I’ve only had the opportunity to visit Mont Saint Michel once, but I’ve returned to it many a time in my mind. Long after other places I’ve traveled have faded into misty memory, Mont Saint Michel has vividly remained.
Located in northern France between Normandy and Brittany, this ancient, Benedictine abbey known as “The Wonder of the West” was constructed between the 11th – 16th centuries in dedication to the Archangel Michael (Michel).
The site remains one of the most visited tourist spots in all of France–more than 2.5 million people visit the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site each year.
For all of the tourism to Mont Saint Michel, however, it can still be fairly complicated trying to figure out how to visit the abbey.
There are tour companies that shuttle you there so you don’t have to worry too much about the details, but if you want more freedom with your time, then I suggest renting a car and visiting the site on your own schedule.
How to Get to Mont Saint Michel
Accessing Mont Saint Michel Parking Area By Car
The parking area can be accessed via the following roads:
- A11 towards Le Mans/Laval, exit at Fougeres then head towards Mont Saint Michel.
- A13 towards Caen, then A84 towards Mont Saint Michel
Visitors arriving by car can park their vehicle in the large parking area. As soon as you arrive, you will be directed to the parking section dedicated to private cars.
Click here for the car park ticket price in euros.
Mont-Saint-Michel’s iconic landscape has been preserved by moving the visitor car parks further inland. The car parks are now located about 1.5 miles away.
When you arrive at the car park, don’t forget to pick up your ticket and keep it secure. When you’re ready to leave, you pay for your parking at the automatic terminals located on the central walkway or to the left of the Tourist Information Centre (refer to the map).
*The parking fee covers the shuttle bus service.
Once parked, you walk around 1/2 mile to the Place des Navettes, where passeurs (shuttle buses) will transport you to the mount.
The shuttle buses operate every day at regular intervals between 7:30am and midnight. You can also choose to walk from the car parks to the mount and take in the grandness of Mont-Saint-Michel as you approach.
Accessing Mont Saint Michel by Train
The closest train station is Pontorson. It can be accessed via the following train lines:
- TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes or Dol de Bretagne, then a coach from Rennes or Dol de Bretagne to Mont Saint Michel.
- Trains from Paris Saint-Lazare to Caen, then a TER train from Caen to Pontorson, then the shuttle bus from Pontorson to Mont Saint-Michel.
- Trains from Paris Montparnasse to Granville, get off in Folligny and get another train to Pontorson, then the shuttle bus from Pontorson to Mont Saint Michel.
In our case, we chose to take an early train from Paris to Rouen, rented a car from the Avis agency at the Rouen train station, and (after a brief tour of Rouen Cathedral) drove onward to our hotel in Ducey–Le Moulin de Ducey–which is only a 20-minute drive to Mont Saint Michel.
Planning to visit Paris as well? Click here…
Where to Stay in Mont Saint Michel
You can stay in a hotel on Mont Saint Michel or in the village nearest the site, but you do have to reserve rooms fairly far in advance due to the tourism popularity.
The hotels located on Mont Saint Michel aren’t rated all that well either, so you’re probably going to be happier staying somewhere nearby.
Ermitage Mont Saint Michel
One of the highest rated places to stay near Mont Saint Michel is Ermitage. It’s a smaller hotel with only 7 rooms, so booking in advance is a must.
Hotel Le Moulin de Ducey
I actually enjoyed staying a little further afield from Mont Saint Michel in the quiet, peaceful hamlet of Ducey.
While not overly fancy, Hotel Le Moulin de Ducey is small but quaint–3 floors with 28 rooms–but situated in a pretty spot overlooking the river.
The staff was very friendly in my experience, and, for the one night I spent there, I have nothing but positive reviews.
Touring Mont Saint Michel
The peak tourist season for Mont Saint Michel is July and August, particularly on weekends, so if you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit during an off season month or at least on a weekday.
There are several different ticket options available, and if you book through a tour group like Viator, there are even more options for guided tours.
For current ticket prices, hours, & tour informaton, click here.
*NOTE: There are around 350 steps to get to the top of Mont Saint Michel where the ticket and tour office is located, and also where you begin your tour. The climb also includes lots of twists, turns, and stairs, so wear comfortable shoes.
Our general admission ticket allowed us to walk all over and through Mont Saint Michel at our own pace, zigzagging back and forth through the ornate and breezy stone rooms. The views are incredible as you slowly make your way back down to the town at the base of the Mont.
Along the way you’ll pass terraced rose gardens, cemteries, and you may even catch glimpses of the residents, including a few cats, who call Mont Saint Michel home.
Dining in Mont Saint Michel
If you need a snack or a meal after the walking tour of Mont Saint Michel, then stop into the hotel La Croix Blanche for some light and quick refreshment.
La Sirene Lochet is also a great option located on the Grande Rue (the main street) of Mont Saint Michel.
Most of the restaurants offer a selection of fresh seafood, omelettes, and savory and sweet crepes.
But if you want to venture further down Le Grande Rue and are in the mood for pizza, then be sure to check out Au Pelerin. It’s perfect for a lunchtime snack.
If you want to try a local beverage, then sample one of the many varieties of cider that are native to the Normandy region of France.
Staying for the Sunset
If you’re not staying on the island, you do have to leave the abbey walls before the structure once again becomes cut off by the rising tides.
While the sunsets are long in coming, I cannot stress enough just how beautiful it gets with every passing hour. We paused to gaze back at Mont Saint Michel, taking pictures well into the night.
It wasn’t until midnight that the sun slowly started to sink below the horizon, and I felt myself engraving the moments of the day into my memories.
Side Trip: Honfleur
If you have the time, then either on your way to Mont Saint Michel or on your way out, take the tiny road to picture-perfect Honfleur. It remains one of the most lovely, “postcard villages” I have ever seen.
Though it was a cold, gray day in May when I visited, I was charmed by the colorful cafes lining the marina. Honfleur is a joy to explore, and I recommend buying a bag of freshly roasted, caramelized nuts from one of the street vendors along the harbor–irresistible fragrance and a taste to match.
Final Thoughts
Mont Saint Michel is never far from me no matter how much time passes since my time spent there.
Many nights, when I’m waiting for sleep, I re-read my journal entries from Mont Saint Michel, and without realizing it, I find myself back in its calm, surrounded by the ever-restless tides, and the faint scent of roses clinging to ancient stone.
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