Paris Walking Tour: Montmartre from Abbesses to Sacré-Cœur
A self-guided Paris walk up Montmartre from Abbesses past Picasso's studio, the windmills, the vineyard and Place du Tertre to Sacré-Cœur.
- 7 stops and 13 minutes of stories, told as you reach each place
- The intro and stop 1 are free in the app: try before you buy
- Download before you go; the audio plays without signal (the street map needs a connection)
- Walking with friends? Pick 1 to 10 seats; everyone hears each stop on their own phone, at the same moment
30 seconds of the real narration
Plays in the free Walk With Me app on iPhone and Android.
What you'll see
About this tour
Montmartre is a village of steps and lanes, and much of its charm is hidden in places no bus can reach: a windmill above a corner, a vineyard behind a fence, a tiny square with a fountain. Walking it slowly, you climb through its whole history, from the country village of millers and winemakers to the poor artists who made it famous to the crowds who come today to see the basilica. Go early, take your time, and step off the main route whenever a quiet lane looks inviting. And if you would like company on your next walk, open the Walk With Me live map to see who else is out walking Paris right now.
The route
1.9 km in walking order from Place des Abbesses and the Wall of Love to Square Louise Michel. Stop 1 is free in the app.
- 1Place des Abbesses and the Wall of LoveA leafy square with one of Paris's last glass-roofed Guimard metro entrances, and a tiled wall that says one thing hundreds of ways.Free in the app
- 2Bateau-LavoirA plain building on a sloping square where a penniless young Picasso worked, and how it got its odd nautical name.
- 3Moulin de la GaletteOne of the hill's last two windmills, perched over Rue Lepic, and the Sunday dance hall Renoir put on canvas.
- 4Clos Montmartre VineyardA small working vineyard on a Paris hillside, beside the pink Maison Rose, and the practical reason vines came back here.
- 5Place du TertreThe old village square, crowded with painters' easels, and a twelfth-century church most visitors walk right past.
- 6Sacré-Cœur BasilicaThe white basilica crowning Paris's highest hill, why its stone stays pale, and the turbulent years that led to it.
- 7Square Louise MichelTerraced gardens below the basilica, with the classic view back up, and why they carry a Commune fighter's name.
Before you go
- The walk itself takes about forty minutes, but give yourself two hours or so to wander, sit in a cafe and go inside the basilica.
- Montmartre is a hill, and some of the streets are very steep, with long flights of steps and uneven cobbles, so wear comfortable shoes with grip.
- Go early in the morning if you can, when the lanes are quiet, the light is soft and the painters are just setting up.
- By midday Place du Tertre and the front of Sacré-Cœur are packed.
- There is little shade on the steps and the upper square, so bring water in summer.
Nothing else to pay
Toilets and water on the way
7 public toilets (5 free) and 18 drinking fountains within 150 m of the route.
| Stop | Nearest toilet | Nearest water |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Place des Abbesses and the Wall of Love | 246 m, free | 39 m |
| 2. Bateau-Lavoir | 265 m | 8 m |
| 3. Moulin de la Galette | 103 m | 81 m |
| 4. Clos Montmartre Vineyard | 139 m, free | 99 m |
| 5. Place du Tertre | 217 m, free | 77 m |
| 6. Sacré-Cœur Basilica | 74 m | 80 m |
| 7. Square Louise Michel | 71 m, free | 89 m |
The full map is in our Paris guide. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Questions
How long does it really take?
30 min of walking plus 13 minutes of stories, so plan for about 43 min with stops.
Can I go inside the Bateau-Lavoir?
No. The rebuilt building still holds working artists' studios, so it is closed to visitors. A small window on the square shows photos and notes on its history.
Can I walk among the vines?
Usually not, but you see the Clos Montmartre well from the street through the fence. Each October the neighborhood holds a harvest festival, and the small amount of wine made here is sold for charity.
Can I skip the stairs below Sacré-Cœur?
Yes. The funicular beside Square Louise Michel links the basilica with the foot of the hill. The lanes higher up are still steep, with uneven cobbles.
More walks in Paris
| Tour | Walk | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paris 1940 Occupation Walking Tour | 8.1 km · 1 h 56 | $19.99 |
| Paris 1944 Liberation Walk | 4.4 km · 1 h 02 | $16.99 |
| Paris Amélie Montmartre Film Walking | 2.4 km · 34 min | $14.99 |
| Paris Assassin's Creed Unity Walking | 5.8 km · 1 h 20 | $17.99 |
| Paris Bakery Tasting Walking Tour | 5.2 km · 1 h 13 | $16.99 |
Before you walk Paris
Photos: Shadowgate / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.