Montmartre

Montmartre is a beautiful area in the 18th arrondissement, and also one of the highest points in Paris. It is a hill that is 130 meters high, which gives you one of the best views of the city from above. The 18th arrondissement, you will see, has several faces. At the bottom of the hill lies the Pigalle neighborhood and its famous girls, where sex stores and clubs line up the streets. As you walk uphill, the price of apartments that are just one street apart can have a difference of €2,000 per square meter! As you get closer to the peak, you will find yourself in a beautiful residential area, where townhouses are covered in greenery and flowers, cafes are quaint and art seems to be the center of people's lives. Many films including Amélie and Sabrina featured this area of Paris.

At the top, the little streets hustle and bustle with commerce for the tourists. You will find here copies of vintage posters, postcards, and anything your heart desires to buy to bring back home as gifts. There are many crêperies, ice cream parlors and restaurants. Most of the restaurants here are overpriced for what they are, and not necessarily "authentic". You will also find many artists in the middle of the square who offer sketches and paintings.
Look up and you will see the stunning Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jeses. It is considered as a landmark, and can be seen all the way from the Centre de Pompidou in the heart of the city. In front of the basilic are steps that lead to one of the most breathtaking views of Paris. Have a seat on the steps and enjoy what you see!
Every time I have a friend or family visiting, this is one of the places where I absolutely make sure that they visit. It gets very busy up in the Sacré-Cœur area, but I always insist on the walk uphill. Without fail, everyone usually comments that it feels so "Paris", and that when they imagine Parisian lifestyle, this is it!

Metro: Anvers, Abbesses
Photos by AG