Afternoon in Montmartre, Paris

Montmartre is my favourite part of Paris (other than maybe Saint Germain Des Pres). Once you exit Abbesses Metro station, all your Paris clichés come alive. Check out the Le mur des je t’aime (Wall of Love) art installation before you make your way up the steep and windy, cobble-stoned streets to the top of the hill where you’ll find the beautiful Sacre-Coeur church. The views of Paris are breathtaking from here (if you are looking for a challenge, you can climb the 300 steps to the top of the Sacre-Coeur though the views are still pretty great from the bottom!).Montmartre was the heart of the artistic scene over the last century, with artists like Renoir, Picasso and Van Gogh making it home. I would highly recommend checking out the Musee de Montmartre, housed in the oldest building in the neighbourhood and where Renoir used to live. I didn’t get a chance this time around but did on my last visit and loved it. It has beautiful gardens and is a peaceful and relaxing escape from the crowds of Montmartre (also a must-visit if you love impressionist art!).Allow yourself to get lost in the different streets around the Sacre-Coeur. My favourite has to be Rue de l’Abreuvoir where you’ll also find La Maison Rose, a cafe known for housing many paintings by Maurice Utrillo, a famous 20th century Montmartre painter. It is a picture perfect cafe and the pink walls aren’t too shabby either 😉 Grab one of the tables outside with a cup of coffee and watch the crowds go by.I’m sure you’ll have worked up an appetite by now. Once you’re done with sight-seeing, head to Pink Mamma, an italian restaurant about a 12-15 minute walk from the Sacre-Coeur area. It is amazing and so popular (I arrived at 6:40 (5 minutes before it opened) and there was a queue around the corner!). It is really worth it though and they have about 4 floors so there are lots of seats. Try the truffle pasta – it was delicious!End your visit by wandering through the Pigalle district which is ever so slighly grubby and there are more sex shops than you can shake a stick at but hey, it makes it all the more interesting! If it all gets too much, pop back on to the metro after you get a photo outside the famous Moulin Rouge!