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Free self-guided walking tour of Montmartre, Paris (with map)
Posted on Last updated: March 7, 2024
Explore Paris’ bohemian, artistic neighbourhood with this free walking tour of Montmartre’s artistic history, beautiful architecture, pavement cafés and scenic views – map and directions included.
* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-cafe-place-de-tetre-1440x900.jpg)
The hilltop neighbourhood of Montmartre, Paris , is one of the city’s most popular tourist spots. But not too long ago it was synonymous with drinking, dancing and debauchery. In the mid-19th century, Montmartre was just outside Paris’ city limits so it was free of the city’s taxes and controls and evolved into a bohemian, artistic enclave.
The artists you’ll see now are more likely to be caricaturists and painters capturing tourists in the Place du Tertre than Impressionists drinking absinthe in their atelier. But the area still has the feel of a charming small village within a big city, and this self-guided walking tour of Montmartre takes you through its historic and artistic highlights.
A self-guided walking tour of Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Rue de l'Abreuvoir on a self-guided walking tour of Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-montmartre-street-1440x900.jpg)
Start your Montmartre self-guided walking tour at Blanche Métro station, which is on Line 2 (or you could also take the Métro to nearby Pigalle on Line 12 which is only a five-minute walk along the Boulevard de Clichy). From there, walk up Rue Lepic – you’ll see the colourful Moulin Rouge cabaret hall on your left, home of the can-can.
Café des Deux Moulins
If you’ve seen the film Amélie then you might recognise a few of the shops along Rue Lepic, including the Café des Deux Moulins on the corner of Rue Cauchois. In the film, the main character Amélie Poulain, played by Audrey Tautou, worked here as a waitress.
The tobacco counter that featured in the film might not be there any more, but the café still has that classic Parisian bistro feel with its dark woodwork, red booths and zinc counters. There are a few nods to the film too, with a poster of Amélie on the wall and a tasty crème brulée d’Amélie on the menu if you’re in need of a sugar hit.
![walking tour paris montmartre The Café des Deux Moulins Amélie filming location in Montmartre](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-cafe-deux-moulins-1440x900.jpg)
Carry on along Rue Lepic, then when you come to the junction at the end, take a short diversion to the left to see the exterior of number 54 Rue Lepic. This was where Vincent Van Gogh lived with his brother Theo from 1886 to 1888, and he did several paintings of the view of Paris from the window of their third-floor apartment.
Then retrace your steps back to the junction and continue on down Rue des Abbesses. Turn left into Rue Ravignon and follow it to Place Émile Goudeau.
![walking tour paris montmartre Café in Place Emile Goudeau, near the Bateau-Lavoir artists’ studio](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cafe-in-montmartre-paris.jpg)
The Bateau-Lavoir
Place Émile Goudeau was at the heart of Montmartre’s art scene in 1889 as the home of the Bateau-Lavoir artists’ commune. This former factory was divided into 20 small studios. It was dark and dirty, had no heating and was so unstable it creaked and swayed on stormy days just like the laundry boats on the Seine that gave it its nickname.
But the Bateau-Lavoir was also was a hotbed of talent. Artists like Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani passed through its doors as well as composers, writers, actors and art dealers. They started moving out after the First World War and most of the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1970, but you can see its frontage at 13 Rue Ravignan.
![walking tour paris montmartre Shopfront in Place Émile Goudeau, a former artists colony in Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-bateau-lavoir-1440x900.jpg)
At the end of the square, take a left up Rue d’Orchampt and follow it until you reach the junction with Rue Lepic and Rue Girardon, where you’ll see a windmill in front of you.
The Moulin de la Galette
Montmartre’s 17th-century windmills originally ground grains to make the bread which gave the Moulin de la Galette its name. But they were later turned into cafés and dance halls where people could socialise with a glass of local wine and bread from the mill.
Parties at the Moulin de la Galette were popular with local artists, including Renoir whose painting Dance at Le Moulin de la Gallette is on show in the Musee d’Orsay. A smaller version sold for $78 million in 1990, making it one of the world’s most expensive paintings. The Moulin was also captured on canvas by Van Gogh and Picasso.
![walking tour paris montmartre Renoir's painting Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette from the Musee d’Orsay](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Dance-at-Le-Moulin-de-la-Galette.jpg)
There were originally up to 30 windmills covering the hills around Montmartre, but only two are left now. The original Moulin de la Gallette (which is marked on maps as the Moulin de Blute-Fin, as that was its original name) is now private property so you can’t take a look around. But you can get a glimpse of it from Rue Lepic or Avenue Junot.
And in front of it is Montmartre’s other surviving windmill – the Moulin Radet, which was built slightly later in 1717. Today it sits on top of a restaurant (slightly confusingly) called the Moulin de la Galette , which has a terrace underneath the windmill.
![walking tour paris montmartre The Moulin de la Gallette restaurant on a self-guided walking tour of Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-moulin-gallette-restaurant-1440x900.jpg)
Next walk up Rue Girardon until it turns the corner into Rue de l’Abreuvoir, where you’ll see a small square with a bronze bust of a woman on your left.
Place Dalida
This tiny square is named after an Egyptian-born singer who became a huge star in France during the 1960s and 70s. Dalida – originally named Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti – lived on Rue de l’Abreuvoir and is commemorated with a bronze statue in the square.
She sold millions of records, but her life was full of tragedy, and after she lost several lovers and friends to suicide she eventually killed herself with an overdose in 1987 at her house in Montmartre. Dalida is buried in Montmartre cemetery nearby. And she’s still a cultural icon in France, with films, documentaries and over 50 biographies written about her.
![walking tour paris montmartre Statue of French-Italian singer Dalida in Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-Dalida-statue-1440x900.jpg)
Carry on walking along picturesque Rue de l’Abreuvoir, which has great views of the white dome of Sacré-Cœur Basilica rising up behind the buildings.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir
With its ivy-covered houses, Rue de l’Abreuvoir is one of Montmartre’s prettiest streets. It’s though to be one of the oldest streets in Paris too, dating from the 14th century. Though the name (from the French for a watering trough used by livestock) came much later.
At the top of the street is La Maison Rose , a candy pink café and restaurant. It was once the home of Catalan painter Ramon Pichot, who turned it into a restaurant which hosted his friends Salvador Dali and Picasso. It was also painted by artist Maurice Utrillo. Today it’s a favourite for Instagrammers and a filming location for TV series Emily in Paris .
![walking tour paris montmartre La Maison Rose in Rue de l'Aubreuvoir](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-Rue-de-lAubreuvoir-1440x900.jpg)
Once you reach the end of Rue de l’Abreuvoir, turn left and take a short diversion down Rue des Saules to see Paris’ last remaining vineyard.
Clos Montmartre
Vines have been grown in Montmartre since the Romans, who built a temple here dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine. Most of the vineyards were sold off for development over the years, but 1500m² of vines were saved by a group of artists in the 1930s.
The Clos Montmartre vineyard produces 1500 half-litre bottles of wine each year, which are auctioned off for charity. They’re not France’s finest wine, but get snapped up for the novelty value. You can visit the vineyard during the Fête des Vendanges , a five-day celebration of French food and wine each October with stalls, parades and fireworks.
Just past the vineyard you’ll see the orange building of the Lapin Agile . This has been a cabaret since the mid-19th century and got its name from their speciality sautéed rabbit. Past regulars included local artists Picasso, Modigliani and Utrillo.
![walking tour paris montmartre Vines at the Clos Montmartre vineyard](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-clos-montmartre-1440x900.jpg)
Backtrack to La Maison Rouge, where you can turn left into Rue Cortot to visit the Musée de Montmartre * if you want to find out more about the area’s history. Otherwise head south down Rue des Saules and left along Rue Norvins past the pretty Le Consultat café – another Montmartre Instagram hotspot – to the Place du Tertre.
Place du Tertre
The Place du Tertre was once the centre of Montmartre village, located on the site of an old Benedictine Abbey. Singers, musicians and artists would gather there, and it’s still one of the city’s artistic hubs. You can wander around and watch the artists in action painting a mix of Parisian street scenes, portraits, caricatures and silhouettes.
Competition for a pitch in the square is so fierce that there’s a 10-year waiting list. Each artist only gets a tiny one-square-metre space to work in, and you don’t even get it to yourself – each spot is shared between two different artists who use it on alternate days. It’s a good spot for people watching, with café terraces all around the square.
![walking tour paris montmartre Artists in the Place du Tertre in Montmartre](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Paris-place-du-tetre-1440x900.jpg)
Leaving the Place du Tetre behind you, take the Rue du Mont Cernis then turn left into Rue Azais and follow it along the edge of the park to Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Sacré-Cœur was built between 1876 and 1912 to honour the victims of the Franco-Prussian war, using travertine limestone that’s designed to get whiter as it ages. It’s a real mix of architectural styles which was a bit controversial at the time – some people described it like a gaudy giant wedding cake – but it’s grown on Parisians as time’s gone by.
The steps outside the front of Sacré-Cœur are one of Paris’ best viewpoints , with the city stretching out in front of you. You can climb up 300 spiralling stairs to the top of the basilica’s tower for an even higher view. There also a huge golden mosaic of ‘Christ in Majesty’ behind the alter inside, and a crypt which allegedly contains Christ’s heart.
![walking tour paris montmartre Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/paris-sacre-coeur-montmartre-1440x900.jpg)
Walk down the steep lawned area in front of Sacré-Cœur, which is packed full of sunbathers, picnickers and street performers on sunny days. Then turn right at the bottom of the hill into Rue Tardieu and go straight on to Abbesses Métro station.
Mur des je t’aime
Finish your self-guided walking tour of Montmartre at the Le mur des je t’aime (Wall of Love) in Square Jehan Rictus, just behind the entrance to Abbesses Métro station. The wall is made up of 612 tiles which say ‘I love you’ in 250 different languages. It’s a favourite selfie spot for loved-up couples, honeymooners and wedding photoshoots.
From there you can catch the Métro Line 12 on around Paris. Or find a café or bar to finish off your walk with a drink – GCD Montmartre is a good wine bar on Rue Durantin or Marlusse et Lapin on Rue Germain Pilon is a quirky cocktail bar.
![walking tour paris montmartre The Wall of Love or Le mur des je t'aime in Montmartre, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/love-wall-paris.jpg)
Self-guided Montmartre walking tour map
If you’d like to do this Montmartre walk yourself, click on the map below to access directions through Google maps. The route is just over 2.5km (1.6 miles) and takes 35 minutes to walk straight through, but allow a couple of hours to include stops.
It’s not a particularly challenging walk, though there are hilly sections, and Montmartre has some cobbled streets so trainers or walking shoes are a good idea.
![walking tour paris montmartre Self-guided Montmartre walking tour map, Paris](https://www.ontheluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Montmartre-self-guided-walk-map-1440x900.jpg)
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Monday 22nd of July 2024
I did the tour backwards, starting at Metro Abbesses. It was equally nice, I guess :).
Lucy Dodsworth
Monday 29th of July 2024
Glad you enjoyed it!
Tuesday 28th of May 2024
We used this route today, great walk which showed us lots of beautiful streets and your site gave plenty of info about the different locations, we took 4 hours but that included stopping for lunch and seeing inside the Sacre Coeur (free) and also the steps up to the dome (€8 per adult). Thank you for a well planned and detailed walk
Friday 31st of May 2024
Thanks so much, great to hear that you enjoyed it!
Friday 15th of March 2024
Estimated time of the tour?
Hi Maria, the route is just over 2.5km (1.6 miles) and takes 35 minutes to walk straight through, but allow a couple of hours to include stops.
Magda Colodetti
Tuesday 26th of December 2023
We went on a Montmartre tour today, stopping at all suggested points along the way. The route was excellent.
Saturday 30th of December 2023
That's great – really glad you enjoyed it!
Saturday 8th of July 2023
Thank you Lucy for the tour. Me and my husband learned a lot about this neighborhood. Do you have any other walking tour?
Sunday 9th of July 2023
Hi Adriana – great to hear you enjoyed it! I have a couple more Paris walks, on on St Germain (https://www.ontheluce.com/st-germain-paris-walking-tour/) and one on film locations along the Seine (https://www.ontheluce.com/paris-film-locations-walk/).
![walking tour paris montmartre solosophie](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-cropped-solo-sophie-logo-redesign-round.jpeg)
Montmartre Walking Tour: Self-Guided Walk of the 18th
Last Updated on 23rd May 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.
Quirky architecture, rich history, and the fact that Montmartre has been a muse for artists, poets and writers alike for centuries make it the perfect spot to get lost in, perhaps even for a few hours. Here’s a Montmartre Walking tour ; a self-guided walk full of quirky activities and sites.
Montmartre. If there’s one arrondissement I could return to again, and again, it’s this time-warp in central Paris. The sights, the smells, and of course, all of the cobbled lanes come together to form a little piece of quirky France that’s best explored on foot.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre walking tour of Paris, France](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Montmartre-walking-tour-of-Paris-France-1.jpg)
Psst. If you’re planning to visit Paris, then we’ve created a gorgeous 100+ page eBook full of beautiful photos and insider tips by a local. Included you’ll find hidden gems, arrondissement guides, walking tours, suggested itineraries, and more. Find more information here.
Montmartre Walking Tour: Practical Advice, Tricks & Tips
Parvis du sacré coeur, sacré coeur, musee de montmartre, clos montmartre, la maison rose, rue l’abreuvoir, place dalida, moulin de la galette, picasso’s paris studio, le consulat café, place du tertre, le refuge des fondus, le mur des je t’aime, l’objet qui parle, enjoyed following this free and self-guided montmartre walking tour of the 18th arrondissement pin it now, read it again later:.
Before you head out on your Montmartre Walking Tour, there are certain things you should know. Firstly, make sure that you wear suitable walking shoes: this is one area of Paris where there really are plenty of cobbled lanes.
Though the walking time is just 26 minutes, allow yourself at least a couple of hours to ensure that you have enough time to see all the sites and attractions along the way (after all, there are plenty of museums, small streets, and eateries you may want to spend a while in along the way) .
If you’re considering stopping for lunch, and perhaps also an afternoon tea, then allocate yourself an entire half day of your time in Paris to complete this tour, especially if you’re planning to explore the museum.
Walking time: 26 minutes
Distance Covered: 2km
![walking tour paris montmartre montmartre walking tour](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-Shot-2017-08-12-at-20.30.19-1024x645.png)
Places to see on this Montmartre walking tour
Begin your self-guided walking tour of Paris at the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, the gateway to Montmartre. You can reach the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur via a number of different routes.
The nearest metro station is Anvers (line 2 blue) and you can walk up the numerous steps from the Carousel, up to the Sacré-Coeur. Just be sure to bring some water and snacks if it’s a hot day as it’s a pretty steep climb up!
If you approach the Basilica from this direction, you’ll pass the Sinking house of Montmartre along the way. Alternatively, you can reach the Parvis via the funiculaire de Montmartre (Montmartre funicular) . Opened in 1900, the journey lasts a minute and a half and costs the same as one metro ticket.
Once at the top, take a moment to admire the landscape, and the city of Paris sprawling out below you. This is your first glimpse of Montmartre and a portal into another time zone…
![walking tour paris montmartre panoramic views over paris](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/IMG_20151209_203645.jpg)
The iconic Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur has been a place of worship for thousands of years (during Roman times, it was even used as a pagan place of worship) . And, let’s face it, you predominantly visit Montmartre to catch at least a quick glimpse of the iconic Basilica.
Entry to the church is free, though no photographs are allowed inside (though I’m sure you’ll see plenty of people trying to take photos during your visit!). If you so wish, you can also pay a fee to go inside the interior top dome of the basilica to get an even better view of Paris from above.
![walking tour paris montmartre unusual places to see the sacre coeur in paris](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC04932-1024x683.jpg)
Pretty in pink, and complete with a set of gardens dedicated to Renoir, Musée de Montmartre is the perfect introduction to life in Montmartre, and the culture which has grown up around the area.
Located at 8-14 Rue de Cortot, here you’ll find a selection of artworks by many a famous resident of the area, as well as a brief history of Montmartre itself.
Purchase your Musée de Montmartre ticket here.
![walking tour paris montmartre Artist's Atelier (Renoir) Musée de Montmartre](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC09025-1024x683.jpg)
If you really want to get an understanding of Montmartre, and the history of the area, then no Montmartre Walking Tour would be complete without a visit to the Clos Montmartre , one of the last working vineyards in the middle of Paris. Situated just to the rear of Musée de Montmartre, the vineyard produces just a few bottles of wine annually.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour: Clos Montmartre](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC09041-1024x683.jpg)
Incredibly famous since the rise of Instagram, La Maison Rose stands at the end of one of the prettiest roads in Paris and is surrounded by cobbled streets. The restaurant/ café is open daily for food and drinks and is pretty much as cute as you can imagine (from the photo) .
There has been a coffee shop at La Petite Maison Rose for well over a hundred years, and this small bar on the side of Montmartre was once a boarding house where writers would come to enjoy their lunchtime meals for a modest price.
Today you can still enjoy traditional French fare on the little chairs and tables outside of the Parisian café. However, you should note that the café gets incredibly busy and so be sure to head here mid-week and earlier in the day if possible!
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour: La Maison Rose](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_20161231_153215-01-1024x767.jpg)
The pretty little road of rue de l’Abreuvoir overlooks the Sacré-Coeur and some of the prettiest architecture Montmartre has to offer. Many of the houses are covered in ivy.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir also happens to be one of the best places to see Wisteria in the city come wisteria season in April/ May. The street takes its name from an ancient watering trough situated in its centre, and dates back all the way to the 14th-century.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour:](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC06157-1024x683.jpg)
Perhaps the prettiest square in Paris, Place Dalida is well worth a stroll around, and perhaps a quick stop to snap a photo or two. The square is named after the iconic singer Dalida, an Egyptian/ Italian who called Paris home during her most famous years.
