From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the most practical first-time route to Montmartre is to take the RER B to Gare du Nord, connect to Metro Line 2 toward Porte Dauphine, and get off at Anvers for the Sacré-Cœur stairs and funicular side. Abbesses on Metro Line 12 is the better station for central Montmartre, the village streets, and Place du Tertre. If you have luggage, arrive late, or want to avoid the hill climb, take a taxi closer to the upper Montmartre area or use Anvers with the funicular near Square Louise Michel.

Montmartre is not difficult to reach, but it is easy to choose the wrong approach. The area sits on a hill, so the station you choose affects how much climbing you do. For a first visit, think of it this way: Anvers is the easier Sacré-Cœur / funicular approach, while Abbesses is the atmospheric village-side approach.

Nearest metro or train station to Montmartre

The most practical nearest metro station to Montmartre depends on which version of Montmartre you want. For the central village side, use Abbesses on Metro Line 12. It places you near Place des Abbesses and gives you the classic small-street Montmartre approach, with cafés, sloping lanes, and a gradual climb toward Place du Tertre and Sacré-Cœur.

For many first-time visitors, especially those aiming for Sacré-Cœur, Anvers on Metro Line 2 is simpler. Anvers puts you below the hill near Boulevard de Rochechouart. From there, you walk toward Square Louise Michel and choose either the stairs or the Montmartre funicular. That makes it easier to understand if your main goal is the basilica and the view.

So the practical split is clear. Abbesses is best for central Montmartre and the village feeling. Anvers is best for Sacré-Cœur, the main hill approach, and the funicular.

Confirmation cue: You are on the right track when your station choice matches your goal: Abbesses for the village side, Anvers for Sacré-Cœur and the funicular side.

Decision moment: If your first stop is Sacré-Cœur or you want fewer stairs, choose Anvers. If your first stop is Place des Abbesses, Place du Tertre, or the winding village streets, choose Abbesses.

Mistake + fix: A common mistake is asking for “the nearest station to Montmartre” without deciding which part of the hill you want. Fix it by choosing the approach first: Anvers for the lower Sacré-Cœur side, Abbesses for the central Montmartre side.

How to get to Montmartre from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

The cleanest airport route for a first-time visitor is:

CDG airport station → RER B → Gare du Nord → Metro Line 2 toward Porte Dauphine → Anvers → Square Louise Michel / funicular / Sacré-Cœur.

At CDG, follow signs for Paris by Train, RER B, or the airport train station. Depending on your terminal, you may need to use CDGVAL or walk through long corridors before reaching the RER platforms. This first airport section often feels slower than expected, but the rail route becomes clearer once you are on the RER B.

Use this sequence:

  1. At CDG, follow signs for RER B or Paris by Train.
  2. Take the RER B toward central Paris.
  3. Get off at Gare du Nord.
  4. Follow signs toward **Metro Line 2 / La Chapelle**. This transfer can feel less obvious than a simple same-platform change, so slow down and keep following **La Chapelle / Line 2** signs instead of chasing the first metro symbol you see.
  5. Take Line 2 toward Porte Dauphine.
  6. Get off at Anvers for the Sacré-Cœur stairs and funicular approach.

This is the easiest route to explain because it avoids the more awkward Abbesses transfer from the airport. If your real goal is central Montmartre, you can still continue toward Abbesses later, but with luggage or after a flight, Anvers gives you a clearer first arrival.

Confirmation cue: You are doing the airport route correctly when the Metro Line 2 direction shows Porte Dauphine and your stop is Anvers.

Decision moment: If you arrive at Gare du Nord and feel unsure, do not rush into the first metro entrance. Look specifically for Line 2 / La Chapelle signs. Gare du Nord is busy, and Montmartre is close enough that people often assume the transfer will be obvious. It may not feel obvious the first time.

Mistake + fix: A common airport-route mistake is trying to force Abbesses from CDG because it is often listed as the nearest Montmartre station. Fix it by using Anvers first if your goal is Sacré-Cœur, the view, or the funicular. Use Abbesses later if you want to wander the village streets.

Comfort note: Once you reach Anvers, the transport part is done. The remaining decision is physical, not technical: stairs, sloping paths, or funicular.

Time buffer tip: Add 15 to 20 minutes if you are arriving from CDG with luggage, children, or a timed dinner nearby, because the airport walk, Gare du Nord transfer, and hill approach can take longer than the map suggests.

