Tips for Visiting Colorful Montmartre (from a Local)

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Here are all of my tips for visiting Montmartre from a local. As a Parisienne who frequently visits this part of the city, I’d like to share a bit of my insight and love for Montmartre.

People tend to either love or hate this 18th arrondissement. It is truly a colorful and lively place in more than one way. This pocket of Paris has so much history that you definitely don’t want to miss seeing it during your travels. Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Picasso, Renoir, and Monet all once lived or worked here. This is what truly creates the Bohemian artistic vibe that exists within this Parisian village.

Not only is Montmartre the artsy district, but it also holds the title as the red-light district of Paris. As you can see, there are many sides of Montmartre. You will see a lot of people that are clearly up to no good loitering around the Pigalle and Blanche metro stops.

You may be thinking, “Is it safe to visit?” My answer is, “Absolutely Yes!” Just be mindful of the activities that may be going on at night around the metro stops listed above. Have common sense, be responsible, and have that extra level of caution if you are a solo female traveler.

Where To Stay:

I’m recommending The Terrass Hotel as the place to stay in Montmartre because of its views, location, and of course what its name refers to…its terrace. Even if you don’t stay here, the rooftop bar is a cozy spot to check out for a view of the Eiffel Tower. Not only is there a view, but also blankets and heaters, which is a bonus during the winter months. It even has ski lift booths as fun seating options.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! We recommend World Nomads. Make sure to have coverage that includes medical expenses, trip cancellations, and coverage for your belongings from theft or damage. If needed, you may also want to include car rental insurance as well.

A “Montmartrois” Morning:

If you want to feel like a true Montmartrois (aka someone who lives in Montmartre), then start your day at the KB coffee shop. It’s one of the top craft coffee shops in Paris. You can grab breakfast here, grab a croissant at a local boulangerie, or head over to Pain de Quotidien for a light breakfast or brunch. Pain de Quotidien has fresh squeezed juices, vegan croissants, vegan lattes, and a plethora of other vegan and vegetarian food options. It’s not all vegan, so it’s perfect for dining with omnis as well.

Montmartre Walking Tour:

After breakfast, you can choose a walking tour or just create your own path with a little guidance from this blog post. 😉

There are hundreds of different experiences to choose from with Viator.com. I know it can be overwhelming to choose travel activities so here are a few that we recommend:

This Montmartre Walking Tour will take you to all of the secret spots that you may miss while touring the area alone.

If you are interested in street art, then you may want to check out this Walking Tour.

If you want a private tour and a driver, then you may prefer this Ultimate Experience.

(I will link several more throughout this post so that you can find exactly what you are looking for while in Paris!)

Tips for Visiting Montmartre from a Local: Museums

The Museum of Romantic Life , the Museum of Montmartre, and the Dali Paris are all located in Montmartre.

Espace Dali, is the Salvador Dali museum. It’s fairly small, won’t take you long to visit, and conveniently located close to Place de Terte. The entrance cost is €11.50, but it’s free entry with the Paris Pass.

The Musee of Montmartre is another option located close to Place de Terte and has an entrance fee of €14.10. I personally haven’t visited this one, so it’s a bucket lister.

The third museum that I want to mention is The Musee de la Vie Romantique, or The Museum of Romantic Life, which is another small museum in Montmartre. This museum is located at the bottom of Montmartre close to Moulin Rouge. It’s free to visit, but they encourage you to donate a few euros. It’s worth a few euros if you’d like to spend time in the cute greenhouse bistro and courtyard.

Tips for Visiting Montmartre from a Local: Sacre Coeur

The main attraction of Montmartre is the Roman Catholic Church named Sacre Coeur, meaning sacred heart. Sacre Coeur is known for its bright white color which comes from the type of stone that washes white every time it rains. It’s free to enter. You also have the option to take the 300 steps to the top! In front of the church, you will see people relaxing in the grass or on the steps just enjoying the views.

A lot of people just visit the inside of Scare Coeur and don’t realize that you can walk around to the back of the building as well. I think it makes for a better photo and there’s a nice park with benches behind the church.

Another church that you can visit is located right by the Sacre Coeur which is called SaintPierredeMontmartre. t’s free to visit, but you can take an audio guided tour of Saint Pierre de Montmartre for €3.00. The Eglise Saint-Jean de Montmartre is another church that is free to visit within walking distance from Sacre Coeur.

Tips for Visiting Montmartre from a Local: Place du Terte

After visiting Sacre Coeur, you will be able to take a short walk to Place de Terte. This is an area where you will find many artists painting portraits and selling their artwork. It’s a high traffic area for tourists, but that’s because of its unique charm.

After visiting Place de Terte, walk to see the ivy covered buildings and some of the frequently photographed spots of Montmartre, like Maison Rose. These are located on Rue l’Abreuvoir. You can learn more about the iconic Maison Rose below.