![walking tour paris montmartre Place Dalida, unusual places to see the sacre coeur in paris](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC01401-1024x683.jpg)
Once upon a time, the hill of Montmartre and its surrounding countryside was home to a whole multitude of windmills. Though this is no longer the case, a few still survive to this day. Moulin de la Galette is a testament to the history of Montmartre, as well as its enduring culture.
Today, the Moulin (windmill) operates as a restaurant and is open on a daily basis for lunch and dinner. A windmill has stood here, in this spot, since at least the 17th-century.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC01599-1024x682.jpg)
As you will have already seen from your time at the Montmartre Museum, the area has inspired countless artists, writers, and poets for centuries. One of the most famous of these was Picasso, who spent a lot of time in Montmartre when he was starting out.
As a result, he set up shop in Montmartre, Le Bateau-Lavoir to be precise. Though much of the building was sadly destroyed by fire in the 1970s, the façade survived and the building was reconstructed.
![walking tour paris montmartre montmartre walking tour](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Paris_Montmartre_in_1925-1024x532.jpg)
Perhaps the cutest cafeé in Paris (if one coffee house is even allowed to claim that title) , Le Consulat is well worth a look when you’re in Montmartre. Situated at 18 Rue Norvins, this little café is overlooked by the Sacré-Coeur, a cobbled street and is the perfect place to stop off for a quick coffee. For exactly how to order a coffee in Paris, I’ve written a short guide here !
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour: Le Consulat](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_20170103_212511_962-1024x683.jpg)
If you want to see where the artists spend their time in Paris nowadays, then you need to look no further than Place du Tertre. Filled with little artists’ stalls, here you’ll find painters painting en plein air .
There’s even the chance to purchase some of their artworks (if you’re looking for a particularly unusual souvenir from France to bring home with you).
Surrounding the Place du Tertre square, you’ll find a large selection of cafés and shops selling ice cream, snacks, and larger meals- though I don’t recommend actually eating around here.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Walking Tour](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC01791-1024x683.jpg)
If you’re looking for traditional French cuisine, as well as a convivial dining experience, then Le Refuge Des Fondus is the place to head to. Enjoy wine, by the [baby] bottle- yes, the wine quite literally is served in baby bottles. Here, you’ll also find more fondu than you could possibly eat (and it’s oh so delicious!)
![walking tour paris montmartre le refuge des fondus](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/le-refuge-des-fondus-1024x768.jpg)
A wall dedicated to all things love, the wall has ‘ Je T’aime ‘, (or I love you for all my English speaking readers) in over 250 languages, with over 300 declarations of love listed in total!
Spend the penultimate stop on your Montmartre Walking Tour celebrating love, and stop to admire the wall for a short moment. The I love you wall is at the base of the Butte Montmartre and comprises 612 tiles of enamelled lava. All in all, it’s well worth a look!
![walking tour paris montmartre le Mur des Je T'aime](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC07938-1024x684.jpg)
Finish off your Montmartre walking tour by indulging in a typically Parisian- and more specifically Montmartre- pastime. That’s right, try vintage shopping a la Parisienne in L’Objet Qui Parle (the talking object).
This vintage shop in Paris stocks quite literally everything; from drawings to ceramics, to the bizarre. It offers you the chance to purchase a particularly unique souvenir from your time in Montmartre, and Paris in general…
![walking tour paris montmartre VINTAGE SHOPPING IN PARIS: L'OBJET QUI PARLE](https://www.solosophie.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC06185-1024x683.jpg)
Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond. When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading, playing video games, and going on long hikes with her husband.
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11 Comments
Hello! This is great post, thank you for it! I personally love Montmartre and looking forward to visit Paris and especially this place again very soon. If I follow your suggestion, it could be quite different experience than previously. I love your website, keep great work! Bye Renata
We enjoyed following your tour and seeing some of the sights of Montmartre. However please include that the Fondu shop is only open at night. A big disappointment for us hoping to enjoy its fare!
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How long would you allow for this walking tour?
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We will be doing the walking tour of Montmartre this weekend October 14 Will stop by the bust of Yolinda Dalida. She sang with Julio Iglesias la Vien En Rose She took her own life
Don’T stop with just walking around Montmarte. Stay in Montmarte . Live like a local i can thoroughly recommend renting an apartment through perfectlyparis. The lovely and ever so helpful Gail Boisclair can help you find the most perfect apartment to stay in as she specializes in the Montmarte area. I have stayed no less than 5 times at different apartments and would never consider renting from any other company.
I absolutely love the Montmartre area, whenever I’m in Paris I try to visit and go to the same ice cream store. The views over Paris from the Sacré Coeur are just incredible! xo
I love your Montmatre walking tour! All the stops are absolutely picturesque. I also agree with your “time-warp” description. It’s been years since I was in Paris, but my memories of my afternoon in Montmatre are the most vivid for this very reason. I would love to go back!
Awesome walking tour! Paris has some many hidden gems that you can only discover by walking around the city. Thanks for this very informative post. I will save for when I visit Paris again.
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Montmartre Walking Tour
![walking tour paris montmartre walking tour paris montmartre](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Walking-Tours_2.png)
This post is a free and self-guided walking tour of Montmatre, one of Paris's most iconic neighborhoods, along with a map.
We also provide an audio tour version that is GPS-enabled to help guide you through the area.
And lastly, we provide a comparison of the various live-guided Montmartre walking tours , including, free walks , food tours , and art walks.
The neighborhood is a popular destination for visitors from around the world who are eager to follow in the footsteps of artistic legends such as Dali, Degas, and Hemingway, among several others.
The Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur Cathedral are especially famous attractions that have been attracting visitors, and tour companies, to the neighborhood for decades.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montrmatre Walking Map](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Montrmatre-Walking-Map-e1598702606972.jpg)
Click the Montmartre walking tour map to enlarge it.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF MONTMATRE
This self-guided tour should take between 2 and 4 hours depending on how long you dwell at each stop. In reality, there's no more than 1 hour of walking.
The tour begins at Place Pigalle ( map ). Take the metro to Pigalle on line 2 or 12 and prepare to stroll in the footsteps of geniuses. The tour ends near where it starts.
We also offer our own, GPS-led audio tour , developed and narrated by one of our local tour guides, Christina.
Here is a sample of the tour.
Place Pigalle
Take the metro to Pigalle on line 2 or 12 and prepare to stroll in the footsteps of geniuses.
Exit the metro and you’ll find yourself in Place Pigalle on the Boulevard de Clichy ( map ).
Downhill you’ll head back into Paris and going across either east or west you’ll be walking around the Butte du Montmartre or the hill of the martyrs.
We’ll find out about the name later, but in the late 19 th Century this went from being the countryside outside of the city to the most radical artistic neighborhood in the world.
![walking tour paris montmartre degas-labsinthe](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Degas-lAbsinthe-218x300-1.jpg)
Looking down the hill you’ll see a nightclub called Folies Pigalle, this was once the café Nouvelle Athènes frequented by Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Degas where the latter painted his famous L’Absinthe (see picture).
Back then absinthe, a supposedly hallucinogenic drink made of anise, fennel, herbs, and wormwood, was all the rage but we’ll hear more about that later too.
By the 1940s, the bar had become a striptease club where the Nazis and later French Resistance fighters would relax.
Sex and the erotic have always been a big part of the Montmartre story. Looking around today you’ll see lots of clubs and sex shops along the Boulevard.
It can be quite seedy here at night, but as we head up the hill you’ll notice the atmosphere becomes much less bawdy.
The name Pigalle comes from the 18 th- Century painter, Jean Baptiste Pigalle, but American GIs arriving in Paris after its liberation by Free French forces found the same pleasures here and nicknamed the area Pig Alley!
Right now we’re going to head west along Pig Alley (the Boulevard de Clichy) keep downhill on your left and uphill on your right.
Le Chat Noir
(68 Boulevard de Clichy)
![walking tour paris montmartre chat-noir-poster](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Chat-Noir-Poster-212x300-1.jpg)
You are standing in front of the world’s first modern cabaret.
La Chat Noir is now most famous for stylish retro posters on a thousand student walls (see picture).
But this was the soul of Belle Époque Paris, a place where fashionable artists came to be entertained at their tables by raucous music hall entertainment.
The club opened in 1881 as the meeting place of Les Hyrdopathes a group of artists who preferred wine to water!
The doormen at the club dressed like the Pope’s Vatican Swiss Guard but their job was to stop priests and the military people from entering this bohemian and radical club.
The list of famous patrons is like a who’s who of modern art and culture; the musician Claude Debussy, the singer Aristide Bruant and painters like Henri Toulouse Lautrec.
Henri Toulouse Lautrec was a fascinating character. Born to a noble family with a history of inbreeding, Toulouse broke both legs when aged 14, and his legs ceased to grow, leaving him with an adult torso, a child’s legs, and hypertrophied genitals!
He became the center of the Montmartre social scene, a leading post-impressionist painter, and a legendary lover to many local prostitutes and models.
From this, he contracted syphilis, went crazy, and drank himself to death at the age of 36.
Today he’s probably best known for designing the posters and flyers for the most famous cabaret in the world.
You probably don’t need us to tell you the name of that cabaret, keep walking west on the Boulevard de Clichy, and on your right, you’ll spot a big red windmill!
Le Moulin Rouge
![walking tour paris montmartre 10399648_541995724243_5837_n](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10399648_541995724243_5837_n.jpg)
The original red windmill stood atop a low building here which marked the entrance to the cabaret where kings and paupers could mix and watch girls dancing the famous Can-Can dance.
That windmill burned down in a fire, but the club was rebuilt and continues to wow audiences.
The Can Can, where dancers kick up their legs one after the other, getting quicker and quicker, was originally danced by both sexes but women in the late nineteenth century wore open underclothes which would occasionally flash audiences as they danced.
Here at the Moulin Rouge, they found that the more the girls flashed the more customers kept returning, and over the years the underclothes got shorter and shorter as the club became more and more famous.
Baz Luhrmann’s film with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor reignited interest in the club in 2001.
If you’ve seen the film John Leguizamo’s character is based on the painter Toulouse Lautrec.
The Moulin Rouge remains one of the main attractions in Paris with shows every night at 21:00 (9 pm) and 23:00 (11 pm).
Tickets start at 87€ per person , it’s not cheap but will certainly be an unforgettable evening.
For now, let’s head up into Montmartre. Turn back towards the Blanche Metro stop and then left up Rue Lepic.
Café des Deux Moulins
As you head up Rue Lepic, you’ll find this charming café-bar on the left-hand side - 15 Rue Lepic ( map )
Movie lovers will instantly recognize this as Amelie’s workplace from the famous 2001 French film; Amelie. The quirky love story is set around Paris but focuses heavily on Montmartre.
![walking tour paris montmartre Café des Deux Moulins](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cafe-des-Deux-Moulins.jpg)
The cigarette machine from the film is missing but the Café’s bathroom remains identical to how it is in the raunchy movie scene!
Despite its fame, the Café des Deux Moulins is no more pricey than other cafés and restaurants in the area.
A top tip for saving money in Paris is to drink at the bar. You will pay a higher price for table service and an even higher price for sitting outside on the terrace.
Continue up Rue Lepic, you will get to what looks like a junction, but turn left and you’ll find that Rue Lepic continues curving its way up the hill.
Van Gogh’s House
As Rue Lepic turns right uphill you’ll find a plaque on the wall at 54 Rue Lepic ( map ) commemorating Vincent Van Gogh’s time here.
![walking tour paris montmartre Vincent Van Gogh in Paris](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Vincent-Van-Gogh-in-Paris-238x300-1.jpg)
This was the home of Theo Van Gogh, Vincent's brother, who worked for a local art dealer. Vincent showed up in 1886 penniless and moved in with his brother.
This began a 2-year stint in Paris. It's here where Vincent's studio was set up (well, it was his bedroom).
In Paris Van Gogh became interested in Japanese art, pointillism, and impressionism and was hanging out with artists like Toulouse Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, and Camille Pissarro and his art took a transformative turn in these days.
Financial success eluded him to this point. Ironically, Van Gogh's poverty led him to focus on painting inexpensive and readily available items, which is why many of his paintings of this era involve flowers.
This is also the period when he painted several versions of his self-portrait.
For more information on his time here in Paris, there is an excellent article , which was a source for this entry, as well as an online exhibit .
Le Moulin de la Galette
Stop on Rue Lepic at the corner with Rue Tholozé ( map ) for fantastic views down into Paris. Cast your eyes upwards and you’ll see the Moulin de la Galette.
![walking tour paris montmartre Le Moulin de la Galette Windmill](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Le-Moulin-de-la-Galette-Windmill-1.jpg)
A galette is a kind of wholemeal crepe that was a staple food of the poor of Montmartre and Paris at the turn of the 20 th Century.
The windmill here is the only original windmill remaining today, but back then, Montmartre was full of windmills. This one is famous for two reasons:
During the 1870 Prussian siege of Paris, the mill’s owners defended the area and the miller was nailed to the sails of the mill in punishment by Prussian soldiers.
On a happier note, the mill was famous as a café, cabaret, and meeting point for artists. Many painted scenes here, but most famously Pierre-August Renoir.
![walking tour paris montmartre renoir-moulin-de-la-galette](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Renoir-Moulin-de-la-Galette-e1598440382586.jpg)
Renoir and the impressionists took art away from trying to capture purely accurate images. They preferred to show how things move and change over time as light changes from morning to evening.
Renoir’s Moulin de la Galette painting appears in the film Amelie for those who’ve seen it.
Today the windmill is privately owned and you can’t go up there so we’ll continue around the corner on Rue Girardon.
Saint-Denis Statue
One block on, at 2B Impasse Girardon ( map ), you will find a small park, Square Suzanne Buisson, on the left of the Rue Girardon.
In the park, there’s a statue of the first Bishop of Paris, Saint-Denis.
![walking tour paris montmartre Square Suzanne Buisson Saint-Denis Statue](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Square-Suzanne-Buisson-Saint-Denis-Statue.jpg)
Saint-Denis was beheaded here on the hill by the Romans in the 3 rd Century.
According to legend his corpse picked up his head and walked 10km to the point where the Cathedral of Saint-Denis now stands in the suburbs of Paris.
Every French king is buried at Saint-Denis and it’s great for a visit if you get the time.
Historically, the name Montmartre, the Hill of the Martyrs, has been attributed to this event.
However, most historians today think the hill was already known as Montmars, the hill of Mars, by the pagans before the advent of Christianity.
Buste Dalida
Exit the park the same way you entered and continue down Rue Girardon.
At the corner, where it turns to the right onto Rue L’Abreuvoir ( map ), you will see a small bust of the famous Egyptian-Italian-French singer Dalida.
![walking tour paris montmartre Buste Dalida](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Buste-Dalida.jpg)
Dalida had an incredibly successful career but tragic love life.
Her first fiancé shot himself, her husband shot himself, her friend jumped to his death from a Paris apartment and her final lover gassed himself in his Renault car.
All this became too much and Dalida overdosed on barbiturates in 1987 leaving a note saying; life has become unsupportable for me. Can you blame her?!
Rue L’Abreuvoir
This charming street was immortalized by the painter Maurice Utrillo. Utrillo was one of the few painters born in Montmarte.
![walking tour paris montmartre Rue L’Abreuvoir](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/55786347_2046778898751014_6677531159993253888_o-e1598563826109.jpg)
His mother Suzanne Valadon was the first woman admitted to the society of fine arts and learned her art from the countless painters she’d modeled for as a young woman.
Her former house is now the Montmarte Museum just ahead at number 12 Rue Cortot.
When Valadon fell pregnant she didn’t know who the father was. According to one Montmartre resident at the time; “she went to Renoir, but he looked at the baby and said, ‘can't be mine, the color is terrible’!
So she went to Degas, who said, 'He can't be mine, the form is awful!'
Valadon then saw an artist named Miguel Utrillo and told him her woes. He told her to call the baby Utrillo: 'I would be glad to put my name to the work of either Renoir or Degas!”
La Maison Rose
On the corner with the Rue des Saules ( map ), you’ll see the Maison Rose, or pink house, where Utrillo and many other painters used to hang out.
Upstairs was once a brothel where Van Gogh is reported to have contracted syphilis.
Today it’s been cleaned up and is a lovely spot for a bite to eat! Honestly!
Au Lapin Agile
Turn left down Rue des Saules with the vineyard on your left and stop on the corner by the Lapin Agile ( map ).
This little cabaret started life as a hang-out for low-lives and criminals.
![walking tour paris montmartre Au Lapin Agile](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Au-Lapin-Agile.jpg)
After the owner’s son was killed in an attempted robbery, the place was known as the Cabaret des Assassins.
But, fortunes changed when Andre Gill painted a new sign with a rabbit jumping out of a saucepan. People started to refer to the place as Gill’s Rabbit and this later changed to the Agile Rabbit.
At the turn of the 20 th Century the place was bought by Aristide Bruant to save it from closing and it became a favourite meeting place for struggling artists.
A young Picasso used to flirt with the waitresses and doodle their portraits on napkins in exchange for them letting him off the bill!
This is still a Cabaret today and well worth a visit for a more intimate and less bank-breaking French cabaret experience.
Le Jardin Sauvage
Turn right on Rue de Saint-Vicent and you’ll head past the old wild garden vineyards.
The wine they made here was Beaujolais, some of the first wines of the season and cheap wines for the people of Paris.
