Montmartre Private Walking Tour: Van Gogh's Streets & Sacré-Cœur

Winding streets, artists' studios, a hidden vineyard, and views from the city's highest point

A 90-minute private walking tour of Montmartre in Paris led by an English-speaking local guide, covering the I Love You Wall, historic Rue des Abbesses, the Moulin de la Galette windmill, Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Place du Tertre. The guide shares the neighborhood's bohemian history and offers tips for self-guided exploration of the basilica interior, which is free to enter. The route navigates hills and narrow streets but includes no stairs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Montmartre's art and culture

• Visit the I Love You Wall
• Walk along Rue des Abbesses
• See the Bateau-Lavoir artists' residence
• View the Moulin de la Galette windmill
• Spot the man walking through a wall sculpture
• See the bronze bust of singer Dalida
• Photo stop at the pink house cafe
• Visit the Montmartre vineyard
• Enjoy views from Sacré-Cœur Basilica
• Stroll around Place du Tertre square
• End at La Bonne Franquette restaurant

The experience

Start at the I Love You Wall, a small art installation in a Montmartre square where the phrase appears in over 300 languages. From there, your guide leads you through the winding streets that shaped the neighborhood's artistic legacy: past the Moulin de la Galette, the windmill Renoir and Van Gogh painted, and along Rue des Abbesses, one of the oldest streets in the area, lined with cafés and boutiques that still carry the bohemian character of Montmartre's past. You'll pass the Bateau-Lavoir, the artists' residence where Picasso, Modigliani and Braque worked, and see the whimsical sculpture of a man walking through a wall, inspired by a Marcel Aymé story.

The tour climbs to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, perched at the highest point in Paris. Your guide explains the 19th-century architecture and white domes, and if the basilica is open, you're free to explore the interior on your own afterward, entry is free. From the basilica, you move to Place du Tertre, the lively square at the heart of Montmartre's artistic spirit, where painters and caricaturists set up daily and cozy terraces fill the edges. The tour ends at La Bonne Franquette, a historic restaurant once frequented by Van Gogh and Monet, where you can linger over a meal or coffee.

Along the way, you'll see the pink house that served as a café and gathering spot for Picasso and Utrillo, and Clos Montmartre, the small vineyard established in 1933 to preserve the neighborhood's winemaking heritage. The route involves navigating hills and narrow, sometimes busy streets, but no stairs. An experienced local guide in English leads the entire 90 minutes, so you get the neighborhood's stories without building the itinerary yourself.

What’s included

• Experienced local private guide in English.
• 90-minute walking tour of Montmartre covering the I Love You Wall, Rue des Abbesses, the Moulin de la Galette, Bateau-Lavoir, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Place du Tertre and Clos Montmartre vineyard.
• tips for self-guided exploration of the basilica interior (entry is free when open).

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs every day, 5 start times, from € 115 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 09:30, 10:30, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate11 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by ExperienceFirst

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows Montmartre's bohemian history and can point out the streets and studios that shaped Van Gogh, Picasso and other artists, rather than walking the neighborhood on your own and missing the connections between the places. The fixed 90-minute route and English-speaking guide mean you move at a steady pace through the hills without stopping to navigate or plan.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4).

What is the I Love You Wall and why is it in Montmartre?

The I Love You Wall is a poetic art installation in a small square in Montmartre displaying the phrase "I Love You" written in over 300 languages. It's one of the first stops on the tour and marks the beginning of your walk through the neighborhood.

Can I go inside Sacré-Cœur Basilica during the tour?

The tour passes by the exterior of Sacré-Cœur Basilica and your guide shares tips on what to see inside. Entry is free, and you're welcome to explore the basilica on your own after the tour ends if it's open.

What is the Moulin de la Galette and why does it matter?

The Moulin de la Galette is a historic windmill that appears in paintings by Renoir and Van Gogh. Once a popular dance hall, it's now a beloved symbol of Montmartre's artistic past and a key stop on the walking route.

Does the tour include a meal or stop at a restaurant?

The tour ends at La Bonne Franquette, a historic restaurant once frequented by Van Gogh and Monet, but the meal itself is not included. You can choose to stay and dine there after the tour concludes.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The route navigates hills and narrow, sometimes busy streets, but includes no stairs. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though the operator recommends booking only if you feel confident walking comfortably for 90 minutes on uneven terrain.

Who was the Bateau-Lavoir and what happened there?

The Bateau-Lavoir was an artists' residence that housed legends like Picasso, Modigliani and Braque, who revolutionized modern art while living and working there. Your guide will point it out and explain its role in Montmartre's creative history.