Montmartre Tours and Tickets

The Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is Montmartre’s standout landmark, being popular as a domed beauty for photographers and a religious monument for sightseers. Other top attractions include the Moulin Rouge, the famous cabaret hall, home of the Doriss girls and their carefully choreographed cancans, and the Moulin de la Galette. The latter is a smaller windmill featured in paintings by Renoir and Van Gogh. Today, it’s a restaurant.

Yes, there’s a huge range of Montmartre guided tours for Paris visitors. The classic is a walking tour of the neighborhood with admission to the Sacré-Coeur, but there are quirkier options that showcase Montmartre’s hidden gems or food tours. If you don’t want to walk, consider booking a classic car tour where you’ll see the neighborhood from the comfort of a Citroën 2CV or similar vintage French automobile. Many day-long Paris tours by bus dedicate at least a pass-by stop in Montmartre. If you want a self-guided tour, consider booking an audio tour such as the Montmartre Self-Guided Audio Tour: More Than Meets the Eye.

The neighborhood is north of central Paris, and it takes around 30 minutes to get there on the metro. By public transit, ride the metro to the Anvers stop, which is close to the Sacré-Coeur. Otherwise, hop off at the Abbesses stop, which is within a short walk of Montmartre’s Place du Tertre.

The Montmartre Hill and the Sacré-Coeur are the classic viewpoints for sweeping views over Paris. If you’ve paid for Sacré-Coeur admission, climb the spiral staircase up the dome to gaze out to sights like the Eiffel Tower. If not, stand in front of the basilica to soak up views from the steps.

Moulin Rouge shows take place in the evening, so it’s not possible to visit the site if you’re only in Paris for a day. However, many guided small group tours of Paris or Montmartre include the Moulin Rouge as an outside stop with photo opportunities by the windmill cabaret building while its history is explained.

Yes, Montmartre was the place to be during the Belle Epoque era. Several famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Salvador Dalí, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir were drawn to the neighborhood during these creative years. In fact, many Montmartre tours focus on art history and the artists who made this Parisian hill their home. If you’re more keen on contemporary art, consider booking the Montmartre Street Art Tour with an Artist. Who knows? Maybe someday the local artist guides leading the tour will be famous.