Exploring the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel: A Complete Guide
Have you ever heard of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel in France? If you have, we're sure it's on your bucket list, and if you haven't, then you'll certainly want to add it to your bucket list.
The small tidal island has a striking and law-defying abbey perched on top, making it one of the most unique attractions in France, and a photographer's dream.
In this guide we're going to share all of the details for visiting the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, so that you can have a perfect stay without the crowds.
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📍 Where is the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel?
The abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is located off of the Normandy coast in the north west of France, and sits at the mouth of the Couesnon River.
How to Get to Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
Now that you know where Mont-Saint-Michel is in France, let's go over the different options for how to get there.
✈️ What is the Closest Airport to Mont-Saint-Michel?
The closest airport to Mont-Saint-Michel is Rennes, which is 64 km inland, and is an hour drive.
Cities that fly direct to Rennes include Amsterdam, Belle Ille, Birmingham, Chambery, Cologne, Dinard, Dublin, Frankfurt, Laval, London, Lyon, Marseille, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Saint-Brieuc, Toulouse, and Valence.
If you are coming from outside of Europe or even outside Western Europe, you're best bet is to fly into Paris, which has many more options when it comes to flights.
🚗 Can You Drive a Car to Mont Saint Michel?
You can't drive a car to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. However, you can drive to the parking lot of the road that connects to the town.
The parking lot is where the shuttles run back and forth to Mont-Saint-Michel, and the price depends on how long you stay. (We'll go over prices for everything in the price & timetable section).
🚐 Can You Do a Day Trip from Paris to Mont Saint Michel?
If you're staying in Paris and want to visit the abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel, then you can in fact do a day trip there.
Being 4 hours away, it certainly isn't the most ideal option, but it's definitely possible.
You can either rent a car from Paris or take the train from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel and go on your own, or you can take one of the tours to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris that we've included below.
Mont-Saint-Michel Price & Timetable
Before getting into what to experience in Mont-Saint-Michel, we're going to cover the costs for visiting, and hours of operation for the transportation, and the ticket for the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
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🕘 Hours of Mont-Saint-Michel in France
The city of Mont-Saint-Michel is open 24/7, and can be reached by the shuttles throughout the day.
🚐 Shuttle Times for Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel:
- High season 7 am to 1 am
- Shoulder season 7:30 to 11:00 pm
- Low season 8:30 to 10:00 pm
* If you need a shuttle outside of the regular operating hours, you can contact +33 214132015
⛪️ Hours for Visiting the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
While the city is free to visit 24/7, the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel requires a ticket, and can be visited between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm.
💶 What is the Cost of Mont-Saint-Michel?
There are a few costs involved in visiting Mont-Saint-Michel. Tours to Mont-Saint-Michel typically include all of the expenses (like the transportation and ticket for the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel), and can range from $25 to $200 depending on where you are taking the tour from.
The price of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is 11 euros to enter, and 3 euros for an audio guide.
Shuttles are free of charge, but parking in the lot costs:
- 17 euros for 1-3 hours
- 21 euros for 3-6 hours
- 25 euros for more than 6 hours
🎫 How Do I Book Mont-Saint-Michel?
Tours to Mont-Saint-Michel can be booked on Viator or Get Your Guide within 24-28 hours of visiting.
For shuttle buses, you can simply show up and hop on the next shuttle without reservation. If you do want to take a shuttle outside of the regular business hours, you'll simply have to arrange that in advance by calling the number +33 214132015.
For tickets to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel you can simply purchase them at the ticket office upon arrival, or right on the Mont-Saint-Michel website within one month of visiting.
💸 How Much Does it Cost to Go From Paris to Mont Saint Michel?
Taking a day trip from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel can be a bit costly, but certainly worth it! Here are the different options for doing so:
🚗 Renting a car: approx. 70-120 + gas + 11 for the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
🚆 Taking the train: approx. 30 euros each way + 11 for the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
🚐 Taking a tour: approx. 140-200
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Amenities at Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is a small city, so it actually has plenty of resturants and hotels on site.
The restaurants mostly opened in the late morning, and were closed by 4 or 5:00. There are a couple of spots open for dinner, and a few of the restaurants were closed on certain days of the week. Remember, it's a small town, so there aren't a ton of options.
🏨 Where to Stay in Mont-Saint-Michel
Here are some of the hotels you can choose from:
- Les Terrasses Poulard: simple medieval style rooms with a connected restaurant serving regional cuisine
- Auberge Saint Pierre: located on the main street with a traditional restaurant and breakfast buffet included
- Le Mouton Blanc: at the foot of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel with a dining room, terrace, and water activities available upon request
- Hôtel La Croix Blanche: has nice views, a bar, and a terrace
- Chez Adèle: house with two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a little garden
- La Vieille Auberge: has a beautiful restaurant and a terrace
- La Mère Poulard: has a restaurant, piano bar, and breakfast buffet included
- Le Relais Saint Michel: has a breakfast buffet included, and most rooms have their own terrace with panoramic views
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Experiencing Mont-Saint-Michel in France
Now let's dive into exactly what you should expect while visiting Mont-Saint-Michel in France!
Things to Do at Mont-Saint-Michel
There are quite a few ways to enjoy Mont-Saint-Michel. Despite its small size, you can enjoy a few different activities for the perfect day in this stunning city.
🌊 Walk Around the Beach of Mont-Saint-Michel
The striking formation of Mont-Saint-Michel is definitely one of the things that makes it so alluring for tourists to visit, and the best way to actually appreciate its beauty is from the dunes surrounding it.
Take some time to walk around the outskirts of the island, and if you have a drone, we highly recommend taking some footage here.
🕍 Visit the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
The number one attraction here is the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, which is one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.
Dating back to the 10th century, this magnificent abbey sits at the top of Mont-Saint-Michel, and has a a variety of beautiful rooms, a cathedral, and balconies with panoramic views of the natural landscapes surrounding the island.
After visiting the rooms on the inside, you'll be able to appreciate great views from the balconies outside, at the top of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Tickets are 11 euros to enter the abbey, and most people spend anywhere from a half hour to an hour going through the different areas and learning about the history.
It's very popular to get a guide for this, but you can also get an audio guide with your ticket for just an extra 3 euros.
It's great to get a guide for the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
🚶🏻♀️ Explore the Town of Mont-Saint-Michel
While the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is the highlight of the city, don't forget to roam through the charming alleyways.
The main street runs through the center of the island, and you'll find small cobblestone streets weaving to the outside walls of the city, and connecting up to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
We'd leave at least an hour to just roam the streets, pop into souvenir shops, and admire the views around the island.
