Parisian Bohemia: 15 Secret Things to Do in Montmartre, Paris

A local’s guide to secret things to do in Montmartre, Paris, from hidden gems, tiny alleys and gardens to amazing places to eat in the neighborhood!

Boho, small-towny, or a magnet for artists – the Montmartre area is one where arts, food, history, and aesthetics blend to give one of the most interesting neighborhoods to visit in Paris.

Home to significant figures of the arts; Picasso, Van Gogh, Claude Monet, home to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, and filming location to more than just the one Amelie movie, Montmartre offers dream and hope.

Whatever you’re looking for; hidden gems, food spots, history, you’re bound to find it here, in this pretty neighborhood home to the cutest streets of the city.

Parisian Bohemia: 15 Secret Things to Do in Montmartre

Walking Montmartre’s winding streets and small passages makes me feel as free and lost as I do when walking London’s courtyards and alleys.

A feeling that anything can happen, and that it will be exciting.

Here are some of the most secret things to do in Montmartre to have on your bucket list if you’ve already seen places like the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, the Maison Rose and the famous Rue de l’Abreuvoir!

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Fake Windows of Théâtre St-Georges

Built in 1929, the Théâtre St-Georges is a hidden gem located just a few minutes’ walk from Pigalle and the Moulin-Rouge.

Admiring the facade, you will quickly realize that many of the theatre’s windows are painted.

This creates a trompe-l’oeil that is more present on Parisian buildings than you would ever expect, since a few other fake windows can also be found around Le Marais.

Otherwise quite discreet aside from the large red letters spelling the Théâtre St-Georges’ name, the Art Deco façade makes this quirky building a place to visit if you’re looking for new photo spots.

Read: Fall in Paris: The Most Secret Places to Visit

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Montmartre Cemetery

As the final resting place of many French and international figures, from Dalida to writer Emile Zola, and painter Edgar Degas, the Montmartre Cemetery is a perfect place to visit in Paris in the fall, when nature turns vibrant orange and red hues.

Lesser known than the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Montmartre Cemetery, opened in 1825, is still one of the biggest – and most beautiful cemeteries in Paris, with some parts resembling a park rather than a burial ground.

This is, along with the Montparnasse Cemetery, one of the cemeteries in which you’ll find many sculptures, angel statues, and rows upon rows of breathtaking mausoleums.

Read: The Prettiest Neighborhoods in London

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Cité Veron

Just a short walk from the Montmartre Cemetery, and even closer to the famous Moulin Rouge is hidden a tiny, secret alley, that of Cité Véron.

If you’ve read the guide I’ve written about secret villages in Paris, and neighborhoods that give off that specific atmosphere, you might have seen my mention of Cité Véron, and with its ivy-covered houses, cobblestones and a striking building at the very end of the alley, it’s a gorgeous hidden gem.

What makes Cité Véron particularly inspiring and important to Parisian history is the fact that it was once home to Boris Vian, a French writer whose place quickly became a gathering point for all kinds of artists.

Read: The Most Secret Alleys in London

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Aux Merveilleux de Fred

Aux Merveilleux de Fred is our next stop if you ever get snacky.

Located a few minutes from the Théâtre St-Georges we’ve seen earlier, this properly French pastry shop is famous for their signature Merveilleux pastry.

Made from very airy meringue, cream and rolled in Speculoos biscuit, chocolate and other kinds of delicious toppings, the Merveilleux are so very French that you can even find branches in places like London, where Aux Merveilleux de Fred is present, namely at Leadenhall Market.

If you’re not that much into meringue, though, try my favorite: the sugar cramique, which is but the best brioche you’ll ever have, with melty bits of sugar inside and an airy, chewy dough.

Read: The Best Christmas Decorations in London

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Lux Bar, Rue Lepic

When you walk down Rue Lepic, you’ll quickly understand why it’s considered one of the prettiest streets in Paris: buildings with sculpted faces, gorgeous shops and cute cafes line in from top to bottom.

And Rue Lepic, well, is home to two places I love spending some time at: Les Petits Mitrons bakery is one of them, which we’ll see further down, and Lux Bar is the other.

This small, really Parisian cafe, has those dreamy round tables on the terrace, and is perfect for a cup of strong coffee before you keep going with your discovery of Montmartre.

What you can’t miss there is the 20th-century mosaic behind the bar representing the Moulin Rouge, with a Bernard Dimay poem, ‘Paris, mon camarade’ – colorful, dreamy, it brings a layer of melancholy to Montmartre.

Read: The Most Secret Neighborhoods in London

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Michael Jackson Mural, Rue Robert Planquette

Close to 22 rue Lepic, the Rue Robert Planquette is one where various street art pieces can be found; the most striking, though, is a Michael Jackson mural.

Painted in just one day, the Jo Di Bona piece was designed for Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday, and makes for a hidden gem you can easily miss when going about your day.

Read: The Prettiest Villages in London

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Les Petits Mitrons, Rue Lepic

Not that far from the Lux Bar is located Les Petits Mitrons, one of my favorite places to eat in Paris – this takeaway bakery, while known for their fruit pies and quiches, has much more to offer.

The vintage shopfront is what might catch your attention, as it did mine, all blue and yellow, and breakfast is really affordable (4 euros for coffee, orange juice and a croissant!), which is not that common in this part of Paris.

Croissants, cookies, chaussons aux pommes, Les Petits Mitrons has it all. However, the apple pies, also available with pear, apricot or raspberry, remain the highlight of this cute Parisian bakery.

