The Paris Montmartre Travel Guide (18th Arrondissement)

Paris’ montmartre neighborhood

An overview of the 18th arrondissement of Paris

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how to get to montmartre

Accessing Montmartre by metro, walking or taxi

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Best things to do in montmartre

Our favorite landmarks, streets and things to do in Montmartre

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where to eat in montmartre

A list of our favorite restaurants, cafes, bakeries and coffee shops in Paris’ Montmartre Neighborhood

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where to shop in montmartre

The best boutiques in Montmartre

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where to stay in montmartre

A list of our favorite Parisian hotels in Montmartre

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Bonjour

If this is your first time on The Weithouse - welcome! My name is Taylor and I’m the girl behind the screen and camera bringing you resources to help you plan the trip of your dreams.

In January of 2022, my husband and I left our home in Atlanta, packed our bags and moved to Paris! Every day we wake up in disbelief that we get to call this incredible city our home, a city full of rich history, world-renowned food, and beauty hidden around every corner.

In this Montmartre Travel Guide, we’re sharing all of our favorite things to do, places to shop, restaurants to eat at and hotels to stay in that are based in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris.

montmartre paris

Classified as the 18th Arrondissement of Paris, Montmartre sits atop a hill overlooking its beloved city below. What makes Montmartre unique (and a top Paris tourist attraction) is that in the 19th and 20th centuries Montmartre was not a part of the arrondissements of Paris and was a completely separate village.

This separation from the city allowed Montmartre to have a history of its own and is known for being the neighborhood of famous artists, such as Van Gogh and Renoir. Today, travelers and locals visit Montmartre for its views over the city, its winding cobblestone streets, its unique character and the charm of the locals that keep this part of Paris lively.

How to Get to Montmartre

Even though on a map Montmartre might look far from whatever part of Paris you’re in, it’s very straightforward to access, whether you do so by metro, walking or car.

getting to montmartre by metro

The most effortless way to access Montmartre is via metro line 12 to stop Abbesses. Abbesses puts you within Montmartre itself versus at the base of Montmartre, meaning you won’t have to trek up as much of a hill or stairs by using this stop. Just be warned, if you do plan to exit at Abbesses, the stop is deep underground and requires taking 285 steps to exit. There are two elevators accessible which we highly recommend utilizing, as you will be doing even more climbing once out of the station - so give your legs a break!

You can also access Montmartre by metro utilizing metro lines 2 or metro line 4. Both options will exit you at the base of Montmartre, rather than up in Montmartre, meaning you will have a bit of an additional climb if you exit off of these metros. You can exit at the base at metro stops Pigalle or Anvers.

walking to montmartre

I personally enjoy walking in Paris as much as possible, and on our first day living in Paris, we walked from Montmartre all the way to the Seine river, which is around a 50-minute walk. If you’re starting on the right bank of Paris (rive droite), you could do a similar walk to Montmartre, as the walk will bring you through interesting streets and arrondissements of Paris. It will be a bit of an uphill climb, especially as you get closer to Montmartre, but you’ll likely not notice as you take in all the sights around you.

Driving to montmartre

By driving, I mostly mean taking a taxi or Uber, as I have no idea where you would park in Montmartre. However, if you have anyone in your party with mobility issues, I would recommend taking an Uber (or taxi) to the very top of Montmartre, as the climb isn’t easy even for a healthy person. If you do plan to take a cab, I would put Sacre-Coeur as your destination, which will allow a taxi to get you to the cathedral and top of Montmartre.

Best things to do in montmartre

If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, you will want to set aside some time in your Paris itinerary for discovering the charm of Montmartre. You could easily spend a half or full day wandering Montmartre’s streets, eating in its delicious restaurants, shopping at its cute boutiques and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle off in the distance.

When we first moved to Paris, we stayed in a hotel just south of Montmartre, and every day for a month walked its steep hills to discover something new. Everything included in the remainder of this post is both things we personally enjoy doing in Montmartre, and things we take our guests to see and do in Montmartre.

If you don’t want to figure out how to see all of the below on your own, you can always book this guided tour of Montmartre with GetYourGuide, where you’ll discover Sacré-Cœur basilica, stroll along winding streets, pass Place du Tertre and other landmarks.

