Must-see walks in Montmartre, district of Paris

This district is characterised by its magnificent views of the capital, its bright and radiant colours and its warm atmosphere. It is criss-crossed by winding, steep streets that are best explored on foot.

The district owes its reputation to the Moulin Rouge, film shoots and the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur located at the top of the . Find all the must-sees of the district in our itinerary to discover Montmartre.

1- Place de Clichy

Your visit can start with the Place de Clichy. It is the crossroads of Montmartre hill4 districts of Paris. Lined with many shops, the square is very busy day and night.

You will find many restaurants, cafés and a cinema. In the centre of the square is the monument to Marshal Moncey. This monument commemorates the defence of Paris by Marshal Moncey, then Major-General of the National Guard. He opposed the entry of the Cossacks at the barrier of Clichy who were going to invade Paris in 1814.

2- The Moulin Rouge

Leaving the Place de Clichy, continue your stroll in the district towards the Moulin Rouge. Located on the Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, the Moulin Rouge is a world-famous cabaret.

Founded in 1889, it attracted a number of artists who came to indulge in the French Cancan shows, the emblematic dance of the place. For over a century, it has brought the nights of Montmartre to life with its breathtaking decorations, its beautiful dancers and its shows.

Take advantage of our Paris at night tour to discover the Moulin Rouge shining with a thousand lights at nightfall.

3- Place des Abbesses

Not far from the Moulin Rouge is the Abbesses district with its famous Wall of I Love You. This wall is composed of 612 enamelled lava tiles on which are inscribed 311 I love you's in 250 different languages. This building in honour of lovers from all over the world is very popular. On the square, don't miss the metro station which is one of the few in Paris to have kept its glass roof.

4- Montmartre Cemetery

Still in the 18th arrondissement, if you continue your walk in the district, you will find the Montmartre cemetery. It occupies the place of the old quarries of Montmartre and extends over 11 hectares. Many celebrities are buried here.

You will find the tomb of Dalida, a famous singer and artist, with her sculptures and golden rays. Other celebrities such as Louise Weber, a cancan dancer, the writer Henri Beyle (known as Stendhal), Henri Rochefort, a politician and many others are buried here.

5- The Moulin de la Galette

From the cemetery, take the famous rue Lepic to discover the last working windmill in Paris. Painted many times, notably by Vincent van Gogh and Toulouse Lautrec, the Moulin de la Galette was home to a famous guinguette in the 19th century.

All Paris used to gather there on Sundays and public holidays to dance the cancan or the quadrille. A few years later, the guinguette was transformed into a popular ball that was immortalised by Auguste Renoir.

6- The Pink House

Go back up the rue des Saules and go to n°2 Rue de l'Abreuvoir. You can admire the famous Pink House. This building, famous since the 1800's, has been frequently depicted in paintings since the end of the 19th century and is nowadays very popular with photographers. This place was a meeting place for the greatest Parisian artists, such as the painter Maurice Utrillo who depicted the Maison Rose in some of his most beautiful masterpieces.

7- The Montmartre Museum

From the Moulin de la Galette, you can continue your walk to n°12 Rue Cortot. There you will find the Montmartre museum. It will make you relive the history of this beautiful district through its collections of posters, photographs, paintings and signed testimonies.

As you wander through the former artists' studios that now house the museum, follow in the footsteps of the painters who made the district famous. Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso have walked the streets of Montmartre and immortalised it on numerous occasions.

8- The vineyard of Montmartre

Not far from the museum, continue your walk by discovering the vineyards of Montmartre, a small corner of nature preserved on the slopes of the hillock. Montmartre was once a small village far from Paris, inhabited mainly by ploughmen, millers and winegrowers. From the top of the hill to the plain, vineyards covered the village of Montmartre. To preserve the soul of the village, some of the vines have been saved.

Created in the 1930s, the Clos Montmartre opens its doors every year in October for the grape harvest festival.

On the other side of the vineyards, go to the cabaret Au Lapin Agile. It is one of the oldest cabarets in Paris where the Parisian bohemian community of the end of the 19th century used to meet.

9- Place du Tertre

This square is the most famous of the district. It is the main square of the old village of Montmartre. Located just behind the Sacré-Coeur, the Place du Tertre is home to various artists: portrait artists, caricaturists, landscape artists... You can find food and drink here at any time of the day.

10- The Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur

Montmartre is one of the main tourist attractions of Paris, but it is also a religious place. Conclude your discovery of Montmartre with a visit to the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur. It is located at the top of the Montmartre hill and overlooks the Louise Michel square. With its Greek cross shape, it offers a panoramic view of Paris.

Finally, take advantage of the splendid view from Montmartre to admire the sunset over the capital and see the City of Light light up at dusk. Discover our top 5 best places to watch the sunset in Paris.