Read: 12 Historical Buildings in London With Great Architecture

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Passage des Abbesses

The Passage des Abbesses is one of the most picturesque little alleys in Montmartre, and located not that far from some of the area’s most iconic landmarks, like the Sacre-Coeur or Place du Tertre.

Bordered with some village-like buildings and imposing stairs with street art pieces on either side, the Passage des Abbesses leads to the picturesque Rue des Abbesses and its many cafes, restaurants, and shops.

That’s not all, though: take Passage des Abbesses from the main street, and somewhere on the right, you will come across one of Paris’ most secret gardens.

Read: The Most Magical Gardens in Rome

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Jardin des Abbesses

This garden, which is accessible from a blue covered passageway decorated with various versions of the moon and a poem, is one of the smallest and best-curated you’ll find in Paris.

Despite the feeling that you’re the only one in the world, you’re here just three, four minutes away from the Abbesses metro station – the pergolas and landscaped garden make it one of my favorite places for a slice of nature in Paris.

Read: The Most Instagrammable Places in NYC

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Wall of Love

When coming from Passage des Abbesses, the Jardin des Abbesses is not the only hidden gem to discover in this area – take the stairs on the right and you’ll land in Square Jehan Rictus.

In addition to being another really cute garden, Square Jehan Rictus also offers the Wall of Love, a famous photo spot that attracts couples for all over the world with ‘I Love You’ written in hundreds of languages.

You can also – more easily – access it from the Abbesses metro station, as the garden is located just a few steps away from that gorgeous Art Nouveau entrance we’ve seen earlier.

Read: The Prettiest Pink Places in the World

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Les Bougies de Charroux

Les Bougies de Charroux is a favorite of mine when it comes to candle shopping in Paris; this brand actually has branches all over France, offering their hand-poured fragrances stemming from Charroux, a quaint French village.

Located on Rue Yvonne Le Tac, the Bougies de Charroux shop is already cute from the outside, with its pink shopfront.

However, as soon as you pass the threshold, you lose yourself in the rows of candy-like candles ordered by color and scent: oriental, woody, sweet, fruity, fresh, the candles retail for just over 10 euros, and are some of the best I’ve tried.

Read: Floral Paris: Pretty Places in Paris From Spring to Fall

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: 1 rue de Steinkerque, Former Sympa Store

What now houses a Popeyes fast food restaurant at 1 rue de Steinkerque used to be Sympa of Paris, an elevated clothing store founded in 1925.

If we’re just leaving the Anvers metro station, you’ll see you really can’t miss this white, sculpted Art Nouveau facade across the street.

Rue de Steinkerque itself is a place you absolutely have to visit in Paris, even if it is literally one of the most crowded places in Paris.

Why is that so?

Well, not only because Aux Merveilleux de Fred is located just two steps away, but because there is a straight view of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica from the beginning of the Rue de Steinkerque.

This street was named after the Battle of Steinkerque that took during Franco-Dutch War of 1658, and is now a picturesque place to visit despite the crowds, close to Place du Tertre and famous cafes and restaurants like Le Consulat.

Read: The Best Free Things to Do in Paris

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Théâtre de l’Atelier

When walking around Montmartre, you might come across, at the corner of a beautiful cobblestone street, the picturesque Place Charles Dullin.

That’s also where, on the square that brings an even more village-y vibe to the area, you will find the historic Théâtre de l’Atelier, founded in 1822.

We have here one of the oldest theaters in Paris, and one of the most avant-garden in the city’s history, since it is known for contemporary and modern performances in addition to classic plays.

Read: The Best Makeup Stores in Paris

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Abbesses Station

Another place with beautiful architecture is, this time, a metro station; Place des Abbesses indeed houses, at one end, the entrance to the Abbesses metro station with its Art Nouveau design.

Designed at the beginning of the 19th century, this is not only one of the most beautiful metro stations in Paris (like Bastille and its mosaic!), but also one of the deepest, since it goes 36 meters below ground.

The Abbesses metro station, with its cast-iron design, was created by architect Hector Guimard, precursor to Art Nouveau aesthetic in Paris, and did not use to adorn this area – in the past, its roof was indeed announcing the Hôtel de Ville station entrance, close to Rue de Rivoli.

In any case, if you’re into historic aesthetic, you’ll be happy to know that 88 of the Guimard metro entrances still exist today, and are actually protected monuments.

Read: The Best Things to Do During The Fall in NYC

Best Things to Do in Montmartre: Laura Todd Cookies

While there are other branches of Laura Todd Cookies in Paris (including one on the pretty Rue Montorgeuil, near Châtelet), the pastry shop on Rue des Abbesses is my favorite, as I feel that it just belongs.

Laura Todd Cookies in Montmartre only has a couple of tables outside, which makes the breakfast moment even more intimate.

From pecan to double chocolate and, of course, Nutella cookies, this Illinois-founded, all-American bakery designs some delicious snacks to nibble on while walking around Montmartre.

Read: Les Marronniers Paris Review, The Full Parisian Breakfast Experience

Parisian Bohemia: 15 Secret Things to Do in Montmartre

These are only a handful of those very secret things to do in Montmartre that I, as a person who’s lived in Paris on and off for over five years, love doing.

We’re not only here in one of the oldest, but also most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris, with history pouring from every building.

Whether you’re looking for historical sites, places to eat or gorgeous photo spots, you’ll hopefully have found here plenty of new hidden gems to wander around!

Until next time!

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