Montmartre from city center

Montmartre from city center is easier once you choose the side of the hill. From central Paris, use Metro Line 12 to Abbesses if you want the village side, Place des Abbesses, and a more atmospheric walk. Use Metro Line 2 to Anvers if you want Sacré-Cœur, Square Louise Michel, the stairs, or the funicular.

From the Louvre, Châtelet, or Hôtel de Ville area, you may need a transfer. From Pigalle, Opéra, or Saint-Lazare, Abbesses can be convenient. From areas near Line 2, Anvers is often more straightforward. If your hotel is already on Line 12, Abbesses is a lovely arrival, but remember: lovely does not mean flat.

Confirmation cue: You are close when signs begin showing Abbesses, Anvers, Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre, Place du Tertre, or Funiculaire de Montmartre.

Decision moment: If it is raining, you are tired, or you dislike steep streets, choose Anvers and the funicular side. If you want the scenic village approach and do not mind climbing, choose Abbesses.

Mistake + fix: A common city-center mistake is getting off at Abbesses and then being surprised by the uphill walk. Fix it by checking your energy before you choose the station. Montmartre is charming partly because it is a hill; your legs will notice.

If you are already around Pigalle, you can walk up toward Abbesses or continue toward Anvers depending on your plan. For a relaxed first visit, I would not try to “complete” all of Montmartre in one straight line. Choose one anchor, then let the hill unfold.

Montmartre directions by metro / train

For Montmartre directions by public transport, keep two station names in your head:

Abbesses equals central Montmartre and village streets.
Anvers equals Sacré-Cœur, Square Louise Michel, stairs, and funicular.

Metro Line 12 to Abbesses is useful if you are coming from areas that connect naturally to Line 12, such as Saint-Lazare, Concorde, or parts of the Left Bank. The station itself has a distinctive Montmartre feel, but the area around it is still hilly. Do not expect a flat stroll.

Metro Line 2 to Anvers is useful if you are coming from Gare du Nord / La Chapelle, Pigalle, Belleville, Nation-side connections, or the western Line 2 corridor. It is also the cleaner route from CDG if you transfer at Gare du Nord and want the least confusing Montmartre arrival.

Confirmation cue: On Line 2, check for Anvers and the direction Porte Dauphine if you are coming from La Chapelle. On Line 12, check for Abbesses and be ready for the hill once you surface.

Decision moment: Choose Abbesses if your goal is wandering. Choose Anvers if your goal is reaching the top efficiently. Choose taxi if your group has bags, mobility concerns, or low patience for slopes.

Mistake + fix: The classic metro mistake is picking the station by romance instead of route logic. Abbesses sounds perfect, and for many visitors it is. But if your first goal is Sacré-Cœur and you want the funicular, Anvers is usually easier. Fix it by choosing the station based on your first stop, not the prettiest name.

A small station detail helps: Sortie means exit. At Abbesses or Anvers, do not rush out and follow the first crowd blindly. Montmartre has several tempting streets, and not all of them take you up the hill in the way you expect.

Bus / Taxi

Bus can be useful in Montmartre because hills make even short walks feel longer. Some bus routes serve the surrounding streets and can reduce climbing, especially if you are approaching from northern Paris or nearby neighborhoods. For a first-time visitor from CDG, though, bus is not the cleanest main route. RER B plus Metro Line 2 to Anvers is easier to explain and easier to recover from if you make a small mistake.

Taxi is useful when comfort matters more than cost. From CDG, a taxi can save you the Gare du Nord transfer and the hill decision. From central Paris, taxi can be a good choice at night, in heavy rain, or if you are traveling with luggage. Ask for the specific side you want: Sacré-Cœur / Square Louise Michel, Abbesses, Place du Tertre, or your hotel address.

Confirmation cue: In a taxi, you are near the right area when the streets start climbing, Sacré-Cœur appears above the rooftops, or you see signs for Montmartre, Abbesses, or Place du Tertre.

Decision moment: Choose taxi if you want to arrive near the top or avoid the transfer. Choose metro if you want the cheaper route and do not mind managing the hill.

Do not assume a taxi can drop you directly at every tiny Montmartre lane. Some streets are narrow, steep, restricted, or crowded. A short final walk may still happen. The advantage is that the taxi can reduce the exhausting part.

