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Before you go
Access, timing, mobility, crowds and useful habits: a few simple choices let you enjoy the hill without fighting the slopes or rushing from place to place. Prepare the essentials, then leave room for the unexpected.
Four useful pointers
Montmartre looks compact on a map, but its relief changes how distances feel. By choosing an arrival station, time and two or three priorities, you avoid unnecessary fatigue and keep energy for detours.
Metro line 12 serves Abbesses and Lamarck–Caulaincourt, while line 2 reaches Anvers and Pigalle. Choose a station to suit the direction of your walk rather than automatically aiming for Sacré-Cœur; starting in the north and walking downhill is less tiring. Much of the upper hill is pedestrianised, parking is scarce and driving can be awkward, making metro, bus and walking the simplest options.
The funicular avoids the long staircase through square Louise-Michel and operates as public transport, requiring validation for each ascent or descent. It accepts the tickets and passes listed by RATP as well as contactless payment where available. Walkers can use the steps or take gentler streets around the slope. Save some energy: a full visit involves many cobbles, stairs and changes of level.
Before 9 am, the northern slope and streets around the vineyard are quieter; after 7 pm the light softens and performance venues come alive. Between 10:30 am and 5 pm the basilica advises that a 10–15 minute wait may be necessary. Sunny weekends and holidays are naturally busier. With a full day, alternate visits, pauses and detours rather than concentrating everything around place du Tertre.
Montmartre is a visitor destination, but first it is a neighbourhood where people live, work and care for their surroundings. Keep voices low in residential streets, do not block doorways, ask before photographing people or shop interiors, and take litter with you. In churches, adapt dress and behaviour to services. Buying from a craftsperson, stopping at an independent café or visiting a local museum also supports life beyond the postcard image.
Opening hours and prices can change. Always check the venue’s official website on the day of your visit.
Everyday essentials
Markets, libraries, family support, community services and hygiene facilities: these recurring hours were checked against City pages on 24 August 2026. Confirm exceptional closures and seasonal hours before travelling.
15 documented resources
Market
Tuesday 7 am–1:30 pm · Friday 7:30 am–1:30 pm · Saturday 7 am–2:30 pm
Open-air food market.
Boulevard Ornano, entre les rues du Mont-Cenis et Ordener · Simplon / Jules-JoffrinOfficial hours ↗Market
Wednesday 7 am–1:30 pm · Saturday 7 am–2:30 pm
Large food market beneath the elevated Métro.
Boulevard de la Chapelle, face à l’hôpital Lariboisière · Barbès-RochechouartOfficial hours ↗Market
Thursday 7 am–1:30 pm · Sunday 7 am–2:30 pm
Open-air food market in the north of the 18th.
Boulevard Ney, entre les rues Jean-Varenne et Camille-Flammarion · Porte de MontmartreOfficial hours ↗Market
Wednesday 7 am–1:30 pm · Saturday 7 am–2:30 pm
Neighbourhood food market.
Rue Ordener, entre les rues Montcalm et Championnet · Grandes-CarrièresOfficial hours ↗Covered market
Tuesday–Saturday 9 am–8 pm · Sunday 8:30 am–1:30 pm
Covered food hall; individual traders may keep their own hours.
10 rue de l’Olive · La ChapelleOfficial hours ↗Flea market
Saturday, Sunday and Monday 7 am–7:30 pm
The area spans several markets and streets; individual stall hours vary.
Avenue de la Porte-de-Clignancourt et rue des Entrepôts · Porte de ClignancourtOfficial hours ↗Library
Tuesday–Friday 2–7 pm · Saturday 10 am–6 pm
Over 100,000 items, study spaces, Wi-Fi, digital help, a public writer and the SABLAB makerspace.
29 rue Hermel · Jules-JoffrinOfficial hours ↗Library
From 1 September: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1–7 pm · Wednesday and Saturday 10 am–6 pm · closed Sunday and Monday
Home delivery, adapted resources and a dedicated contact service for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.
