As one of the true must-see neighborhoods of Paris, Montmartre offers a romantic glimpse into an era when raucous cabarets, bohemian soirées, and unbridled creativity were the norm. We’ll transport you back to those days by revealing things like the naughty origins of the Moulin Rouge, the majesty of the Sacré Coeur Basilica, and the secluded addresses of the Impressionists that added such mythos to this district.
During your 2-hour small group tour of this “village within a city”, you’ll also track down great food locales, tiny trendy boutiques, and a bird’s-eye view of Paris that you’ve got to see to believe!
Is this tour appropriate for children? You bet your baguette it is! Montmartre is a vibrant neighborhood full of street art, quirky sculptures, silly stories, carrousels, etc. This combined with the tour’s short duration of just 2 hours makes it great for groups with young kids or teens. So grab those little ones and we’ll see you on the next tour!
This tour takes place on a hill. Is it manageable for visitors with disabilities? All of our city walking tours welcome travelers with limited mobility or those in wheelchairs. However due to the number of steep inclines and staircases in Montmartre, we encourage those with mobility concerns to consider privatizing their tour by contacting our booking team. This way your guide can adjust the tour to your needs, which we’re happy to do!
Do you offer a tour that focuses specifically on the Impressionists? Sure no problem. If you contact our customer service team we’ll be happy to secure one of our art history experts who can give a more specialized tour, with a deeper focus on Montmartre’s Impressionist past: Degas, Renoir, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, etc.
Does the cathedral have visitor rules I should know about? Please note that Sacré-Coeur is a Basilica and we advise dressing appropriately (shoulders covered and mid-length to long trousers or skirts), visitors are also asked to remove hats upon entering. Photography is allowed without flash. The Basilica does not allow food, beverages, and all items of luggage (which includes large backpacks). Please note that in the high season, the queue to enter can take 10-20 minutes.
Meeting point & walking distance
Meeting point:
Moulin Rouge
Walking distance:
2.3km / 1.5 miles
The itinerary
We’ll kick things off in front of the Moulin Rouge to hear stories of its saucy and scandalous past. You’ll then begin your ascent up the hill to see an iconic film location from the film Amélie as well as Van Gogh’s old stomping grounds. Place des Abbesses will offer fun details like the “I Love You Wall”, a charming homage to lovers around the world.
Next will be Picasso’s famous studio to discuss a momentous painting that would change the art world forever. Then onto a classic guinguette where artists gathered to drink, dance, and set up their easels. Works done on site by Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Toulouse-Lautrec immortalized the fleeting scenes of exuberance that took place here every weekend. There’s also an original windmill!
You’ll get a look at the last vineyard in Paris—still producing vino today—which only adds to the neighborhood’s quaint village atmosphere. There’s also a tiny cabaret that was a favorite of Picasso’s and was the origin of several outlandish adventures, which your guide will be happy to shine a light on.
Further up the hill is a famous square filled with outdoor artists, each painting and drawing original artwork for sale. A perfect opportunity to pick up that one-of-kind souvenir you’ve been on the hunt for! You’ll finish at Sacré Coeur, a shimmering example of Parisian fanciness sat on top of the hill. Here you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the city below, at which point we won’t blame you if all you can say is “Ah…Paris!”
Knowing Paris inside-out comes with years of exploring, but above all a passion for discovering all the magic that a city has to offer. Our city guides are selected for their insatiable love for Paris, and their desire to share it with our visitors. Leaving no stone unturned, our guides are always ready to go the extra mile to ensure that those who explore with them get to discover the Paris that truly makes them tick.
Reviews
5.0
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5.0
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Based on 80 reviews Last reviewed:
June 16 2018
Marina M
- Reviewed June 16, 2018
We really enjoyed the tour with Victor!
Aman A
- Reviewed June 13, 2018
Victor was fantastic, and the walking tour was the perfect orientation / introduction to the Montmartre area. Victor knows a lot about art history, but wears that knowledge lightly - and is able to make the tour fun and interesting. Even our children (aged 4 to 8) loved it.
Sarah S
- Reviewed June 12, 2018
Juliette was a great guide! This tour is a wonderful way to see Paris and learn about its history and culture. Highly recommend Localers tours!!
Michael T
- Reviewed June 08, 2018
Thank you, Malaika. A great morning for a great tour. You helped us understand and experience the energy of Montmartre both past and present. It was a pleasure to meet and spend a few hours with you.
Michele W
- Reviewed June 06, 2018
Victor was great! His knowledge of the area as well as art history made Monmartre come alive. We learned so much on his tour. Victor is very personable. He answered all our questions. Our tour was cut short by a terrific downpour. Victor took us to a small cafe to try waiting out the storm. He gamely offered to continue the tour but we declined since the only place left to visit was Sacre Coeur. Fortunately we had been there during another trip. Victor led us to the nearest metro station. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Paris.
Flexible cancellation policy
Easy & secure booking experience
Real-time assistance with a local team
VIP skip the line access
Mon-Sat / 9am to 6pm
1-888-460-3512 (USA)
booking@localers.com
