This week, I’m taking you on a trip to visit Mont Saint Michel, one of the most legendary places to discover in France. Its reputation is well deserved, as this small island lost in the middle of the Bay of Mont Saint Michel has some wonderful surprises in store.
Here is a complete guide to visit Mont Saint Michel, with my practical advice and local tips for avoiding the crowds and tourist traps that are inevitable in places like this…
Are you ready? Then let’s head to Normandy and visit Mont Saint Michel !
VISIT MONT SAINT MICHEL AND ITS BAY
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Visit Mont Saint Michel abbey
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Visit Mont Saint Michel village
The village of Mont Saint Michel is also a must-see. Its charming narrow streets decorated with pretty signs and half-timbered houses take us straight back to the Middle Ages! The main street is particularly beautiful, especially in the early morning when it is still bathed in peaceful calm…
And if you look up, you will see a multitude of details and pretty facades, much more interesting than the shops open at their feet…
Don’t hesitate to lose yourself in the narrow, winding streets that lead from the main street up to the abbey. They are sheltered from the crowds and offer another, even more charming side of Mont Saint Michel…
It’s a real maze, but you always end up back at the abbey!
I also recommend taking a tour of the ramparts to admire the view along the way!
And don’t forget to take the alley under the gendarmerie porch (before entering the village) to go around the Mont. You’ll find a quieter, more peaceful spot with a pretty chapel to discover!
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Discover Mont Saint Michel bay with a guide
I highly recommend exploring this exceptional bay if you visit Mont Saint Michel. But be careful not to venture out alone, as the bay is constantly changing… In six hours, the time it takes for the tide to come in and out, the sea recedes 25 km!
Visiting the Bay of Mont Saint Michel with a guide also gives you the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary place. Its fauna, flora, history, and unique features are all highlighted. I chose the walk to the Tombelaine islet (which lasts 3 hours) with guide François Lamotte d’Argy, who is passionate about Mont Saint Michel and its bay: a very good choice!
The guide will take you into the water, the mud, and onto the sand… So bare feet, shorts, and a sweater are a must! You can even experience the famous quicksand, which is really impressive! All your senses will be awakened during the walk, and the landscapes are truly magnificent, sometimes almost lunar!
This is an exciting and exotic walk in one of the most beautiful bays in the world…
For me, three hours was the ideal length of time to really enjoy the bay, get a breath of fresh sea air, and admire Mont Saint Michel from the bay. Please note that there are also 1.5-hour trips (staying close to Mont Saint Michel) and 6-hour trips (complete crossing of the bay).
There are also themed trips: during spring tides, focusing on bird watching, etc. (see “practical information”).
WHERE TO STAY TO VISIT MONT SAINT MICHEL?
Here are some charming places to stay, listed according to your budget, all ideally located for visiting Mont Saint Michel.
There are many accommodations within reasonable distance of the mount that offer very good value for money. But if you prefer to stay directly on the mount, options are scarcer and, above all, much more expensive.
3 recommended accommodations to visit Mont Saint Michel from Paris
VILLA MONS
- 10 minutes from MSM
- Peaceful place with a garden
- From €120
CHÂTEAU DE BOUCÉEL
- Breathtaking scenery
- To live the high life!
- From €280
AUBERGE SAINT-PIERRE
- On Mont Saint Michel
- Historic place
- From €250
HOW TO GET TO MONT SAINT MICHEL : PARKING, SHUTTLES, TICKETS…
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Where is Mont Saint Michel located?
With all due respect to the Bretons, Mont Saint Michel is now in Normandy in the department of Manche. It is located 1 hour from Rennes and 4 hours from Paris by car.
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Visit Mont Saint Michel – parking
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Visit Mont Saint Michel from Paris
It is also possible to get to Mont Saint Michel by train, via Pontorson station. A shuttle bus then runs to the Mont.
A direct line is also available from Paris in 3 hours and 50 minutes (one departure time, for a round trip on the same day).