Unfortunately, the wine crops failed for several years in the late 19 th Century and this is where the tradition of drinking absinthe came from.
Once the wine stocks returned, many poor artists preferred to stick to absinthe as it was cheaper.
In order to get their customers back, many vineyards began spreading the idea that Absinth made drinkers go mad, hallucinate and commit all sorts of terrible crimes.
They also tried to get its sale prohibited. The legend they invented of hallucinogenic trips with the ‘green fairy’ persists to this day.
Le Sacré-Coeur
Continue uphill along Rue de Saint-Vicent. You’ll cross the path with the stairs heading up and down the hill.
The view down the hill is beautiful but we’ll continue uphill on the more gradual incline.
As the road bends to the right you’ll suddenly catch a view of the back of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica ( map ).
![walking tour paris montmartre Le Sacré-Coeur Rear](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Le-Sacre-Coeur-Rear.jpg)
Le Sacré-Coeur Rear
The basilica was built to make up for what many saw as the moral corruption for which they blamed for the French defeat in the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War
When Prussian troops took Paris in January 1871, the French Government and Army surrendered.
However, the working-class National Guard and the people of Paris refused to accept the surrender or the authority of the French Government and created an autonomous commune up here in Montmartre.
This was the first example of the working-class rule in the history of the world, but it only lasted a few months.
![By Bruno Braquehais - BHVP/Roger-Viollet, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14841641 Paris Commune Barricade](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Paris-Commune-Barricade.jpg)
Barricade set up by Commune shown captured by French Army forces
In May French troops attacked and destroyed the Commune in what became known as the Semaine Sanglante or bloody week
On both sides, terrible atrocities were committed and the Sacré-Coeur was seen as a way to atone for those sins.
Construction of the basilica began in 1875 but didn’t finish until during WWI, so it was only consecrated after the war in 1919.
Let’s head around the church to its right, at the front you’ll get the most spectacular view of Paris, prepare to have your breath taken.
![walking tour paris montmartre View from Le Sacré-Coeur](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/View-from-Le-Sacre-Coeur.jpg)
View of Paris from Le Sacré-Coeur
Take all the time you need to drink in the incredible views of Paris. In the afternoons the steps will be packed with people listening to street musicians.
Once you’ve regained your breath, turn back to the basilica and you’ll see two statues of people on horseback.
![walking tour paris montmartre sacre-coeur](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Sacre-Coeur.jpg)
Le Sacré-Coeur Front
The statue to the left is King Louis IX, the only king of France to be made a saint.
Louis brought in the right to a fair trial and banned medieval trials by torturous ordeals like walking over hot coals.
From his fights in the crusades, he brought back holy relics that you’ll find today in the Sainte-Chapelle in the centre of Paris.
The statue on the right is Joan of Arc. During France’s darkest hours when the English were conquering at will, Joan rallied the French armies and started their fightback.
She was captured and burned as a witch by the English ensuring her legend forever in history.
You can enter the Sacré Coeur free from 6 am – 10.30 pm. You have to pay to climb the dome and you’ll need strong legs to climb the 300+ steps!
Place du Tertre
Once you’ve checked out the church and got your breath back from the view turn right with the church at you back and head along Rue Azais.
Looking out towards Paris you’ll catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, then turn uphill to the right. As the street bends left you’ll enter the Place du Tertre ( map ).
![walking tour paris montmartre Place du Tertre](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Place-du-Tertre.jpg)
Place du Tertre on a rather slow day.
Today, as in years gone by, the square will be full of painters selling their art. If you’d like your own portrait they’ll be more than happy to paint you.
On the northern side of the square, the Mere Cathrine restaurant was the first Bistro in the world.
Russian soldiers at the end of the Napoleonic wars demanded their drinks quickly- Bystro in Russian, and the idea of a bistro or rapid service restaurant was born!
Salvador Dalí Museum Paris
Once you’re done in Place du Tertre, leave on the downhill corner, diagonally opposite to the side you entered.
At the end of the small street steps go downhill, do not take those, turn right on Place du Calvaire and you’ll come to the Espace Dalí Montmartre ( map ).
![Edal / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) Dali Museum Montmartre Paris](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Dali-Museum-Montmartre-Paris-e1598692038475.jpg)
Salvador Dalí is today the most famous surrealist artist in history, which is ironic as the surrealists kicked him out of their movement!
Surrealism was a reaction to all the craziness of wars and destruction in the world.
A group of writers, poets, and painters led by Louis Bréton began to question whether the comforting world of our dreams was actually the real world and our crazy world just a nightmare.
To connect with the dream world, they tried to write and paint without thinking consciously.
This automatic writing, as they called it, can be fun to try and to read back to yourself, but generally reading the nonsense of someone else’s head isn’t too engaging.
Dalí’s painting seemed intended to provoke and he was kicked out of the movement for thinking too much about his work and more than anything for making too much money from it!
People are still making money from his work today , entrance costs €13 and is a must for fans of surrealism.
Bateau Lavoir
Continue on Rue Poulbot and turn left at the end on Rue Norvins then left on Rue Jean-Baptist Clément and right on Rue Ravignan into Place Emile Goudeau ( map ).
This hidden little square is named after the leader of Les Hydropathes, who we met right at the start of our tour.
![By English Wikipedia user Davequ, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4282087 Bateau Lavoir](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Bateau-Lavoir.jpg)
On the right, as you enter downhill, you’ll find the Bateau Lavoir which is steeped in art history. Only the façade remains for the original building after a fire in the 1970s.
But, at the turn of the 20 th Century the creaky building would sway in the wind like the washing boats on the River Seine, hence its name- the washing boat.
The name was coined by Picasso’s life-long friend the writer Max Jacob.
The original Bateau Lavoir had many floors below going downhill towards the back, and when Picasso arrived in Paris in 1900 the place was packed with struggling artists.
Picasso had been painting in dark blue colors since his arrival in Paris when his best friend shot himself over unrequited love.
But living here Pablo met his first love, Fernande Olivier, and began painting in happy pink or rose colors, he then moved on to experiment with African masks and created the first-ever cubist painting here in 1907.
![walking tour paris montmartre les-demoiselles-davignon](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Les-Demoiselles-dAvignon-290x300-1.jpg)
The impressionists had been moving away from 100% accurate depictions of their subjects.
But in Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (see picture) Picasso took the art rule book, ripped it up, and threw it out of the window, representing five ladies with hard angular blocks of color.
Avignon is in the South of France but most people now think this painting is of five prostitutes from the Carrer d’Avinyó in Barcelona where Picasso grew up.
Picasso and his friends were poor struggling artists but always to be found out and about in Montmartre.
If you’re on the Picasso trail, check out the Picasso Museum in le Marais .
Murs de j’taime – The love wall
Leave the square downhill on Rue Ravignan and turn on Rue de Abbesses to Place des Abbesses.
On the upper side of Place de Abbesses you’ll find a small park with I love you written in over 250 languages.
The wall was created by the artists Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito and is a must for lovers and honeymooning couples.
If you come back this way Abbesses is the nearest Metro stop ( map ) to the top of the hill but its spiral staircase is hard work for all but the fittest of visitors.
If you’re looking for a place to eat, there are many great restaurants for all budgets around here.
A personal favourite of ours is l’Annexe on Rue des Trois Frees or for something fun and different, the Refuge de Fondues on the same street where the wine is served in baby’s bottles!
![walking tour paris montmartre Refuge de Fondues](https://freetoursbyfoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Refuge-de-Fondues.jpg)
Refuge de Fondues
Take Rue Yvonne le Tac and Rue Tardieu across the hill (neither up nor down) and you’ll arrive at a park with fantastic views back up to the Sacré-Coeur.
This is where Amelie calls her lover on the payphone and tells him to follow the blue arrows.
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed our time in this most romantic of neighbourhoods.
If you’re done with Montmarte just head down Rue de Steinkerque to Place Anvers where you’ll find the Boulevard where we started and the Metro station Anvers to head off to your next Paris destination.
If you’d rather hang around longer and explore, just remember whichever way you go downhill on the Sacré-Coeur side of the hill, you’ll hit the big Boulevard where we started and where you’ll find a Metro station.
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If you're interested in a different kind of experience, there is a self-guided exploration game in Montmartre which tasks you with solving a mystery as you're discovering the area.
GUIDED WALKING TOURS
There are 4 main companies leading live-guided walking tours of the Montmartre District, including one pay-what-you-wish tour.
If you're looking for a different kind of experience, there is a self-guided exploration game in Montmartre which gives you the opportunity to solve a mystery while discovering the area.
We also offer our own, GPS-led audio tour , developed and narrated by a local tour guide, which you can take it anytime you wish.
Disclosure: We think you should consider our free tours , but we have also provided other options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text .
Discovery Walks
Discovery Walks offer a 90-minute tour of Montmartre, visiting the areas from Moulin Rouge to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral.
The tour is name-your-own-price, leaving you free to decide its worth or what you could afford at the end. Group sizes can exceed 20 people, but reviews don't support this as an issue.
Montmartre Tour: Moulin Rouge to Sacre Coeur
- Departs daily at 11:00 am, 14:30 (2.30 pm)
- Pay-What-You-Like
- Book this tour .
New Europe Tours
At €16 per person, this is a reasonably priced option for those looking to explore this artistic neighborhood.
Like with other tours, you will learn about the famous figures who frequented Montmartre throughout history before finishing at the Sacre Coeur Cathedral.
New Europe tends to be popular with backpackers, so expect a younger crowd and larger(ish) group sizes.
Montmartre District Tour
- 2 hours
- Departs daily at 11 am and 6 pm
- €16 per person
- Get more information or to book .
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
This company offers a variety of popular tours in Paris, including two outings that will take you through the neighborhood of Montmartre.
Their main Montmartre tour is approximately 1 ½ hours in length and it covers several notable sites such as Moulin Rouge, the Wall of Love, Picasso's Studio, and many other historic locations.
Alternatively, you can also take their Paris in a Day tour and visit additional neighborhoods such as the Latin Quarter and notable attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum.
Montmartre: Paris' Picture Perfect Village
- €15 per person
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Maximum of 20 guests.
- Includes stops at several notable locations.
Paris in a Day
- €165/Adults | €163/Students | €155/Children
- Spring/Summer Availability: Wed - Mon at 9 am
- Fall/Winter Availability: Mon, Wed, Sat at 9 am
- Duration: 9 hours
- Maximum of 15 guests.
- Includes admission to the Louvre.
- Includes admission to the Eiffel Tower.
- Includes Seine River cruise.
Fat Tire Tours
Though known around Europe for their fabulous bike tours, Fat Tire Bike Tours also lead walking tours!
Their Montmartre 2-hour walking tour is one of their most popular, as it visits all of the main attractions in this popular neighborhood.
This tour and Fat Tires as a company are both well-reviewed, averaging over 4 out of 5-stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide ( read the reviews ).
This is the most expensive option in this section, but they also have the smallest group sizes and tend to attract a more mature clientele.
Paris: Montmartre 2-Hour Walking Tour
- Departs Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 am, and Sunday, Monday, and Thursday at 15:00 (3 pm)
- €25 per person
- Get more information or to book .
SPECIALTY WALKING TOURS
Montmartre impressionist art walking tour with skip-the-line musee d'orsay ticket.
This 1.5-hour tour is perfect for art lovers who are interested in learning the colorful histories of artists such as Van Gogh, Degas, and Monet.
With your purchase, you also receive a skip-the-line ticket to the Musee d'Orsay ticket, which is a great bonus considering the huge crowds that this museum usually attracts.
This tour is very well reviewed on TripAdvisor and Viator ( read the reviews ).
- Departs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:30 am and 2 pm
- From €45 per person
- NOTE: This tour isn't currently available as of March 2024.
Meeting the French Tours
Meeting the French Tours are known for their specialty tours of Paris and offer 2 tours of the Montmartre District:
- (1) Paris Movie Tour of Montmartre and
- (2) Paris Romance Walking Tour of Montmartre.
As specialty tours, they are significantly more expensive than the traditional guided tours listed above.
However, for film aficionados and diehard romantics, these tours are totally worth it!
On the Paris Movie Tour of Montmartre, you will learn about filming rights in Paris and why Montmartre is such a popular place for filming, in addition to visiting several major filming locations for world-famous films.
Paris Movie Tour of Montmartre
- Departs daily at 10 am or 5 pm
- From €85 per person
- More information or to book .
The Paris Romance Walking Tour of Montmartre visits Moulin de la Galette, the ‘I Love You Wall,’ Studio 28 and other famous love-struck sights, as well shares stories about Paris’ history and culture of love and romance.
Paris Romance Walking Tour of Montmartre
- Departs daily at 2 pm or 4 pm
- From €65 per person
Paris is often considered one of the greatest culinary cities in the world... and with good reason!
And as a bustling neighborhood with an important history, Montmartre is one of the best places to dine.
This 3-hour culinary adventure will have you sampling homemade pies, cheese, charcuterie, and a glass of wine as your walk through the Montmartre District.
You will learn how these items are made, as well as how Parisien's shops traditionally prepare each dish every day.
Also, you will learn more about the culinary history of the neighborhood.
Food is included in the price of the tour.
Montmartre Gourmet Tour
- Departs daily at 2:30 pm
- From €95 per person
Culinary Tours of Paris
Named after Ernest Hemingway's famous novel set in Paris, Montmartre Moveable Feast Tour is a culinary tour of one of Paris's most famous neighborhoods.
With Culinary Tours of Paris, you will visit 3 different restaurants, enjoying 1 course at each. In the first, you get to sample an appetizer or charcuterie and fromage.
After moving on to the second stop, you will be served the main course, before finally eating a dessert presented at the last stop.
Between restaurants, you are taken through the streets of Montmartre and told the history of the area.
The tour is approximately 3.5 hours and includes each meal with the cost of the ticket.
Montmartre Moveable Feast Tour
- Departs Wednesday-Sunday at 11:45 am
- € 110 per person
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All cities > Paris Walking Tours > Montmartre free walking tour
Montmartre free walking tour
From moulin rouge to sacré coeur - the last village in paris.
booking is required
(793 votes)
What's in our tour?
On this free walking tour in Montmartre, you will run into all the romance that Paris stands for.
You will explore Paris’ most bohemian, artistic district. Discover the picturesque streets that inspired Renoir, Picasso, and Edith Piaf. Photograph some of the best vistas of Paris. In the end, you will feel very Parisian.
The village of Montmartre is a maze where you need a tour guide. So book now. The itinerary covers Moulin Rouge to Sacre Coeur church – from icon to icon. Picturesque alleyways take you to one vista after the next. You explore the eccentric lifestyles of current and former Montmartre residents. You discover why local residents are so proud of their peculiar vineyard.
Your guide brings you to countless photo ops. And you enjoy the romance of Montmartre . You end the tour by Sacre Coeur, with the guide taking you to the best views of Paris lying at your feet.
So we can see more, this walking tour does not spend time going inside each building.
Montmartre Walking Tour Highlights
- Moulin Rouge, windmills, and the cabaret of the Assassins
- Sacre coeur church and artists’ square – icons of Bohemian Paris
- Eccentric Montmartre. Chat noir, and the extravagant home of French pop singer Dalida
- Montmartre’s vineyards and Paris’ most celebrated 180° view
- Hidden favorites of Renoir, Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec – and why they matter to the rest of the world
- The best view of Sacred Heart – and why no one ever goes there
Where and when?
This free walking tour of Montmartre runs, rain or shine, at 11am, 2.30pm & 5pm every day.
Start outside metro station “Blanche”, at street level. Your guide is wearing a pink vest.
The Montmartre walking tour ends near Sacré Coeur, 5 minutes away from Anvers metro station.
Booking is required and capped at 6 people. Parties of 7 and more must book a private tour. In the interest of all guests, we reserve the right to turn away large parties.
Why take this tour?
Montmartre is a village. You need a tour guide to navigate it and to see all there is to explore.
Our guides love Montmartre. And it shows.
For the stories of old Montmartre. Your guide can unveil the heart and soul of this vibrant village.
For the secret side of Montmartre, the side that has inspired artists time and again.
HOT DAY SPECIAL: We walk in the shade as much as possible and every tour makes frequent stops for water.
This is our free Montmartre walking tour , in which you pay the guide what you want at the end of your tour. Booking is required. Parties of 7 and more must book a private tour.
Turn up at the free tour Montmartre meeting point 5 minutes early.
To book this tour, use the “Book Now” button.
Privatize this tour
Groups of friends, families, and school groups often reserve a private guide for their walking tour of Montmartre. The 90min Private Tour of Montmartre starts with €179 for groups up to 8 people. If your group is larger, please contact us for a quote.
The guide can tailor your walking tour to your interests, skip what you do not want to visit, and help you into Sacré Coeur.
Other information
Wheelchairs not advised on this walking tour, because of some cobblestones. Average tip on this tour: €12 Average duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Ends near metro Anvers
Look for our distinct pink vests
Why join the free walking tour of Montmartre
How much does it cost to visit montmartre.
Yes you can visit Montmartre on your own and free of charge. For Montmartre is a district of Paris, an area with open streets, that you can visit free of charge. Only a few attractions charge an entrance fee.
Even Sacré Coeur – the basilica of Sacred Heart, at the top of the Butte Montmartre hill – is free of charge. So when you join a Montmartre walk, the tour truly is free to you.
That said, we advise you do not go to the Montmartre museum on your own, with nothing but a map. In Montmartre, join our free guided tour instead. In less time, you will see more. All for the price of your chooosing.
That is because Montmartre is more secret than it is open. You want more than just the church. You want to explore what Montmartre locals call their village. A maze, full of small gems, and secret treasures. Rely on our tour guides.
