Top 8 Montmartre tours in Paris

Montmartre is Paris' most picturesque neighbourhood, filled with bohemian artists, cafés and the dominant Sacré Coeur Basilica on the hill. Are you ready to fall in love with Montmartre?

Verónica Álvarez

Verónica Álvarez

9 min read

Top 8 Montmartre tours in Paris

Cafe en Paris | ©Marloes Hilckmann

If you've been to Paris and haven't visited Montmartre, you haven't really been to Paris. The Montmartre neighbourhood is so emblematic and so closely linked to the idiosyncrasies of Parisians that to be able to say you know Paris you must know Montmartre.

Of all the things to do in Paris, visiting the charming Montmartre neighbourhood is one of the most important. The unmistakable Sacré Coeur Basilica, the artists showing their talent on the old cobblestone streets, the excellent gastronomy, the garden spaces and above all the village atmosphere in the middle of the city, are things you have to see and feel to understand the charm of Montmartre. In the following tours you will be able to vibrate to the rhythm of Montmartre.

1. Guided tour of Montmartre with a visit to the Pink House

Pink house on the corner| ©RawColor
Pink house on the corner| ©RawColor

In this tour you will visit the main places of Montmartre, starting from the famous cabaret, you can know how is a showin the Moulin Rouge to visit it later if you are interested. There you will start your tour, where your guide will tell you the history and little known details of the Moulin Rouge.

During this tour, you will also visit, besides the Sacré Coeur, "the pink house", just behind the Basilica, one of the most frequented places by Picasso when he lived in this neighbourhood. You can also see the vineyards of Montmartre and if you want you can commission your portrait from one of the many artists who paint in the open air in the Place du Tertre. This tour is ideal for first time visitors to Montmartre as it gives you the opportunity to see all the highlights and then explore further on your own if you wish.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 18 euros per person.
  • Duration: about 2 hours.
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: it is in English.
  • Disadvantages: time may not be enough to see the most important sights.

Book a tour of Montmartre

2. Montmartre Walking Tour: The best art in the footsteps of Lautrec

windmill behind the tree| ©Didier B
windmill behind the tree| ©Didier B

On this tour, you will also walk through the main part of the neighbourhood and see the only two windmills that still exist in Montmartre.

You will learn about the life of the famous painters who lived in this neighbourhood. You will follow in Lautrec's footsteps, through the steep streets up to the Basilica, walking through little streets and squares while listening to your guide tell you interesting facts about the area. You will visit some of the places that inspired some of the world's most famous artists.

You will pass by the Café des 2 moulins where part of the film Amelie was filmed and you will also visit the only vineyard in Paris.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 38 euros per person.
  • Duration: about 2 hours.
  • Means of transport: this is a walking tour.
  • Advantages of this option: you will see the windmills that still exist in Montmartre.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is in English.

Book a private tour of Monmartre and the Sacre Coeur

3. Gastronomic tour of Paris: Gastronomy and French History

Restaurant entrance photo| ©HPRG Les Hôtels Paris Riv
Restaurant entrance photo| ©HPRG Les Hôtels Paris Riv

This tour is more gastronomic oriented, you can choose between the Latin Quarter or Montmartre. This is a gourmet tour of the main culinary highlights of Montmartre.

Your guide will explain the secrets of Parisian gastronomy, its history and philosophy that make it different from the rest. You will also learn about the best seasonal products, where to buy them and how to preserve them. The tour includes tastings.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 114 euros per person.
  • Duration: around 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: includes tastings and is in English.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it only focuses on the gastronomy of Montmartre.

4. Private Vintage Tour: Sidecar Motorcycle Ural Paris

couple on motorbike| ©pivapao
couple on motorbike| ©pivapao

This is a private motorbike tour, where you will ride through the highlights of Paris, including Montmartre. As this is a private tour, it is just for you and your group, so the guides will be at your disposal.

You will hear amusing anecdotes, as you ride through the streets of Paris in a different way. There is so much to see and do in Montmartre, with this tour you will get an overview and then go on your own to the places that are best to see in depth, such as the Basilica, for example.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from approximately 133 euros per person.
  • Duration: about 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: sidecar.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a different way of touring Montmartre.
  • Disadvantages of this option: not available in English.

Book a sidecar tour of Paris

5. Private guided walking tour: Montmartre, including inside the Sacré-Coeur

Entrance to Van Gogh's house| ©Tom Flemming
Entrance to Van Gogh's house| ©Tom Flemming

On this private tour, your personal guide will take you to see not only the most famous sights of Montmartre, but also hidden, off the beaten track places such as the houses of artists like Van Gogh and Picasso.

This tour includes a guided visit inside the Sacré Coeur Basilica, unlike other tours where you have to do the visit on your own at the end of the tour. The guide will tell you all the important details of the Sacre Coeur Basilica.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 85 euros per person.
  • Duration: approximately 2 hours and a half.
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a private tour, just for you and your group. It is in Spanish.
  • Disadvantages: time is short for everything there is to see.

