Montmartre/Sacré Coeur, Paris

beware of the black scammers in front of montmartre, they are thiefs and drug dealers.
They sell cocaine and weed.
They also harrass and insult in différent language tourist who pass by their self-claimed territory.

Unique Suggestions: beware of the black scammers in front of montmartre, they are thiefs and drug dealers.
They sell cocaine and weed. They also steal mobile phones from tourist especially womens because they can't defend themselves.
They also harrass and insult in différent language tourist who pass by their self-claimed territory.

Fun Alternatives: get the other side instead from the right side of the hill. It's a quieter place and there are less people. stick together in group.

beware of the black scammers in front of montmartre, they are thiefs and drug dealers.
They sell cocaine and weed.
They also harrass and insult in différent language tourist who pass by their self-claimed territory.

Unique Suggestions: beware of the black scammers in front of montmartre, they are thiefs and drug dealers.
They sell cocaine and weed. They also steal mobile phones from tourist especially womens because they can't defend themselves.
They also harrass and insult in différent language tourist who pass by their self-claimed territory.

Fun Alternatives: get the other side instead from the right side of the hill. It's a quieter place and there are less people.

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I was with a group of american friends who wanted to eat at the square after visiting the Sacre Coeur. I warned them that the possibility of getting food is slim and that it is a crime to eat badly in Paris. yet they insisted , impatient to wait a few more minutes till i found them a restaurant and chose to eat at La Mere Catherine. It has to be without doubt the worst food I have eaten in all my visits to Paris.

Unique Suggestions: JUst do not eat in the square, walk down and look for a restaurant if you are that hungry the food is slightly better down the stairs and if you are not that hungry , take the metro and go to another arondissement and eat at another chosen place..

I've read through this thread after the fact, unfortunately. Some of these guys in fact, do NOT leave you alone after you give them a stern "no". I appeared to be by myself because I was walking ahead of my husband and mother. When approached, I kept walking and told the guy "no" about three times as he followed me. He then grabbed my arm sternly and asked "What you mean no?" I then flipped out and told him to get the &^% off me and he got in my face and called me a mother&^%& repeatedly. I backed away from him and at that point my husband was behind the guy as he cursed at me so he swung the guy around and pushed him out of the way. Maybe these guys aren't so aggressive if they see a man or a couple. But as far as I'm concerned, there's at least one out there that if you appear to be a young woman by yourself he will use physical force on you. Luckily, the other bracelet guys did not attempt to jump my husband and/or rob any of us and seemed unhappy this guy caused such a commotion.

Unique Suggestions: I wouldn't even go there. Not worth the hassle.

These bracelet sellers really annoyed me! I'd encountered them before, but this time when I went with my girlfriend they were really pushy. I actually had to physically push one away to stop him from grabbing my girlfriends arm. Like everyone else says, they are a rip off, and I reckon a blight on a great tourist attraction. Push straight past them, and keep yelling NO! as much as you have to!

Be Careful!! There are a few Rasta-guys who put strings around your wrist and begin making you a lovely multi-colored bracelet before you can get away!! After they finish, they expect you to pay 20 Euros for it!! I don't think so! They grabbed me and my daughter before we knew what was happening. Luckily we only had 5 Euro on us and they took it. I told them I'd give them the bracelet back.....

Unique Suggestions: Avoid these guys...do not make eye contact and don't let them grab your arm!

Fun Alternatives: Take the funicular to the top and you can avoid these guys pretty much - plus miss all the lovely stairs :-)

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I recently visited Sacre Coeur and Montmartre (June 10th) with my daughter and several of her classmates. We all looked forward to our evening in Montmartre and our dinner in the square, especially the girls. In fact most of the girls planned to have their portraits made by the local artists as a gift for their parents and as a reminder of the trip.

After a wonderful and memorable dinner, small groups took turns having their pictures painted or sketched. Trying to capture as many memories as possible, I followed several around through the square and took pictures while the artists worked. We had been warned on numerous occassions about pickpocketing while in Paris, and I thought I had followed our guide's instructions pretty well. Unfortunately, the pickpocketers in this area seem to prey on tourists doing exactly what I was- taking pictures. When I walked up on my daughter having a sketch made, I unzipped my purse for a split second, grabbed my camera, and leaned in to the crowd to take a picture. A college-age group (looking like tourists themselves) leaned in over me/on top of me, and before I could snap a picture, one of the girls had her hand in my purse. I believe they were looking for someone like me to drop their guard for a second, and the square presented the perfect opportunity due to people leaning into the crowd to observe the local artists at work.
Three chaperones in our group had the same experience, and after the third encounter, our guide immediately wisked us away to the nearest metro stop.

The evening was still wonderful, despite the incidents, and Sacre Coeur was breathtaking (literally and figuratively). I still view the experience as one of the best nights of our trip, I simply regret our evening being cut short due to the pickpocketing. There was so much more to see and do in the area...I will have to go back again, but maybe next time without a purse!

Unique Suggestions: You may want to keep your cameras in hand or on a strap, not back and forth in purses, and be on guard when others lean in especially in the artist square.

It's been four years that I first visited Paris and I've always found these guys around Monmartre. They're tall and strong and offer you to put any of your fingers inside a tie of a "magical string" they have. They seem very kind and all but, if you cooperate, they'll pull off from one of the extremes of the wool string and your finger will be their best capture. They may ask you for 5 or 10 or 20 euros in exchange of its liberation.

Unique Suggestions: Don't even pay attention to them or anyone who says that your face (nose/chin/hands...) is extremely beautiful and want to make a picture of them for themselves. Just imagine that they don't exist.

I can attest to the previously mentioned tourist traps, the bracelet guys will pursue you. Anyone who goes to the basilica will have to deal with them I'm afraid. When I went to the Sacre Coeur there were only 4 of the bracelet guys there. One approached me and I said "No" he persisted and I went into a pretty clear "Nonononononononononono!' he chuckled, patted me on the back and they left me alone.

Unique Suggestions: There were only 4 bracelet guys when I went because I went before 8am. Really early. So early the hill was almost deserted. It was a lovely morning, and Montmartre was almost the Montmartre you can see in Amélie. I really enjoyed the hill because there were no freaking tourists there. It was beautiful. But soon the crowds began and I moved on from Montmartre, but I'll never forget my deserted morning there.

Writers complain about the bracelet guys. These people are all over the world in one way or another. You do not have to be rude. Just look them straigt in the eye and say, "no thank you," and keep walking. They are only as pushy as you let them be. Monte Marte is beautiful and you shouldn't let this type of thing bother you.

Unique Suggestions: It's not a matter of if you have to go to Sacre Cour. Go. You do not have to be rude to the bracelet guys. Just be polite, look them straigt in the eye, smile and say, "no thank you," and keep walking. They are only as pushy as you let them be. Monte Marte is beautiful and you shouldn't let this type of thing bother you.

Fun Alternatives: There is no reason to not go. It is beautiful at the Cathedral. Near by are lots of open air shops and restaurants.