Montmartre is a town that I fall in love with when I first visited Paris! Thinking about what are the best things to do in Montmartre? Here’s the list of my favourite things to do in this lovely neighbourhood in Paris.
Montmartre is one of my favourite town in Paris. This historical town is only 20 minutes drive away from the Paris city but the vibe that comes with this neighbourhood is different. Its artistic vibe and romantic feel brings out the authentic nature of Paris and that is why visiting Montmartre is high on the Paris bucket list.
Montmartre is a small hilly town that can be visited in a day or two. From admiring the famous basilica to having brunch at La Maison Rose cafe, there are so many things to do and see in Montmartre.
In this article, I will be sharing with you all the greatest locations to visit in Montmartre so that you can learn about all the well-known and undiscovered gems of this beautiful neighbourhood.
Best Things To Do in Montmartre
1. Admire Sacré-Coeur
There are a number of famous buildings in Paris and Sacré-Coeur basilica is one of the most popular in Montmartre.
Climb the over 200 steps of staircases that leading up to the white basilica. The interior of Sacré-Coeur is very impressive with golden mosaics and statues. Every year, millions of visitors pay a visit to see the world’s heaviest and largest bell in the basilica.
Also, don’t forget to climb to the top of the dome to treat yourself the best views of the Paris city! The entrance to the basilica is FREE but visitor will need to pay an entrance fee to get up to the dome.
2. Visit La Maison Rose
Whether you are admiring the beauty of the pink cafe or having a Parisian brunch, La Maison Rose is one of the most popular cafes in the neighbourhood and worth stopping by for a insta-worthy photo.
Due to the pink house’s appearance in the acclaimed TV series “Emily in Paris,” it has become even more well-known and crowded with people from all over the world.
This pink house has been serving coffee for over 100 years and it has seen great artists like Picasso and others used to gather here to share ideas and sip coffee.
3. Shake Hand With Le Passe-Muraille
Along Rue Norvins, there is a notable sculptures on the street worth to visit.
This statue depicts the hero of the famous French novelist Marcel Aymé’s short story, Le Passe-Muraille ( The passer through walls) . The story is pretty magical as the hero of the story suddenly had supernatural power and woke up one day finding the walls to be penetrable!
The sculpture was done by Jean Marais as a tribute to the novelist. When you visit Montmartre, don’t forget to stop by this artwork and shake his hand for luck in writing!
4. Get Your Portrait Drawn or Watch Painters at Place du Tertre
Montmartre is an artistically vibrant neighbourhood. The art influences have been passed down since hundred years ago.
While walking through Montmartre, I notice artists drawing at any random corner of the street and one of most popular place is Place du Tertre where it was a square for famous artists to sell their artworks in the past.
Nowadays, it is where you will find hundreds of artists gather and painting various sceneries of Paris and the people. Getting a portrait drawn by the artist is one of the best things to do in Montmartre. You can either admire the painters’ works or get a portrait of yourself by the artists.
5. Visit Lapin Agile
Walking down from the Pink house, there is a colourful orange house Lapin Agile standing on the steep hill. It would definitely catch your attention with its special outlook.
It is a building that known for cabarets since the 19th century and it still entertains guests with music and singing to this day.
If you get the tickets for the show, you will be immersed in the singing of French songs.
6. Breakfast at Le Consulat
I’m sure you’ve seen this popular cafe on Instagram. Le Consulat has a history of over 100 years and it had served plenty of the renowned artists and writers like Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and the like.
Until today, it still opens and serves great coffee and food. The building’s brilliant colour and rich history have elevated it to the status of being a must-see cafe in Paris. Due to its popularity, arrive early in the morning before 10am to get good photo of the cafe as well as getting a good seat in the cafe.
7. Visit Le Musee de Montmartre
Being named as one of the must-visit museum in Paris, Le Musee de Montmartre is the one visitors should not miss while touring the neighbourhood.
This museum is formerly the home of famous artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Émile Bernard many others. This house also holds history where Renoir painted his most famous painting ” The Swing”.
After visiting the museum, step outside to the pretty Renoir’s garden and enjoy a coffee break at the cafe Renoir.
8. Spot The Windmills in Montmartre
During the 17th century, Montmartre used to be covered in fields and have more than 300 windmills on the Montmartre hill.
Today, there are only two windmills remain in Montmartre. One is in a private property and another is Moulin de la Galette that stands on top of the famous French restaurant.
9. Discover Prettiest Streets in Montmartre
Montmartre, with its hillside structure, is a neighbourhood with cobblestone streets, artsy cafes, and historic buildings.
Montmartre is best explored on foot, and you will undoubtedly come across some lovely streets such as Rue Lepics, Rue De L’Abreuvoir, Rue Norvins, which offers the best views of Sacre-Coeur, Rue Saint-Rustique, Montmartre’s oldest road, and many others.
Just remember to bring your camera because the views in Montmartre are postcard-perfect!
10. Capture The Photo of The Sinking House
The sinking house is just sitting next to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica.
The name of the sinking house is actually an illusion of the building when view from a certain angle. The building is in fact standing straight but due to the hilly structure of Montmartre, this building looks like it is sinking when you do some camera trick.
It is fun to visit this place and try to capture the “sinking house”.
And so that’s the list of best things to do in Montmartre! In addition to the list, Montmartre is a fascinating neighbourhood that is best explored on your own.