Only our walking tour will give you things like: the farmhouse that made Renoir the leader of the Impressionist movement. The spot where a man has been standing for 67 years – love-struck. The house that the local celebrate at night. The back entrance to Moulin Rouge cabaret. Place du tertre, aka and artists’ square. And the small vista on to Eiffel tower at the opposite end of Paris, Renoir’s moulin de la galette and Picasso’s bateau lavoir. And all the hidden gems of the Montmartre district.
Why we love Montmartre
We have many reasons for loving the village of Montmartre. We started this walking tour of Montmartre for many reasons…
Montmartre’s artistic heritage
In Montmartre you join Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Edith Piaf. You see the spots that inspired them and turned them into great artists. These spots continue to exist – unchanged. Where else does this happen!?
Le Moulin rouge
The world’s most cabaret brought on stage Josephine Baker, French Can-Can dancers, Frank Sinatra and countless other stage artists. Toulouse-Lautrec became a painted so he could celebrate Moulin Rouge and the people he loved there.
And then Edith Piaf, Yves Montand and many others all sang great love songs about Montmartre.
Le Moulin de la galette
Le Moulin de la Galette was originally a windmill used for grinding flour. After 1800, it was converted to a dance hall – with great views. Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette was painted by French impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876.
Of course, at the time, the Sacre Coeur church did not exist. Moulin Rouge came later. And there was no talk of free Montmartre walking tour!
What caused all these artists to walk and celebrate Montmartre was a unique atmosphere that you still find here today. Village-like lifestyle, views over the city, picturesque old stones and stunning farm houses.
La Maison rose
As part of your walking tour, we’ll take you to La Maison Rose, an adorable pink house widely regarded as one of the most photographed buildings in the area, and it’s easy to see why. Its name, La Maison Rose, is a literal translation of its appearance – a gently glowing pink.
Some Unique Landmarks and streets
Montmartre has its own vineyards – the Clos Montmartre. Very bad wine at that!
There’s the “Mur des Je t’aime”, a colorful wall hidden in a pocket garden and adorned with the words “I love you” in over 101 languages.
Avenue Junot is an elegant Art Deco road. The Rue des Abbesses, Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Rue Lepic are charming and winding streets that are lined with cafes, gourmet food shops, and art galleries. If you’ve seen the film Amélie then you might recognise Café des deux moulins along Rue Lepic.
Finally, the Butte Montmartre, the hill that dominates the area, is home to the famous Sacré Cœur Basilica, a blinding-white church that offers stunning views of the city from its steps. Our walking tour of Montmartre finishes by there of course. More specifically, at a spot that tourists never find on their own and that offers a fantastic photo opp.
Other things you can do in Montmartre
If you have time to linger after your walking tour is over, you might also:
- Get your portrait drawn by a local artists on place du tertre. Or your caricature if you’re up for it.
- Peek down rue Cortot and into the musée de Montmartre. The old farmhouse is beautiful, and the garden charming.
- If walking tours make you hungry, you can eat on place du tertre, or further down the hill around rue des abbesses.
- If walking tours make you hungry… for more, climb up the dome of sacré coeur. 292 steps, and worth every one of them! for the stunning views.
Surprising Fact about Montmartre
Many locals actually find Montmartre’s #1 icon offensive: Sacré Coeur. It all has to do with the failed revolution that the people of Montmartre took part in in 1871 – the “Commune”. Sacre Coeur was built to atone for the Commune.
Our Montmartre Walking Tour tells you about the Commune of Paris. But we don’t just give you the history, we tell you what it means today for the village of Montmartre.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre paris walking map](https://www.discoverwalks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/montmartre-tour-2020-neutral.jpg)
The Montmartre walking tour begins outside metro Blanche, at street level. Look for the guide in a pink vest.
At 11am, 2.30pm & 5pm
Metro station
Closest metro station: Blanche (line 2)
Additional information
All tours are in English
Average tip on this Montmartre walking tour : €12 Average duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes Average number of guests 16 Ends near metro Anvers Look for our distinct pink vests
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Secret Montmartre: a free self-guided Montmartre walking tour
April 12, 2018 by Karen Turner 14 Comments
Planning your visit to Montmartre and tired of the crowds of Paris? This guide to one of Paris’ most famous arrondissements covers secret locations that you won’t read about on most other travel blogs with a complete self-guided walking tour of Montmartre with map.
I lived only a stone’s throw away from Montmartre during my part of my time in Paris, so I often wandered up to Pigalle and Montmartre. In this guide to Montmartre, I cover the history as well as the little villages/streets that make Montmartre truly special. The walking tour of Montmartre should take about 2 hours. The total distance covered is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles).
Warning : Not all of these locations are public property, so ask permission before you go inside. Enter at your own risk. (I will warn you when you can’t fully enter, so don’t worry!)
Pickpockets are an issue near Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. I’ve tried to route you away from the most touristic parts of Montmartre, but some bits are unavoidable. Click for tips on avoiding pickpockets in Paris.
You’ll find a map of this Montmartre walking tour at the bottom with step by step directions that you can print (or save on your phone).
- 0.1 A brief history of Montmartre before the walking tour
- 0.2 Your self guided walking tour of Montmartre
- 0.3 Start off at Pigalle
- 0.4 Cité du Midi
- 0.5 Villa des Platanes
- 0.6 Moulin Rouge
- 0.7 Cité Véron
- 0.8 Café des Deux Moulins
- 0.9 Maison de Van Gogh
- 0.10 45 Rue Lepic
- 0.11 Rue Durantin
- 0.12 Bateau Lavoire
- 0.13 Rue d’Orchampt
- 0.14 Le Moulin de la Galette
- 0.15 Villa Léandre
- 0.16 Place Dalida
- 0.17 Rue de l’Abreuvoir
- 0.18 La Maison Rose
- 0.19 Clos Montmartre
- 0.20 Rue de la Bonne
- 0.21 Sacre Coeur
- 0.22.1 Optional: Biscuiterie de Montmartre for macarons
- 0.23 Le mur des je t’aime
- 0.24 End: Abbesses Metro
- 0.25.1 Click for the downloadable PDF directions of the MontmartreWalkingTour.
- 1.0.1 Anything else that you’d add? Feedback on this walking tour/route appreciated!
A brief history of Montmartre before the walking tour
The name of Montmartre was named for the namesake hill from Roman times (Mount Mars). In the medieval ages, most of Montmartre was an abbey, however this abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution. For many years, this area was distinct from Paris, only a commune on the outskirts.
During the time of the impressionists, Montmartre gained a reputation for cafes, dance halls, and cabarets, which attracted many artists to the area. This included Vincent Van Gogh, a favorite painter of mine whose roots I traced in Belgium , and Picasso. If you can imagine many windmills in Montmartre, there were dozens in Van Gogh’s time.
The Belle Époque ended and many of the artists who came to the former village for cheap rent ended up being pushed out. Despite many tourists and increasing housing prices in this arrondissement, Montmartre still has some working artist studios remaining.
This walking tour will bring you to one of these hidden art studios if you’re lucky enough to get inside. (Art is one of my favorite mementos from traveling although I’ve only recently started collecting it.) Montparnasse proved to be the next bohemian area in Paris.
Your self guided walking tour of Montmartre
This walking tour is intended for people who are fine with uphill/downhill walks as well as stairs. Without stopping, the total walking tour should take about one hour, so give yourself two hours if you intend to enjoy your morning or afternoon in Montmartre.
The distance covered on the walking tour is 4 kilometers or 2.5 miles. Be sure to reward yourself with French macrons at a bakery after your long walk.
Start off at Pigalle
Pigalle is rapidly changing from its slightly sketchy past as the home of the red-light district in Paris. (We’ll discuss this another day!). However, start your journey at the Pigalle Metro station, along lines 2 and 12.
Cité du Midi
![walking tour paris montmartre Cité du Midi, one of the secret villages of Paris. Follow this walking tour of Paris to find this off the beaten path village in Montmartre/Pigalle. #travel #paris #france](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/26962462_1796765530347259_7492657856655950299_o.jpg)
From here, you’ll need to cross the road towards Cité du Midi, which was made famous in the namesake film (“Cité du Midi”). Down this street, you’ll find a charming street filled with ivy away from the loud crowds and tourists in Paris.
![walking tour paris montmartre Leafy secret street in Paris in Cité du Midi. This beautiful hidden village in Pigalle should not be missed on your trip to Montmartre! #travel #Paris #France](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27164121_1796766140347198_5564911227393513710_o.jpg)
Here, you’ll find white-washed doors with a hint of exclusivity. Similarly, you’ll find the former Pigalle Baths as well as the former Pigalle Theatre. At the time that I visited, a gate was about to be constructed near the back area, so be sure to appreciate this stunning little village of Paris before it’s closed off to the public.
Villa des Platanes
![walking tour paris montmartre Villa des Platanes, one of the most exclusive secret villages in Paris found in Pigalle! #Paris #Travel #France](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27021864_1796766827013796_6302642677326155920_o.jpg)
This private villa constructed in 1896 is a blend of architecture styles. Although the imposing gate keeps most curious passerby’s out, my friend Emily and I were lucky enough to be invited in by a resident.
Outsiders are not allowed inside Villa des Platanes, so you’ll have to make do with viewing it from the exterior unless a resident invites you in. My photos might be the closest that you get to entering, but it’s still beautiful through the fence.
![walking tour paris montmartre Villa des Platanes, one of the most exclusive secret streets of Paris that you'll pass on this free tour of secret Montmartre! #travel #paris #france](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/26910376_1796765310347281_2556676807186876874_o.jpg)
Moulin Rouge
![walking tour paris montmartre Le Moulin Rouge, one of the most iconic attractions in Montmartre that you will see along this free walking tour of the 18th arrondissement. #paris #france #travel](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/24883420_1797380556952423_1231909710712918002_o.jpg)
How can you miss the The Moulin Rouge? I personally think that it’s best seen at night or around dusk. The Moulin Rouge is the birthplace of the can-can dance and you can still go to (touristy) shows at the Moulin Rouge. You’ll be away from the crowds soon, but keep an eye on your stuff here.
![walking tour paris montmartre Cité Véron, one of the secret villages in Montmartre, one of the districts of Paris. Follow this walking tour to see a secret side to Paris! #Paris #travel #France #Montmartre](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/26951994_1796766257013853_1496281364872273708_o.jpg)
This narrow street has been perfectly preserved from the 1920s, which you can find from its iconic post marking the entrance. This was the home of Montmartre’s longtime mayor and its greenery is a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of Paris.
Towards the end of the alley, you’ll find a stunning 1920s house stuck in time although it might not be viewable once the gate goes up again.
Café des Deux Moulins
![walking tour paris montmartre Le 2 Moulins](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/9606364078_62a00eeac6_c.jpg)
Any Amélie fans here? This iconic cafe was her place of work in the film. You can still sit in this cozy French cafe, which has a poster of Audrey Tautou in case you forgot which movie that I’m talking about. I’m a sucker for movie locations, so I had to pass by here.
Maison de Van Gogh
As a Van Gogh fan, I had to pass this landmark, which was Van Gogh’s home in Paris. Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo lived on the fourth floor of this building (42 Rue Lepic).
Van Gogh painted on the streets of Montmartre for two years using this home as his home base until he moved to the South of France. You cannot enter unless you’re having a function, but you can admire its exterior at least.
45 Rue Lepic
This functional studio is one of the few artist studios in Montmartre that you can still enter today. During weekdays (typically between 9-5pm), you’ll be able to enter this partially-open covered passage that still is home to artisans.
Please be quiet and polite as it’s a privilege for the public to enter this area and this policy might change if people are inconsiderate. For those looking for a true masterpiece to bring home, consider stopping by the studio of Véronique Darcon Cazes , a famous French artist who produces stunning mosaics.
Rue Durantin
I just enjoy walking down this cute street. Although I have never gotten beyond the entry again, the “Cour aux Juifs” is viewable from number 40’s entry gate.
Bateau Lavoire
This building was once used as Picasso’s studio. It’s not open to the public, however it’s still rented to artists and writers from all the over the world for minimal rent. The original building is not there, but you’ll know you found it if you find the green doors.
Rue d’Orchampt
![walking tour paris montmartre Graffiti in Montmartre, the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Follow this walking route in Paris for the best graffiti in Paris! #travel #Paris #graffiti #france](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27173112_1797384793618666_5125299015903483786_o.jpg)
For graffiti, you’ll want to walk down this short street to admire the local and foreign graffiti artists who have left their mark. Although it’s illegal to do so, this is one of the most coveted streets in Paris and you’ll likely see completely different street art than what I saw.
Look for the iconic Space Invaders graffiti that you’ll spot all around Paris, made by a French graffiti artist.
Le Moulin de la Galette
![walking tour paris montmartre The real Le Moulin de Galette, one of the most iconic sights in Montmartre incuded in this free walking tour of Montmartre. #paris #france #travel](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27021343_1797384256952053_6107592103298715977_o.jpg)
Le Moulin de la Galette is certainly a tourist attraction, however it’s worth stopping to see one of the last remaining windmills in Montmartre. At one time, Montmartre was covered in windmills as they were commonly used to grind materials.
This windmill, a favorite of Vincent Van Gogh, was used for grinding flour. The owners of the windmill created a brown bread (Galette) that was so popular that the windmill got its name from it. The building underneath has had many purposes over the years, however it’s now a restaurant.
Villa Léandre
From here, make a left onto Avenue Junot prior to making another left to reach Villa Léandre, which is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful streets of Paris.
There used to be a mill here, however this street built in the 1920s is one of Paris’ most exclusive streets where the homes sell in the millions. The houses have colorful accents and raised roofs. (I’m kicking myself for not getting a good photo. Thank you to Lucie for this beautiful photo!)
Place Dalida
![walking tour paris montmartre Place Dalida, one of the most scenic places in Montmartre. Read about the best places in Montmartre to visit, including some secret villages in Montmartre. #paris #travel #france #europe](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/26961918_1797380786952400_6974370960181635351_o.jpg)
This stunning location, named for the famous singer is one of the best viewpoints in Paris of Montmartre. Say hit to the bust of Dalida and continue up the stunning Rue de l’Abreuvoir, one of the most beautiful streets in Paris. Some say that Paris in the rain is enchanting, but you can judge for yourself if you prefer it in the rain compared to a clear night right after a downpour.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir
![walking tour paris montmartre Rue de l'Abreuvoir in Montmartre. This beautiful street in the 18th arrondissement is one of the prettiest in Paris. Be sure to include this in your walking tour of Montmartre! #travel #Paris](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20690096_1797382520285560_4325458657691617174_o.jpg)
This winding street was named for the water trough that used to exist at 15 Girardon Street. It’s definitely a lovely street to walk along. Even my husband wandered off to admire the details on the ornate buildings.
La Maison Rose
![walking tour paris montmartre La Maison Rose, one of the most famous sights in Montmartre. Read the perfect itinerary for exploring Montmartre with a free map! #travel #paris #france](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/26961976_1797381916952287_2917123722787255159_o.jpg)
The house was purchased in the early 1900s by Germaine Gargallo, the wife of a well known painter. The house become a famous gathering place for artists. However, it truly became famous after painter Utrillo created a painting of it. It’s lovely to view and photograph from the exterior.
Clos Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Clos Montmartre, vineyards in Montmartre. This off the beaten path attraction is something that you need to include on your self-guided walking tour of Montmartre! #vine #travel #Paris](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27164226_1797383106952168_6587091164200572000_o.jpg)
Ever since the Romans conquered Paris, there has been a vineyard in Montmartre and it is the oldest vineyard in Paris. Now sponsored by the city government, the vineyard at Clos Montmartre creates a small number of bottles per year that are sold for charity. (Tours are free although you must pay for a tasting.) It’s just really cool to see a vineyard in the middle of the city.
Rue de la Bonne
![walking tour paris montmartre Sacre Coeur at night from the best viewpoint in Montmartre for the Sacre Coeur. Get your free self-guided walking tour of Montmartre. #travel #Paris #SacreCoeur #montmartre #France](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27021617_1797380140285798_7433749004315427980_o.jpg)
For the best views of Sacre Coeur without the crowds, walk around the other side of Rue de la Bonne for epic views of the Sacre Coeur. Despite the crowds near the front of Sacre Coeur, there’s almost nobody else here.
Sacre Coeur
![walking tour paris montmartre Sacre Coeur, one of the most famous churches in Paris. This church is located in Montmartre. Read the perfect self-guided walking itinerary for Montmartre! #Paris #France #travel](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/603482_479400762083749_2021739096_n.jpg)
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, Sacre Coeur, is one of the most famous churches in Paris. Built in the late 1800s, this impressive church is actually best seen from quite a bit below as the crowds and height make it difficult to get the perfect photo.
This is one of the best spots in Paris to sit to enjoy the sunset over the city although I caution to be aware of your stuff as it’s also a favorite of pickpockets. You can climb the tower for the highest views in Paris!
Place du Tertre
![walking tour paris montmartre View of streets in Montmartre, a former village in Paris. This former village is perfect for a long walk. Read the perfect two hour itinerary for exploring Montmartre (the 18th arrondissement of Paris). #travel #Paris #Montmartre](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/27022077_1797380703619075_1289033344904751005_o.jpg)
Place du Tertre is quite touristy, but if you love watching street artists work, this is one of the best places to sit outside. After seeing a real atelier, this might not appeal to you,.
The alleyways around here are particularly pretty (especially once you get far away from the Starbucks). I’ve not included a photo of the main square, but you can find some gorgeous alleyways and stairways off of it.
