01
2 HOURS
First visit, key landmarks
Enter from the northern slope, pass rue de l’Abreuvoir, Clos Montmartre and rue Cortot, then reach place du Tertre and Sacré-Cœur.
- A brisk walk
- No long indoor visit
- Morning start recommended
The portal of the hill · Paris 18th
Montmartre,a village within Paris.
History, visits, restaurants, hotels, shows, shops and local life: discover all of Montmartre in one independent, living and documented guide. From major monuments to residential streets, we help you understand the district, prepare a route and take time to look.
✓Essential visitor information checked on 30 August 2026
Independent guide from the heart of the 18th
Essential answer
How can you visit Montmartre without wasting time?
Start early on the northern slope, choose one indoor visit and leave time for the streets. Montmartre makes more sense over two to six hours than as a rushed checklist of monuments.
On a first visit, aim for rue de l’Abreuvoir, Clos Montmartre, place du Tertre and Sacré-Cœur. Continue towards Abbesses and Pigalle if you have the full day. Check current hours, prices and access conditions with each venue.
Practical sources: RATP · Sacré-Cœur Basilica · Ville de Paris · checked 10 September 2026
- Where
- Paris 18thA historic hill in northern Paris, centred on Sacré-Cœur, place du Tertre and streets that remain residential.
- Time needed
- 2 hours to 1 dayTwo hours for the main landmarks, half a day with a museum, or a full day extending to Abbesses and Pigalle.
- Getting there
- Metro 12 · FunicularRATP lists Abbesses as the nearest station. The funicular avoids the steps between the foot of the hill and Sacré-Cœur.
- Terrain
- Slopes · cobbles · stepsThe hill rises to roughly 130 metres. A comfortable visit should take mobility and weather into account.
The complete guide
The whole hill,
section by section.
The historic Montmartre portal returns in a clearer, more contemporary and more generous edition. Its main sections now bring together history, visitor advice, cultural places, food, accommodation, entertainment and local resources.
Our approach is simple: help everyone go beyond the postcard without losing the pleasure of famous places. Admire the panorama, enter a museum, stop for coffee, follow a lesser-known street and understand how the district continues to live. Information likely to change is linked to the relevant venues and organisations.
Start with the history →Choose your pace
Montmartre for the time you have.
Three practical formats to decide before setting out. Each can be shortened for weather, mobility and crowds.
02
HALF DAY
Heritage, museum and a break
Add a museum or Saint-Pierre church to the route, then keep time for a proper break. This format lets you observe the neighbourhood rather than merely cross it.
- 1 indoor visit
- A sit-down break
- Flexible pace
03
1 DAY
From the hill to Pigalle
Follow our roughly 4 km route: northern slope, historic summit, Abbesses and the stages of Pigalle. Book the time-specific activity first.
- Roughly 4 km
- Time for a museum and lunch
- Finish around Pigalle
8 worlds · 29 sections
Montmartre contents.
The village, its history and its people
Montmartre
Landmarks, museums and curiosities
Visits
The neighbourhood’s visual archive
Photos & videos
Montmartre every day
More than a postcard.
Six moods to find your Montmartre: a café, garden, stage, room, workshop or a street starting its day.
Local life
The neighbourhood waking up
Take a breath
Hidden gardens
Eat
A neighbourhood table
Go out
When the stages light up
Stay
Stay on the hill
Craft
Makers at work
Do not miss
The hill’s
essentials.
Famous places deserve more than a hurried stop. Here are the right times, pleasant routes and details that give the visit meaning.
See the essentials →01
Free · 6:30 am—10:30 pm
↗02Sacré-Cœur
Visit early, when the nave is at its quietest, or in the evening as the light changes over Paris. The basilica opens free of charge every day, but remains first and foremost a place of worship: appropriate dress, silence and respect for services are requested. A 10–15 minute wait may form between 10:30 am and 5 pm. Lift access for visitors with mobility difficulties is at 35 rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre.
12 rue Cortot
↗03Musée de Montmartre
Set in one of the hill’s oldest houses, the museum tells Montmartre through its artists, posters, cabarets and studios. The visit continues in the Renoir Gardens, recreated around trees and viewpoints known to the painter. Take time to reach the lower garden: it offers an unusual view over Clos Montmartre and recalls that this much-visited district was first a place of work and creation.
14 rue des Saules
↗Clos Montmartre
Behind its railings, Clos Montmartre continues a wine-growing tradition revived in the 1930s through the efforts of Poulbot and local residents. The vines are easily seen from rues des Saules and Saint-Vincent, while the enclosure itself opens only on special occasions or guided visits. This small vineyard is not a static backdrop: City gardeners tend it through the seasons and its production supports social causes.
CINÉMALIVRESCHANSONS
New cultural feature
A hill of film,
paper and songs.
Amélie, Bob le flambeur, French Cancan, Le Passe-Muraille, Francis Carco, Mac Orlan, Bruant and Aznavour: explore the Montmartre that lives in our collective imagination.
12 films8 livres7 chansons
Open the cultural guide →93
7—11 October 2026
The Harvest Festival celebrates music.
For five days, concerts, the grand parade, performances, community encounters and food discoveries animate districts across the 18th. The festival shows that Clos Montmartre is living heritage and that the hill retains a strong popular tradition. Programmes vary by venue, so plan key events while leaving room for spontaneous discoveries.
See the calendar →Frequently asked questions
Essentials before heading uphill.
Direct answers for planning a first visit. For hours, fares, works or restrictions, always consult the official source on the day.
All practical information →How long do you need to visit Montmartre?
Allow around two hours for a first walk without an in-depth visit, half a day to add a museum and a break, or a full day to continue to Abbesses and Pigalle. Leave extra time for slopes, queues and detours.
Which metro station should you use for Montmartre?
RATP lists Abbesses on line 12 as the nearest station. The best arrival point still depends on your route: the northern slope offers a more gradual approach, while the funicular quickly links the foot of the hill with Sacré-Cœur.
Is Sacré-Cœur Basilica free to enter?
Yes, entry to the basilica is free. Its official website lists daily opening from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; the dome and some activities have separate conditions. Check the official information on the day of your visit.
When should you visit Montmartre to avoid crowds?
For a quieter walk, arrive on a weekday before 9:30 am and begin on the northern slope. The summit and place du Tertre then fill quickly. Spring and autumn are often more comfortable, though the weather should still be checked.