Best for
Every visitor to Montmartre, view-seekers, photographers
Time needed
1–2 hours including the dome climb
Worth it?
Yes — free basilica entry and one of the best views in the city
Skip if
You've already climbed a comparable Paris viewpoint and are very short on time
About Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur was conceived in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War and the bloody suppression of the 1871 Paris Commune, funded largely through public and Catholic Church subscription as a national act of penance and dedication. Construction began in 1875 to designs by architect Paul Abadie, who won the competition partly for a design deliberately distinct from Notre-Dame's Gothic style, drawing instead on Romano-Byzantine influences with domes rather than spires; the basilica was finally consecrated in 1919, after being delayed by WWI.
The building's brilliant white travertine stone, quarried from Château-Landon, has a distinctive self-cleaning property that reacts with rainwater to bleach the surface, keeping the basilica gleaming white more than a century after construction rather than dulling like most Parisian limestone.
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Inside, one of the largest mosaics in the world, Christ in Majesty, covers the apse ceiling; the crypt below holds the basilica's relics and treasury. But the real draw for most visitors is outside: Montmartre's hill puts the basilica's forecourt at one of the highest natural viewpoints in Paris, and a further climb of roughly 300 steps to the dome adds a genuinely wide panoramic view over the entire city, rivalling the Eiffel Tower's second floor for reach if not for height.
The basilica itself is free to enter; only the dome climb charges admission, and getting there involves either a steep uphill walk through Montmartre's streets or the funicular railway from the base of the hill, which uses standard Metro tickets.
What to See: Highlights
- 1One of the widest panoramic views over Paris, from Montmartre's highest point
- 2Self-cleaning white travertine stone that stays bright over a century on
- 3Christ in Majesty, one of the world's largest apse mosaics
- 4A free-to-enter basilica interior
- 5The funicular railway up Montmartre's hill, included with a standard Metro ticket
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Insider Tips
The basilica interior is free — only the dome climb charges admission
Take the funicular if you'd rather not climb the hill's steep streets
Go early morning or at sunset to avoid the heaviest tourist crowds
Combine with a walk to nearby Place du Tertre
Dress modestly — it remains an active place of worship
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Getting There
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris
Open in Google Maps →- 1Metro 2 to Anvers, then the funicular (standard Metro ticket) or a steep walk up. Metro 12 to Abbesses also works, followed by a walk through Montmartre.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want one of the widest panoramic views over Paris
- You're exploring Montmartre and Place du Tertre
- You appreciate distinctive Romano-Byzantine church architecture
- You're happy to climb steps or take the funicular up the hill
Skip if...
- You've already visited another major Paris viewpoint and have limited time
- Steep hills or the dome's stairs aren't accessible for you and there's no interest in the basilica alone
- Poor weather means visibility from the dome won't be worthwhile
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Paris
Musée Grévin
Paris's Belle Époque wax museum on the Grands Boulevards, where visitors pose alongside more than 200 wax figures of celebrities, historical figures and French icons.
Montmartre & Place du Tertre
Paris's hilltop 'village,' with cobbled lanes, the last working vineyard in the city, and Place du Tertre's square of portrait artists just steps from Sacré-Cœur.