Optional: Biscuiterie de Montmartre for macarons
If you’re feeling a bit hungry at the end of this walking tour of Montmartre, consider stopping off at this well-known bakery in Montmartre for macarons. (You’re almost done!) You’ll find many cafes in the areas as well as picturesque stairways.
Le mur des je t’aime
![walking tour paris montmartre Wall of Love in Paris. Don't miss this mural with love statements in Paris while walking around Montmartre in Paris! #travel #Paris #love](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/402786_479400638750428_1923055822_n.jpg)
This world-famous mural of love written in many languages is a favorite among instagrammers and couples in love.
![](http://adsite.space/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
End: Abbesses Metro
![walking tour paris montmartre Abbesses Metro Station in Montmartre, one of the things to see in Montmartre. This historic Metro station is one of the most beautiful metro stations in Paris! #Paris #Metro #Travel](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/296947_479400648750427_1214587926_n.jpg)
Your little tour of Montmartre ends at one of the cutest Paris metro entrances (in my opinion). The entrance is one of the only remaining glass covered Guimard original Metro entrances in Paris. Abbesses is the deepest metro station in Paris and part of line 12. Expect stairs.
Map of the self-guided walking tour of Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Downloadable map of this self-guided walking tour through Montmartre, Paris](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-05-at-3.40.53-AM.png)
Click for the downloadable PDF directions of the MontmartreWalkingTour .
Have you been to montmartre, anything else that you’d add feedback on this walking tour/route appreciated.
Click for a walking tour of the Paris covered passages, my guide to the 14th arrondissement , tips for visiting France on a budget , an one day itinerary for off the beaten path Paris , and tips for avoiding pickpockets in Paris .
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![walking tour paris montmartre Visiting Paris? Your perfect itinerary for Montmartre, including a free self-guided walking tour of Montmartre with a map with secret streets that you won't want to miss! This arrondissement in Paris with Sacre Coeur is perfect for a morning walk in Paris. #Montmartre #Paris #France #Travel #Europe](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mon1.jpg)
About Karen Turner
New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.
Reader Interactions
April 14, 2018 at 3:32 am
You found some of the cutest spots! I am so sad I missed these spots when I went last summer, Great post!
April 14, 2018 at 5:34 am
Haven’t been to Montmartre yet but definitely taking advice from your walking tour the next time I’m in France! I notice there’s barely any people in your photos, which would make a lovely environment for taking in all the details in the surroundings =)
April 14, 2018 at 10:20 am
I wish I had this guide when I stayed in Montmartre during my trip to Paris last winter. I LOVED the area. Stumbled upon a great view of the Eiffel Tower up the road from Sacre Coeur. Great memories <3
April 14, 2018 at 11:36 am
Thanks for such a wonderfully detailed guide! There’s so much to know about this beautiful corner of France. You’ve captured this area stunningly in your words and pictures!
April 14, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Love this guide! I really liked Montmartre but hardly had any time to explore it when I was there so this is perfect for when I get back to Paris! Love all your walking tour guides. 🙂
April 14, 2018 at 1:33 pm
I think my last comment didnt go thru 🙁 I love Paris and pretty much want to go right now after reading this. This is the best way to see a city!
April 14, 2018 at 5:16 pm
I love self-guided walking tours! It’s my favourite way to experience a city. Thanks for sharing your secret places to check out 🙂 Montmartre looks so charming indeed.
April 19, 2018 at 5:41 am
Merci Beaucoup for this detailed guide. We’re visiting Paris in May. Looking forward to exploring Montmartre.
May 15, 2018 at 12:50 am
After literally hours of Pinterest searching over time. Found your so perfect for us guide to Montmartre. Staying there 10 days from May 29 on Rue Orsel. All other guides are tourist destinations. We want to wander, be delighted and enjoy just being there. Not my first trip. Thank for this inspiring walking guide. Will be taking it and reporting back when we return to Canada. Cheers.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://www.wanderlustingk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Karen-WL.jpg)
May 15, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Hi Angela, Thank you so much for your kind comment and glad that you found what you were looking for! I really hope you enjoy it and please let me know if you have any feedback, so I can tweak it if needed.
Best, Karen
July 6, 2019 at 8:26 am
We did this tour in reverse with the family. Staring around 7pm on a warm sunny evening, we stopped and ate at Le Moulin de la Galette and watched the sun go down. Finished at Moulin Rouge around midnight. For two artist who have only read about these places, it was a real treat and your guide made for one of our most memorable nights in Paris. Thank you!
July 30, 2019 at 7:38 pm
I was there in August 2018 and did the off the beaten path self walking tour. I was rewarded with some of the nicest spots in Paris. Highly recommended to every one who don’t like the crowds and touristy spots. I got off the Lamarck Metro station and made my way down Montmarte. It was an amazing day.
February 11, 2020 at 12:18 am
This is such an amazing list. Thank you for sharing!!
May 3, 2022 at 5:08 pm
This was such a great tour to take! I also appreciate that if you follow the order you don’t have to climb many stairs, haha. I really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing! 🙂
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Montmartre Artists' Studios
A Self-Guided Walk on the Artists' Trail in Montmartre
Montmartre Walking Tour: Artists, Paintings, Studios, Canteens
Uncover montmartre’s art history with two free self-guided walks, for art enthusiasts and montmartre strollers.
Most people follow the crowds when they wander around the Montmartre area of Paris. That’s fine for many, it’s a great place to just stroll around. If you, like me, are an arts enthusiast and want to deepen your experience of being in Montmartre now, then you’ll need to find out a little about its art-history past.
Montmartre is famous for its artists but who were they and where exactly did they live and work? Where did Picasso get started? In which studio did Toulouse-Lautrec create his Moulin Rouge paintings and posters? Where did Theo and Vincent van Gogh live? Does Renoir’s famous Moulin de la Galette still exist ?
Follow my two free self-guided Montmartre artists’ studios walks and retrace the footsteps of the artists. See their workplaces and homes, stop where they ate and drank.
Clear maps guide you to home and studio, timelines connect painter with painting and place.
Montmartre has changed in the 150 or so years since the artists were here, but the street plan and some of the buildings remain. If you follow my routes, you will walk the same streets as they did.
I’ve done some art-history research and worked out a couple of circuits. The overall aim of the content is to intensify and amplify your experience of Montmartre. You have to bring holiday good-humor and some creative imagination.
As the streets of Montmartre unfold, allow the convergence of studio, artist, art and the information you will find in the site to deepen your feeling for the artistic legacy of this still unique place.
The site features two walks, they take you to every known site associated with the artists in Montmartre.
Walk 1: upper Montmartre
Walk 1 covers artists’ studios, paintings and places in the upper Montmartre area around the hill of Montmartre.
Walk 2: lower Montmartre – Pigalle
Walk 2 visits sites associated with artists in the lower Montmartre – Pigalle area.
Disabled alternatives for the two walks
I offer alternative routes for wheelchair users for walk 1 and walk 2. Because of the steep inclines in walk 1 the disabled version of this walk is a different and longer route which incorporates the funicular link to get to the top of Montmartre. Below is the walk 1 alternative.
I have an extensive dedicated page on this disabled alternative of walk 1 .
Walk 2 is less hilly and more accessible. The wheelchair alternative for the second walk only involves a short detour and then rejoins the original circuit. That short detour for walk 2 is indicated in blue below.
Where is Montmartre?
The Montmartre area is about 3.2 kilometres, about two miles, to the north of central Paris.
How do I get there?
Because of its hilly location and narrow streets, it is difficult to access Montmartre by public transport.
Both walks start at the Abbesses métro stop which is on line 12 of the Paris métro.
Line 12 can be accessed from central Paris at: Montparnasse Station, Place Concorde, the Madeleine or Saint-Lazare Station.
Emerging from the Abbesses métro straight into the busy Rue des Abbesses is one of the best ways to immediately catch the feel of contemporary Montmartre.
Bus number 80 is an alternative to the métro, stop Damrémont – Caulaincourt. You would then walk the length of Rue des Abbesses to get to the start of the routes at the Abbesses métro.
Is there a disabled version of the walks?
This is a variation of walk 1 upper Montmartre for accompanied wheelchair users. It tries—as far as is possible—to avoid the worst of Montmartre’s steepest parts. Please see above for the maps, the disabled alternative routes are shown in blue. Skirting round steps and avoiding the stiffer gradients makes for a longer and less direct route.
Walk 2 lower Montmartre – Pigalle could be followed by an accompanied disabled person almost in its entirety, there is just one minor detour at the beginning of the walk—to avoid steps.
You will find the dedicated directions and maps for the walk 1 alternative disabled route on the wheelchair route page .
I am not disabled, so it is difficult for me to judge how appropriate my circuit is. Because Montmartre is hilly and the roads are cobbled, I would say that non-motorised-wheelchair users would have to be accompanied by someone strong enough to be able to push uphill. I hope that it is a viable alternative.
How long are the walks?
Walk 1, upper Montmartre is 2.7 kilometres or 1.67 miles long. The route traces roughly a figure of eight. All of the important artistic sites of upper Montmartre are covered. Allow about a couple of hours to complete the circuit.
The wheelchair alternative of walk 1 upper Montmartre is considerably longer at 4.15 kilometres or 2.57 miles; this is because it follows a quite different track to avoid steep inclines and stairs.
Walk 2, lower Montmartre – Pigalle is 2,2 kilometres or 1,4 miles long.
The wheelchair alternative of walk 2 lower Montmartre – Pigalle is also 2.2 kilometres or 1.4 miles.
How difficult are the walks?
The upper Montmartre circuit is hilly with some steep sections and cobbles.
Walk 1 involves some climbing and there are some short steep sections. Most of the route is over cobbles. You climb about 300 feet. The combination of steepness and cobbles make it more challenging than its 2.7 kilometres or 1.67 mile length would suggest.
The disabled alternative route for walk 1 incorporates the funicular link to get to the top of Montmartre but also runs over cobbles and includes some moderate inclines.
No matter which way you approach it the upper Montmartre area remains hilly and involves an effort.
Walk 2 is less challenging; there are slopes but they are more gradual.
Can I visit any of the sites?
Many of the points visited on both walks are now private residences or workplaces and cannot be visited. Please be discreet when taking photographs and not disturb the people who live or work there.
The numbered sites on the tour that can be visited are:
Point 1 Père Azon – Le Relais de la Butte, a restaurant Point 4 Le Moulin de la Galette, a restaurant Point 6 La Maison Rose, a restaurant Point 8 Le Lapin Agile, a cabaret Point 9 The Montmartre Museum Point 13 Studio 28, a cinema Point 14 Métro Abbesses, the Art Nouveau public entrance to the Paris métro line 12.
Point 8 Moulin, Rouge a cabaret show.
Which of the two walks is the more scenic?
Walk 1, the upper Montmartre circuit, is the most scenic. It takes you close to, but does not include, the Sacre Coeur church.
Walk 2 the lower Montmartre – Pigalle route features Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. I look in detail at many of their major works. This is a less scenic walk—although we do pass the Moulin Rouge—but worth the detour especially if you like Lautrec and Degas and want to see where they lived and worked.
Also in walk 2 we forget about painters for a moment and skip forward a generation to take in the 1920s Paris jazz scene because it happened in this area too.
Where do the walks walks start?
Both walks start at the Abbesses métro which is the best station for getting to Montmartre.
I want to find out about the history of Montmartre and the art history of the period, where do I find that?
The upper Montmartre circuit can be approached just as a pleasant walk featuring interesting and picturesque sites.
Those of you interested in history and art history can browse the more detailed contextual information that I have put together. These include: the History and culture of Montmartre , the Commune , the Salon system , influences on Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon . I look briefly at late 19th century gender stereotypes in French society on my working women and bourgeois men page.
Walk 2 features some extended appreciation of the work of Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec as well as Picasso and Braque’s early cubist works. Most of this more detailed material reflects conventional views from authoritative sources. I do also throw in some personal interpretation because that is part of the fun of looking at art.
Montmartre is small but all of the works I feature were created here by artists who lived and worked in this pressure-cooker art hotspot. Modern Montmartre lives on their legacy. They walked these very streets; so don’t follow the crowds, follow in their footsteps and catch their spirit.
All photographs © David Macmillan.
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Free Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Montmartre, in Paris
![walking tour paris montmartre White domes of the Sacre-Couer in Montmartre in Paris](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Self-guided-Walking-Tour-of-Montmartre-May-Cause-Wanderlust.jpg)
If you’d love to explore the legendary Montmartre area of Paris and don’t know where to go and what to do, you need this self-guided walking tour of Montmartre.
Why be held back by a slow group tour if you can find your own way and go at your own pace, without missing out on key information and local stories?
My FREE self-guided walking tour of Montmartre gives a manageable route that will take you to the main sights and prettiest streets, highlighting things to do along the way, plus places to eat. I’ve even thrown in a suggestion of where to stay in Montmartre.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. These are links to products or experiences I recommend and if you were to buy something after clicking on them, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any earnings go towards the upkeep of this blog, which I appreciate.
Table of Contents
Is Montmartre Worth Visiting?
I definitely recommend it! It’s a charismatic area of Paris. I made a point to visit Montmartre on my first visit to Paris – and I’ve been back many, many times since. I think it’s one of the most romantic things to do in Paris for couples – but I’ve also really enjoyed it with friends and when travelling in Paris solo . Montmartre is for everyone!
A big part of the appeal of Montmartre is its cultural story ; the role it has played in Paris’s history. Between 1872 and 1914, it was the beating heart of the Belle Époque, the golden age of art and innovation in Paris and across Europe. It was a bohemian hotspot and many artists, writers and performers lived and/or worked in Montmartre, where the rents were low. Among them were Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
Montmartre was once a hilltop village outside the city limits of Paris. And even though it has been a long time since it was enveloped by the city, it retains a quaint village feel , with its narrow cobbled streets and some cute cottages. There are even a couple of windmills and a small vineyard that remains!
And during Springtime , Montmartre is one of the places you can see cherry blossoms in Paris .
![walking tour paris montmartre Paris rooftops with the tall domes of the Sacre-Couer on a hilltop](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Montmartre-and-Sacre-Couer.jpg)
The hilltop location adds another reason to explore Montmartre: its elevated status gives some great views over Paris . The best is from the Basilica of Sacré Cœur de Montmartre, which sits like a gleaming white crown atop the butte of Montmartre.
Overall, Montmartre is a great part of Paris to explore. In fact, wandering Montmartre on foot it’s one of the things I suggest you do even if you only have a small amount of time in Paris. It features in my Paris 4-day itinerary , my Paris two-day itinerary and even my Paris one-day itinerary !
What You’ll See On This Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Montmartre
A few of the Montmartre highlights you’ll discover on this walking tour:
- The beautiful Basilica of Sacré Cœur de Montmartre
- Place du Terte , the beating heart of Montmartre
- Picture-perfect bohemian cafes including La Maison Rose & Le Consulat
- Pretty cobblestone streets including Rue de l’Abreuvoir & Escalier du Calvaire
- Artistic landmarks, including Musée de Montmartre & Le Bateau-Lavoir
- Montmartre’s tiny vineyard, Vigne du Clos Montmartre
- Contemporary monuments, including Wall of Love & Le Passe-Muraille
- Peaceful parks, including Square de la Turlure & Square Suzanne Buisson
- One of the classic Parisian cemeteries, Cimetiere de Montmartre
Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Montmartre in Paris
I’ll step you through this self-guided walking tour of Montmartre, describing the route and also the things to do in Montmartre along the way. However, there’s also an interactive map at the end of this article to help you find your way around.
How long does it take to walk Montmartre? In total, there are around 50 minutes of pure walking, but of course, it will take longer than that as you’ll be stopping to look at and do things along the way. I’d suggest you give yourself a couple of hours to do this walk.
Heads up: this route includes some hills! There is one place where you can avoid a steep incline by taking a funicular, but it’s hard to avoid some steepness altogether, so be aware there are slopes and steps involved.
1. Start: Anvers To Sacré-Cœur
Our walking tour of Montmartre starts at Anvers Metro station because it is the closest Metro to the most spectacular landmark in Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur . Anvers station has one of those classic Art Nouveau Metro entrances, so the first thing you do might be to admire that for a moment.
![walking tour paris montmartre green Art Nouveau style entrance to the Metro at Anvers](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Anvers-Metro.jpeg)
After that, head uphill along souvenir shop-heavy Rue de Steinkerque toward the Sacré-Cœur Basilica . At Place Saint-Pierre, you’ll be at the bottom of the gardens below Sacré-Cœur, and you could find a nice spot to photograph the basilica with the old-school fairground rides in the foreground.
You can either continue to walk up the hill, through Square Louise Michel OR you could take the easy route via the funicular to the left of the gardens (this costs the same as a single ticket on the Metro: €2.15 each way). Either way, you’ll end up at the top of the hill on Place du Cardinal Dubois, which is right in front of the basilica.
![walking tour paris montmartre white domes cathedral seen through trees with a fairground in front of it](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sacre-Couer-3.jpeg)
The iconic Neo-Byzantine-Romanesque-style Sacré-Cœur sits on the summit of the butte of Montmartre. From the graceful white dome, on a clear day, it is possible to see all of Paris and the surrounding countryside for fifty km around. It is the second-most visited monument in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower.
Things to do around Sacré-Cœur
- Admire the view over Paris. From Place du Cardinal Dubois, you get a southward vantage point
- Admire the Basilica in all its gleaming travertine glory – it is impressive both outside and inside (and entrance is free)
- Climb up into the elegant dome . For a fee and after you’ve climbed 300 steps, you will discover even better panoramic views over Paris
- Enjoy the perspective-bending view of the ‘sinking buildings’ on Rue Lamarck – a classic photo op is to line the camera up with the steep hillside instead of the houses.