Start heading back down the hill to find the Wall of “I Love You.” Also make sure to find the Le Bateau Lavoir, which is where Picasso once had a studio.

Montmartre is known for being home to the true romantics. I can see why with its dreamy quaint cafes, wall of love, and cobbled stone streets. We can’t forget that Montmartre also has panoramic views of the city, and even the Museum of Romantic Life. Interested in the Love Wall and a Romantic Walk? You may be interested in this Montmartre Tour.

Wine Tasting & Cooking Classes:

If you are a wine enthusiast, you may want to find the only remaining vineyard of Paris. Montmartre has the only vineyard in Paris called Vignes du Clos Montmartre. The vineyard is celebrated in October with a 5 day grape harvest festival, called La Fete des Vendanges. They only produce between 1,000 – 1,500 bottles of wine annually and then auction them off for charity. Now that is a great Parisian souvenir!

Secret Wine Tasting in Paris I have mentioned this wine tasting in my previous Paris blog post, but it is still the best wine tasting venue that we have been to in Paris.

Private Cooking Classes in Montmartre, Paris Are you interested in a private French cooking classes with a view? Look no further!

Tips to Montmartre’s Vegan and Vegetarian Options:

If you are staying in an airbnb and planning to cook or are just looking for more vegetarian and vegan options, stop into a local Naturalia store. They sale a lot of meat and dairy alternatives like tofu, coconut yogurts, etc..

You can also find a great vegan burger at Hanks. It’s more of a fast food type of restaurant, but fully vegan.

Pain de Quotidien is a chain that is found throughout the city. It’s the spot mentioned above with lots of great vegan and vegetarian breakfast and lunch options.

If you are in the mood for a hearty vegan lasagna, you may like L’Ete en Pente Douce. They offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options as well.

Best Options for Visiting With Omnis

Breathe is a fully vegan restaurant in Montmartre. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is warm and cozy. I recommend the ravioli and the vegan tiramisu. They also have a killer vegan burger!

If you are traveling with others that may want to visit a more classic French restaurant, then stop in at Vrai or Sancerre. Sancerre is a restaurant that has a vegetarian burger, vegetarian risotto, and a vegan quinoa salad option. Vrai also has a vegetarian salad that you can easily make vegan.

If you are visiting during the summer, it will seem like everyone is either eating ice cream or drinking wine. There are several flavors of gelato that are available in vegan options at Amorino.

Montmartre’s Iconic Bistros and Cafes:

One of the coolest views of the city can be found while visiting Le Relais de la Butte. It’s located right beside of Bateau Lavoir, Picasso’s old studio, which was mentioned previously.

The next cafe is known for being one of the most photographed or instagram-worthy cafes in Paris. It has been open for over 100 years and was once frequently visited by all of the famous artists and writers of Montmartre. La Maison Rose, meaning pink house, has a colorful history just like the rest of Montmartre. You can see it pictured above. It has not always been that famous pink color. Apparently it has been beige, pink, white, and now pink again. Maison Rose was once owned by one of Picasso’s previous lovers who brought it to life with its vivid pink facade. Now if that doesn’t make you say, “Ooh la la!”

Another highly photographed cafe which is located by Place du Terte is Le Consulat. It’s another location where all of the famous artists used to frequently visit.

One of the nicer iconic restaurants in Montmartre is Le Moulin de la Galette, which is known for its historical windmill.

Le Chat Noir is an another iconic cafe known for its cabaret history. It’s located right by the Moulin Rouge.

Montmartre’s Amelie

Have you seen Amelie? The cafe where it was filmed is the Cafe des Deux Moulins . It’s known for having the best creme brûlée and located about 3 minutes uphill from the famous Moulin Rouge. If you are a movie buff, then you may like this Montmartre Movie Tour.

Tips for Visiting Montmartre’s Local Bars:

Tips for Visiting Montmartre: Wine

You are in France, so you can literally go anywhere for great wine, but La Cave des Abbesses is a local favorite for wine tasting.

Tips for Visiting Montmartre: Craft Beer

Intrepid and The Belgian Beer Project are the best craft beer bars in Montmartre.

Tips for Visiting Montmartre: Cocktails

For a night cap, check out the secret bar of Montmartre. It’s located downstairs in the Pink Mama Restaurant. I’m always a sucker for a good speakeasy and a secret door.

If you can’t get into No Entry because it’s full, check out Lulu White for a strong cocktail or the Grandpigalle for cozy couches.

A bar that we frequently visit is the Chez Camille. It’s an American dive bar that is very chill. I know you are thinking, “Why would we visit an American bar in France?” I find that it’s a great place to visit if you are traveling solo or just feeling chatty. People are usually friendly and talkative here. Also they have killer mojitos and play American music from the 50’s!

Entertainment in Montmartre:

As always, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed these tips for visiting Montmartre from a local. Can you tell that we love this part of Paris?

If you are looking for more information about Paris, you may want to check out our Paris blog.

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A bientot!

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