Montmartre Tour
Walk through the village that never quite became part of Paris: the hill of Picasso, Van Gogh and Dalida, crowned by the white Sacré-Cœur.
And Montmartre is, of course, more than just history. During the walk we also tell you about the Montmartre of today and give you tips for great places to eat, drink or explore afterwards.
What to expect
History and the Paris of today
The history of the hill
From the windmills and vineyards of old to the artists who transformed the Butte.
The Montmartre of today
Which cafés and streets are worth visiting now, and where Parisians themselves like to go.
Tips for the rest of your stay
Afterwards you'll know where to eat and drink well and what else you can do in this corner of Paris.
Is this tour for you?
Who this walk suits
This walk is for you if you want more than a photo at the Sacré-Cœur.
This tour is for you if...
- You love art and the stories behind Van Gogh, Picasso and Dalida
- You want to see both the history and the Montmartre of today
- You enjoy walking through small, characterful streets
Maybe less suitable if...
- You struggle with stairs or steep slopes
- You are looking for a quick photo stop without a story
Montmartre is not a district, it is a village that happens to lie in Paris. Until 1860 the hill stood outside the city walls: a world of windmills, vineyards and cheap rent. That cheap rent drew the artists who set up their studios here - and turned the Butte into the laboratory of modern art.
The route starts at the Moulin Rouge, where the can-can was born, and climbs up Rue Lepic past the café from the film Amélie and the house where Van Gogh lived with his brother Theo. In the Bateau-Lavoir Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, the canvas that turned modern art on its head. Renoir immortalised the Moulin de la Galette, Utrillo the Maison Rose, Dalida the street where she lived.
At the top of the hill lie Paris's last vineyard (Clos Montmartre), the city's oldest cabaret (Lapin Agile) and the artists' square Place du Tertre. We end at the Sacré-Cœur and the Wall of Love - and you understand why this hill never quite wanted to belong to Paris.
But we also look at the Montmartre of today: where the tourists come, where Parisians still live and which places are worth discovering on your own after the walk.
Highlights
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The Moulin Rouge and the story of the can-can and Toulouse-Lautrec
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The café from the film Amélie and Van Gogh's house on Rue Lepic
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Bateau-Lavoir: where Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
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Paris's last vineyard and its oldest cabaret, Lapin Agile
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Place du Tertre and the Sacré-Cœur with its view over Paris
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The Wall of Love: 'I love you' in more than 250 languages
Practical info
- Meeting point
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82 Boulevard de Clichy - at the Moulin Rouge (Métro Blanche)
2
- End
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Place des Abbesses (Métro Abbesses)
12
- Distance
- 3 km, mostly uphill
- Duration
- about 2 hours
- Languages
- Max group size
- 10 people
Choose your language when you book.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of the walk.
- Info
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- Walks leave on time, so arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before departure.
- In the confirmation email you will find the exact starting location and how to easily recognise your guide.
- Depending on the specific tour, a minimum number of participants is required for a tour to run. If this minimum is not reached, the tour may be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
Tours generally go ahead in the rain. Paris is well worth a visit even without sunshine. In exceptionally bad or unsafe weather we may adjust the route or cancel the tour. If that happens, we will of course get in touch with you.
The price of the tour includes your guide, but excludes any entrance tickets for museums, monuments or other sights that charge admission. If we visit a place on a tour that requires entry, we clearly mention this in advance on the relevant tour page.
Some churches and other sights are free to enter. Depending on the route and circumstances, we can briefly step inside without you needing a ticket.
Yes, children are welcome. Whether a particular tour suits young children depends mainly on their age and interests. That is why each tour page gives more information about the character and intensity of the walk. Unsure? Feel free to contact us.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. We walk through Paris and stop regularly along the way.
Please also note that on some tours we may step inside a church. There are no entry fees, but visitors are asked to dress appropriately. Please cover your shoulders and knees if you expect to enter a church. Shorts or a skirt just above the knee are generally fine, but very short clothing or bare midriffs are less suitable.
Montmartre does have places that can be very busy, but the district is much larger than the area around the Sacré-Cœur and Place du Tertre. During the walk we also pass through smaller streets and parts of the hill where daily life in Montmartre is still clearly visible. So you discover not only the Montmartre of visitors, but also the neighbourhood behind it.
Yes. Along the way we tell you about Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir and Utrillo, as well as Dalida and the artistic world that made Montmartre so special. We not only look at who lived or worked here, but also at why Montmartre in particular attracted so many artists.
Other tours
- Le Marais Tour From medieval marshland to the most beloved corner of old Paris: a neighbourhood where every century left its mark.
- From the Parisii to Napoleon Tour One route through 2000 years of Paris: from Roman Lutetia, via the French Revolution, to Napoleon - chronologically, al…
- Covered Passages Tour Hidden galleries from the 19th century: mosaic floors, glass roofs and the Paris of before the great boulevards.
- Private Tour A private walking tour through Paris, fully tailored - your neighbourhood, your pace, your guide.
Still have questions?
Can't find the answer you're looking for? We're happy to help.
€39
about 2 hours