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Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur
The best of it costs nothing. Sacre-Coeur sits white on the highest hill in central Paris, and the view from its steps over the whole city is free, no ticket, no line for the basilica itself. This was a village of windmills and vineyards before the painters showed up around 1900, and the steep lanes still show it.
Photos: P e z i (CC BY-SA 3.0), Terragio67 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Giò Terra (Terragio67) (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
An easy yes precisely because the view and the church are free. Only the dome climb costs anything, and you can happily skip it.
Worth it for
- Catching a wide view over Paris from the basilica steps without paying for it
- Wandering the old lanes, the artists' square, and the windmills on the same hill
You can skip if
- Steep hills and stairs are a problem and you would rather not rely on the funicular up
Tickets & tours for Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur
Which ticket should you buy?
The hill and its history
Montmartre sat outside Paris until 1860 and kept a village feel long after the city absorbed it. Cheap rents and good light pulled in artists in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and names like Picasso, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh lived or worked on the hill at one time or another. A small working vineyard still produces a token harvest each year, a leftover from the area's rural past.
The slopes are genuinely steep, laced with staircases and narrow lanes. That climb is part of the character, but it also means comfortable shoes matter and the walk up is a workout if you skip the funicular.
Sacre-Coeur basilica
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, finished in the early 20th century and consecrated in 1919, stands at the top of the hill in pale travertine stone that stays white because the stone bleeds a chalky mineral when it rains. Its domed Romano-Byzantine silhouette is visible from across much of the city.
Entry to the basilica is free, and it remains an active place of worship, so dress and behave respectfully inside. For an extra fee you can climb the dome, a narrow stair of roughly 300 steps with no elevator, which delivers one of the widest views over Paris. The terrace in front of the basilica is free and already gives a sweeping panorama without any climb.
Place du Tertre and the streets
Just behind the basilica, Place du Tertre is the old artists' square, packed with painters and portraitists working at easels and a ring of cafes around the edge. It is touristy and prices reflect that, but it is also a direct link to the area's painting history. Agree on a price before you let anyone sketch you.
Wander a few streets off the square and the crowds thin fast. You will find the two surviving windmills, quiet vineyard slopes, the Lapin Agile cabaret, and viewpoints that locals favor over the busy terrace. The Dali museum and the Montmartre museum are both up here if you want something indoors.
Getting up and staying alert
The funicular runs up the south face of the hill beside the main staircase and saves you the steepest climb; a standard Metro ticket is valid on it. The alternative is the long flight of steps from the gardens below, which is free and scenic but tiring.
The hill is a known hotspot for pickpockets and street scams. The most common is the friendship-bracelet trick, where someone ties string around your wrist or finger and then demands money; firmly decline anyone who tries to grab your hand. Keep bags closed and valuables out of back pockets, especially on the crowded steps and around Place du Tertre.
Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur: FAQs
Yes, entry to the basilica is free. Climbing the dome costs extra and involves about 300 steps with no elevator.
Take the funicular from near Metro Anvers, which a standard ticket covers, or climb the staircase from the gardens below. Both reach the basilica.
Anvers (Line 2) for the funicular and main staircase, or Abbesses (Line 12) to start deeper inside the Montmartre streets.
For one of the highest open views in Paris, yes, if you can manage the narrow stairs. The free front terrace already offers a wide panorama if you would rather skip the climb.
The historic artists' square just behind the basilica, full of painters and portraitists. It is lively but touristy, so settle on a price before commissioning any sketch.
Yes. Pickpockets work the crowds, and the friendship-bracelet scam is common: someone ties string on you and then demands payment. Decline firmly and keep your hands and valuables to yourself.
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