Forget The Eiffel Tower: This Location Truly Has The Best Views In Paris

When speaking about Paris, the first landmark that comes to mind is the iconic Eiffel Tower, frequented by more than 7 million visitors every year. This makes the tower the most-visited monument globally that one would have to pay to access it. However, when speaking about the Eiffel Tower, many people forget about the many other attractions that differentiate the beautiful city of light from different world areas.

One of those landmarks is the Sacré Coeur basilica that sits atop the hilly heights of Montmartre in Paris. Every year, more than 1 million people flock to Sacré Coeur to behold the beauty of the unique site in France. The landmark was made famous again after it was featured in several films, such as Amélie. Moreover, the basilica was built in the late-nineteenth century, and visiting it when taking a trip to Paris is a must for several reasons.

How To Get To The Sacré Coeur And What To See Around This Area

The basilica is located in the Montmartre neighborhood in the central northern part of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, or district. People can take the metro to reach the Sacré Coeur or head to it by car. Metro stations that are closest to the basilica include Anvers or Pigalle ( Line 2), Abesses ( Line 12), and Jules-Joffrin ( Line 12). After reaching those stations, people should take a short walk to get to the site.

The basilica has 270 stairs that people can climb. Those who find it challenging can take the funicular found at the left at the bottom of the hill. They will have to pay the price of a regular metro ticket. Since the basilica is a religious site, people must keep a level of silence and voices to a whisper.

Opening times: Sacré Cœur opens all year round from 6 AM to 10:30 PM.
Cost: The entrance to the basilica is free of charge.

The Most Spectacular Views From Sacré Cœur

Most people climb up the Sacré Coeur to access the basilica’s dome, which offers the most spectacular and stunning panoramic views of the entire city of Paris. To do that, visitors must access the basilica from the entrance to the left.

To reach the dome, visitors must climb another 300 stairs since there is no elevator. Those who do not wish to enter the basilica can still enjoy the most breathtaking views from the large terrace. On a clear day, visitors of the basilica can stop the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse Tower, and other iconic attractions in Paris by standing at the large terrace of Sacré Coeur.

Opening times: From May through September, the dome opens daily from 08:30 AM to 8 PM. From October through April, it opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Cost: To access the dome of Sacré Coeur, people are expected to pay a fee in cash. However, no information is available on ticket prices on the website of the basilica. The latest cost that was paid amounted to € 6 per person.
Guided Tours: Since the Sacré Coeur basilica is a site for meditation, relaxation, praying, and silence activities, there are no guided tours offered. However, people can download a free audio guide and listen to it by wearing headphones.

What To Know Before Visiting Sacré Cœur

The main site of the basilica is accessible for people with disabilities. However, they may still need special assistance. People must beware when visiting the area around Sacré Coeur because it is full of scam artists and pickpocketers. This is why visitors need to remain vigilant all the time and keep their valuables in the safe in their hotel room. The Sacré Coeur basilica shares some architectural features with the San Marco Basilica in Venice. Those are different from the gothic style of Notre Dame because the Sacré Coeur was built in the Romano-Byzantine style.

What distinguishes the basilica is its white limestone exteriors which are sourced from Paris. There are two breathtaking equestrian statues at the basilica facade; the first is of Joan of Arc on horseback, and the second is of King Saint Louis. The inside of the basilica is very striking, with the heavy use of gold leaf and mosaics dating back from 1922. Unfortunately, the original stained glass windows were utterly destroyed during World War II. Those were replaced and restored at a later date. It’s also worth noting that the Dome of Sacré Coeur is the second-highest point in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower. Another valuable piece of information about the basilica is that its bell was built in 1895 in Annecy and weighs 19 tons. It is one of the world’s heaviest and largest bells.