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Prices and tickets to visit Mont Saint Michel ?
The village is free to visit, but there is a charge for parking and visiting the Abbey.
– Parking: €9.80 per day for a car in low season and €15 in high season
– Abbey: €13 (free for under 25s and job seekers, €9 on presentation of a ticket for the special Paris-Mont Saint Michel train service) – open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May to August and from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the year
Book your skip-the-line ticket here (no extra charge!)
– Guided tour of the bay: around €15 for a 3-hour tour (depending on the tour) – find all the available tours on the tourist office website
WHEN TO VISIT MONT SAINT MICHEL ?
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Which season is the best to visit Mont Saint Michel?
I can only advise you to visit Mont Saint Michel out of season, as the Mont is small and very busy at weekends and during school holidays. Don’t forget that it welcomes between 2 and 3 million visitors a year…
However, if you arrive early enough to be at the Abbey when it opens, you will have the village (almost) to yourself! In winter, you’ll also be able to admire the sunrise over Mont Saint Michel, and maybe even see it appear out of the mist! For instance, visit Mont Saint Michel in December is a nice idea if you are not afraid of cold weather !
It’s a magical sight when the mist gradually lifts, revealing Mont Saint Michel bit by bit…
If you can choose the season, check the tide calendar. Watching the high tides at Mont Saint Michel is one of my dreams… The Mont becomes an island again when the tide reaches a coefficient of 110. This happens quite rarely, depending on the year… The advantage is that the tide calendar is known well in advance: perfect for planning ahead!
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How much time do you need to visit Mont Saint Michel?
I recommend spending the day at Mont Saint Michel if you want to take a walk around the bay. Start with the abbey as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds. Allow around an hour for the visit.
You can then stroll around the village (1 to 2 hours) to round off the morning, and plan your walk around the bay for the afternoon.
WHAT TO DO AROUND MONT SAINT MICHEL ?
The Bay of Mont Saint Michel (15 minutes away): the entire bay of Mont Saint Michel is worth a visit and reveals a wilder side than the area around the Mont… You can explore it by bike or car, particularly to the beautiful Pointe du Grouin.
Saint Suliac and the banks of the Rance (40 minutes): this pretty Breton village is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France! It is located on the banks of the pretty Rance River, a superb spot to discover!
Dinan (55 min): discover its upper town and castle, its medieval streets that invite you to stroll around, and its charming port on the Rance…
Saint Malo (55 min): the pirate city is one of my favorite places in Brittany! With its ramparts, narrow streets, and beautiful beaches, it is a must-see in the region.
Granville and the Cotentin (55 min): a pretty fortified town that is home to the Christian Dior Museum, dedicated to the designer who was born in Granville. It is also the gateway to the Cotentin, a magnificent region combining nature and history… Read my articles on the Route des Caps de la Manche, the Côte des Havres in the Cotentin and the 5 most beautiful places on the east coast of the Cotentin!
WHAT TO BRING BACK FROM MONT SAINT MICHEL ?
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Where to eat on Mont Saint Michel?
I recommend bringing your own picnic if you can, as the restaurants on the Mont are as expensive as they are mediocre, according to unanimous reviews on Google… The only restaurant that seems to please visitors’ taste buds is Au Pèlerin (simple food such as crepes and pizzas).
The famous Mère Poulard is stormed at every lunch break (expect to queue), but the value for money does not seem to match its fame. I obviously didn’t try it (at over €40 for an omelet, it’s easy to lose the appetite!).
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What to bring back from Mont Saint Michel?
In Normandy, with Brittany nearby, there’s no shortage of local products! I recommend the Ferme d’Antan in Pontorson (just a few minutes from the Mont) to stock up on quality regional products!
As with restaurants, the shops located directly on the Mont are more likely to be tourist traps…
There are many specialties: mussels, oysters, salt marsh lamb… You can bring back terrines from the sea and the land,cider,calvados,caramels, or evennavy clothing!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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