Visiting Paris the Montmarte area

Very interesting area to wander around in. Get to the little streets behind Sacre Couer and you will think you are back in the 1950s. There used to be a vineyard which we would always find in our wandering. Obviously Sacre Couer. We always spend more than a few minutes at the top of the Montmartre stairs looking down and across to paris at your feet. Get away from the very concentrated bustling fake artist square (forgot the name)and it has a completely peacful feel.
More for atmosphere than sights

the cathedral is nice and you can walk around the square where articsts gather and paint pictures maybe a little crowded on weekend. you can also walk to the mouline rouge and surrouding areas for pics. it's not very central, but by metro it's not far from other big attractions.

The Rick Steves book would detail this much better than I could - if you can go to a Library and check his Paris book and take a look at what he recommends for this area. But without that at hand I will add my two cents. Of course you want to start at Sacré Coeur church. Take a look around. Avoid all the crappy tourist shops selling stuff and make sure you avoid the guys on the steps trying to braid a braclet on your wrist and then demanding 10 euro (I sadly did not - shame i have not yet lived down). After you tour the Sacre Coeur - RS has a walking tour of the area where you can see where all the famous artist used to live (Picasso, Renoir and others). Interesting and a nice walk (maybe two stars). We just happened to stop for lunch at the exact restaurant that Amelie is filmed in - what a treat! If you haven't seen that movie, I would and then eat there if you can find it. I wouldn't recommend Pig Alley unless you have a facination with rows of Sex Shops. It didn't do much for me. And I didn't do a show at the Moulin Rouge - I heard it wasn't worth the expense. At the top you can find the square where all the artist are selling their paintings. Nice place to buy a crepe and walk around. I did go in the Dali museum though and I thought it was really expensive for what it was. I want to say it was like 20 Euro a person and it was not that good. Reading back what I wrote, it seems like I don't like Montmarte and I will say I left there feeling like I missed something that eveyone else seems to love - so to anyone else...please chime in. I want to go back to that general area and instead tour the famous cemetary and the Opera house. I haven't seen those two things but they are both my top priority when I go back to Paris.

Montmartre has a pretty big music club scene for young people. Not on top, but on the streets leading up. Also, a lot of artists still live in the area and have studios. There are hidden gardens and parks where the locals go, which you can find listed in books about "Secret Paris". The Marche St. Pierre at the foot of Montmartre, the fabric market, has everything from around the world. Oh, and the Museum of Eroticism is near the Moulin Rouge theater.

I don't know the date of your visit but Paris Walks does a great 2 hour walking tour of the area. The walk is lead by an English speaking transplant who covers the highlights - tres knowledgeable and humorous. Enjoy!!!

I will be in Montmarte on one of the April's weekend. Very great info here, thanks! Reading from what Amy said, it seems that it's possible to walk from Sacre Coeur to Moulin Rouge and Pigalle area, is that true? Probably will do that in the evening around 8-9 pm :)

Montmartre is on top of the hill, there are broad stairs and a trolley/cable car to Pigalle which is about half way down the hill- probably 30 yards????? not far at all.

I feel I must chime in - Amy's reply puts me in mind of how I've felt about Montmartre in the past. There is quite a bit to AVOID. Having tried it every time I have been in Paris, I finally got the swing of things last spring. R and I took a cab right to Sacre Coeur, poked our heads in for about 10 minutes (it is gorgeous from outside, but not particularly old or lovely inside) spent a dreamy half hour leaning on the fence and staring out over the city (eventually, the crowds don't seem to impinge any more) and then set to walking downhill via back streets. I recommend the back streets HIGHLY (as does Rick!). By walking away from the tourist crush and into the 'hood, we ran across Moulin de la Galette (the "other" surviving windmill, festooned with wisteria), a delightful little park with a bronze of a male figure bursting out of a brick wall, and a charming little local art hour cinema, among many other low-key, characteristic, and non-touristy treats. The big trick is to avoid the vendors, hawkers, and itinerant "portrait painters" who infest the touristy streets at the top of the hill. I also recommend getting there very, very early. You'll have the place much more to yourselves.