Black Montmartre Walking Tour
At a glance
Black Montmartre Walking Tour is a 2h small-group experience in Paris, France, operated by Antonia. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 13 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $45.81 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Tips on what else to see, eat and do in the area, Tour is rain or shine (it rains often in Paris , but usually lightly), Guided by a local who cares about the neighborhood!.
Highlights
- Small group of up to 10 people for a more personal experience
- Free cancellation for flexible planning
- 10 stops in one well-planned itinerary
Quick facts
- Duration
- 2h
- Group
- Small group, up to 10 travellers
- Languages
- English
- Pickup
- Meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (see policy)
Overview
What do medieval winemaking nuns have to do with a 19-year-old Black American girl dancing in a banana skirt in Paris?
On this tour, we connect those dots, tracing how Montmartre came to be, and the larger global forces that drew Black Americans, Africans, and Caribbeans to this very special part of Paris.
On this walk, you’ll get:
A clear, engaging history of Montmartre beyond the usual stories
The chance to see the neighborhood’s major sites through a fresh lens
A local guide who knows how to avoid most of the crowds (and pigeons )
A deeper understanding of how movement and migration shape places, and why Montmartre became a crossroads for Black life and culture
What's included
What's included
- Tips on what else to see, eat and do in the area
- Tour is rain or shine (it rains often in Paris , but usually lightly)
- Guided by a local who cares about the neighborhood!
Not included
- Meals
- Gratuities
- We won't be entering Sacré Cœur, but will be taking in the views.
- We won't be entering the Moulin Rouge
Itinerary
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Stop 1 · 10m
We begin at a small vineyard tucked among apartment buildings, a reminder that Montmartre was once covered in vines. The wine sold here set the stage for a community that would eventually welcome an extension of the Harlem Renaissance.
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Stop 2
We pass one of Montmartre’s most photographed streets and buildings, a picture-perfect moment.
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Stop 3 · 15m
One of the oldest churches in Paris, Saint-Pierre marks Montmartre as sacred ground and a site of pilgrimage for African and Caribbean seminaries in the early 1800s. For years, people from all over the world climbed this hill, tracing the steps of Montmartre’s legendary bishop.
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Stop 4 · 15m
We won’t enter the basilica, but we’ll unpack the tragic events that led to its construction and how they shaped Montmartre’s rebellious, outsider culture.
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Stop 5 · 10m
At Montmartre’s center, where art and politics collide, we revisit post–World War I celebrations honoring Black soldiers, alongside a lesser-known and more troubling commemoration held in the square.
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Stop 6 · 10m
Best known as Picasso's studio, the Bateau-Lavoir gives us a moment to step beyond the famous names and look at the work of lesser-known Black artists who passed through Montmartre, artists shaped by the same precarity, and experimentation that defined the hill.
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Stop 7
We pass by the Moulin de la Galette, once a windmill turned popular dance spot, where working-class Parisians, artists, and outsiders gathered.
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Stop 8 · 5m
In front of the Moulin Rouge, we see how Montmartre’s rebellious spirit spilled downhill into Pigalle’s looser nightlife, creating a rare space that welcomed Black performers.
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Stop 9 · 15m
We stop at the former site of Chez Josephine, where we unpack the performance that made Josephine Baker a star and how it clashed with the ideals of the Negritude movement.
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Stop 10 · 15m
We end at the former site of Le Grand Duc, a hugely popular jazz club and pillar of Paris’s Jazz Age. Here, we trace how that era came to an end and where Black communities in Paris took root afterward.
Meeting point
I'll be standing right at the door! It shouldn't be too crowded, so I'll be easy to spot.
Good to know
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There is some uphill walking
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Black Montmartre Walking Tour take?
The experience lasts about 2h.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $45.81 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
What's included?
Tips on what else to see, eat and do in the area; Tour is rain or shine (it rains often in Paris , but usually lightly); Guided by a local who cares about the neighborhood!.
Where does it start?
I'll be standing right at the door! It shouldn't be too crowded, so I'll be easy to spot.
Can I cancel?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in English.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 13 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in Paris.
