Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre

Visitor Guide to the Basilica, the Views & the Artists' Quarter

⏱ 2-3 hours👤 All agesFree

Perched atop the Butte Montmartre, the highest natural point in Paris, the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks — a striking white, Romano-Byzantine-style church completed in the early 20th century, its pale domes glowing above the northern skyline. The basilica is free to enter and quietly beautiful inside, with one of the largest mosaics of its kind above the altar. For a fee, you can climb the dome for an even higher view.

But for most visitors, the great draw is free: the steps and terrace in front of the basilica offer a sweeping panorama across the rooftops of Paris to the horizon — a classic, no-cost view that's especially magical at sunset (and a lively gathering spot, complete with buskers). Reaching the top means climbing the hill's stairways or taking the little funicular.

The surrounding neighborhood of Montmartre is half the experience. Once a semi-rural village famous as the haunt of artists like Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Renoir, it retains a village-like charm of steep, winding cobbled streets, hidden squares, and ivy-clad houses. The Place du Tertre, just behind the basilica, buzzes with painters and portraitists; nearby are cafés immortalized in film, a tiny working vineyard, and the cabarets of the lower slopes (including the Moulin Rouge at the foot of the hill). Be aware the immediate basilica area draws crowds and pickpockets, and assertive vendors work the steps — keep belongings secure. Wandering Montmartre's quieter back streets is free, atmospheric, and one of the loveliest things to do in Paris.