Travelnut

If you need to avoid the bracelet guys, then you'll need to avoid Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel. If you wish to avoid the gold ring scammers, don't go to the Tuileries or Place de la Concorde. If you don't want to be bothered by 'ethnic ladies' interrupting your thoughts one after another, don't try to relax at Champ de Mars. If you don't want to get scammed reading little sad 'stories' on paper (asking for money) then don't stand around Notre Dame.

In other words, you'll have to skip all the touristed areas to avoid being bothered. The easiest way to go and see what you want with minium hassle is to AVOID EYE CONTACT, do not for one second stop to see what they want, WALK AWAY, saying NO as loudly as you like.

Same for the annoying 'snake rattler' touts in Rome, for the life of me I can't figure out why they try to sell those as a souvenir of Italy. (Texas - maybe).

analogue

I've seen jetlagged people fall asleep on the boats.

Hisoka

I met these String guys 3 years ago on my first visit to Paris, and I am still trauma with those experience in my second visit to Paris two days ago, so I avoid Sacre Coer, although I really want to see it again, in a better situation
Let me tell you what happened, at that time I traveled with 4 others friends, we climbed the stairs, we walked very close to each other,and these guys was standing beside us, suddenly three of them stop me and block my way, So I just stood, can't do anything, while they tied the bracelet, tried to make a joke, and after that ask for money, I give them 10 euro (I tried to give 2 euro but they refused)
It's hard to erase that memory, because It would easily happen again.

Kyliebaby3

Whenever I go to Paris, I stay in an apartment steps from the Sacre Coeur. I'm a 30-y-o female, and I've stayed there with my mom, with my boyfriend, with a female friend, and solo. The area up on the butte where the church is feels perfectly safe to me. I believe you're referring to the base, where loads of men hang around trying to sell you things. I don't let them bother me. I simply walk past them and don't stop to listen to their pitches.

The Sacre Coeur is beautiful, particularly at night, and if you're being vigilant, I don't think you'll have a problem. If nothing else, take the #12 metro to Lamarck Caulaincourt (you may recognize this station as the one in Amelie) and walk up the back side of the hill from there. Men avoided; problem solved.

Bon voyage!

Dukey1

IMO it is some of the scary WOMEN you might need to worry about even more..a few of them are in Paris and a few of them a lot closer...

nukesafe

There are other ways to get up to Sacre Couer than walking up the stairs or taking the funicular. You can take the Metro to Place Pigalle and then take the Montmartrebus from there. It is a small (electric) bus that winds its way up the twisty streets. It is an adventure in itself, and no one will try to force you to buy anything. It is the number 64 bus, and it costs the same as any other bus.

annhig

or you can walk up from the metro on the east side, through the very interesting local shops, up the numerous tiers of steps, til you get to the top.