Should we go to Montmartre?

I like Montmartre, always having been mesmerised by the exotic white fantasy of the Sacre Coeur Basilica.
Yes, there are a lot of undesirable people around, so exercise caution, perhaps going first thing in the morning.
Make use of the funicular, cutting out 300 steps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eY7-eLadEc

I agree with David about using the funicular to save steps. He's also right about going early in the day if you can, but that's as much about avoiding crowds as avoiding pickpockets. Good advice for any heavily visited site.

Pickpocketing is much more of an issue in Paris than in US cities, and not confined to Montmartre. Use money belts, cross-body purses, and similar strategies you can read about here. Be especially alert in train and Metro stations, lines for the Eiffel Tower (and the tower itself), and other places where lots of people congregate like around the Sacre Coeur and Place du Tertre. But Montmartre is a big neighborhood beyond those particular locations, and it would be a shame to miss it just because of pickpocket risks in a few areas. If we let pickpockets deter us from going to some of the best places, then the pickpockets win, don't they? ;-)

I had been to Montmartre when I was much younger but this trip I wasn't sure I was up for all the hill walking. I took the Paris Walks walking tour of Montmartre and that was a good way to do it. It's still a bit of walking but because it's a group they went slow enough to accommodate everyone. I got a lot out of it because the guide was so interesting and took us to streets I might not have gone to otherwise. Tour ended at Sacre Coeur and it's all downhill from there. Most likely you won't have problems with pickpockets or scammers around Sacre Coeur if you are forewarned and stay aware of what's going on around you.

If you want them to see Montmartre, but want to limit the amount of walking that they need to do, you could consider doing a private tour of that neighborhood by car. 4 Roues sous 1 Parapluies has an option where you can get a driver and have a custom tour of Paris by a 2CV Citroen car. I believe Viator offers similar 2CV Citroen car tours.

If that's out of the budget, consider taking taxis or buses where you can. Once you are up around Sacre Couer, there are a number of streets that are fairly flat which you could stick to, then get yourself another taxi if you want to just see other parts that will be too tiring for your parents.

The Paris Metro can also be a great deal of walking underground and climbing up and down stairs which can tire out older travelers. Also, if you go to Pere Lachaise, make sure that you start from the back of the cemetery (not the main entrance in the front) so you walk downhill rather than uphill if you are with your parents.

If you are really concerned about the pickpockets targeting your parents because they are old, then take precautions and you carry the bulk of their cash and credit cards in a money belt for them. The pickpockets, naturally, don't like to draw attention to themselves. It's the scammers that are more annoying around the major tourist sites, but especially around Montmartre. They seem to really like hanging around the area between the Paris Metro stations and the base of the funicular, as well as up at Sacre Couer on the stairs. The "friendship bracelet" guys can be particularly aggressive as they are hoping you slow down long enough for them to slap some string on your wrist. Don't try to be polite with these guys if they are trying to get ahold of you or your parents wrist. You'll also see the 3 card monty dealers, petition girls with clipboards, and the ones who pretend they are deaf/mute. None of it is a reason to avoid going to Montmartre or any other major site. Just make sure your parents are aware of it all in advance so they aren't stopping to engage with any of these pests.

The best places to get pickpocked are the Louvre or the Orsay or Notre Dame -- Montmartre is not more dangerous for this -- any crowded touristy spot and public transport are all high risk areas. Your parents won't get picked if they don't have valuables in pockets including a wallet. So be pickpocket proof and don't worry about it.

The areas where scammers bug people are the plaza at the foot of Sacre Coeur and the steps up to the church. And the the road up towards this area from the Anvers metro is particularly ugly with three card monte etc -- I just avoid those areas.

Montmartre in some parts is very charming; it is also steep and full of stairs. I would go to Blanche on the metro and get a ride on the tiny train that winds up to Sacre Coeur. This is a private tourist thing not public transport but it is fun and does go through some of the pretty streets including my favorite areas on Rue Caulaincourt. You can take it up to Sacre Coeur, enjoy the view and then catch a later train back down.

Or you could take the train to Lamarck Caulaincourt and take the elevator to the surface then turn right and walk up the gradual street to the right which intersects with Caulaincourt; you could then turn right onto Caulaincourt then left at Avenue Junot and wander up the hill towards Sacre Coeur. This is fairly gentle and again goes through lovely streets including by the little park with the statue of the man walking through the wall and a couple of parks.

It is not a 'must' -- nothing is -- but it is a lovely part of town.

I went with my wife in October and we walked from the metro stop up to Sacre Coeur and had nice views of the areas below as well as the landscaping,we took our time walking up to the Church,we are in our 70s.We enjoyed the area,it is crowded so be aware of your surroundings and the Metro as others have stated.
Mike

Hi,

Some very good advice and accurate observations here of the way scammers operate in Montmarte...the string scam, the thimble game, etc. Don't even bother to stop to observe...that's what they want, ie to distract your attention. Totally ignore them, don't worry if you forget your manners. Remember "they" are trying to play you for a sucker. If you see an "outsider" pointing to the correct thimble, it's rigged, like playing with a marked deck. That "outsider" is a plant, one of them. Notice the ethnicity of the "outsider"

I just spent a month in Montmartre, am in my 70s and walked for miles; I did not encounter a single scammer or pickpocket the entire time and also walked into the African and Algerian areas near Chateau Rouge for the interesting markets. Regret not buying a roasted lambs head at a little butcher shop in that quarter and then couldn't find it again -- it smelled heavenly but I was unsure about how to actually eat the thing. 6 Euro for a hot roasted lamb head. As an old lady wandering around these areas alone, I was never hassled once and bought several interesting fruits I have never seen before as well as wonderful Algerian dates. If you are someone who sews, which I am not, there were many shops with just stunning African fabrics. Montmartre, particularly on the back side of the hill is lovely. Much of it has high priced real estate and many ex pats. There is a little tourist hell around Anvers on the front side and Place du Tertre at the top near Sacre Coeur but much of the rest is relatively untouristed and beautiful.

The Museum of Montmartre is a wonderful place you and your parents may like. Very peaceful. It is next door to the vineyard and more on the back side of Montmartre which is a lovely area. I agree with Janet.

We were in Montmarte last week and is worth visiting. The views are great!. If you do take the Metro to the Abbesses stop, there is an elevator right after you get off the train up to ground level. Little did we know that the elevator bypassed a LOT of steps up a circular stairwell to ground level. But once at ground level, it's a level walk to the funicular. Once off the funicular, there are still quite a few steps, but you can just take your time. Or maybe take a taxi and getting dropped off near the church and then you can walk to the square, then walk down to the funicular.

All of these suggestions are helpful, it is sounding like Montmartre is well worth a visit, and that with a few strategies we can avoid a lot of steep climbing and stress (pick-pockets and scammers). Any other accessible sites that we should think about seeing in Montmartre? Thank you very much!