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Is Sacré-Cœur worth it?

Worth itOverhyped · −12White-domed basilica (completed 1914) on Montmartre hill, with free entry and a sweeping city view
Sacré-Cœur
hiszpan400 · Google Maps
Sacré-Cœur
Sebastiano Vasi · Google Maps
Sacré-Cœur
Peter Martinov · Google Maps
Sacré-Cœur
John sadiku · Google Maps
Sacré-Cœur
Michael Clark · Google Maps

Worth it. Google 4.7 from 169k reviews; the view and apse mosaic consistently impress, though the surroundings feel touristy.

Hype88How famous and hyped it is
Reality76Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
The gap−12OverhypedHow we score
4.7 ★ Google · 169,325 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

Been to Sacré-Cœur? Was it worth it?

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Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote

Free, with one of the best views in Paris; pair it with a wander through Montmartre's backstreets.

Why Reality is 76

Lives up to its fame4/5Google 4.7 from 169k reviews; the view and apse mosaic consistently impress, though the surroundings feel touristy.
Value for money5/5Free entry to a striking basilica plus a free panorama from the city's highest point; dome only €6.
Can’t get it elsewhere4/5Paris's best free hilltop view and a landmark silhouette; paid decks offer comparable panoramas at a price.
Easy to do3/5Steep hill or funicular, midday queues in the sun, and persistent bracelet/petition scams and pickpockets on the steps.

What people loved

Free entry, open 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every dayPanoramic city view from the steps — the highest point in Paris — at no costHuge golden apse mosaic of Christ singled out as a highlight insideQueue usually moves quickly, and the steps are a popular picnic and people-watching spotCheap €6 dome climb for an even higher view

What wore them down

Bracelet tie-on and petition scams at the foot of the steps, plus pickpockets in the crowdsSteep, strenuous climb up the hill unless you take the funicularQueues in hot sun from midday in summerSouvenir shops around the basilica are overpricedDome climb is about 300 steps with no lift

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: No booking or ticket for the basilica; dome tickets sold on site.

EntryBasilica free, no ticket; dome climb €6 (about 300 steps, no lift)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HoursDaily 6:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. without exception; until midnight on the first Thursday of the monthSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
ReservationNone; walk-in queue builds from around midday, and masses aren't a way to skip itSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
WorksMain organ under restoration until end of May 2027; the choir organ is used for servicesSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
FunicularMontmartre funicular runs up the hill on a single metro ticket; otherwise a steep stair climbSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting thereMetro 2 Anvers or Metro 12 Abbesses, then the funicular or ~10 min uphill; ~20–25 min from ChâteletSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
  • Monday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Thursday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Saturday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
  • Sunday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM

In their words

“Be aware of pickpocketers around this area!”
Maya · Google review · a month ago
“The Basilica is beautiful, although we opted not to wait in line in the blazing sun to go inside.”
EILEEN W · Google review · 3 months ago
“The line appeared a bit long, but it went quickly and there was much to take in while you waited.”
Bowmanlaurapiper · Google review · a month ago
“I stood in awe before the massive mosaic on the ceiling depicting Christ in stunning golden colors.”
Eslam Nassar · Google review · a month ago

Tips from people who went

No tips yet. Be the first to share one.

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Questions people ask

Is Sacré-Cœur free to visit?

Yes. The basilica is free with no ticket. Climbing the dome costs €6.

What are Sacré-Cœur's opening hours?

Daily 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and until midnight on the first Thursday of each month.

How do you get up to Sacré-Cœur without climbing?

Take the Montmartre funicular, which costs one metro ticket, from near Anvers (line 2).

Are there scams at Sacré-Cœur?

Yes. People tie bracelets on visitors' wrists and demand payment, petition groups distract visitors, and pickpockets work the steps. Keep walking and keep bags zipped.

How many steps to the Sacré-Cœur dome?

About 300, with no lift.

Better fits, according to people who went

Notre-Dame — photo by Bülent TEYMURWorth itReality 76 −4Notre-Dame★ 4.7Louvre, Islands & Le Marais · Sacred siteAnother free landmark church, with Gothic grandeur instead of Romano-Byzantine domes.Buttes-Chaumont — photo by Adilson GuaiatiWorth it if…Reality 66 +9Buttes-Chaumont★ 4.6East Paris · ParkA quieter hilltop park view in the east, with locals instead of scammers.Place du Tertre — photo by Eylon Ben YaakovWorth it if…Reality 61 +10Place du Tertre★ 4.5Montmartre, Pigalle & Opéra · NeighbourhoodTwo minutes away; the artists' square and backstreets of old Montmartre.Place des Vosges — photo by AntoineWorth itReality 81 +20Place des Vosges★ 4.6Louvre, Islands & Le Marais · LandmarkParis's oldest planned square (1612): red-brick arcades around a tree-lined garden in the Marais

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 16, 2026. How we score · Standards