Book a private tour of Monmartre and the Sacre Coeur

6. Private Tour: Personal Travel Photographer's Tour of Paris

Photographer watching the camera| ©Chan360
Photographer watching the camera| ©Chan360

This is a private photo tour where a personal photographer will be your guide and will take photos of you and your group which will then be available for free download. As this is a private tour, the guide is only for you and your companions. The usual tour includes Montmartre, among other points of interest such as the Eiffel Tower, you can book your tickets to the Eiffel Tower as they are not included in the tour price.

It is a customisable tour where you can say which places you prefer to visit, so if you want it to be a photo tour exclusively in Montmartre, you can request it to your guide.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from approximately 190 euros per person.
  • Duration: from 1 to 3 hours depending on the number of stops you intend to make.
  • Means of transport: on foot, but you may need to travel by public transport (tickets are not included).
  • Advantages of this option: it is a private and customisable tour, you will have hundreds of beautiful photos taken by a professional.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not available in English.

7. French bistro style food and wine tasting tour of Montmartre

people eating| ©Anne Corr
people eating| ©Anne Corr

This is a tour that no foodie should miss. You'll tour different cafés, bistros and restaurants typical of Montmartre, tasting their delicious specialities. New gastronomic trends are often born in bistros (the French version of brasseries) and then spread. Montmartre is the district where many of these bistros are located, in an attempt to democratise French haute cuisine by making it accessible to all.

During your tour, you will stop in some of Montmartre's best-known bistros and bars, as well as some that are still hidden gems. You'll taste delicious dishes and excellent wines (tastings are included in the price) while your guide tells you all about the latest trends and anecdotes about the neighbourhood.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 122 euros per person approximately.
  • Duration: around 1.5 to 2 hours.
  • Means of transport: it is a walking tour.
  • Advantages of this option: Tastings are included in the price.
  • Disadvantages of this option: not available in English.

8. Paris: Customisable private tour

Boy standing in restaurant| ©Gilles Letang
Boy standing in restaurant| ©Gilles Letang

This tour is completely customizable, with no pre-established itinerary, you and your groups will decide together with the guide which places to visit, so it can become the ideal tour of Montmartre.

Your local and private guide (only for you and your group) will take you to the places that catch your attention, so you can visit Montmartre focusing on your interests, you can make a tour, historical, cultural, gastronomic or all of them combined. A must on your itinerary is the Place du Tertre, the heart of bohemian Montmartre.

There you can buy paintings by artists who, although still unknown, may become stars in the future. Remember that Picasso, Dalí and Van Gogh painted in the same square.

Interesting details of this option

  • Price: from 47 euros per person.
  • Duration: from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the itinerary.
  • Means of transport: this is a walking tour, if you need public transport you will have to pay for the tickets as they are not included in the price of the tour.
  • Advantages of this option: you are the one who organises the itinerary and it is in Spanish.

Book a personalised private tour

How do I book a tour of Montmartre?

two girls looking at the tablet| © Brooke Cagle
two girls looking at the tablet| © Brooke Cagle

The best way to book your Montmartre tour is to do it online when you are organising your trip. You should choose the best time to visit Paris according to the type of trip you intend to make and the places you want to visit and when you have decided that and start creating the schedule of visits, the best thing to do is to check the tours that are available for those places online.

Companies that specialise in selling package tours, excursions and experiences have a wide range of options. You can book anything from traditional tours to gastronomic experiences, you name it! You will have the advantage of paying by credit or debit card. At the hotel counter, you won't have as many options and if you book the tour directly with the guide, he/she will probably only accept cash payment.

One of the most important advantages is the availability of the chosen date, if you book online in advance, you are assured of the date you selected, but if you wait to book the tour when you arrive in Paris, it is likely that you will not have an immediate date and you will have to alter your itinerary.

Is it better to do a Montmartre tour on my own or with a guide?

people gathering in the street| ©Bernie Almanzar
people gathering in the street| ©Bernie Almanzar

If it's your first visit to Paris, you 'll want to do the Montmartre tour with a local guide who knows the area well. This way you will know which are the most important places in Montmartre and how to get to them. This rule applies to all the best Paris tours, which help you get to know the city and give you the chance to return on your own.

Guided tours also show you some hidden gems that are not easy to find on your own. The content of the Montmartre excursions deserves a special mention: the guides who take you around the neighbourhood know anecdotes and interesting facts that you won't find in books, which only personal experience can give you. So make the most of it and hire a guided tour of Montmartre to enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Tips for a tour of Montmartre

People walking in front of the Eiffel Tower| © Pascal Bernardon
People walking in front of the Eiffel Tower| © Pascal Bernardon
  • Remember to** bring your** camera.

  • You will be walking a lot, so wear comfortable shoes.

  • If you visit Montmartre in summer, bring sunscreen and a hat, there is a lot to see outdoors.

  • Book your tour early, they sell out quickly.

  • When booking, choose reputable companies and read reviews from previous customers.