You're a tourist in Paris. You spent 13 euros and wait in line for 45 minutes to ride the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Finally at the top, you got out your camera, all ready to take a prizewinning shot of the city's most famous landmark lighting up the sky. But guess what? Those crafty French have arranged it so that there's absolutely no view of the Eiffel Tower from up there. And no refunds!

Never fear. Without paying a cent, you can get perfect unobstructed views of the tower from just a few minutes' walk away. Right across the bridge from the tower, you'll see an imposing-looking stone building on a hill with elaborate gardens in front of it. Cross the bridge, walk through the gardens and up the steps, and turn around. Behold, the view that money can't buy.

While popular with tourists and locals alike, the plaza at the Trocadero is considerably less crowded than the tower itself. So you'll be able to relax and take in the scenery, including vistas up and down the Seine River, for as long as you want. Well, at least until you get tired of vacationing couples asking you to take pictures of them with the Eiffel Tower in the background.