Paris' Montmartre battles overtourism post-Olympics

By Michaela Cabrera and Lauren Bacquie

PARIS (Reuters) -Residents of Montmartre in Paris are sounding the alarm over overtourism, fearing their picturesque hilltop neighbourhood could become the next Barcelona or Venice, as tourist numbers spike following last year's Olympic Games.

While Paris has so far avoided the large-scale protests seen in Spain and Italy, some of its most iconic areas are starting to feel the strain. Stringent housing regulations and the city's size have helped, but locals who live on the cobbled streets of Montmartre say change is urgently needed.

Anne Renaudie, who has lived in the area for 29 years and heads the Vivre à Montmartre association, said the historic quarter made famous by the 2001 film "Amelie" now resembles a theme park.

"People come for three hours, have fun, buy a beret or a crepe, and leave — as if they were in an amusement park," she told Reuters. Meanwhile, essential food shops for residents are vanishing, replaced by snack stands and souvenir stalls.

"We're down to two or three butchers, two cheese shops. They're disappearing one after the other," she said. "Now it's a lot of ice cream, crepes, taco places."

Her association has proposed measures to the town hall similar to those in other European tourist hotspots: limiting tour groups to 25 people, banning loudspeakers, and raising the tourist tax.

Tourism in the Paris region reached 48.7 million visitors in 2024, with about 11 million visiting Montmartre annually, largely to see the photogenic Sacre-Coeur basilica. The narrow streets have become clogged with tour groups, leaving locals frustrated.

"Sometimes I have to really raise my voice and say, 'Sorry, I want to pass'," said Anthea Quenel, 44, a mother of two and local resident.

And things may only get busier. Paris officials say 2025 is shaping up to be a bumper tourist year, with a 20% rise in January bookings over the same month last year.

Eric Lejoindre, mayor of the 18th arrondissement, which includes Montmartre, said rising housing prices could drive residents out.

"For me, the big issue is housing. That means fighting against Airbnb and rental platforms," he said.

Real estate prices in Montmartre have risen 19% over the past decade, according to website meilleursagents.com. A 40-square-metre apartment near Place du Tertre can now fetch around 500,000 euros ($572,000).

To address this, Paris has tightened short-term rental rules, reducing the annual limit on renting out a primary residence from 120 to 90 days.

Even small things, like the cost of a scoop of ice cream — which can set you back 5 euros, reflect the shift from neighbourhood to tourist zone.

"It's like Disneyland," Quenel lamented.

($1 = 0.8739 euros)

(Writing by Michel RoseEditing by Ros Russell)