FabFamTrips

While you are in Paris, you should definitely visit this off-the-beaten-path destination, which is also a very popular place in Paris, France. Montmartre is most visited because of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, but there are many more things to do in this part of Paris, which has still not lost its village-like atmosphere. Perched on the top of a hill in the 18th arrondissement, with its cobbled streets, stunning Basilica, artists, bistros … Montmartre is full of charm… In the past, a favourite hangout for artists like Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh, to name a few, Montmartre has now grown increasingly popular because of great cafés, boutiques, and vintage stores around every corner.

How to reach Montmartre: the metro is the best way to reach the foothill. Get off at Anvers metro station, where we got off, which is actually the east side of the hill. Take rue de Steinkerque all the way to the park; stop or pick up coffee as there are numerous coffee shops en route. Walk past the Halle Saint Pierre; now you’re in front of the Sacré-Cœur, but you still have to go all the way up. 

Now, you have two options: you can take the Funiculaire de Montmartre, a nice cable car, or you can climb the stairs passing through the park . TIP- When with kids and a stroller and stuff, take the cable car without a second thought. Also, use the metro ticket for the funiculaire. Go a little early if you want to avoid more tourists. Montmartre is most visited because of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Sacre-Cœur was built between 1876 and 1912 to honour the victims of the Franco-Prussian War, using travertine limestone that’s designed to get whiter as it ages. The beautiful domes and the snow-white exterior are really impressive. At the foot of the basilica, you also get a phenomenal view of Paris. The inside of the Sacré-Cœur is a little dark but nonetheless beautiful. The golden ceiling painting just behind the dome is the first thing you notice. It is amazing; I got to know from a fellow tourist that it is one of the largest mosaics in the world.

The entry to the basilica is free, but entry to the Dome and the Crypt is chargeable at around 5–8 euros. Some 300 spiralling steps lead to the basilica’s dome, which offers Paris’ most spectacular panoramas.

From musicians performing on the steps to people picnicking on the hillside park to the view of the dove-white domes of the basilica of Montmartre, it is a different and beautiful experience. My daughter, who loves to dance, was enjoying swaying to the tunes of someone playing the violin or a guitar.

  To avoid tourist crowds or kids getting cranky, or sometimes with aged members in the group, there is a cute little white train that takes you around Montmartre. It’s called Le Petit Train de Montmartre, and if you have purchased the Paris Pass, it is free with it. While standing on the steps of Sacré-Cœur facing the Basilica, to your right is the Sinking House; this optical illusion is quite a delightful thing to see.

After witnessing the grandeur of the basilica, we decided to walk down the hill from the backside of the basilica. We reached a restaurant, L’Ete en Pente Douce. The terrace is lovely, and the food was also good; we reached just in time, as the lunch hours were going to be over.

This is what we could cover on foot in this beautiful small place with two small kids. Montmartre is actually rising above Paris’ panorama, and it is different from anywhere else in Paris. There are so many shops, beautiful buildings, and cafes in the town where you can easily spend half a day or even a full day if you have a good number of days to spend in Paris. Enjoy…..Merci