

Paris: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre
Operating Hours:Monday - Sunday: 06:30 - 22:30
The Vibe:White domes crowning the city's highest hill
Raised after the Franco-Prussian War and finished in 1914, this white basilica crowns the butte of Montmartre. Its Romano-Byzantine domes look more Istanbul than Paris.
Buskers play on the steps as the city stretches out below. Inside, hushed light falls on France's largest mosaic above the altar.
- Around 11 million visitors a year, second only to Notre-Dame among religious sites
- Home to France's largest mosaic, Christ in Glory, above the choir
- The second-highest public viewpoint in Paris after the Eiffel Tower
- A site of perpetual adoration since the 1880s
Fit For
- 💕 Couples: "Sunset from the steps is one of the city's romantic classics."
- 📸 Photographers: "The white domes and the city panorama reward every visit."
- 🌍 Culture travellers: "Romano-Byzantine design and a monumental altar mosaic."
- 👨👩👧 Families: "Free entry and open lawns suit a relaxed stop."
Highlights
- France's largest mosaic, Christ in Glory, above the choir
- Free city panorama from the forecourt steps
- The dome climb to the second-highest view in Paris
- The Savoyarde, one of France's heaviest bells — Hidden Gem
- Cavaillé-Coll grand organ, a listed instrument
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Hamed (Leo) Kiani
Table of Contents
- Metro Anvers (line 2) or Abbesses (line 12), then walk uphill
- The funicular from Square Louise-Michel runs on a standard metro ticket
- Security screening at the entrance; the dome entry is outside, to the left
Food & Coffee Shops
Cafés around Place du Tertre, a two-minute walk away
Bakeries on Rue des Abbesses at the foot of the hill
Terraces on Rue Azaïs facing the view below the forecourt
Cafés around Place du Tertre, a two-minute walk away
Bakeries on Rue des Abbesses at the foot of the hill
Terraces on Rue Azaïs facing the view below the forecourt
Insider Tips
Arrive early or near sunset to avoid the busiest hours
Keep valuables secure; the steps draw pickpockets
Dome hours are shorter than the basilica's and shift by season
Arrive early or near sunset to avoid the busiest hours
Keep valuables secure; the steps draw pickpockets
Dome hours are shorter than the basilica's and shift by season
Photography Tips
Photography is banned inside; shoot the exterior and the view instead
The forecourt steps give the classic city panorama for free
Golden hour lights the white stone and the domes
Photography is banned inside; shoot the exterior and the view instead
The forecourt steps give the classic city panorama for free
Golden hour lights the white stone and the domes
Things To Do Nearby
Place du Tertre and its painters, just behind the basilica
The Wall of Love at Abbesses, down the hill
Moulin Rouge in Pigalle at the foot of Montmartre
Place du Tertre and its painters, just behind the basilica
The Wall of Love at Abbesses, down the hill
Moulin Rouge in Pigalle at the foot of Montmartre








