A Guide to France’s Charming Montmarte

Of all of the photogenic places in Paris, France, the beautiful neighborhood of Montmarte takes the prize. Artists like Renoir and Van Gogh would agree as they frequently ventured here for their painting inspiration. From the quintessential Parisian buildings to the breathtaking views of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, charming Montmarte has it all. We easily could have spent all of our vacation time exploring these historic streets!

One day is enough to see all of the highlights, but of course we recommend spending more time. Along the way, you will see panoramic views over Paris, quaint Parisian architecture, and some of the most famous landmarks in the city. Grab your comfiest walking shoes and charge up your camera batteries because you will need them! Here are some of our favorite spots in Montmarte, in order of how we walked to see them:

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur

I suggest starting your memorable journey through charming Montmarte at this historic landmark. Sacré-Cœur sits atop a hill that provides sweeping views over Paris. Buses 30, 31, 80, and 85 can be taken to the bottom of the hill of the basilica. Eating our croissants for breakfast at the bottom of the hill (just to the left of the adorable carousel) was the best way to begin to our morning!

When you first arrive, you are greeted with the picture-perfect sight of the basilica. Climbing the 300+ stairs to the base of the basilica is an adventure that many tourists opt for. We decided to save our legs for the long day of exploring by taking the Montmarte Funicular (only requires one metro ticket) up the steps. Once at the top of the hill, you will discover just how massive the basilica really is! Take your time wandering around the front entrance. You’ll see the iconic panoramic views of Paris as well as one of my favorite hidden gems – the “Sinking House illusion.”

Entrance to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is free, but prepare for HUGE lines. The wait for us was over an hour and a half, which was just not manageable with our busy schedule. Next time I’m in Paris, I will be visiting the inside of the basilica as well as paying the fee to climb the dome. Some of the best views in Paris are from the top of the basilica, so if you have time, it’s worth the money!

You also can spot one of the prettiest carousels in Paris at Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Address: Sacré-Cœur, 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
Admission: Free to enter the basilica. Rates to climb the dome vary.
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

La Maison Rose

This is probably the most-visited cafe in all of Paris and no trip would be complete without it! La Maison Rose is what screamed “Paris” to me… the pastel pink, brightly painted shutters, natural ivy walls, cobblestone streets, and more. In April, the flowers and greenery were in bloom, which made the photography that much more thrilling. Explore the surrounding area of La Maison Rose – you’ll thank me later!

Want to see the BEST street view in all of Paris? It’s just a few steps down from La Maison Rose. Click here!

Address: 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France
Entrance: Free
Website: https://lamaisonrose-montmartre.com/

Le Consulat

Continuing with our new theme of cute Paris cafes, your next stop should be Le Consulat. It is quite the busy street with lots of shops and restaurants nearby, but it’s worth fighting the crowds to grab your iconic photo of the red & green cafe. By the time we arrived here it was time for lunch, so we decided to eat a whole meal rather than coffee. For our lunch, we dined at one of our favorite meals of the trip. La Bonne Franquette, (just to the left of Le Consulat). If you get to Le Consulat when it’s still early, grab yourself a cup of coffee for only a few euros.

Address: 18 Rue Norvins, 75018 Paris, France
Website
Entrance: Free

Je t’aime (“I Love You”) Wall

Have you ever seen one place where “I love you” is written in hundreds of different languages? I had not, until making this memorable stop in Montmarte. As you can see, lots of other visitors wanted their Instagram shot at the famous wall, but don’t let that prevent you from capturing your photo. This is a quick & easy stop along your charming Montmarte walk and worth a couple minutes of your time!

Address: Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France
Entrance: Free

Moulin Rouge

Did you know that this world-famous cabaret was located in Paris? Well, now you do! Making a stop here (at night in particular) is on many people’s bucket lists. You even could pay the hefty fee for dinner & a show. While it’s not a dream for us to attend a show, it’s popular for a good reason!

Honestly, the whole area surrounding Moulin Rouge was not our favorite. It was one of the dirtier places in Paris and the vibe was different. However, it made our list because it is an iconic landmark and a pop of color!

Address: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Entrance: See website for more details
Website: http://www.moulinrouge.fr/

We fell in love with charming Montmarte very, very quickly. The photo opportunities and wonderful experiences are endless. A visit in the springtime is magical because of the flowers in bloom and bright sunshine. Will you be exploring this gorgeous neighborhood?