Visit Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Upon arriving in Montmartre, either take the many stairs (seriously, it’s a lot) or the funicular (you can use your metro tickets to enter), to the very top of the hill of Montmartre. Once at the top, you’ll be standing beneath the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Consecrated in 1919, the basilica is much younger than most of the other cathedrals in Paris, but sits on a site that has been inhabited by monks for centuries longer.

It’s free to enter Sacré-Cœur, however, if you want to be a bit more adventurous (and find even more amazing views), you can book tickets to climb to the top of Sacré-Cœur. It takes 300 steps to access the top of the Dome, but once you arrive you will have a 360 degree view of the city below. This is especially fun if you have children as it feels a bit like climbing through a castle.

You can buy tickets on site at Sacré-Cœur.

See the famous montmartre artists

A short walk from Sacré-Coeur and you’ll arrive in the heartbeat of Montmartre: Place du Tertre. Place du Tertre is a small square, lined with the traditional French cafes of Montmartre and where, in the center of the square, you will find the artists who come out each day to draw portraits of tourists.

Although you might spot one or two caricature artists, the majority of the artist in Montmartre are professional portrait artist who have been coming to the square to do this for over 20 years. Each Montmartre artist has a unique style, and you can walk around and watch them drawing someone’s portrait to determine which artist you would like to draw yours.

If you plan to get drawn, be sure to have cash on hand in order to pay your artist. There is also someone walking around selling cases for your portrait once it’s complete, and they also take cash only.

The portraits can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and if you have your heart set on an artist, be sure to ask he or she if you can be up next.

Walk down La Maison Rose Street

Near Place du Tertre, you’ll discover a small street that has been named one of the prettiest in Paris: rue de l'Abreuvoir. It’s on this rue that the Instagram famous cafe of La Maison Rose sits and is a popular spot for photos in Paris.

The facade of La Maison Rose is the most beautiful in Spring and Summer, when it’s covered in a thick layer of green ivy. It’s also incredibly beautiful in the Autumn as the ivy leaves change from green to red.

If you want your photos with La Maison Rose, be sure to visit in the morning as the corner becomes very crowded with tourists trying to capture a photo as the day goes on.

Take a photo at the vintage photo booth

If you’re traveling with friends, your lover or family and you want a quick photo opp, be sure to stop in at the Fotoautomat, a vintage photo booth in Montmartre. The photo booth is open from 9AM to 10PM every day, and the photos cost roughly 6€. There is usually a line outside the machine, with no covering, so just be prepared to wait! The booth is located at 53 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris.

HALLE SAINT PIERRE

Just down the steps from Sacré-Cœur is the Halle Saint Pierre which houses a museum and a gallery, a bookstore, an auditorium, and a café (hallesaintpierre.org). I mostly just love popping in the Halle to walk through the small bookstore on the ground level of the building, housed under the beautiful market like structure.

Montmartre Museum

A small museum located around the corner from Sacre-Coeur, where you can discover the history of Montmartre and many of the artists who lived and worked in the area. There are also three gardens onsite and a small cafe, perfect for a reprieve in the good weather!

See the Moulin Rouge

If you grew up loving the movie Moulin Rouge, when in Montmartre, don’t miss the opportunity to walk past the famous Moulin Rouge windmill, located at the base of Montmartre at 82 Bd de Clichy, 75018 Paris. Just note that if you have children or teenagers, the area around the Moulin Rouge is not appropriate.

where to eat in montmartre

After doing your explorations in Montmartre, be sure to grab a bite to eat at one of the many amazing restaurants in the area. Since the streets of Montmartre are so small, many of the restaurants are housed in very petite buildings, creating an authentic French dining experience.

