Paris Travel Forum

I'll be visiting Paris next month and have been planning to go to see Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur one evening. However, I've just read some not very encouraging things about this area - overly - touristy, full of pick - pockets etc - and am now having second thoughts about going there.
Would be glad to have some advice on this subject, i.e. is it worth visiting there or not?

It's part of the charm. I was 19 when I first visited the area. It was great fun but very touristy. I wandered round, before deciding who would draw my portrait. I still have it :-)
It's up to your attitude and sensibility (as always in big cities or busy touristy areas) if you feel unsafe or not. I did not.

Keep a close watch over your stuff. And don't let the artists draw you or quickly cut your silhouette without your permission. Or you'll be finding yourself in a hopeless discussion about the fact that you should buy whatever they made.

Montmarte and sacre coeur are MUST on a visit to Paris. the area is not as seedy as they say and there are plenty of tourists. Paris is the most visited city on earth. Paris last year got 69 million tourists domestic and international and compare that with all of vietnam which had less than 5 million and all of cuba less than 2 million. so bumping into tourists is natural in paris and in fact during june to august there are far more touritsts than parisiennes!
dont miss the sights and even though I am not a christian, i felt the depth of faith while visiting sacre coeur..

You'll never know if it is worth visiting unless you go. So just go ahead, don't worry too much and enjoy a night out in Paris.

I was last there one sunny afternoon in late September and remember the great views from outside Sacre Coeur. Follow the advice and go for it.

I stayed in Montmartre on my last visit six months ago. Brilliant area, vibrant, charming, the real Paris to me (think of the movie Amelie). Loads of cafes and lots of local atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit.

As I was only a short walk from Sacre Coeur I went during the day and night. Interestingly, I thought I saw someone being pickpocketed inside the church but cant be certain as it happened so quickly. Just keep your hand on your valuables while you are there, and all through Paris for that matter, and you will be fine.

Very touristy, lots of pick-pockets, but as other VTers write it: you will not know unless you go, and just be careful! I live (part time) not far from there and like a lot the Barbes area: for a change, leave the metro at Barbes Rochechouart station, from there you will see the Sacré Coeur, and walking up the hill you will travel through North Africa, Equatorial Africa, a bit of Asia, and finally reach the famous stairs leading up the church (20 mn walk). If you leave the metro at Abesses station, and then take the funicular, you will travel with tourists.

The Sacre Coeur was one of the highlights of our trip. The little tram going up was out of order so we made the climb up the steps. It was worth it. The church is lovely and if you have it in you, by all means climb to the dome. You will never forget the view from there. Amazing!