Located off the coast of Normandy, the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel is home to a population of just 30 sheltered inside the fortifications dating back to the religious battles of the 6th century. The unique nature of the UNESCO-listed island has led to many of its structures and fortifications being protected under France’s historic monuments act, including the 16th-century abbey standing proudly at its summit. Historically, low tide has brought many religious pilgrimages to the island, while today, Mont Saint-Michel is popular with castle-hunting tourists.
Despite the commune’s small size, there are many attractions both on the island and on the mainland. Wander along the ramparts to find historic stone buildings, boutique hotels and plenty of photo opportunities. Stroll the Grand Rue – a cobblestone pathway filled with restaurants and cafés – and stop at the Museum of Logis Tiphaine. During your visit, make sure to climb the grand staircases and observation towers to soak up the picturesque views of the abbey’s gothic spires. The mainland also offers sprawling views from Baie Du Mont-Saint-Michel and the Cancale fishing village.
Most visitors to Mont Saint-Michel take the train from Paris to Rennes before boarding the shuttle to the island. However, the commune is also accessible from the French capital via a four-hour drive.
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| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.07 |
| Language | French |
| Average weekend price | $195 per night |
| Average weekday price | $202 per night |
| Average stay | 1 night |
We followed travel advice and arrived very late in the...
May 30, 2024
We followed travel advice and arrived very late in the afternoon. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a restaurant just after the entrance to the island and then climbed the stairs to our accommodation. The island was quiet and peaceful as all the day trippers had gone. In the morning we enjoyed an early breakfast at the restaurant and were ready to enter the abbey at 9 AM with only a small group of people. Upon leaving the crowds were growing as we had heard they would, and we were glad we followed the advice we had been given. Take time to explore all the passageways and the cemetery. Be warned that you will climb literally hundreds of steps.
A magical place best viewed in early morning or late...
May 30, 2024
A magical place best viewed in early morning or late afternoon evening. Otherwise, there are a lot of tourists clogging the narrow medieval streets. I recommend an overnight stay to fully enjoy this place.
This is an iconic location to visit.
May 24, 2024
This is an iconic location to visit. But like many tourist experiences, it is drifting a little into theme park territory. The abbey is many years past being used in a religious context (in part because it was converted into a prison by Napoleon after the revolution). So the cathedral has lost some of its soul. But the history is rich, and the location is amazing. The views are wonderful, and after the tourists have left for the day, the island is well worth exploring.
The Abbey tour itself was nice, but the mob we had to...
May 10, 2024
The Abbey tour itself was nice, but the mob we had to struggle thru to get there was a nightmare. And when we were done with the tour? Wall to Wall humanity. As if they dropped Euro Disney into the middle of the medieval walkways. We were here the first week of May, before the U.S. tourists even started arriving. I cannot imagine how awful this would have been with even more people. This is a magnificent place, well worth seeing ... FROM A DISTANCE. The walkways to the Mont were utterly jammed with people, and after a 40 minute wait the shuttles were stuffed like sardines. STAY AWAY! (Or maybe go in February or something). Take a photo from a distance and KEEP ON DRIVING.
The shuttles from the hotel complex are free and run every...
May 9, 2024
The shuttles from the hotel complex are free and run every 10mns or so. It's also a lovely 2km walk from the hotel if you want to avoid the packed shuttle. Don't bother spending a fortune on the hotels as they're all in the same place and are all about the same really. The restaurant Le Pré Salé is the best and is a must if you're into good food. Book early though! I recommend going in the evening to the mont st michel after 3pm when crowds start to leave. We went around 12pm and it was very busy despite it being a Monday mid season. The self guided audio tour is great and well worth it. And food is outrageously expensive in the Mont village and really not so good. Best bring a picnic and save your money for a nice restaurant in the evening. All this said, a fabulous day out!
Mont St Michel is wonderful to visit.
April 29, 2024
Mont St Michel is wonderful to visit. The accommodation however was very poor and in an annex which was hard to find. The room was small and in very bad condition. Light switch hanging off the wall, tv and bedside lights did not work and space very limited. We had to persuade the restaurant staff that we had prepaid for dinner! Would certainly pick another hotel if we returned, which we won’t.
Le Mont Saint Michel, France
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