Is Montmartre to far from city center?
 

My husband and I are hitting a wall with an apt search. I know it's late but we just were able to take off in October . And there is no other place in the world we rather be on vacation. This would be our second trip to France first was our honeymoon and we stayed in the Bastille. It was a pretty central location to everything. We did travel out to Montmartre and it seemed a bit far out. Is there things to do there nightclubs, bars, shops. Can someone Enlighten Me.

Thank You

For me it's too far. I'd never stay in Montmatre. But, some only stay in that area. It's totally personal. Happy Travels!

Our recent Montmartre apartment stay was most pleasant. There is a lively neighborhood around the Abbesses metro stop. We would certainly stay there again!

We have stayed 5 times in Montmare near Rue Lepic and Abesses and love it. It has a small village feel but it is close to several metro stops.
There are great food markets and reasonable apartments to rent. We fell in love with this area but travel all over the city without problem.We buy a carte orange so we have unlimted travel and can be back at the apt. in 15-20 min. from most places in the city.Some very good places to eat and nice bars with alot of locals. It feels like our neighborhood (only for a week at a time).We enjoy it most in the evening when most of the tourist go back to their hotels in central Paris.(except for my tourist self).
I will be there again this Nov 15th
for week staying on Rue Gabrelle and am looking forward to it. I hope you enjoy your trip. Fall is my favorite time to visit Paris.

My problem with Montmartre is not the distance but the "mont" -- and I live in Liguria in an apartment that is reached by more than 1500 steps. I spend most of my time in Paris in museums and churches, and long walks, so adding hill climbing at the end of the day discourages me from staying in Montmartre.

I think for nightlife, bars and shops it's great. I think for popping back into your room in the middle of a day of the usual Paris sightseeing (clustered around the Seine), it's not practical, nor is it the best choice if you don't want to be hill climbing after a long day, although I imagine some parts are flatter than others.

If you still have a heavy sightseeing agenda that will keep you away from Montmartre for most of the day, I'd pick a different location. If you're more interested in having the kind of experience Quiz describes, Montmartre can feel more like a discover-your-own Paris.

I think the decision hinges on two aspects of the city.

The first one is location. Walk 300 yards and any of the districts can change character. It all depends on just where in the area you are staying and what the apartment is like.

The second one is that I have never known which location could be considered the center of Paris. Perhaps it is the Arc of Triumph, perhaps Place de la Concorde, perhaps some other location.

As you said the Bastille for you was central. For me it would not necessarily be all that central.
The other thing I have found is that the major attractions of Paris are well separated, so a location that is central to Musee d'Orsay, Musee Rodin, and the Louvre might not be central to other areas.

I think the decision depends on what you want and the area in the immediate vicinity of your location. I don't know Montmartre very well so the metro stop areas described by others don't standout in my memory.

Are there things to do there? Well, that seems to be a truism for most of Paris.

For us, it also would be not convenient. We prefer to stay as close to the Seine as possible.

There is so much to do at night around Notre Dame and St. Germain.

Check the apartment rentals. We just booked one for 6 weeks notice through GuestApartmentServices.com on Saint Louis en I'lle. That's our prefered place to stay.

Also check VRBO.com, ParisAttitude.com,FranceforRent.com, and many others under Paris Apartment Rentals. It's very easy.

Regardless of what you consider the "city center," Montmartre isn't it. I like Montmartre well enough, but I'd never choose to stay there unless I wanted to make a special trip to Paris to experience what that particular "village" of Paris was like. Too much schlepping up and down hills, too many (relatively) long métro rides, and too much obnoxious action on the Place du Tertre.

However, it's Paris. It won't be unpleasant. There are plenty of shops and bars and cafés and nightclubs.

FWIW, I wouldn't consider the Bastille area particularly central, either, but it's a lot closer in to the things I usually want to see in Paris than Montmartre is.

As others have said, it's all in what you, personally, are looking for. I'd say that Montmartre is outside of the city "center"...it is in the northern part of the city. But, as you know from prior visits, Paris has excellent public transportation options. And, as with all real estate, you're probably going to get more for your money outside of the center of all the action.

By design, I recently stayed outside of the city center, in an apartment in Les Batignolles.

www.rentalapartmentparis.com

Loved it...loved the neighborhood.
With the metro, I was anywhere I wanted to be within 20 minutes. But my neighborhood had tons of shops, restaurants, cafes...so does Montmartre.

I'd get a good map of the city (I like Streetwise Paris) which overlays metro lines and pencil out what you think you'd like to see while in the city. Then, look at your transportation options and decide where you want to be.

Good luck!

I know I feel the same way I remember it taking 2 metro rides and about 35 mins to get into the city. I hope I can find an apt in city center. Seems there all booked now I'm sad.