How to Beat the Crowds at Sacré-Cœur
Sacré-Cœur is free to enter. The dome climb (about €7, 300 steps) is extra. To beat the crowds, go early in the morning, before about 10 am, or in the evening after the day-trippers leave. Take the Montmartre funicular with a normal metro ticket to skip the climb up the hill, and walk past anyone offering a 'free' string bracelet on the steps.
- Basilica
- Free. Security check at the entrance
- Dome
- About €7, around 300 narrow steps
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered
- Best time
- Early morning, or evening
- Busiest
- Late morning to sunset, weekends and summer
- Getting up
- Funicular with a metro ticket, or the steps from Anvers
- Time to allow
- 1-1.5 hours, more with Montmartre
How busy is Sacré-Cœur?
Sacré-Cœur is one of the most visited places in Paris, and the steps in front of it are always busy. The line for the security check at the door builds from late morning, and the dome stairway is narrow, so it can move slowly when it's busy. The crowds peak around sunset, when everyone comes for the view.
Before you go, check how busy Sacré-Cœur is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for French holidays, school breaks and weather.
Check today’s crowds at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre →