Why go

The Sacré-Cœur crowns the highest point in Paris, and the view from its steps is one of the great free sights of the city. Built between 1875 and 1914 in a Romano-Byzantine style that still divides opinion, the basilica’s white travertine stays bright in all weathers. Around it spreads Montmartre, the hilltop village where Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso and Van Gogh lived and worked, and where steep lanes, steps and vines still give it the feel of a place apart.

It is a working sanctuary as well as a landmark. Prayer continues day and night, Masses are held several times a day, and the interior is far calmer than the crowds on the steps outside suggest. The terrace in front of the basilica faces south over the whole city, and on a clear day you can pick out the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon and the towers of La Défense without climbing a single step more.

What to see

  • The apse mosaic. Above the choir, one of the largest mosaics in the world shows Christ with his arms open.
  • The dome. Around 300 narrow steps lead to a 360-degree panorama, higher even than the steps outside.
  • Place du Tertre. Painters and portrait artists still fill the little square, a few minutes’ walk from the basilica.
  • The Montmartre vineyard. The Clos Montmartre on Rue des Saules is harvested each autumn.
  • The Wall of Love. In Square Jehan-Rictus near Abbesses, “I love you” is written in hundreds of languages.

Plan your visit

The basilica is open every day of the year from 6.30am to 10.30pm, and until midnight on the first Thursday of each month. Entry is free and there is nothing to book. Between about 10.30am and 5pm you may wait 10 to 15 minutes to get in, so early morning or evening is the best time.

The dome is a separate visit, entered from outside the basilica after the security check. It opens daily from 10.15am to 5.30pm, with last admission at 5pm, and closes for a break around midday and in bad weather. Tickets cost €8 for adults and €5 for children up to 15, and are sold on site only. There is no lift and no toilet on the way up, so it is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility or a fear of confined spaces.

To reach the hill, take Metro line 2 to Anvers and walk up through Square Louise-Michel. The steps are steep; the funicular alongside them takes a standard Metro ticket. Abbesses on line 12, with its Art Nouveau entrance, is the best station for the village side.

The main organ is being restored until the end of May 2027, so services use the choir organ for now. Beware of hustlers on the steps who tie “friendship bracelets” on wrists and then ask for money.

Nearby

Walk down through Montmartre to Abbesses and Rue Lepic, past the Moulin de la Galette, and on to the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clichy. The Musée de Montmartre, in Renoir’s old studio, tells the story of the village and its artists, and its gardens are a peaceful stop.