Where to Eat breakfast or brunch in Montmartre

If you’re staying in the 18th arrondissement or you want to start the day early in Montmartre, kick off your explorations by grabbing a bite to eat at this breakfast/brunch option:

• The Hardware Société: An Australian restaurant, located steps from Sacre-Coeur and offering delicious breakfast and brunch. They don’t take reservations at this Paris location, so be sure to either arrive at opening or be prepared to wait in a line! 10 Rue Lamarck, 75018 Paris

Where to Eat Lunch in Montmartre

If you find yourself in Montmartre around lunch time, you can grab a bite to eat at many of the French cafes in the area, or a few boutique restaurants for a more unique dining experience. Here are our favorite Montmartre lunch spots:

• Amonē: A cordon bleu restaurant in the heart of Montmartre. There are a few small tables inside or you can take your cordon bleus “a emporter” - to go.

• L’artiste: Open for lunch or dinner, a traditional French menu with indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations likely needed for dinner.

• Bouillon Pigalle: Open from 12PM to 12AM every day, Bouillon Pigalle is a French established that serves all of the classic French dishes for affordable prices. You can’t make reservations, but you can wait in line and grab a lunch or dinner of escargot, steak and frits and Île flottante. No reservations needed.

• Fric Frac: If you have kids or picky eaters, grab a bite to eat at Fric Frac, a croque monsieur restaurant that serves a menu of delicious sandwich options. No reservations needed.

• Hotel Particulier Montmartre: In the warm months, you can grab a lunch from Monday to Friday, for only 25 euros per person, in the beautiful courtyard gardens of this hotel in Montmartre. Make a reservation here.

where to eat dinner in montmartre

If you plan to visit Montmartre in the late afternoon or evening (which we highly recommend in order to peep the Eiffel Tower sparkle off in the distance), you’ll have some great dinner options to choose from. We’ve eaten at all of the below restaurants, both on our own and with guests.

• Signature: For a nicer and more gastronomic Asian-Fusion French experience. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Paris. Reservations needed.

• Restaurant Sarté: Another dinner option if you’re looking for a gastronomic dining experience. Reservations needed.

• Sacrée Fleur: Located off the base of Montmartre, a steak house with some of the best duck I’ve eaten in Paris. Reservations needed.

• Le Refuge des Fondus: For your French fondu experience. Reservations needed.

• Le Potager du Pere Thierry: A tiny French restaurant with a traditional French menu. Reservations needed.

• Le Vache et le Cuisinier: Another small French restaurant with a traditional French menu. The quail is delicious. Reservation needed.

best coffee shop in montmartre

Clove: If you need a break after climbing the first few hills of Montmartre, pop in to the adorable Clove Coffee Shop. The shop sits at the bottom of Rue Chappe (the big main staircase that leads you to Sacre-Cooeur) making it a great breaking point. They offer delicious coffee and tea products as well as one of our favorite hot chocolates in Paris!

The co-owner, Ella, makes the ceramic mugs you’ll find in the shop, which you can often purchase if she has inventory in stock. It’s one of our favorite coffee shops in all of Paris. Located at 14 Rue Chappe, 75018 Paris

bread, pastries and Sweets in montmartre

If all the walking and hills of Montmartre stir up an appetite for a snack, you’ll have no shortage of delicious bread pastry and sweet options to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Maison Aleph: A combination of Levantine tradition and Parisian pastry, here you’ll find delicious cakes, tartes and “pastry nests.” Located at 63 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris.

• Copains Bakery: Offering homemade organic bread and pastries, pop in for a quick snack and coffee and enjoy it in the square or park nearby. Located at 8 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris.

• Pain Pain Bakery: If you need a grab and go lunch or a quick patisserie, head to the corner boulangerie of Pain Pain Bakery, located at 88 rue des Martyrs 75018 Paris.

• Pierre Hermé: My favorite macarons in Paris (I much prefer them to Ladurée), the Pierre Hermé location in Montmartre is a colorful spot to grab your sweet fix. My favorite flavor is vanilla, but there are also always delicious seasonal flavors available. They once offered a foie gras macaron which was honestly amazing! Located at 13 Rue du Mont-Cenis, 75018 Paris.

• Carette: Located in a corner of the artists square is this almost miss-able Carette location. You can come here for a crepe or hot chocolate to keep you warm during your wanderings around Montmartre. Located at 7 Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris.

