Sacre Coeur

Most common way to get there is the Abbesses Metro stop and from there the funicular up the hill.

Thanks Susan puts the old mind to rest.

You get points just for spelling it right... :)

You can also wind your way up the streets to Sacre Coeur. Walking the "front entrance" up the steps is daunting, and the streets can be steep, but it's a nice historic and artistic walk if you wind around. I have a walking tour if you want it. Just pm me.

Once you get there, climb up to the top of the Dome. This is one of the best views you will get of Paris and very few tourists do this climb. You actually look down on the Eiffel Tower. This was one of our highlights of Paris.

Just FYI, you need an additional/separate metro ticket for the funicular. When you get off the metro at Abbesses,there will be signs pointing you in the right direction.

I'm confused. I've used the Anvers Metro stop numerous times, has its name been changed? Yes, the climb up is interesting, but you need to be in good health/shape, it is fairly strenuous. Would suggest early ascension.....cooler and better light for photos. Still think climb up Notre Dame might be a little nicer, but......S.C. Is never crowded climbing the towers, no lines like N.D. Thank you Susan, I just reviewed metro map, I see the metro stop you mentioned. Since I generally stay in Rue Cler, this looks like a better way to go.

The young man working the front desk of our hotel advised us to take the Metro to Place Clichy stop, go to Rue Caulincourt past the Montmart cemetary and turn left up to Rue du Mont and turn right approaching Sacre Coeur from behind. We went through Parisian neighborhoods missing all of the tourist schlock. The walk was about 20 minutes from the Metro. IMHO, missing the tourist stuff made the excursion nicer. Buon viaggio,

Thanks all for your input- will probably take Metro to Abbesses and funicular to the top and work our way around the neighbourhood after in search of a café to relax and enjoy the area.

If you walk down the way I suggested you will pass a nice looking cafe called Marcel, which will be on the left next to a really neat side street. The cafe is nice, the food was good, but the two waitresses were the RUDEST people we encountered during our five day stay in Paris. So...keep walking and stop somewhere else. Buon viaggio,

Abbesses and the funicular is the easiest and quickest way to get to Sacre Coeur but there are plenty of other options. From the Pigalle stop there's a special shuttle for SC.. but the Pigalle area - where the Moulin Rouge is - is really scuzzy and depressing imo, I would avoid it.. and the shuttle is usually jam packed. There are many other Metro stops you can walk from but the routes will be longer. There are many stops to walk from that are much closer than the Place de Clichy stop.. wonder why that one was recommended to you RB. Other closer stops would be just as scenic and enjoyable imo.

If you walk up from Chateau Rouge (Metro 4) it's an easy walk up the gentle eastern slope, but there's a flight of stairs at the top of Rue Muller.

Someone raised an interesting question about why we took the Place Clichy Metro stop. When we asked the hotel guy the best way to go to Sacre Coeur that was the direction he gave us. It was interesting walking up the slight grade through a very nice Parisian neighborhood. Not knowing anything different we followed his suggestion. Buon viaggio,

I don't know the guy who wrote this, but he's hit the nail on the head. This is a complete guide which includes all the sights/sites on the hill. http://www.aparisguide.com/montmartre/ It's the journey up that's more intersting than what's on top. The Place du Tertre on top is a tourist trap zoo. It's good for buying a souvenir painting from some good but unrecognized artists. The Basilica is so-so, late 19th C. , but as someone said the view from the tower is worth the climb. Start at metro Blanche and enjoy the walk up. This route takes you past a lot of shops, cafes and restaurants where the people who live on the hill shop. Yeh, it can get steep as you walk up past the windmill, but just slow down and enjoy. Some of the best bakeries are along this route. The person who said to go up the back side (near the vineyard and the Lapin Agile) was right too if you want something easier, as was Ed who suggested the east side. If you just want to go to the top fast, then Abbess to the funicular is the express route.

The problem with the Sacre Coeur nowadays is the incredibly aggressive beggars who constantly hassle anyone who isn't walking at high speed. It's a great view but you will seriously spend all your time telling them to get lost.

By the way, as long as you are up there you might want to visit the Musee de Montmartre. It is small but interesting and won't take too much of your time.

I was there at Sacre Coeur two years ago in the summer. True, it's swamped with aggresseive panhandlers. You just have to assume an aggressive stance yourself. Metro Blanche struck me as more scuzzy than the rest in that area.

To minimize problems with street "vendors": spot them first and don't walk near them; avoid eye contact; keep moving; don't bother being polite (just say no).

Don't go up on a Fri evening - the amount of broken beer/wine bottles was disheartening, as well as the people drinking. We did get to see an 'amazing transformation' of an older gentleman from perfectly healthy to kneeling and looking like he had a palsy as he started his evening begging. Don't let the friendship bracelet guys put one on your arm, and avoid eye contact with the gadget sellers, unless you want what they are selling...

Will be going in the day time-mid morning. Does not sound to be a great area but have come up against pickpockets and gypsies before. Just want to experience the view and will go in the evening to see the Eiffel. Thanks to all of you for your input.

We went to the Anvers stop and then walked up. It was worth it for the view, despite the Roma and/or scammers. My husband is fluent in French so he was able to tell people off if need be. It's best to be prepared for these eventualities and just suck it up. I agree that parts of Montmartre are a tourist trap, but there are cool things to see once you pass Sacre Coeur, regardless. It's what I'd call a quite a scene. If you are prepared to deal with that, then it's not too bothersome. It's just a different slice of Paris than what you get closer to the Seine, say. May not be for everyone!

Actually it is a great area. But it attracts tourists, and the tourists attract the pickpockets and beggars. One Sunday I came out of Abbesses stop to meet up with a Paris Walks tour. The church bells were ringing, the sun was shining, and there was a small market in the square. A temporary petting zoo had goats and pigs and chickens, and little kids playing with them. People were having their Sunday brunch in the cafes. The tour took us up around the back of the butte, and we came up to Sacre Coeur from the back. You can follow maps and do the same on your own.

Be sitting on the steps a half hour before sunrise. You will have seen the best of the city.

I also did the Paris Walks tour of Montmartre which was very interesting and informative. It starts at the Abbesses metro stop and walks up to Sacre Coeur, a good way to get there and learn a lot about Montmartre on the way. I recommend it.

I personally loved Sacre coeur and area around it. It was lively & fun. I was in Paris in April and we spent an afternoon/early evening there. We had dinner at a restaurant across the street from the artists square area and I had escargot for the first time. I did not care for the area near Moulin Rouge though but we did have to walk down & get our obligatory picture!

All the mentions of Paris Walks remind me. I didn't do a Paris Walk of Montmartre, but I did a self-guided tour (I forget if it was RS or Lonely Planet) and learned a lot. I think that adds to the enjoyment of the area, because you could pass a little building and not realize otherwise that Picasso or whoever lived there.