![walking tour paris montmartre patterned white domes of the basilica de sacre-couer in Montmartre in Paris](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sacre-Couer-5.jpeg)
2. Rue de la Bonne & Square de la Turlure
Once you’ve had your fill of the Sacré-Cœur, you might be tempted to follow the crowds westward down Rue Azais or Rue du Chevalier de la Barre towards the famous Place du Tertre. But resist!
Don’t worry, this walking tour of Montmartre will bring you to Place du Tertre, but later on. First, we’re headed to slightly the less touristy northern part of Montmartre, starting with a small city park behind Sacré-Cœur: Square de la Turlure (also known as Marcel Bleustein Blanchet Square).
To get there, walk all the way around the basilica and onto Rue de la Bonne , where you’ll find the park on the right-hand side. This small, attractive park has a nice arched walkway and some places to sit, but the main thing I like about it is the view of Sacré-Cœur from the back. It’s a view I haven’t seen often, with the campanile (belltower) very prominent.
![walking tour paris montmartre view of the bell tower and domes of sacre-coeur in Paris, from a park with arched walkway](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rue-De-La-Bonne-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust-683x1024.jpg)
Walk a bit further down Rue de la Bonne and you’ll come to a corner with a view down the hill, over apartment buildings and courtyards. The last time I was here, I paused for a while to watch some people play pétanque down there.
3. Rue Saint-Vincent To La Maison Rose
Head left down Rue Saint-Vincent , which is a handsome street with some more viewpoints, attractive squares and staircases.
![walking tour paris montmartre long set of steps with street lamps and graffiti on the steps](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Escalier-du-Mont-Cenis-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust-768x1024.jpg)
Soon you’ll come to a junction with Rue des Saules. On the right is Lapin Agile , a 19th-century cabaret bar. This place was in the centre of artistic Paris at the turn of the century and became a favourite spot for struggling artists and writers, including Picasso and Modigliani.
On the left, you’ll find what looks like a garden, but is actually a vineyard, Vignes du Clos Montmartre , which still produces wines from a variety of grapes. Unfortunately, it’s closed to the public, but it is interesting to see the oldest vineyard in Paris, even though you can only look at it from the street.
![walking tour paris montmartre vines and flowers in an old vineyard in Montmartre](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Vigne-du-Clos-Montmartre-May-Cause-Wanderlust-1024x683.jpg)
Head up Rue des Saules and on the right, soon you’ll find a popular spot in Montmartre: La Maison Rose was another artist’s hang-out at the turn of the 20 th century, and also in the 1960s and 70s . This pink café/restaurant with pint-green shutters is an Instagram favourite due to its picturesque exterior and pretty pavement seating area. This could be a good spot to take a break and get some refreshments if you need them. In spring and summer, it will be very popular for brunch, so you might be best to book ahead. However, if you come on a Monday or Tuesday, it won’t be open.
![walking tour paris montmartre pink cafe with green shutters](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/La-Maison-Rose-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust-1024x695.jpg)
From here, our walking route continues down Rue de l’Abreuvoir, but you could detour to Montmartre Museum .
It’s a small museum, which tells the story of bohemian Montmartre in the 19 th and 20 th Centuries, with lots of Art Nouveau prints and classic Toulouse Lautrec posters and artefacts, including details about the rise of the Can-can dance. It also has a preserved studio of artist Suzanne Valado; a cafe and a lovely garden, which has a view over Vignes du Clos. I’ve been a couple of times and really enjoyed it.
4. Rue De l’Abreuvoir
La Maison Rose is at the top of Rue de l’Abreuvoir , widely touted as one of the most beautiful streets in Paris . And they’re not exaggerating. This cobbled street has a number of charming pink and ivy-clad cottages along it. However, if you reach the bottom and you’re not impressed with it, turn around and look back up the hill.
Not only is the curved cobblestone street lined by those quaint buildings, but the domes of the Sacré-Cœur are visible just beyond it – it’s so quaint and gorgeous.
![walking tour paris montmartre cobbled street curves uphill towards a pink building and the towers of the sacre-coeur in montmartre](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Rue-de-lAbreuvoir-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust-1024x768.jpg)
The best place to appreciate the view of Rue de l’Abreuvoir is from Place de Dalida , the corner of the street where there’s a small bronze bust. This is Buste de Dalida , a tribute to one of France’s most popular singers. She lived in Montmartre until her tragic death in 1987.
![walking tour paris montmartre bronze bust of a woman with fabulous long hair](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Buste-Da-Dalida.jpeg)
There are some steps from here down to Place Constantin Pecqueur, from where you could take another detour and check out handsome Rue Calaincourt, if you like. But if you want to stick with my route, you’ll be turning into one of the remaining (for now!) quiet corners of Montmartre next…
5. Allée des Brouillards, Square Suzanne Buisson & Place Marcel Ayme
From Place Dalida, take the pedestrian passageway next to a gated garden. Its sign isn’t that obvious, but it is signposted as Allée des Brouillards . It’s a short passageway, but quite pretty and I don’t normally see many other people on it, so it still feels ‘lesser known’ (I won’t say ‘hidden gem’, because that will be over-promising!). Once you’ve walked down it, if you look back the way you’ve come, you should be able to see the bell tower of the Sacré-Cœur, above the treetops.
Allée des Brouillards ends in some cute, ivy-clad steps at Place Casadesus , where you will see the entrance to a park.
![walking tour paris montmartre pedestriam passageway with trees and a cathedral visible in the background](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Allee-des-brouillards-Montmartre-May-Cause-Wanderlust-768x1024.jpg)
Suzanne Buisson Square a small park, which is a good spot to sit and simply soak up the vibes of Montmartre. It has a nice fountain, some seating and a pétanque terrain (I had to look that up: it’s the name for the area pétanque is played). If you need a rest by this point, this is a good place to do it.
![walking tour paris montmartre row of green benches and white blossom trees in a park](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Square-Suzanne-Buisson-May-Cause-Wanderlust-768x1024.jpg)
Whenever you leave the square, head to the junction of Rue Giradon and Avenue Junot. There’s a detour you could take down Avenue Junot to peek at Villa Leandre , another of the prettiest streets in Paris, in my opinion.
And in Place Marcel Ayme , there’s a quirky statue that appears to be emerging from within the wall, Le Passe-Muraille . There are also some cherry trees here, which are so pretty when in bloom.
The southern end of Rue Girardon has Theatre Lepic. And right at the end, you’ll find Le Moulin de la Galette , a restaurant made famous by the Renoir painting Bal du moulin de la Galette . This is a great place to grab lunch if you’re here around lunchtime.
![walking tour paris montmartre restaurant entrance below a wooden windmill](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Le-Moulin-de-la-Galette.jpeg)
The restaurant is named for the 17th-century windmill, whose owners were famous for their galette bread.
6. Rue Lepic To Place Du Tertre
At Le Moulin de la Galette, turn right along Rue Lepic . This will curve to the left as you head uphill. Where it comes to a junction, you’ll see a small octagonal building called La Commanderie Du Clos Montmartre , a pretty but decommissioned water tower.
Head right here along Rue Norvins and soon you’ll be in a quaint cluster of establishments including a shop selling old prints called Galerie Butte Montmartre the very picturesque Le Consulat cafe. This is another place that is frequently found on ‘cutest in Paris’ lists and it claims past patronage from artists including Picasso, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Monet.
![walking tour paris montmartre image of printed postcards in rows](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Gallerie-Butte-Montmartre-.jpeg)
It will likely feel busier here: you’re heading into the more touristy part of Montmartre now.
Unless you fancy a bite to eat in Le Consulat, carry on to the right of it and soon you’ll be in Place du Tertre . This square was opened to the public in 1635 as Montmartre village central square and was a hub of activity during Montmartre’s bohemian period in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries.
![walking tour paris montmartre crowds in a street with artist stalls and cafes and one of the domes of sacre-couer in the background](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Place-du-Tertre.jpeg)
If you’re in Paris in winter , Place du Tertre will be a quiet space to wander between trees; in summer, it will be packed with artists selling their wares and terrace seating for the many restaurants around the edges.
If you can find a spot, grab a drink on a terrace and enjoy the buzz. I prefer Chez Eugene , which offers a good view of the square for people-watching.
Once you have had enough (or if it is just too hectic for you to linger there), get ready for some downhill walking, because the next stop is lower down the butte of Montmartre.
7. Escalier Du Calvaire & Place Émile Goudeau
On the southern side of Place du Tertre, you’ll find a set of pretty steps, descending down the hillside: Escalier du Calvaire . Walk down the steps, enjoying the view as you go.
![walking tour paris montmartre view down steps tree-lined steps with buskers sat playing](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Escaliers-du-Calvaire-May-Cause-Wanderlust-768x1024.jpg)
At the bottom, turn right along Rue Gabrielle and stay with the road as it bears left. Soon you’ll come to a small square with trees, benches and an attractive Wallace Fountain. This is Place Émile Goudeau and not only does it have a pretty view between buildings, it was home to another artist’s landmark: Le Bateau-Lavoir .
![walking tour paris montmartre green decorative fountain in a leafy square in montmartre](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Place-Emile-Goudeau-Montmartre-May-Cause-Wanderlust-1024x768.jpg)
Le Bateau-Lavoir (or, Washhouse Boat) was the nickname for a kind of unofficial clubhouse for several artists in the late 1800s, most famously Pablo Picasso. Here he painted several works, including a painting that signalled his move into cubism, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon .
8. The Wall Of Love
From Place Émile Goudeau, head downhill and down Rue Ravignan, then left onto Rue des Abbesses and into Place des Abbesses. This is a small square with one of only two original ‘Dragonfly’ entrances to the Metro. There’s also a cute old carousel and in December, this is the location of one of the sweetest Christmas Markets in Paris .
Here you’ll find Square Jehan Rictus and the Wall of Love . This monument to love was created in 2000 and is composed of 612 tiles, on which the phrase ‘I love you’ is featured 311 times in 250 languages. See if you can find it in your language!
![walking tour paris montmartre wall of a house decorated with blue tiles with white writing on them and a drawing of a woman in a blue evening gown](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wall-Of-Love-Montmartre-May-Cause-Wanderlust-1024x768.jpg)
9. Rue Des Abbesses To Cimetiere De Montmartre
From the Wall of Love, head west along Rue des Abbesses , a classic Parisian street with plenty of cafes with street terraces. When you come to Rue Tholoze on the right, check out the Art Deco cinema, Studio 28 , which was featured in the movie Amelie. It was the first avant-garde cinema on the right bank and opened in 1928. They play a mix of movies, including some in English. It could be somewhere to come back in the evening to if you’re staying in Montmartre.
At the junction by the Terrass Hotel , you’ll find Cimetiere de Montmartre on the left and ahead of you. Officially known as the Cimitière du Nord, Montmartre Cemetery opened in 1825. It is the third largest necropolis in Paris, after the Père Lachaise cemetery and the Montparnasse cemetery.
![walking tour paris montmartre row of tombs and crypts in Montmartre cemetery](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Montmartre-cemetery-2.jpeg)
Strolling a cemetery might not be for everyone, but I suggested it for a couple of reasons. One is the sheer impressiveness of some of the tombs here. In the UK, we tend to have single headstones on graves, but the fashion here is clearly grander. The graves are often marked with tall stone tombs, many with a striking gothic style.
It’s also interesting because there are some historical figures buried here, including the impressionist painter Edgar Degas, writers Emile Zola and Alexandre Dumas and the film director François Truffaut. Dalida’s tomb is also here – and it’s quite a spectacle.
The entrance to the cemetery is a little way along Rue Caulaincourt.
If You Want To Continue Your Exploration Of Paris On Foot…
By this point in your journey, I hope you’ve had an enjoyable tour of Montmartre and that your head is of full of the charming things you’ve seen along the way.
However, if you’re hungry for even more, I encourage you to explore beyond this walking route – it’s never a bad idea to do off the beaten path in Paris .
You could also continue onto nearby Boulevard de Clichy to visit the famous Moulin Rouge theatre: the birthplace of the Can-can and the inspiration for the 2001 movie of the same name. The Moulin Rouge is still a working theatre where you can see cabaret.
If you do that, be warned: it’s not as glam as it looks in the movie! It’s in Pigalle, a red light district in Paris, and the road it’s on is kinda sleazy with lots of sex shops and ‘girls girls girls’ kind of establishments.
Map: Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Montmartre Route
Here are the route and markers for key attractions along this walking tour of Montmartre.
How To Use This Map : Click the tab in the top left-hand corner of the map to view the layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each one. If you click the star next to the map’s title, it will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu, go to ‘Your Places’ or ‘Saved’, then click Maps and you will see this map in your list.
Where To Stay In Montmartre
I stayed in a great hotel in Montmartre: Terrass” Hotel . It’s an excellent 4-star hotel with two big attractions: it has some rooms with a view of the Eiffel Tower and it has a nice rooftop restaurant and terrace bar – again, with great views.
![walking tour paris montmartre breakfast on a table next to a window overlooking Paris including the eiffel tower in the distance](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hitel-Terrass-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust-768x1024.jpg)
I treated myself to one of their Eiffel Tower rooms and it was lovely: a big room with all the amenities I could ask for. Terrass” Hotel is definitely one of the best places to stay in Paris for first-timers .
Other Hotels in Paris
If you want some more hotel ideas, here are some of the other Paris hotels I recommend. I’ve stayed at these hotels myself recently (in the last 2 years), and I’d happily return to them:
La Finca Hôtel & Spa (formerly called the Hotel Auberge Flora) is a 3-star hotel in the vibrant Bastille area, which has lots of bars and cafes. The rooms are small but comfortable, have all the amenities you need, plus the staff are friendly. They have a bar downstairs and they offer a simple, affordable breakfast in the morning.
Hôtel Diva Opéra is a boutique 4-star hotel in Fauberg-Montmartre , which is really central, making it a great place to stay if you want easy access to places like the Grands Magasins of Boulevard Haussmann and some of the best covered passages in Paris
Hotel Regina Louvre is a grand old hotel next to the Louvre . This 5-star is traditional and also luxurious, with some elegant Art Nouveau design features in the lobby. Some rooms have a view of the Eiffel Tower (mine did – it was a wonderful surprise!)
![walking tour paris montmartre grand olf hotel in Haussmann style of architecture with a gold statue in front of it](https://maycausewanderlust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Hotel-Regina-Paris-May-Cause-Wanderlust.jpg)
For more ideas on places to stay, check out my post on the best hotels in Paris for first-timers .
Where To Eat In Montmartre
I’ve already mentioned La Maison Rose and Le Consulat , both of which are picture-perfect brunch/lunch spots, with bohemian heritage. However, I really liked these two places:
- Le Moulin de la Galette – I mentioned this place earlier. It has an interesting heritage and a classic French menu. I had onion soup followed by classic steak frites there and it was delicious!
- La Boite aux Lettres – this small and unpretentious bistro on Rue Lepic has an innovative menu with a focus on seasonal produce.
In Conclusion
Walking is a great way to explore the historic and culture-rich area of Montmartre in Paris. I hope this free self-guided walking tour helps you discover the best of Montmartre. However, if you feel like you’d prefer to follow a guide, you could join a guided walking tour of Montmartre .
And if you’re interested in even more ideas about the historic corners of Paris, check out my review of the best covered passages in Paris . And if you’re travelling to Paris solo, dive into my comprehensive guide to solo travel in Paris .
Have fun strolling around Montmartre!
If you like this article, I'd be delighted if you shared it!
About The Author
Martha Knight
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Montmartre Tour
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://freewalkingtour.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/montmartre-3.jpg)
The name of the neighbourhood comes from Latin Mons Martyrum and means “Hill of Martyrs.” It is associated with the quite creepy story of the first bishop of Paris, Saint Denis. He was beheaded by the Romans for not renouncing his faith. Afterwards, he collected his severed head and walked with it down the hill, where he finally dropped dead. So much the legend, but before it got world-famous, Montmartre was a simple, sleepy village set on the hill surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and orchards. As many as 13 mills were built on its slopes to grind wheat, barley, and rye. Of those only two survived and now people around the world recognize the mill as a symbol of this fascinating neighbourhood.
But finally the time has come when this sleepy village changed forever. Because of its many drinking establishments, cheap wine, low rents and specific, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, 19th century Montmartre became the hotbed where many artists from all corners of the world were flocking in. Who can tell what was first? The dancing halls, cafés, and cabarets like Le Chat Noir or Moulin Rouge where girls dancing the cancan were throwing their legs up indecently high or the artists settling down there and allowing for all that to happen. One is certain, Montmartre became the most interesting neighbourhood in Paris (and perhaps in the entire world) at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Who has not lived, worked (drank, took drugs, had sex…) there? Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec to name just a few.
Today Montmartre lures everyone with its colourful history, anecdotes, and scandals associated with the artistic community once living here, but it does not only dwell on the past! It is still one of the most intriguing Parisian quarters. A place looking as if it were taken straight from a fairy tale, with its steep, winding streets and crooked buildings overgrown with ivy. At almost every corner there is a café, restaurant, or drinking parlour you want to stop at. No wonder that until the present day it is loved both by artists, photographers, film directors as well as Parisians and tourists who are combing the streets in search of places famous from hit movies filmed here.
Join our tour to discover our favourite district of Paris and let yourself be enchanted by one and only Montmartre!
During this tour, you will see and discover:
- Moulin Rouge
- Cafe deux moulins (Cafe known from the film “Amelie”)
- Van Gogh’s house
- Moulin d’ la Galette
- Place des Abbesses
- ︎Studios Picasso/Modigliani
- Vineyard/Oldest Cabaret in Paris
- Sacré Coeur Basilica
Great tour!
