go inside, the only price you'll have to pay is for the metro ticket, which is less than 3$. The neighborhood surrounding Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, is charming and fun to walk around.
Cons: Since the basilica is pretty far out from the city center, the Eiffel Tower view is hard to capture on an average phone camera, even if it is easy to see while you're there.
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