• Bachir Ice Cream: If you’re visiting Montmartre in the summer or warmer months and need a cool treat, pop into Bachir, a Lebanese ice cream establishement located at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur funicular in the 18th arrondissement. 7 Rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris

• Aux Merveilleux de Fred: In my top five favorite desserts available in Paris are the scrumptious meringue specialties of Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Order the caramel merveilleux or a warm chocolate chip brioche that will make your mouth melt. 2 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris

where to shop in montmartre

Montmartre is a great destination to do some local Parisian shopping, as the tiny hilly streets are lined with boutiques of all categories, perfect for finding souvenirs for yourself or others.

barkers & Brothers

If you have a fur-loving friend, be sure to pop in the adorable Barkers & Brothers pet store. If you have your dog with you, you can actually order them a little pup-cup from the back part of the store, or simple peruse all of the adorable dog items in the front. 8 Rue Androuet, 75018 Paris

balibaris

Balibaris is a French men’s clothing store, offering high-quality items from trench coats to sweaters. This would be a great spot to purchase a French investment piece for the male in your life (or for yourself)! The Montmartre location is steps from the Abbesses metro stop at 15 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris.

VEJA

If you keep up with fashion at all, you’ve likely seen the brand Veja in your country at this point. Veja is a French sneaker company, selling tennis shoes for the entire family, made differently, mixing social projects, economic justice and ecological materials (https://project.veja-store.com/fr/). The shoes are another great French clothing item to shop while in Paris and you can find the companies’ Montmartre location at 16 Rue la Vieuville, 75018 Paris.

Paul / Art & Design

A this local Parisian artist’ shop, you can find cute and fun French posters and sayings for your souvenir or gifting needs. Our favorite items are the mugs with a French curse word on them (the word holds very little power when it’s not your first language) and you can find the shop at 29 Rue Berthe, 75018 Paris.

The Mixtape

If bringing home a vinyl record from your travels is your type of souvenir, be sure to pop in this record store, located at 32 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris.

fragonard perfume

Opened in 1926 in the French Riviera, Fragonard is a French perfume brand offering beautiful fragrances at affordable prices, a perfect souvenir for yourself or others. In their shop in Montmartre, you can also discover beautiful home decor items and linens. Located at 1 Bis Rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris, near the base of Sacre-Coeur.

Rue Norvins

Off one corner of Place du Tertre (the artist square) is this tiny little Parisian street, lined with little shops full of Parisian souvenirs and art. I’m not usually a huge tourist shop person, but this is a good place to buy your Paris magnets, post cards and the like if you’re planning on bringing some back!

where to stay in montmartre

Montmartre is a great area of Paris to book your hotel if you enjoy a little more nightlife and hustle and bustle in your evenings. Even though Montmartre is perched on top of a hill, by booking a stay in Montmartre, you can easily access the rest of Paris by both walking or taking the metro.

When we first moved to Paris in 2022, we actually spent a month living at Hotel Rochechouart (linked below) and enjoyed days climbing up to Montmartre and exploring all the quaint little arrondissement has to offer. I would recommend booking in Montmartre if you’ve been to Paris before and are looking for a slightly different neighborhood experience in your upcoming travels.

If neither of the below hotels work for you, be sure to check out our curated list of Parisian hotels over on the Stay Well portion of our website.

Hotel Monsieur Aristide

An eclectic little hotel located in Montmartre, perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway away from the hustle and bustle of Paris, or for anyone who loves a vintage interior design.

Hotel Rochechouart

Not technically located in Montmartre, but located at the base of Montmartre along Boulevard Rochechouart, Hotel Rochechouart is an art deco inspired hotel with a rooftop that offers views of both Sacre-Coeur and the Eiffel Tower.

QUESTIONS

Have questions? Ask away! There is a comment box at the bottom of this page to ask any and all questions you might have about anything in this post or anything I didn’t cover.

STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE

Need help planning the rest of your trip?

If you’re exploring more of Paris, be sure to check out the complete guide to Paris, our roundup of boutique hotels in Paris, and where we like to sip coffee in Paris.

You can also find guides to the best day trips from Paris, if you want to visit Château De Fontainebleau, Château De Chantilly, or Monet’s Home and Gardens in Giverny.

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