We went to the tour with the best tour guide – Ruben Sebastian. He told us very interesting informations, and he is also very funny and open to all the questions. I would definitely recommend him and this tour to everyone. Great way to see Montmartre. Thank you again for everything, Ruben Sebastian!
Fantastic tour!
This was our favorite thing to do in Paris last week! Raj led our tour and brought Montmartre to life for us. We felt his love for this iconic neighborhood and appreciated that he shared many details clearly and with passion. We will recommend Walkative Tours and Raj to anyone visiting Paris.
Eva is a great storyteller
We have done 2 tours with Eva over 3 days, she is amazing storyteller; I could listen to her all day. We loved it! Definitely will be doing another tour with her, if opportunity arises.
Great Tour, best experience in paris!
The tour with Ruben Sebastian was wonderful. He gave us a very exciting insight into the history of Montmartre with lots of entertaining stories. We were thrilled!
We booked the walking tour and nearly had to cancel but si glad we managed to do this.Our tour was with RAJ .This guy is wonderful so clear so knowledgeable and so considerate for his surroundings.He just made the whole place come alive.Have been to Montmatre before but missed so much as I didnt take a tour.Would give Raj and his tour 10 out if 10
This tour is also available as a Private Tour.
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Home > Paris Attractions > Stories of Old Montmartre Walking Tour – Map Included
Stories of Old Montmartre Walking Tour – Map Included
Montmartre self-guided walking tour.
This Montmartre walking tour takes you through the main sights of old Montmartre and the stories and legends behind it.
The Montmartre Hill in Paris, also known as La Butte by locals, is famous for its Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Love Wall, and its panoramic view of Paris. However, it is also a gastronomic and cultural district with authentic charm, dotted with many picturesque stairs and old lampposts.
Montmartre was an independent village from its origins until 1860 when it was annexed to Paris. Due to the beautiful light from ‘the heights’ and the low rents, the Butte was colonized by artists in the 19th century. When walking in Montmartre at that time, you could come across people like Corot, Géricault, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Max Jacob, Apollinaire, Juan Gris, Vlaminck, Braque, and Picasso!
Needless to say, the history of this neighborhood is fascinating and you will learn many quirky stories and fun facts during this walking tour of Montmartre.
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre - Paris](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Montmartre-Paris.jpg)
The neighborhood of Montmartre is one of the top places to visit in Paris. We recommend doing this Montmartre walking tour in the following Paris itineraries:
- 2 days in Paris itinerary
- 3 days in Paris itinerary
- 4 days in Paris itinerary
- 5 days in Paris itinerary
- 6 days in Paris itinerary
- 7 days in Paris itinerary
Montmartre Practical Information
How to get to montmartre.
Two metro lines operate within Montmartre Hill: lines 12 (green) and 2 (blue).
Montmartre is a hilly neighborhood with many staircases and cobbled streets. If you want to get to Montmartre from the airport and have a lot of luggage, we recommend booking a private transfer service like Welcome .
Where to Eat & Sleep in Montmartre?
![walking tour paris montmartre Old Street Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Old-Street-Montmartre.jpg)
Montmartre Walking Tour Map
Walking in Montmartre is a wonder as long as there are no tourist crowds. That’s why I recommend taking this Montmartre tour early in the morning, right after sunrise, when everything is still calm and quiet.
This Montmartre self-guided walking tour starts in front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica , in the heart of the neighborhood. The starting point (Sacré-Coeur) is marked with #1 on this Montmartre walking tour map.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Montmartre-Walking-Tour-Map-Google.jpg)
Click here to view this Montmartre walking tour on Google
Walking Tour of Montmartre – Itinerary
1. the secret of sacré-coeur’s eternal beauty.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Sacre-Coeur.jpg)
The Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur , located at the top of Montmartre Hill in Paris, is a major religious building built at the end of the 19th century. With more than ten million pilgrims and visitors per year (in 2006), it is the second most visited monument in France after Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral!
While most of the monuments of Paris tend to darken over time and are constantly subject to renovations, the Sacré Coeur is recognizable by its characteristic and unpolluted white color. How Montmartre’s symbol can stay so white?
The Sacré Coeur was built with the stone of Château-Landon, also used to build the Alexandre iii Bridge and the Arc de Triomphe. This stone has a very interesting characteristic: when it rains, it secretes a white substance in contact with water (the cullet) which flows along the walls of the building before hardening in the sun. This is Sacré- Coeur’s secret of eternal youth and the reason why it has never been renovated!
2. Saint-Pierre Church and the Myth of Saint-Denis
![walking tour paris montmartre Saint-Pierre Church - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Saint-Pierre-Church-Montmartre.jpg)
The next stop of this walking tour Montmartre is 2 rue du Mont-Cenis . Here, there’s one of the oldest churches in Paris, built in the Middle Ages.
Saint-Pierre Church is connected to the legend of Saint-Denis. The saint martyr was martyred on the Butte-Montmartre (Mount of Martyrs), which became a sacred place for Christians.
Before the Middle Ages, a temple dedicated to the Roman god of Mars stood at the site of the current church. This temple became in the 5th century a Merovingian chapel surrounded by a cemetery around which a small hamlet developed.
The site experienced a new development in the 12th century. In 1133, it was ceded with the Merovingian chapel to King Louis VI and Queen Adelaide of Savoy, who decided to found a Royal Abbey of Benedictine nuns in this place. In 1147 the Royal Abbey replaced the old chapel with a new church in Romanesque style (Saint-Pierre Church) and added more constructions around it.
During the troubles of the French Revolution, the parish worship spared Saint-Pierre Church while the rest of the religious buildings were demolished entirely. After being converted into a Temple of Reason (1794), and later transformed into a tower on which Claude Chappe installed his first aerial telegraph, Saint-Pierre Church was restored between 1899 and 1905.
Today, the church’s interior keeps its original Romanesque style, except for the Gothic rib vault and some Gallo-Roman parts recycled from the Merovingian chapel. Adjacent to the church there is the charming Calvary Cemetery , the oldest cemetery in Paris! The cemetery opens its doors only on 1 November and during the European Heritage Days.
![walking tour paris montmartre Cimitière du Calvaire - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Cimitiere-du-Calvaire-Montmartre.jpg)
The hillock, dominated by Saint-Pierre Church and its public square (Place du Tertre), has long kept its village atmosphere. While the village’s fame has been widely exploited (you just need to see all those souvenir shops..) and completely distorted, the church retains a picturesque side with its clear perspective.
3. Place du Tertre and the Artists of Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Place-du-Tertre.jpg)
Place du Tertre is Montmartre’s beating heart. This picturesque square framed by 3-4 story 18th-century buildings and with a beautiful view over the Sacré Coeur corresponds to the center of the old village of Montmartre.
The village of Montmartre was officially founded in 1790, and its first town hall was at 3 Place du Tertre . In the square, there is also a plaque on the façade of house #21 which commemorates the arrival of the first automobile on Christmas Eve 1898, with Louis Renault behind the wheel. This event marks the beginning of the automobile industry in France.
![walking tour paris montmartre Place du Tertre - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Place-du-Tertre-Montmartre-1.jpg)
The local art trade is a tradition of the slopes of bohemian Montmartre, started around 1890 by famous Montmartre artists like Modigliani, Utrillo, Valadon, and Picasso. Each year, the City Council grants 140 licenses for a one-square-meter stall in Place du Tertre to be shared by two artists on alternating schedules.
Let’s take Rue Novins , the old village’s main street. This street was referred to in the 11th century as the cart road that goes from Montmartre to Paris . The even side is lined up with 18th-century townhouses with wooden shutters, wrought iron window railings, and dormers.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rue-Norvins.jpg)
At #6 there’s the Mère Catherine Restaurant , a small bistro founded in 1793. This bistro replaced a 15th-century old presbytery, and guests liked to meet for drinking and to play wooden billiards. An old postcard shows the Mère Catherine and the pool players posing in front of the bistro.
Now, let’s turn left onto Rue des Saules , which plunges down the north side of the Hill. Don’t forget to take a picture of Le Consulat , one of the most Instagrammable cafés in Montmartre.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Le-Consulat-Montmartre.jpg)
Rue des Saules was called in the 15th century the Chemin de la Saussaie, and it traversed swampy lands where willow trees ( saules in French) grew. For this walking tour of Montmartre, you will take the second intersection with Rue Cortot .
4. A Hothouse for Artists
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Museum Paris](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Montmartre-Museum-Paris.jpg)
Considered the oldest house in Montmartre and formerly the art studio of many artists, Le Musée de Montmartre (12 rue Cortot) is nestled on a quiet street. Although the museum is located a stone’s throw from busy Sacré-Coeur, it feels a world away.
Auguste Renoir was perhaps its most illustrious guest. In 1876, He rented a studio and stables in the left wing to store Le Moulin de la Galette, the extra-large painting he was working in.
The rarely crowded museum has collections on the village’s history (the section on cabarets, for example, is very interesting). The setting is very romantic, and from the exterior areas, you are treated to excellent views over the vineyard of Montmartre. Take a drink in the beautiful café in the garden, immortalized by artists like Renoir in The Swing.
After the visit to the Musée de Montmartre, this Montmartre walk turns left on Rue du Mont-Cenis. This street was in the 12th century a steep path – only accessible to pedestrians and mules – which linked the Abbey of Saint-Denis to the Abbey of Montmartre through the Hill’s northern slope.
Then turn left onto Rue Saint-Vincent , a street with a provincial feel, and stop at Montmartre’s vineyards.
5. The Wine of Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre Vineyards](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Montmartre-Vineyards.jpg)
The Montmartre vineyards of Rue Sait Vincent, whose official name is Clos-Montmartre , perpetrates the memory and tradition of the many vineyards that used to cover these slopes.
In the 16th century, the inhabitants of Montmartre – then a village located outside Paris – were mainly laborers-winegrowers. The vineyards were cultivated from the top of the Butte to the surrounding plains.
In the 17th century, the Montmartre wine was a small wine reserved for local consumption. A popular saying of the time makes fun of its quality which seems to be exclusively diuretic: “It is the wine from Montmartre – Who drinks a pint, pisses a quarter of it!” .
This vineyard in Rue Saint Vincent was planted in 1933 to prevent any new construction on the grounds of a former (then abandoned) open-air dance hall called Le Parc de la Belle Gabrielle . Today, this vineyard includes “the most classic varieties from the wine provinces of France, as well as a selection of vigorous and fertile hybrids”. The whole is embellished by decorative plantations.
Public access is not permitted, except for exceptional occasions, such as the Fête des Jardins organized every autumn since 1997. The yearly harvest is generally in early October. The crop is hauled to the Mairie of the 18th Arrondissement cellars, and the 800-odd bottles of wine are sold at auction the following year during the popular Montmartre’s Harvest Festival . You can read more about this popular food & wine festival here .
6. Cabaret Life in Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Le Lapin Agile - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Le-Lapin-Agile-Montmartre.jpg)
Le Lapin Agile at 22 Rue des Saules is a traditional cabaret established in the second half of the 19th century, bought by Aristide Bruant in 1913. We know that in 1886 this was a restaurant run by Adèle Decerf whose specialty was sautéed rabbit.
In the early 20th century, this village-style house was the center of bohemian life in Montmartre. Dorgelès, Carco, Renoir, Courteline, Forain, Picasso, Fargue, Utrillo, Van Gogh, Clemenceau, and many more were frequent guests of this cabaret. Picasso liked sitting out on the terrace beneath the giant acacia with his dog Frika.
Today, the Lapin Agile has preserved the original and warm atmosphere of the cabarets. You can read more about the Lapin Agile and other Parisian Cabarets in our quick guide to the Cabarets of Paris .
7. Rue de l’Abrevoir
Let’s walk up Rue des Saules , then turn right onto Rue de l’Abrevoir . In the 19th century, the residents of Montmartre followed this path to fetch water for themselves and to lead horses and cattle to the watering trough ( abrevoir in French) located on this street. The 19th-century house at #15 is the site of that old watering trough.
![walking tour paris montmartre Rue de l'Abrevoir - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Rue-de-lAbrevoir-Montmartre.jpg)
At #2, the little Maison Rose (point #8 on the Montmartre walking tour map) painted by Maurice Utrillo is now a legendary spot in Montmartre and one of Instagrammers’ favorite spots in Paris.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Maison-Rose-Montmartre.jpg)
9. Dalida’s Tragic Life
![walking tour paris montmartre Place Dalida - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Place-Dalida-Montmartre.jpg)
This Montmartre tour stops for a break at Place Dalida . This tiny square has one of the most beautiful views of Montmartre, with Rue de l’Abrevoir towards the Sacré-Coeur. The square is dedicated to Dalida , a famous pop singer who lived in Montmartre. Her incredible talent as a performer made her an icon of pop music in France.
The singer Dalida found a home in Montmartre, where she moved in 1962. She bought a beautiful mansion on the narrow 11 bis Rue d’Orchampt . She used to eat at the neighboring Italian restaurant Grazziano, down by the Moulin, and she also frequented the shops in the Rue Lepic. Dalida joined in the fight to defend and protect the Butte, so dear to her.
Weakened by the loss of her former companions (all committed suicide), as well as her friend Mike Brant, the singer died on 2 May 1987, breaking the hearts of the French. “Life is unbearable to me, please forgive me,” were Dalida’s last words. Dalida committed suicide in her house, and she was buried in the Montmartre Cemetery (not included in this Montmartre tour).
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Dalida-Bust.jpg)
It is soon noticed that the bust dedicated to Dalida is particularly polished in some places – on the artist’s chest, in particular – leaving some visitors doubtful. There is no particular reason for that (unlike Giulietta, Dalida does not bring good luck, love, or money but quite the opposite…) so please be respectful towards this great artist and Montmartroise.
10. L’Allée des Brouillards
![walking tour paris montmartre Allée des Brouillards - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Allee-des-Brouillards.jpg)
The romantic Allée des Brouillards is one of the few places that still can transport us back in time to the picturesque village of Montmartre. Renoir and his family lived at #8 from 1890 to 1897. His son, Jean, a famous film director, was born here in 1894.
On the right, behind a lawn, rises the delightful facade of the Château des Brouillards , in front of which so many painters set up their easels in the past.
In the 17th century, a modest farm and a mill occupied this site ( the Moulin des Brouillards ), which served as a press for Montmartre’s (not-so-good) wine. The name Allée des Brouillards (Mists Alley) tends toward two explanations: the morning mists generated by the abundance of the sources in the area or (another one much more festive) an allusion to the vapors of the wine.
In 1764, the hovel and the ruined mill were sold to a lawyer in the French Parliament who built a beautiful house, the ‘Château des Brouillards,’ parts of which you can still see today on the left side. The Château comprised a farmyard, orchard, cellars, and wells, and it was a pleasant country residence.
In 1850 the outbuildings of the Château were torn down to make room for individual houses separated by mere hedges, now on the tiny alley with the poetic name. Its park, gradually invaded by miserable huts, became the famous “maquis” (bush), so dear to nostalgic Montmartrois.
It was not until the 1920s that the castle owner began to restore it. He launched a campaign for its conservation because the City of Paris wanted to remove the old alley and demolish the house. Today, the Château des Brouillards receives the visit of many walkers and lovers of Montmartre in search of an air of the rural and picturesque Butte of better days.
11. Villa Léandre
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Villa-Leandre.jpg)
This walking tour Montmartre takes now Rue Simon-Dereure and then Avenue Junot on the left. Before walking uphill, stop at the charming Villa Léandre for a couple of pictures.
Created in 1926, Villa Léandre was initially named Villa Junot , after its larger street tributary. Its current name comes from the caricature artist Charles Léandre, whose studio was located nearby. The cobbled cul de sac is lined with colorful anglo-Normand style houses covered with climbing plants and with small front yards.
Montmartre Things to Do and Hidden Gems
![walking tour paris montmartre Stairs of Montmartre - Paris](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Stairs-of-Montmartre.jpg)
12. The Mysterious Witch’s Rock
![walking tour paris montmartre Hotel Particulier Montmartre Garden](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Hotel-Particulier-Montmartre-Garden.jpg)
The Passage de la Sorcière , accessible from 23 Avenue Junot or 65 rue Lepic, is one of the most pleasant and privileged little alleys in Montmartre. But this little corner of the Butte comes with many legends! Among the mysterious stories linked to this passage, we find the legend around the imposing block of stone found in its center – La Roche de la Sorcière (the Witch’s Rock).
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rocher-de-la-Sorciere-Montmartre.jpg)
The inhabitants of Montmartre had long believed that this rock was a meteorite, which fell there we do not know when, or how … and it was a magic tool used to protect a witch! Indeed, this imposing rock faces a rather intriguing portal that hides a big and beautiful house. According to legend, this house belonged to an old – and a little bit crazy – woman.
This rock, however, is the vestige of a disused fountain, ‘La Sourcière’ (from source , spring in French), and the neighbors transformed the name of the Passage de la Sourcière , from the name of the fountain which was present there, into Passage de la Sorcière (=Passage of the Witch). Soon, the Rock of the Witch turned into an evil tool with many legends around and spread for generations among the inhabitants of Montmartre.
Today, the witch’s private mansion is one of the most beautiful addresses in the capital, the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre (point #13 on the Montmartre walking tour map). I always recommend this hotel for a romantic stay in Paris which also comes with one of the most beautiful bars in the city. The Hôtel Particulier Montmartre is your only chance to see the Rock of the Witch as this alley is private today.
