Built on the slope of the Belleville hill in 1988, this terraced park climbs to one of the best free viewpoints in the city. From the upper terrace the whole sweep of central Paris opens up — the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, the towers of Montparnasse — with far fewer people than the steps of Sacré-Cœur.
The park has waterfalls, vines (a nod to Belleville's history as a wine-growing village), and a small open-air theatre. Come at the end of the afternoon and the light over the rooftops is hard to beat. It is steep, so wear decent shoes.