Montmartre can be explored on foot in half a day: free Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, vineyard and museum; go up via Anvers metro and the funicular. The hill in the 18th arrondissement is also home to the Moulin de la Galette and the Wall of Love, and Abbesses station (line 12) is another way up. Allow a full day if you add the museum and the cemetery. A small village within the capital, the neighborhood can be spotted from afar thanks to its white basilica, on top of a hill that rises to 130 meters. Its bohemian past, the Montmartre of Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso, gives it a truly unique atmosphere to discover on a leisurely stroll.
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The Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The Sacré-Cœur basilica is the second most visited monument in Paris. Entry is free, every day from 6:30am to 10:30pm. Only the climb to the dome is paid (€8, €5 for ages 15 and under, with hours that vary by season): almost 300 steps with no elevator lead to one of the finest views over Paris.
The Clos Montmartre vineyard
On the north side of the hill, at the corner of Rue des Saules and Rue Saint-Vincent, the Clos Montmartre has more than 1,700 vines. A testament to the village's winemaking past, it is mostly viewed from the street; you can usually only step inside during the guided visits of the grape harvest festival in early October.
Place du Tertre
Despite the crowds of tourists who flock here every day, Place du Tertre keeps a particular charm. It was once the central square of the old village of Montmartre, a gathering spot for bohemian artists, poets, songwriters and painters. Today it hosts around a hundred painters and portrait artists who specialize in "one-minute portraits."
The Montmartre funicular
The funicular runs alongside Rue Foyatier up to the Sacré-Cœur forecourt in 1 minute 30 seconds, every day from 6:00am to 12:45am, with a Métro-Train-RER ticket (€2.55 in 2026) or a Navigo pass. For the more adventurous, the stairs of Rue Foyatier and Square Louise-Michel offer a more athletic ascent, "Amélie" style.
Montmartre Cemetery
At the foot of the hill, with its entrance on Avenue Rachel (Blanche or Place de Clichy metro), Montmartre Cemetery holds the graves of Dalida, Stendhal, Edgar Degas, François Truffaut, Alexandre Dumas fils and Sacha Guitry, among others. Dalida's grave, always covered in flowers, remains one of the most visited.
The Moulin Rouge
At the foot of the hill sits the Moulin Rouge cabaret. This iconic venue is the perfect way to end the day with a "feathers and sequins" evening show. A gourmet dinner designed by the chefs of Maison Dalloyau is also served during the French Cancan performance.
Musée de Montmartre
At 12 Rue Cortot, in the house where Renoir had his studio, the museum tells the artistic story of the hill and opens onto the Renoir gardens, overlooking the vineyard. It is open every day from 10am to 6pm; a full-price ticket costs €16 during temporary exhibitions and €14 otherwise (prices observed in October 2026).
Moulin de la Galette, Bateau-Lavoir and the Wall of Love
On Rue Lepic, the Moulin de la Galette is one of the last two windmills on the hill, immortalized by Renoir in Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876, Musée d'Orsay). On Place Émile-Goudeau, the Bateau-Lavoir housed the studios where Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907; rebuilt after the 1970 fire, it is not open to visitors. In Square Jehan-Rictus, on Place des Abbesses, the Wall of Love displays "I love you" 311 times in 250 languages. The wall is currently closed to the public for safety reasons (the square remains open).
Au Lapin Agile
At 22 Rue des Saules, facing the vineyard, this small cabaret once frequented by Picasso and Apollinaire still hosts evenings of French songs. Even if you don't go in, its pink facade and painted sign are among the classic sights of the hill.
How long to spend and suggested walking route
Allow 3 to 4 hours for the highlights on foot, a full day with the museum and the cemetery. Suggested route: Anvers metro, funicular or stairs up to Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, Rue Cortot (Musée de Montmartre), Rue des Saules (vineyard and Lapin Agile), Rue de l'Abreuvoir and Avenue Junot, Rue Lepic (Moulin de la Galette), Place Émile-Goudeau (Bateau-Lavoir), then down to Place des Abbesses and the Wall of Love. Our complete Montmartre guide suggests more places to see in the neighborhood.
Watch out for the bracelet scam
At the foot of Sacré-Cœur, on the steps and in Square Louise-Michel, men try to tie a string bracelet around passers-by's wrists, then demand money. Keep your hands close to your body, say "non merci" and keep walking without stopping. Our guide to scams to avoid in Paris covers the other common traps.
The map at a glance
To the south, Anvers metro and place des Abbesses; at the top of the hill, the Sacré-Cœur and place du Tertre, with the funicular at their foot; to the north-west, the Clos Montmartre vineyard and the Lapin Agile; on the west side, rue Lepic and the Moulin de la Galette. Everything links up on foot in a loop of 3 to 4 hours.
Practical info
Tips
- Montmartre is full of little lanes and hidden passages to discover.
- If crowds and scams spoil the experience, our article on Paris syndrome explains how to avoid the most common disappointments.
- At 45 rue Lepic, discover an unusual covered passage with a few artists' studios and galleries.
- Another secret street: the Villa Léandre, a charming little dead end running parallel to the chic avenue Junot.
- To avoid the climb on foot, the Montmartrobus (bus 40) goes up to the top of the hill with a simple bus ticket.
- In early October, the programme of the Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival is detailed on its page.
- In July, the last stage of the Tour de France climbs the hill: see the Tour de France finish in Paris.
How to get there
The simplest way to reach the Montmartre hill is by metro: line 2 to "Anvers" station, then a few minutes on foot along Rue de Steinkerque to the funicular or the stairs; or line 12 to "Abbesses" (near the Wall of Love) or "Lamarck – Caulaincourt" (near the museum and the vineyard). Another option: the Montmartrobus (bus 40) serves the top of the hill, and bus lines 30, 31, 80 and 85 all stop at the foot of the hill.
Opening hours
To plan your visit, read our practical guide: Montmartre, Paris: What to See, Location and How to Get There
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