The last 5 minutes

The last 5 minutes in Montmartre depend completely on your arrival side. From Anvers, follow the flow uphill toward Square Louise Michel. You will see Sacré-Cœur above you if the weather is clear. At that point, choose your climb: the main stairs, the sloping paths through the square, or the funicular.

If you want fewer stairs, use the Montmartre funicular near Square Louise Michel. It takes you up toward the basilica side and saves the steepest part of the climb. This is the better choice with tired legs, children, or heavy bags.

From Abbesses, the route feels more like village Montmartre. Walk uphill through the smaller streets toward Place du Tertre or Sacré-Cœur. It is more atmospheric, but less direct if your only goal is the basilica front. Expect slopes, corners, and moments where the map says “five minutes” but your calves disagree.

Confirmation cue: You are in the correct final area when you see Square Louise Michel, the Sacré-Cœur dome, signs for the funicular, Place du Tertre, or sloping cobbled streets leading upward.

Decision moment: If you reach the base of the hill and feel tired already, do not prove anything to the staircase. Use the funicular or take the gentler paths.

Mistake + fix: A final-walk mistake is following the steepest visible route just because everyone else is doing it. Fix it by choosing the climb that matches your situation: stairs for speed, funicular for ease, Abbesses streets for atmosphere.

Montmartre rewards slow walking. Once you reach the upper area, stop navigating like you are in a station transfer. Look for Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, café corners, and viewpoints. The hill is part of the visit, not just a problem to solve.

If you get lost

  1. Reset at Anvers if you want Sacré-Cœur or the funicular. From Anvers, look uphill toward Square Louise Michel. Find the stairs, the sloping paths, or the funicular entrance, then continue toward the basilica.
  2. Reset at Abbesses if you want central Montmartre. From Abbesses, orient yourself toward Place des Abbesses, then walk uphill toward Place du Tertre or Sacré-Cœur. If the street starts leading downhill for too long, pause and recheck.
  3. Reset at Sacré-Cœur if you are already on the hill. Once you can see the basilica, use it as your high-point anchor. From there, you can walk toward Place du Tertre, descend toward Anvers, or move back toward Abbesses.

Route comparison table

Route Time Transfers Walking difficulty Navigation ease
RER B from CDG + Metro Line 2 to Anvers About 50 to 70 minutes 1 main transfer Moderate because of hill/funicular choice Best for Sacré-Cœur approach
RER B from CDG + metro toward Abbesses About 55 to 80 minutes Usually 2 transfers Moderate to hard because of slopes Better for village Montmartre
Metro Line 12 to Abbesses About 10 to 30 minutes from central areas Usually 0 or 1 Hilly after arrival Best for central Montmartre
Metro Line 2 to Anvers About 10 to 30 minutes from central areas Usually 0 or 1 Easier if using funicular Best for Sacré-Cœur and stairs
Taxi from CDG About 35 to 75 minutes depending on traffic 0 Easier, but may still involve a short walk Best with luggage or late arrival

FAQ

What is the nearest metro station to Montmartre?

For central Montmartre, the nearest practical metro station is Abbesses on Metro Line 12. For Sacré-Cœur, the stairs, and the funicular side, Anvers on Metro Line 2 is often easier.

How do I get from CDG to Montmartre?

Take RER B from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare du Nord, connect toward Metro Line 2, ride toward Porte Dauphine, and get off at Anvers for the Sacré-Cœur and funicular side.

Is Abbesses or Anvers better for Montmartre?

Use Abbesses for central Montmartre, Place des Abbesses, and the village streets. Use Anvers for Sacré-Cœur, Square Louise Michel, the stairs, and the funicular.

Is Montmartre hard to walk?

Montmartre is hilly, so it can feel harder than the map suggests. If you want to reduce climbing, arrive via Anvers and use the funicular near Square Louise Michel.

Should I take a taxi to Montmartre from CDG?

A taxi is useful if you have luggage, arrive late, or want to avoid the Gare du Nord transfer and hill climb. Public transport is cheaper, but Montmartre’s slopes make comfort more valuable than usual.

Quick checklist

  • From CDG, use RER B to Gare du Nord, then Metro Line 2 toward Porte Dauphine to Anvers.
  • Choose Anvers for Sacré-Cœur, the stairs, and the funicular side.
  • Choose Abbesses for central Montmartre and village streets.
  • Use the Montmartre funicular near Square Louise Michel if you want fewer stairs.
  • Once on the hill, use Sacré-Cœur as your main visual anchor.

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