Montmartre and the single, middle aged woman

Ask yourself: Why do I want to stay in Montmartre?
Is it just for the budget?

Personally, Montmartre has never done too much for me. It's too touristy and it's out of the way (IMO). Try looking in the 14th arrondissement (Montparnasse/Alesia). It's very central, offers easy access to the airport (Les cars Air France), safe, and it's less touristy.

If you're already questioning your safety, why feed into that? Do more research and find a better fit for yourself.

Add my voice to Alexander's. His suggestion of looking around the Montparnasse area instead is sound.

IMO, Montmartre is fine for day's wandering, but I wouldn't want to use it as a base. It's just too inconveniently located. I also don't very much care for the neighbourhoods around it.

I also would find somewhere else to stay. Regarding the people trying to sell you things, you'll find them in lots of areas, but I found that the secret is -- don't look at them or what they are showing you, don't answer them, and just keep walking. They quickly wander off to find someone else. If someone gets more aggressive, a "no" that's loud enough to attract attention should work. It's time to forget about politeness.

I am sitting in an apartment in Montmartre as I type this. I don't know where this idea of Montmartre as a dangerous seedy area comes from. The area where I am which is west of Sacre Coeur and a bit on the back of the hill -- Rue Caulaincourt is upscale, full of elderly people and families with kids and I walk around here all the time without concerns. And I also walk a few blocks from here into the African and Algerian areas around Barbes and Chateau Rouge during the day time to shop at the markets and just wander around taking pictures and have never had difficulties.

I think women always have to pay attention when walking in any city alone in the evening -- but Monrmartre is an expensive part of Paris; it is charming; it is not teeming with thugs so far as I can see. I would not hesitate to stay here -- this is our third time, this time for a month. It does depend a bit on where of course which is true always when renting an apartment. We rented for a month in the Bastille area last time we were here and didn't enjoy the area nearly as much -- but that was our particular street not the whole area. I would not want to be near Place du Tertre which I regard as about the ugliest place in Paris but it gets charming very quickly when you get away from tourist hell.

Janet I agree mostly with your assessment, but then, you have usually travelled with your husband, it does feel a bit different when one is solo, during the evening( I note that even you qualified your comment with " in the daytime") .

My main issue with this area( because as you say there are nicer parts) is that it is simply not very central , especially for those on shorter visits of a week or two( you usually go for a month at a time at least don't you?)

I too suggest Nancy look at the 14th, I like that area also, especially if one can find a place closer to borders of the 5 the or 6th)

I agree that Montmartre is not central for a first tourist visit. And I also agree that the area near Montparnasse is a great area for a visitor. (not Alesia so much which I actually find more nervous making than Montmartre) is great) -- Montparnasse is both full of restaurants, and shops and well connected on foot and by metro with the rest of Paris. The 14th is a great arrondissement if you want to balance convenience and charm with being a bit out of the tourist track. The back side of Montmartre is also not very touristy but it is definitely not as central for transport.

I walk at night alone in Paris often. And yeah I'd probably not hang around Chateau Rouge at night alone but I'd not have any concern with the areas around Abbesses, Lamarck Caulaincourt etc. We once had an apartment on Rue Marcadet and I walked many blocks alone at night from the area around Abbesses to that area without concern.

Another thing about Montmartre is that it is hilly. Very, very hilly. If you have any issue with climbing stairs, you'll be sorry. You'll be planning to go someplace one street over, and find 4 flights of stairs in your way!

I agree, look at Montparnasse, maybe around the Vavin or Raspail Metros. I've stayed there and liked it quite a bit.

What guidebook says women walking alone in Montmartre in the evening will be harassed or uncomfortable? I think they were probably meaning as a woman when you are walking alone after a certain hour, you should just try to remain alert and aware of your surroundings - this is going to be the case for any area of Paris (or any other big city around the world)

Yes, there are a couple of "one-offs" in Montmartre that you should actively seek to avoid or at least keep your guard up (and this applies during the day - not just at night). In a tiny handful of streets immediately near one of the Metro stops there is a stretch of stores that sell souvenirs to tourists. If you accidentally find yourself walking down those particular blocks, expect to say "No" to a small minority of pushy salespeople - and keep walking. Near the base of the funicular to Sacre Couer, you may encounter a few of the friendship bracelet guys. They are very easy to spot, but some of them are pretty brazen and don't fully understand a very firm NO. Even though I never once broke stride, I had one that followed along side of me and tried to grab my wrist until I really ripped into him and then he slunk off to the next tourists. Don't be the genteel southern woman with these guys - they aren't trying to physically hurt you, but they are trying to get you to stand still for a minute so they can get a bracelet on you and then try to demand payment.

On the steps of Sacre Couer and over near the square where the artists hang around selling portraits and paintings to tourists, you will also find a handful of similar "actors" - petitions, deaf/mute girls, etc. Again, you will see them coming. There is nothing they hate more than someone who is very vocal and who draws attention to what they are up to. So if you do this, they just move on.

Some parts of Montmartre are adjacent to Pigalle. I don't find Pigalle to be particularly scary, but some people absolutely hate it as there are some pockets where you'll encounter strip clubs, a couple porn shops, etc. If those things make you uncomfortable, avoid staying somewhere that borders Pigalle.

That said, there are many other sections of Montmartre that are perfectly lovely. When you start walking away from the tourist draws, you will find parts where there are just a lot of nice restaurants, cafes and plenty of local businesses. Some sections are absolutely beautiful and very peaceful. But without knowing exactly where this apartment is that you are looking at, it's hard to say if you are in one of those sections, or if you are right near tourist central.

While it can be a very pretty area, it can also be quite hilly around there (think San Francisco and make sure you have a decent fitness level when it comes to walking a lot). If you focus on the arrondissements that are in the double digits, you will likely get more space for your Euro in terms of apartment rentals - but remember that some of your savings will be offset by the amount of money (and time) you are going to spend in transit to get to the tourist sites in the single digit neighborhoods.

I really like parts of the 10th and find it great to stay as I get more space for the money and many areas are full of both white and blue collar locals just going about their lives, so the stores and restaurants seems to keep some of their prices lower. It's not everyone's cup of tea - some people get very nervous if they have to use one of the big train stations like Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est in the 10th.

Bottom line, stay wherever you feel it makes the most sense for you from your budget and preferences.

I think some of us assume that others have no problem telling one pocket area from another ie: comments about " avoid streets or area such and such metro station" and it will be fine..

First time visitors, on shorter visits often do not have luxury of time to learn areas well..so while almost every single arrondissement has areas that are good and great, a very few do have a few areas or streets that are less then lovely, its easy to just stay in an arrondissement where you can wander around and get lost and not wander into a " grittier" area, especially as a solo female on first visit.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but take a look at one of Paris Best Lodge's apartments - Studio Saint Germain. It is a studio, but does have a queen bed and is in one of my favorite parts of Paris. It is 700 euro per week.

Like others have said, I enjoy visiting Montmartre, but I wouldn't want to stay there because it's just not close enough to the places I want to go to. I like walking to places, rather than constantly having to take a bus or metro.

Thanks to whomever mentioned the hills. That ended up being the deciding factor on not staying in Montmartre. I haven't decided yet exactly where, but it won't be every day up and down the hill.