2-4 rue Fleury · Goutte-d’OrOfficial hours ↗Library
Reopening announced for 1 September: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 2–6 pm · Wednesday and Saturday 10 am–6 pm
Garden library focused on environmental awareness and community support.
19 rue Tristan-Tzara · Chapelle-CharbonOfficial hours ↗Library
Closed Sunday 30 August; autumn opening hours had not yet been published when checked
Books, films, video games, computers, study space, Wi-Fi and possible French Sign Language assistance.
26 esplanade Nathalie-Sarraute · Pajol / La ChapelleOfficial hours ↗Library
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 2–7 pm · Wednesday 10 am–7 pm · Saturday 10 am–6 pm
Wi-Fi, computers, games, conversation workshops, home delivery and children’s activities.
16 avenue de la Porte-de-Montmartre · Porte de MontmartreOfficial hours ↗Families
Tuesday 9:30 am–12:30 pm · Thursday 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 2–5:30 pm · other days by programme
Free, unconditional support for expectant parents and parents of young children; reopening after the summer closure is announced for 29 August.
16 rue Cavé · Goutte-d’OrOfficial hours ↗Community
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 am–6:30 pm · Thursday 1:30–7 pm · Saturday 10 am–2 pm
Information, support, rooms, registered addresses and resources for associations and collective projects.
15 passage Ramey · Jules-Joffrin / MarcadetOfficial hours ↗Hygiene
Monday–Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 am–1 pm · Sunday 8 am–12:30 pm · closed Thursday
Free individual shower cubicles; bring toiletries and a towel. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
134 boulevard Ney · Porte de ClignancourtOfficial hours ↗Hygiene
Closed for works through Tuesday 1 September; reopening announced for Wednesday 2 September, then Tuesday–Saturday noon–6 pm
Free individual shower cubicles. Confirm reopening on the City page before travelling.
6 rue Hermann-Lachapelle · Simplon / MarcadetOfficial hours ↗Frequently asked questions
The answers below provide a reliable basis, but transport, access and hours may change. For an important requirement, always consult the official source on the day.
Entry to the basilica is free and individual visitors do not need to book. According to its official website, the sanctuary opens daily from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. A 10–15 minute wait may be necessary between 10:30 am and 5 pm. It remains a place of prayer: services continue during visits, appropriate dress and silence are requested, and photography is restricted in the nave.
RATP lists a single fare of €2.55 in August 2026. Direct contactless payment accepts CB, Visa and Mastercard on a card, phone or watch; the same card can validate up to four passengers. Compatible tickets and passes are also accepted. Each ascent or descent is a separate journey.
Slopes, cobbles, narrow pavements and stairs require particular planning. Gentler street routes exist and some venues have adapted access, but accessibility is not uniform in older buildings. Sacré-Cœur lists lift access at 35 rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre, behind the basilica, during specific hours. Contact museums, restaurants or venues directly if a lift, accessible toilet or companion seat is essential.
Under the Paris Respire scheme, the Montmartre area is announced as closed to motor traffic every Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm, throughout the year. The scheme can exceptionally be adjusted or cancelled, so check the City of Paris page on the day.
Two hours allow a first walk between Lamarck, the vineyard, place du Tertre and Sacré-Cœur without an in-depth visit. Half a day adds a museum and a break; a full day extends the route to Abbesses and Pigalle. Always allow extra time for queues, photographs, slopes and detours. Montmartre does not reward a stopwatch visit.
Yes, provided you adapt the distance and include breaks. The funicular avoids some steps, gardens and small squares offer breathing space, and museums may provide activities depending on their programme. A light pushchair is easier on cobbles, though some stairs require detours. Avoid stacking too many monuments: a short walk, a snack and one well-chosen visit often work better.
Trusted links
Hours, closures, works, transport and programmes can change, sometimes on the day itself. These resources are the references to consult before travelling. Check update dates, alerts and special conditions; for bookings, essential access requirements or a particular event, contact the venue directly.
