Perched on the highest hill in Paris, Montmartre has kept its village feel despite the crowds that walk its streets every day. Once home to the Impressionist painters, the neighborhood is worth exploring as much for its viewpoints as for its cobbled lanes and shaded little squares, tucked away from the main roads.
The Sacré-Cœur basilica and Place du Tertre
The white dome of the Sacré-Cœur towers over the city and offers one of the best panoramas in Paris, free to enjoy from the forecourt. Just steps away, Place du Tertre still hosts portrait painters who have worked there for generations, among tourist cafés and artist studios.
The Musée de Montmartre
Housed in the oldest building on the hill, this museum traces the neighborhood's history back to when Renoir, Utrillo and Suzanne Valadon had their studios here. The Renoir garden, overlooking the Clos Montmartre vineyard (the only one still cultivated in Paris), is worth the visit on its own.
The Wall of Love
In Square Jehan-Rictus, right by the Abbesses metro station, a wall of blue ceramic tiles spells out "I love you" in more than 250 languages. It has become one of the neighborhood's most popular photo spots, especially late in the day when the light softens.
The vineyards of Clos Montmartre
Downhill from the basilica, Clos Montmartre is the last working vineyard within central Paris, with close to 2,000 vines. Every October the harvest is marked by a grape harvest festival, one of the neighborhood's most popular events.
The Montmartre funicular
For an effortless climb to the Sacré-Cœur forecourt, the funicular links Rue Foyatier to the top of the hill in about ninety seconds, for the price of an ordinary metro ticket.
Montmartre Cemetery
This large 19th-century cemetery holds the graves of many notable figures, including the writer Émile Zola and the singer Dalida, whose grave remains one of the most visited and flower covered.
The Moulin Rouge
At the foot of the hill, this iconic cabaret, founded in 1889, is still linked to the French Cancan and continues to host evening shows full of feathers and sequins.
Tips
Walk up via Rue Foyatier and its stairs instead of taking the funicular to find quieter paths, and leave time to get deliberately lost in the small streets around Rue Lepic. That's often where, far from Place du Tertre, Montmartre keeps the most of its original charm. To avoid the crowds, aim for an early morning visit, and come back in October for the Clos Montmartre grape harvest festival. To reach the hill, line 2 (Anvers station) and line 12 (Abbesses station) both stop a short walk from the funicular, with bus lines 30, 31, 80 and 85 as an alternative.
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