Is Place du Tertre worth it?
Worth it if…Underrated · +10Hilltop Montmartre square of portrait painters and café terraces beside Sacré-Cœur
Worth it, with conditions. 4.5 on Google across 20,000+ reviews; visitors love the atmosphere but repeatedly call it very touristy and overpriced, and guides flag pushy sketch artists.
Hype51How famous and hyped it is
Reality61Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.5 ★ Google · 20,634 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Place du Tertre? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote
Free and right next to Sacré-Cœur; reviewers call the Montmartre atmosphere a must-see despite the crowds.
Why Reality is 61
Lives up to its fame3/54.5 on Google across 20,000+ reviews; visitors love the atmosphere but repeatedly call it very touristy and overpriced, and guides flag pushy sketch artists.
Value for money4/5Free to visit; the only real costs are optional portraits and terrace drinks, which reviewers say are overpriced.
Can’t get it elsewhere4/5A working artists' square on the Montmartre hilltop has no real equivalent elsewhere in Paris.
Easy to do3/5Metro plus a steep climb or funicular, heavy crowds by late morning, and well-documented pickpocket and bracelet scams on the approach.
What people loved
Dozens of painters and caricaturists working live make it feel like an open-air studio, with lively atmosphere especially around sunsetFree to wander, and an easy add-on to Sacré-Cœur a few minutes awayMost reviewers find the artists low-pressure; you can browse styles before choosingThe quieter streets of Montmartre around the square keep their village charmWhat wore them down
Very crowded and touristy at midday; café terraces on the square are expensive for what they serveSome artists follow tourists to push sketches, then demand a high pricePickpockets, string-bracelet sellers and petition scammers work the Sacré-Cœur steps and streets near the squareSteep cobbled climb from the metro; the stairs or funicular can be hard for some visitorsKnow before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No tickets or booking; it is a public square.
EntryFree, public square open at all times; artists' stands and terraces usually set up from late morning to eveningSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting thereMetro 12 Abbesses, then an 8–10 min steep cobbled walk uphill; or Metro 2 Anvers plus the funicular and a 5 min walk. Roughly 30 min from Châtelet / Hôtel de VilleSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Montmartre funicularStandard metro fare (Navigo Easy accepted); about 1 min 30 s ride; runs roughly 6:00 a.m.–12:45 a.m. dailySource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
PortraitsNo fixed tariff; each artist sets their own price for portraits and caricatures, so agree a price before they startSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Best timeBefore about 10:30 a.m. to avoid the densest crowds, or late afternoon in cooler monthsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time needed30–60 minutes for the square; half a day combined with Sacré-Cœur and the backstreets of MontmartreSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026
In their words
“It was extremely crowded and very touristy, and honestly, some places felt unnecessarily overpriced, but the atmosphere throughout the entire neighborhood was fantastic.”
“It felt less like a tourist stop and more like stepping into a living sketchbook.”
“If you’re planning to visit, go for it—but be mindful of your budget and just enjoy the moment for what it is.”
“make sure to walk around and view all artists to see what style you like before choosing.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
Is Place du Tertre free?
Yes. It is a public square; you only pay if you buy art, a portrait or a drink on a terrace.
How much does a portrait cost at Place du Tertre?
There is no fixed price; each artist sets their own, so agree on the price before they start.
What is the nearest metro to Place du Tertre?
Abbesses (line 12), about an 8–10 minute uphill walk, or Anvers (line 2) plus the funicular to Sacré-Cœur and a short walk.
Is Place du Tertre a tourist trap?
Partly. The square is crowded and its cafés are expensive, and some sketch artists are pushy, but most reviewers still enjoy the atmosphere and the browsing is free.
Is the Montmartre funicular covered by a metro ticket?
It costs the same as a metro ride and works with Navigo Easy, according to Paris je t'aime.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Audiala — Place du Tertre visitor guide
- Paris je t'aime — Funiculaire de Montmartre
- Salut from Paris — Is Montmartre safe?
- SmarterTravel — Tourist traps in Paris: street artists
- Google Maps — Place du Tertre