If you’ve been to Paris before, you might not want to see the Eiffel Tower every time you return. On this visit to Paris, I chose to stay in Montmartre. In just two days, I got a taste of the town. And I loved it! Now I have my favorite 5 to-do’s in Montmartre.
I confess I’ve been to Montmartre before. A night at the Moulin Rouge was high on the “must-do” list when I was a twenty-something in Paris for the first time with college friends. In the 60s, it was pretty raunchy. I stood in the line and walked through the Sacré Coeur Cathedral many years later.
So what do you do in Montmartre if you’ve been to the Moulin Rouge and Sacré Coeur? Plenty!
5 To Do’s in Montmartre
#1 Cooking Class
Go to a cooking class at Cook’n with Class Paris. If it’s a Sunday, all the better. The Sunday Market Class includes shopping at the city market. Then, you return to the school to prepare a sumptuous meal with all the fresh ingredients.
#2 Enjoy the Scenery
Even on a cloudy day, Montmartre is charming. Check out the patisseries and cafes along the way.
Who knows who you’ll run into? My good buddy and playwright, Silver Wainhouse! She lives near me in Uzès and was in town for the day.
#3 Eat the food
Take your time to find just the right spot to have lunch or a snack. I mean, is there anything quite as good as French Onion Soup — in France? Pair that with your favorite wine; you’re just about in heaven.
One day, wandering around near Pigalle, what should appear? Le Chat Noir. Right out of a Toulouse Lautrec poster.
I expected Picasso or Toulouse to walk in at any moment. Indeed, they would enjoy the cafe’s Paysanne salad, filled with duck magret and gizzards. I did!
#4 Climb the hill to Sacrè Couer
Go ahead. Even if you’ve been to the Sacrè Couer, do it again. The views are spectacular. It’s quite a hike to the top, but a lift and a miniature train can take you up. If you’re around on a weekend, plan to have a coffee and croissant while sitting at a cafe near where the artists hang out. You might even snag a painting at a reasonable price. It’s what memories are made of.
Imagine yourself here…
#5 Visit Musée de Montmartre
If you want to take a trip through Montmartre’s past — to actually see where artists, writers, and sculptors such as Renoir, Émile Bernard, Suzanne Valadon, Pierre Reverdy, and Demetrius Galanis actually lived and worked, visit the Musée de Montmartre. It’s tucked away on a side street at the top of Montmartre, and it’s worth the stop.
Would I stay in Montmartre again? Absolutely!
I don’t always “plug” a place I stay when traveling, but I must give Le Grey Hotel a big shout-out. The boutique hotel is convenient for everything I wanted to see and do during my short stay. The staff is amiable and helpful. The breakfast is fresh, tasty, and served late into the morning. And there is a bar and sitting room that’s cozy and inviting.
Next stop: Living Like A Royal!
