Montmartre used to be a village outside of Paris, and being on a hill, it has some of the city’s best views. But joke’s on you if you think you’ll find a solitary moment on the steps in front of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica to soak it in. You might if you wake up early (or stay out late). But even then, we doubt it. Go around and browse the Place du Tertre (where you’ll have a hard time not getting your portrait done by a beret-clad street artiste). Don’t forget to explore the back side of the hill, facing north—that’s when you’ll feel as if you’ve gone from tourist-central to a charming area with one of Paris’ vineyards. Other highlights here include Avenue Junot, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Le Lapin Agile, and La Maison Rose. Then, pretend you’ve downed some absinthe à la Van Gogh and stumble down the cobblestoned streets to where he stayed with his brother for a couple of years.
