culture
A Local Guide to Montmartre: What to See and Do
Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre and the quiet lanes behind them, how to spend a day in Montmartre, the hilltop village in Paris’s 18th arrondissement.
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Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement, is the highest natural point in Paris and still feels like the hilltop village it once was. It rewards slow wandering: the crowds concentrate around a few landmarks, and the surrounding lanes stay surprisingly quiet.
Sacré-Cœur and the View
The white domes of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur crown the butte. Entry to the basilica is free, and the terrace in front offers one of the widest panoramas over the city. Visitors are asked to dress respectfully as it remains an active place of worship. You can climb the hill on foot through the gardens or take the funicular, which accepts a standard metro ticket.
Place du Tertre and the Artists
Just behind the basilica, Place du Tertre has been associated with painters since the late 19th century, when Montmartre was home to artists including Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and later Picasso. Today portraitists and landscape painters still set up in the square.
Museums and Vineyards
The Musée de Montmartre, set in the oldest house on the hill with gardens once painted by Renoir, tells the story of the neighbourhood’s bohemian years. Nearby, the small Clos Montmartre vineyard is a reminder that this was farmland within living memory; it is celebrated each autumn during the Fête des Vendanges harvest festival.
Wander the Lanes
Away from the square, streets such as Rue de l’Abreuvoir, the ivy-covered La Maison Rose and the twin windmills of the Moulin de la Galette show the quieter side of Montmartre. The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau suggests early morning or late afternoon for the calmest visit.
Getting There
The nearest metro stations are Anvers, Abbesses and Lamarck-Caulaincourt. Abbesses is one of the deepest stations in Paris and retains its original Art Nouveau entrance. For current exhibitions and neighbourhood events, check the City of Paris’s “Que Faire à Paris” listing.
Sources
This guide draws on the official tourist and city information services listed below. Opening hours and prices change seasonally, so confirm the latest details on each venue’s official website before you visit.