14. The Legend of Saint-Denis
![walking tour paris montmartre Saint Denis Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Saint-Denis-Montmartre.jpg)
Back to Avenue Junot , this Montmartre self-guided walking tour stops at Square Suzanne-Buisson , dominated by the statue of Saint-Denis. Saint-Denis was the first Christian bishop of Paris in Roman times and the evangelist of the Parisians. The Saint was martyrized and beheaded with his companions Rustique and Éleuthère during Emperor Valerian’s prosecutions.
Legend has it that after his martyrdom (circa 275), the Saint washed his decapitated head in the spring that flowed here until the early 19th century before continuing quietly on his way towards the site where he was buried (current location of the crypt in the Basilica of Saint-Denis). For this reason, the Basilica of Saint-Denis became the burial place for all the Kings of France, who wanted to rest eternally near the remains of the Saint.
15. The Windmills of Montmartre
![walking tour paris montmartre Moulin de la Galette - Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Moulin-de-la-Galette.jpg)
Back to Avenue Junot, on #3, you can get a glimpse of the Moulin of the Blute-Fin , built around 1622. Of the thirteen mills which once stood on the Butte Montmartre, only this one and the Moulin Radet (#16, at the corner of Rue Girardon and Rue Lepic) survive. These windmills were used to grind wheat, press grapes, and crush materials needed in factories.
These two remaining windmills, their surrounding gardens, and a farm made up the popular guinguette (dance hall) Bal du Moulin de la Galette in the 1870s. Every Sunday, the Parisians flocked to the Ball to dance the polka, quadrille, rowdy, and French cancan .
From the 1900s, the Moulin de la Galette gained popularity and quickly became the favorite haunt of many celebrities (painters, designers, actors, etc.). Artists like Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso immortalized the entertainment of Moulin de la Galette in their paintings.
17. The Fable of the Passe-Murailles
![walking tour paris montmartre Passe-Murailles Montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Passe-Murailles-Montmartre.jpg)
Continue walking Avenue Junot up to Place Marcel-Aymé . This is a beautiful place to see during the cherry blossom season. Here, you can see a man in bronze breaking through the wall.
The Passe-Muraille , the name of the sculpture, personifies a short story written by Marcel Aymé in 1943. ‘ An excellent man named Dutilleul had the extraordinary gift of being able to walk through walls without any trouble.’ This is a beautiful homage to the writer, who lived in Montmartre for 40 years.
Go back to the junction with Rue Girardon and then take Rue Orchampt down to Place Émile Goudeau. On the way, you can see Dalida’s house at 11bis Rue Orchampt and some picturesque artist studios.
18. Picasso and Le Bateau Lavoir
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Bateau-Lavoir.jpg)
Formerly a ballroom and then a piano factory, the Bateau Lavoir facing Place Émile Goudeau was divided into twenty small workshops for artists. The place was without heating and provided with a single water point.
The Bateau-Lavoir hosted a good part of all the art people of the time: Le Douanier Rousseau, Amedeo Modigliani, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Guillaume Apollinaire, Jean Cocteau… All went through the small, cramped workshops of this unusual house.
Until his death, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) kept nostalgia for the rural Montmartre of his youth, with its picturesque farms, orchards, and cabarets. The artist arrived at the Butte at 19, and he took up a workshop at Le Bateau Lavoir in 1904. Here, he executed the last works of the blue period, those of the pink period – inspired by his love for Fernande Olivier – and The Young Ladies of Avignon (1907), a prelude to cubism.
In 1970, the Bateau Lavoir’s wooden structure did not resist a terrible fire and only the facade, today listed as a historical monument, survived.
19. Place des Abbesses
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Place-des-Abbesses.jpg)
The last stop of this Montmartre walking tour is the picturesque Place des Abbesses . Take your time to explore this lively square with a carousel, some benches in the shade, and the Guimard metro entrance.
Metro Abbesses is the deepest metro station in Paris; it goes 36 m below the ground!
Also interesting is the Church of Saint-Jean de Montmartre (1894-1904), designed by Anatole de Baudot. He conceived the idea of social and economic architecture in harmony with the industrial development of the time. For this building, Anatole de Baudot dared to introduce cast iron and reinforced cement with (in my opinion) a beautiful result.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Saint-Pierre-Montmartre.jpg)
Nearby, in Square Jean Rictus (point #20 on the Montmartre walking tour map), you can see the famous Love Wall , but it is always swarming with people. Instead, make your way to its back corner to discover the hidden Jardin des Abbesses , a lovely small oasis in Montmartre.
After the Love Wall, this Montmartre walk ends at the picturesque café Le Vrai Paris at 33 Rue des Abbesses (#21) for a more than deserved drink and quick eats.
![walking tour paris montmartre](https://worldinparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mur-Je-T-Aime.jpg)
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Quirky parisian explorer with a preference for lesser-known sights, i am continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the city of light read more about me ., i am elisa, the travel blogger behind world in paris. quirky explorer with a preference for the local side of my city and its lesser-known sights, i am continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of paris & around . do you want to go beyond the louvre museum or the eiffel tower keep clicking for first-hand information & my best tips learn more.
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Montmartre Free Walking Tour
- 9.30 / 10 782 reviews | 14,130 travellers I like history, cultural heritage, specifically art history, as I am a visual artist and for all of this, I loved the guided tour. The instructor was able to deliver all this content. It was excellent! Thank you for the opportunity. 10 Catia Massolar
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Take a tour through the narrow streets oozing with history in this most cultural and artistic of Paris' districts , one which artists such as Picasso and Van Gogh sought out for inspiration.
![walking tour paris montmartre Moulin Rouge](https://www.civitatis.com/f/francia/paris/galeria/moulin-rouge.jpg)
We'll meet near the historic Moulin Rouge and climb uphill towards the bourgeois-bohemian Parisian neighborhood, Montmartre . This famous district, found in the 18th arrondissement, has set the scene for various critically acclaimed films. As we continue to scale the hills of Montmartre, we'll seek out the Café des Deux Moulins (from the film Amélie ), the House of Van Gogh , and the Moulin de la Galette , otherwise known as the last windmill of Paris.
Next up, is the second-oldest church in Paris, the Saint-Pierre Montmartre . This site, rich in history spanning all the way back to the 5th century AD, is one of two main churches in the neighborhood. From here, we'll move on to see " Les murs de je t'aime ," or the Wall of Love . This 40 square meter (430 square foot) wall, created in 2000, features the phrase "I love you" written in over 200 languages.
From here, we'll move on to several classic points of interest, like Bateau Lavoir , the famous meeting place for great minds of the 20th century, Place Dalida , a plaza dedicated to famous French musician Dalida, and also the neighborhood's last surviving vineyard .
As we edge closer to the hill's summit, we'll pass by the Place du Tertre , the former heart of the prestigious Benedictine Montmartre Abbey. Nearby we'll also find the Lapin Agile , one of Montmartre's most famous cabarets.
Finally, our tour concludes at the famous Basilica Sacré Coeur , adorned with statues of French heroes Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX . This grand temple, located at Paris' highest point, provides breathtaking views of the city , rivaling the Eiffel Tower for the best panoramic view in Paris
Here, after 2 to 2 hours and 45 minutes of getting to know this famous Parisian neighborhood, we'll bring the tour to an end.
Changes to Itinerary
Please note that the order of the itinerary may vary depending on the selected time.
More Information
2 hours - 2 hours 45 minutes.
The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.
English–speaking guide
Not included
Admission tickets
When to book?
You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.
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Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible.
Sustainability
All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .
Our providers commit to:
- Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
- Uphold fair employment standards.
- Foster the growth of local communities.
- Preserve the integrity of local culture.
- Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
- Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
- Operate with honesty and transparency.
- Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.
This particular activity contributes as follows:
- No printing of documentation required.
Walkative Tour | Ligto Show more
Corporate name: Legendary Tours
Corporate name: Ligto LLC
Not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
Q - What happens if there is bad weather?
A - The tour will take place regardless of the weather.
Q - Will the tour go inside any monuments?
A - No, we will visit monuments from the exterior.
Q - Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
A - This walk through Montmartre has uphill climbs, stairs, and cobblestone roads. As such, it is unfortunately not wheelchair friendly. It is doable with a stroller/pram, but getting up the stairs and navigating the cobblestones may be challenging.
Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?
A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities .
Q - How to book?
A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.
Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?
A - This activity requires a minimum of 3 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.
If you have any other questions please contact us.
Free cancellation
Meeting point.
Metro Blanche
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Montmartre - Moulin Rouge to Sacre Coeur. Small-Group, Free Tour
![walking tour paris montmartre Montmartre - Moulin Rouge to Sacre Coeur. Small-Group, Free Tour France — #1](https://www.freetour.com/images/tours/285/montmartre-tour-01.jpg)
FREETOUR.com says
Our Secret Traveller praises this free walking tour of Montmartre as "an excellent way to gain an authentic local insight to this famous district". "As well as the highlights like Moulin Rouge, Lapin Agile, and Sacré-Cæur Basilica, the guides bring the cultural history of the area to life, reveal fascinating anecdotes about the bohemian artists that resided here such as Van Gogh, Edith Piaf, Picasso, and Renoir, and show you the alternative side of Montmartre too. And they give great local tips on vibrant nightlife and recommended restaurants too. A must-do!"
Overview of the tour in Paris
We are Discover Walks. We aim to make each tour an intimate, authentic Parisian experience. Our average group size is 10 - 15 guests, and we try to keep a max of 22 guests/guide. Also, our tours are all designed and run by local Parisians. No expat to run your tour! Take our tours and discover both the tourist must-sees and also the Paris of the Parisians With this award-winning tour of the village of Montmartre, see the nooks and crannies of the most Bohemian and artistic district of Paris, the center of good-living and once the home of Renoir, Picasso, Edith Piaf and so many others. Moulin Rouge, cabaret of the Assassins, the home of Van Gogh, the breasts of Dalida, and of course Sacré Coeur. Do not miss our most popular tour, the Montmartre Free Walking Tour by Discover Walks! Average tip on this tour: €12. To see more on this free tour, we do not spend time going inside each building. **HOT DAY SPECIAL: on hot days, our guides have fans for every guest. We walk in the shade. And every tour makes frequent stops for water. EXCLUSIVELY WITH DISCOVER WALKS.
This activity includes:
- Le Moulin de la Galette
- La Maison Rose
- Place du Tertre
- Moulin Rouge
- Le Chat Noir
- Haunts of Renoir
- Sacre coeur church
- French pop culture
- And so much more!
Meeting point
Blanche Metro Station (google maps location: bit.ly/montmartre-start)
Your guide will wear a pink vest and start from the Blanche Metro station exit. The tour begins on time, rain or shine. Please arrive early, as the guide will not wait for you if you are late. A little late? The second stop is the Moulin Rouge, where you can look for our trademark pink vest.
Things to note
See more than just Sacre-Coeur – the charm of our Montmartre tour is in its back alleys, and our Paris city guides take you there to the secret side of Montmartre. Your native guide also has insider insights and tips for making the most of Montmartre, whether to stroll, eat, or take pictures. The average tip on this tour €12. Look for the guide wearing a Pink Vest! We walk rain or shine.
Free Cancellation
You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.
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Self-guided Montmartre walking tour map. If you'd like to do this Montmartre walk yourself, click on the map below to access directions through Google maps. The route is just over 2.5km (1.6 miles) and takes 35 minutes to walk straight through, but allow a couple of hours to include stops.
Begin your self-guided walking tour of Paris at the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, the gateway to Montmartre. You can reach the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur via a number of different routes. The nearest metro station is Anvers (line 2 blue) and you can walk up the numerous steps from the Carousel, up to the Sacré-Coeur. Just be sure to bring some water and ...
This is the most expensive option in this section, but they also have the smallest group sizes and tend to attract a more mature clientele. Paris: Montmartre 2-Hour Walking Tour. Departs Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 am, and Sunday, Monday, and Thursday at 15:00 (3 pm) €25 per person.
This free walking tour of Montmartre runs, rain or shine, at 11am, 2.30pm & 5pm every day. Start outside metro station "Blanche", at street level. Your guide is wearing a pink vest. The Montmartre walking tour ends near Sacré Coeur, 5 minutes away from Anvers metro station. Booking is required and capped at 6 people.
A brief history of Montmartre before the walking tour. The name of Montmartre was named for the namesake hill from Roman times (Mount Mars). In the medieval ages, most of Montmartre was an abbey, however this abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution. For many years, this area was distinct from Paris, only a commune on the outskirts.
A self-guided art walking tour around the Montmartre area of Paris. Match artist, painting and place. Find out where Picasso, van Gogh, Renoir, Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec lived, worked, ate and drank. Detailed maps and directions.
1. Start: Anvers To Sacré-Cœur. Our walking tour of Montmartre starts at Anvers Metro station because it is the closest Metro to the most spectacular landmark in Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur. Anvers station has one of those classic Art Nouveau Metro entrances, so the first thing you do might be to admire that for a moment.
Take a Montmartre & Sacré Coeur walking tour with The Paris Pass®. Uncover the art and culture of this neighborhood where Van Gogh and Picasso once painted. Enjoy gorgeous views of Paris from Montmartre's hilltop. See the last remaining vineyard in Paris. Hear the colorful history of the Moulin Rouge, the birthplace of the can-can.
Join our tour to discover our favourite district of Paris and let yourself be enchanted by one and only Montmartre! During this tour, you will see and discover: Moulin Rouge. Cafe deux moulins (Cafe known from the film "Amelie") Van Gogh's house. Moulin d' la Galette.
This Montmartre walking tour takes you through the main sights of old Montmartre and the stories and legends behind it. The Montmartre Hill in Paris, also known as La Butte by locals, is famous for its Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Love Wall, and its panoramic view of Paris. However, it is also a gastronomic and cultural district with ...
Montmartre Free Walking Tour. We'll meet near the historic Moulin Rouge and climb uphill towards the bourgeois-bohemian Parisian neighborhood, Montmartre. This famous district, found in the 18th arrondissement, has set the scene for various critically acclaimed films. As we continue to scale the hills of Montmartre, we'll seek out the Café des ...
Explore Montmartre, home of many famous artists, on a guided walking tour. Enjoy a stunning view of Paris from the top of the hill, discover the history of Rue Abbesses, and hear fun stories about the neighborhood's famous residents. Meet your guide in Montmartre and begin your walk through the winding streets.
Stroll through Montmarte Village to discover the famous Bohemian side of Paris. Travel back through time to the 1920s as you walk along winding Parisian streets. Admire a panoramic view of the city of lights from the highest hill in the city. Learn more about the fascinating life of Picasso and other illustrious artists.
Experience the rich culture of Montmartre with your charming and entertaining English-speaking guide. Hear the colorful history of the famous and iconic Moulin Rouge. Walk the scenic, cobble-stoned streets where Van Gogh and Picasso lived and painted. Visit the world famous Sacre-Coeur Basilica and enjoy a panoramic view of Paris below.
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 12. Tour Duration: 2 Hour (s) Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles. Author: karen. Sight (s) Featured in This Guide: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) Eglise Saint-Pierre de Montmartre (Church of St. Peter at Montmartre)
Overview of the tour in Paris. Highlights : Embark on a guided walking tour of Parisian hotspot, Montmartre Explore charming cobblestone streets and bohemian apartment buildings. Learn about famous former artists who once called the area home. Admire the fantastic views of the entire city from the Basilica of Sacré Coeur Embark on a captivating journey through Paris' vibrant artistic district ...
Full description. Explore the highlights and hidden gems of Montmartre. Meet your guide outside the Blanche metro station and begin your walking adventure. Venture past thrilling sights like the Moulin Rouge with its iconic red windmill and the historic Lapin Agile (Cabaret of the Assassins). Discover eccentric spots like the bohemian Chat Noir ...
Montmartre Walking Tour. Discover one of Paris' most enchanting neighborhoods, with a small-group tour of romantic Montmartre. Topped by the famous Sacré-Coeur Basilica, this hilly area in the city's north feels like a charming, old-world village. During the two-hour guided stroll you'll be transported back in time, walking in the ...
Discover the charms of one of Paris' most popular neighborhoods on a walking tour of Montmartre, a district known for its artists and historically bohemian vibe. Start at the Moulin Rouge and see where artists like Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pissarro lived and worked. See sights like the Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, and get insights from your guide about the art, music, food, and ...
Delve into Paris's bohemian history on this Montmartre walking tour! Stroll down cobblestone streets past the Moulin Rouge and other former haunts of famous artists and writers while your guide shares local lore. See where Vincent van Gogh once lived, and visit the final resting place of Edgar Degas and other artists at the Montmartre Cemetery. For an inspiring finale, take in some of the ...
Guided tour Montmartre Walking Tour in English. Activity provider:Walkative Tours. 4.9 / 5 7 reviews. ... Tours in Paris. Sacre-Coeur Basilica. Top Attractions in Paris. 1 Seine River. 2 Sainte-Chapelle. 3 Louvre Museum. 4 Pantheon, Paris. 5 Musee de l'Orangerie. 6 Louis Vuitton Foundation. 7 Musée d'Orsay.
Overview of the tour in Paris. We are Discover Walks. We aim to make each tour an intimate, authentic Parisian experience. ... Do not miss our most popular tour, the Montmartre Free Walking Tour by Discover Walks! Average tip on this tour: €12. To see more on this free tour, we do not spend time going inside each building. **HOT DAY SPECIAL ...
Full description. Explore one of the most picturesque areas of Paris on a 2-hour walking tour through Montmartre, starting with the legendary cabaret theater of the Moulin Rouge, located in the city's Red Light District. Watch artists at work in charming Place du Tertre, a reminder of the time when Montmartre was a true artists' quarter.