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Mont Saint Michel is a medieval village full of narrow streets leading uphill to a fairytale abbey at the top of the rocky island. This tidal island is cut off from the mainland at high tide. It is gorgeous and a bucket list item for many people. In fact, 2.5 million people every year, up to 15,000 per day. Continue reading for how to plan the perfect day trip to Mont Saint Michel from Paris France.
Plan Your Day Trip to Mont Saint Michel
Is Mont Saint Michel Worth Visiting?
Yes! Mont Saint Michel is one of the most famous French monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It holds historical and religious significance and is unique in that the island can only be accessed during low tide.
When is the best time to visit Mont Saint Michel?
Summer is the high season at Mont Saint Michel. Expect temperatures in the 70s and large crowds. May and September are the shoulder season. Temperatures are mild and crowds thin. Mont Saint Michel is foggy and cold in the winter months. The best time to see the island at high tide is on a full moon or a new moon.
What hours is Mont Saint Michel open?
Mont Saint Michel is open 24 hours. Shuttle service begins at 7:30 am and the Abbey opens at 9 am.
How to Structure Your One Day in Mont Saint Michel
- Park in lot 9 or 10 and take the shuttle to the entrance
- Walk to the top and visit the abbey first
- Explore La Grande Rue, the main street, on your way back down
Things to Do in Mont Saint Michel
- Walk across the bay or explore it by bike
- Walk along the ramparts and walls
- Shop for souvenirs along La Grande Rue
- Tour the famous abbey
- Eat giant souffle omelets at La Mère Poulard
- Learn about the island’s 1,300-year history at the Museum of History
- Photograph the island in the distance from Barrage sur le Couesnon
- Learn about the tides at the Maritime Museum
- Stop at Logis Tiphaine and tour a 14th-century residence of a medieval knight
- Take a horseback ride along the coast with Mont Saint Michel in the background
Check the Mont Saint Michel Tourism Board website for festivals and special events.
How to Visit Mont Saint Michel from Paris
Mont Saint Michel is located 1 mile off the coast of Normandy. It is 222 miles from Paris, 50 miles north of Rennes, and 34 miles east of Saint-Malo. Dinatd-Pleurtuit-Sant-Malo is the closest airport to Mont Saint Michel. The closest town is Pontorson.
By Train: To visit Mont Saint Michel by train take the TGV (France’s intercity high-speed rail train) from Gare Montparnasse in Paris to Rennes. The train ride will be about two hours and cost around €56. From Rennes, a coach bus runs to Mont-Saint-Michel and takes about an hour and 20 minutes. A one-way coach ticket is around €15. The bus drops you off at the Mont Saint Michel’s tourism office outpost and from there you can take a free shuttle or walk.
Organized Tour: Organized tours from Paris are the easiest way to take a day trip. The tour is 14 hours and departs the city at 7:30 am. They arrive at Mont Saint Michel at the busiest part of the day.
Self-Drive: The drive to Mont Saint Michel from Paris is 4.25 hours one way. This mode is best when taking a road trip through Brittany and/or Normandy.
Where do I park to visit Mont Saint Michel?
Parking lots 9 and 10 are closest to the shuttle stop. Parking costs 15 euro at the time of this writing. It is free to ride the shuttle to the island. The shuttle runs from 7:30 am to midnight and takes about 15 minutes.
When is the Mont Saint Michel Abbey open?
The Abbey is open from 9 am to 6 pm and entrance is by timed ticket. Tickets cost 10 euro and do sell out, order online to ensure you are able to get in.
Can I spend the night at Mont Saint Michel?
Yes, it is possible to stay overnight in the medieval village. Try the Auberge Saint-Pierre. There are also several hotel options on the mainland.
Tips for visiting Mont Saint Michel
- The weather is unpredictable, be prepared for rain, wind, and/or cold
- The tide comes in twice a day and floods quickly, know the tides if you plan to walk in the bay
- You cannot drive onto the island, you must park and take the shuttle
- Arrive early and plan to spend about 4 hours
- Visit before 10 am, the island becomes very crowded with organized tours after that
- Use parking lot 9 or 10, they are close to the ticket booth, transit area, and walkway
- Shuttle service from the car park begins at 7:30 am
- It is a 1.25-mile walk to the island from the car park, about a 45-minute walk
- The abbey is another 350 steps after walking up the narrow streets
- Buy tickets for the abbey online and be there before opening
- Food is expensive, consider bringing a picnic lunch
- Bring a refillable water bottle and watch for free fountains
- Many organized tours reserve tables at restaurants and get in line as soon as the restaurant opens
- The city is full of stairs and is not stroller friendly
- If you drive be aware of French toll roads and set Google Maps to avoid them
- There are strict regulations for drone use at Mont Saint Michel. The drone must be approved by local police and flown only during the day at least 100 meters away from the island with permission from the French Government.
Mont Saint Michel Facts
- Mont Saint Michel is a small island, 960 meters in circumference and 92 meters high.
- The Abbey sits 157 meters above the shoreline
- Construction began in 708 AD and took 1300 years
- The area has the largest tides in Europe, up to 14 meters
- It was built using a feudal hierarchy with God at the top followed by the Abbey and monastery. Then the great halls, stores, and housing. Fisherman and farmer housing was at the bottom
- Mont Saint Michel was used as a prison during the French Revolution
- It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979
- Mont Saint Michel was NOT a filming location of Game of Thrones, but it did inspire the castle in the animated movie Tangled and Gondor in the Lord of the Rings
- 25-30 people live on Mont Saint Michel
What is the history of Mont Saint Michel?
Mont Saint Michel was built in the 8th Century. Its location on a rocky island provided natural fortifications and gave it a strong defensive position during medieval times. Later, during the Hundred Year War with England, Mont Saint Michel became a symbol of the French resistance and it withstood the siege for 30 years.
What is the religious significance of Mont Saint Michel?
Mont Saint Michel is located away from the mainland and the distractions of the world. 5 monks and 9 nuns still live in the Abbey and hold religious services. Mont Saint Michel became a pilgrimage site in the 8th century. Climbing the steep staircase symbolizes an ascent to spiritual enlightenment and many pilgrims make the climb for spiritual solace and believe they would receive divine intervention. Regardless of religious beliefs, there is something special about visiting the Abbey before the crowds arrive.
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