Guided tour of Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur in Paris in 2027

Why Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur remain a must-see

Montmartre was an independent municipality until 1860, when it was annexed to Paris. That village past still shows in the winding street plan, the low houses and the gardens hidden behind walls. At the summit, around 130 metres above sea level, the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur has crowned the hill since the end of the 19th century.

The Sacré-Cœur basilica in dates

Declared a public-interest project by a law of 24 July 1873, the building was entrusted to the architect Paul Abadie, winner of the design competition. Work began in 1875, the interior was inaugurated in 1891 and the consecration did not take place until 16 October 1919. The monument was listed as a historic monument in 2022, a protection long awaited.

A Montmartre stone that whitens with age

The façade owes its brilliance to Château-Landon limestone: when rain falls on it, this stone releases a substance that makes it turn whiter rather than darker. That is why the basilica looks so bright in photos, even after more than a century of city pollution.

The Montmartre artists' village

Before it became a postcard, the hill drew painters with its low rents. The Bateau-Lavoir was home to Picasso, and the Place du Tertre still hosts artists who paint and show their work in the open air.

What a guided tour of Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur includes

The most common format is a commented walk in a small group, following a loop between the foot of the hill and the forecourt of the basilica. Depending on the option you choose, the route focuses on the area's artistic history or builds in some free time near the Sacré-Cœur.

Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur guided tour: the full version

It brings together the historic streets, the Place du Tertre and the outside of the basilica, with a narrative that links the Paris Commune of 1871, the building of the sanctuary and bohemian life. Since entry to the nave is free, you can carry on alone at the end.

Guided tour of Montmartre only

This version is devoted to the village: studios, historic cabarets, the vineyard, windmills. It suits you if you already know the basilica or would rather return to it at another time of day.

What costs extra in Montmartre

• The climb up the Sacré-Cœur dome, paid for and bought on site.
• The funicular, covered by a standard public transport ticket.
• The neighbourhood museums, which have their own ticket desks.

Check the language, length and meeting point shown when you book: they vary from one date to another.

Sacré-Cœur: free nave, paid dome and rules on site

Unlike many Paris monuments, the basilica requires no ticket. It is open every day of the year from 6.30am to 10.30pm, with later closing on certain feast days and on the first Thursday of the month. A security check comes before the entrance.

The Sacré-Cœur dome: steps, hours and price

The ascent is on foot only, up a narrow staircase of nearly 300 steps, with no lift. Access is generally open from 10.15am to 5.30pm, last entry 5pm, with a midday break and possible closures for weather or maintenance. Contribution requested (indicative, checked October 2026): €8 from age 16, €5 up to age 15. Tickets are sold only at the desk in the moat, on the left after the security check.

Inside the Sacré-Cœur

Look up towards the apse: the mosaic designed by Luc-Olivier Merson, made between 1918 and 1922, covers almost 474 m² and is said to be the largest in France. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed day and night; the front part of the nave is set aside for prayer, and silence is requested throughout.

Dress and behaviour at the Sacré-Cœur

The sanctuary asks for suitable clothing and a discreet manner. Phone calls are not welcome; an audio route on your smartphone is, however, offered to guide you round the ambulatory.

Getting to Montmartre: metro, bus and funicular

Metro lines 2, 4, 12 and 13 serve the slopes of the hill. Two stations are the starting point for most walks: Anvers (line 2), at the foot of the main stairway, and Abbesses (line 12), closer to the heart of the village.

The Montmartre funicular

Run by the RATP, it climbs 36 metres of height over 108 metres in under a minute and a half, sparing you around 222 steps. It runs from 6am to 12.45am and takes a metro ticket or a Navigo pass. Bus 40 also crosses the neighbourhood.

Sacré-Cœur access for visitors with reduced mobility

An entrance with a lift is at the back of the basilica, at 35 rue du Chevalier-de-La-Barre, open from 8.30am to 7pm. Combined with the funicular, it lets you skip the stairs of the Square Louise-Michel.

When to visit Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur: times and seasons

Light changes everything on the hill. In the morning, before 10am, the streets are calm and the forecourt gives a clear view over southern Paris. Between 10.30am and 5pm, crowds often mean a 10 to 15-minute wait before getting into the basilica.

Montmartre at sunset

In the evening, the forecourt steps fill with people who come to watch the city light up. It is a very photogenic moment, but also the busiest: keep your belongings close in the crowd.

The seasons on the Montmartre hill

• Spring: the terraced gardens bloom, ideal for walking.
• Summer: heat on the exposed stairways, so set off early.
• Autumn: the Fête des Vendanges grape-harvest festival livens up the area every October.
• Winter: often clear skies after rain, with fine long-distance views.

Suggested Montmartre route in two to three hours

Allow about two hours for a guided walk, and an extra hour if you climb the dome or go into a museum. Here is a logical sequence, from the bottom to the top and back down via the northern slopes.

1. Abbesses station and its square, with the famous metro entrance.
2. The Bateau-Lavoir, where Picasso worked at the start of the 20th century.
3. Rue Lepic and the two windmills still standing, including the Moulin de la Galette.
4. The Place du Tertre and its painters.
5. The church of Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre, founded long before the neighbouring basilica.
6. The Sacré-Cœur, its forecourt and, time permitting, the dome.
7. Back down towards the Clos-Montmartre vineyard and the Lapin Agile.

Montmartre with children

The funicular delights younger visitors and spares them long flights of steps. The Sacré-Cœur dome, narrow and with no lift, is not recommended for very young children. Wear closed shoes: the cobbles are slippery in wet weather.

Around Montmartre: museums, cabarets and other outings

The area is not just about the hill. The Musée de Montmartre, on Rue Cortot, traces the history of the hill in a house where painters once lived. The Espace Dalí shows works by the Surrealist master. At the foot of the hill, the Boulevard de Clichy and the Moulin Rouge mark the start of the Paris of revues.

Extending the evening after Montmartre

If a show appeals, the page devoted to the Crazy Horse cabaret covers another side of Parisian nightlife. To round off the great sanctuaries, a visit to Notre-Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité makes a striking contrast, Gothic against Romano-Byzantine.

Combining Montmartre with another sight

A morning on the hill pairs easily with an afternoon at the Musée d'Orsay or a Seine river cruise at the end of the day.

Booking a Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur tour in 2027

The calendar on this page shows the days when a guided tour is still offered. Select the date you want, then click “Check availability”: you will see straight away whether places remain, and you can get an email if the situation changes. Final confirmation goes through our booking partner.

Montmartre dates that sell quickly

Spring weekends, school holidays and October, with the grape harvest, attract plenty of visitors. In 2027, booking a few weeks ahead is wise for those periods, especially for a group.

Before paying for your Montmartre tour

• Re-read the exact meeting point (often near a metro station).
• Note the guide's language and the cancellation terms.
• Be wary of bank-transfer payments requested by private individuals.