I had never heard of Mont Saint-Michel until I moved to Paris, and suddenly – my Tik Tok feed was filling up with videos of this castle that looked like it could have come straight out of Rapunzel.

Even though weather in France has been less than optimal this past Spring and now summer, my best friend and I decided to take a trip for the weekend from Paris.

mont saint-michel from afar in the grass — View of Mont Saint Michel from afar; June 2024

Also thinking of traveling to Mont Saint-Michel and possibly taking a day trip from Paris?

Here’s everything you’ll need to know about traveling to Mont Saint Michel:

Everything You Need To Know Before Going to Mont Saint-Michel

Transportation

The most challenging part of Mont Saint-Michel is getting there. Usually, major cities in France have what’s called, “TGV” – or high speed trains to get you from one point to another at rocket speed.

However, there is no TGV train from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel. My friend and I ended up taking the TGV to Saint Malo (a small beach town, think Bruges meets beach), stayed there for the night – and then took a bus to Mont-Saint-Michel, which is around an hour from Saint Malo.

You can also rent a car in Paris and drive to Mont-Saint-Michel, which would be around a 4 hour ride – but this would still require you parking on the outskirts of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Returning to Paris, we took a regular speed train direct from Pontorson (the closest station from Mont-Saint-Michel, which takes around 10 minutes by car to get to from Mont Saint-Michel) – which took around 4 hours.

🏰 How to Get to Mont Saint-Michel From Paris

🚄 TGV to Saint-Malo + Bus

Take the high-speed TGV from Paris to Saint-Malo, then connect via a 1-hour bus to Mont-Saint-Michel.

This is one of the most popular options and works well if you want to pair your trip with time in Saint-Malo.

🚆 Train to Pontorson + Uber

Take a non-high-speed train (about 4 hours) from Paris to Pontorson, then hop in a 10-minute Uber or taxi to Mont-Saint-Michel.

This option is often more affordable and still very straightforward.

🚗 Rent a Car

Renting a car is the most direct option, taking around 3–4 hours depending on traffic.

It’s also the most expensive — but ideal if Mont-Saint-Michel is part of a larger Normandy or Brittany road trip.

Ultimately, I recommend taking the train from either Saint Malo or Rennes – and then taking the bus to Mont Saint-Michel from there.

view from outside the church in mont saint michel — View outside the church in Mont Saint-Michel; June 2024

Food

Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up in Washington D.C., am the daughter of a father from San Francisco, a mother from New York City, and now living in Paris – but the prices for food and souvenirs in Mont Saint-Michel were surprisingly affordable to me.

My friend had muscle and fries for around 14€ and I had a massive garden salad for 12€. These prices in Paris don’t exist, but if you’re from the Midwest of the U.S. – the prices may be on the higher side.

eating at a restaraunt in mont saint michel mussels fries and salad — Muscles & fries and garden salad in Mont Saint Michel

Luggage Hold

You can leave you luggage at the tourism office for 2€ per locker, and from there – it’s around a 30 minute walk or a few minutes on the “Navette” – or the little trolly/shuttle bus you can take to cross the bridge and bring you back to the tourism office.

Cost

Souvenirs and eating are relatively affordable on Mont Saint-Michel despite it’s remote location and charming experience.

The most costly thing to plan for will probably be the ticket up the church, or the “abbaye” – which cost around 13€ or free if your a resident in the EU under 26.

Just remember, there are no grocery stores or pharmacies on Mont Saint-Michel!

Therefore, it’s best to bring any snacks or medications you may need with you for the day.

view of the bay or "moat" in mont saint-michel — View of the bay or “moat” in Mont Saint-Michel; June 2024

Accommodation

There are hotels on Mont Saint-Michel itself, but they can be expensive.

I’d recommend looking into one of the hotels near the tourism office if you’re really set on staying in Mont Saint Michel.

How long should I stay in Mont Saint-Michel?

One day in Mont Saint-Michel is plenty.

Honestly, Mont Saint-Michel is so tiny – you can do it within a few hours.

It makes for the perfect day trip, as there really isn’t more to do there for more than a day.

view of mont saint-michel cloudy day — View of Mont Saint Michel; June 2024

Can I do a day trip to Mont Saint Michel from paris?

You can do a day-trip from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel, but it would be extremely tiring – as it would take a minimum of 4 hours to get there via train and possibly longer via bus or car.

It’s best to stay the night, even if it’s in a nearby city such as Saint Malo or Rennes.

🏰✨ Things to Do in Mont Saint-Michel

Since Mont Saint-Michel is so tiny, there isn’t a whole lot to do — but these are the four main experiences that truly make the visit special.

🏘️ Explore the Town

Exploring the town itself is the main selling point of Mont Saint-Michel. Eat at local restaurants with views of the bay, wander through gift shops, and slowly explore the winding medieval streets.

🌊 Quick Sand Tour

If the rising and low tide of the bay intrigues you, guided tours allow visitors to explore the surrounding sands and moat. If you opt for this experience, consider staying overnight to have time to clean up and enjoy the rest of the island without rushing.

⛪ L’Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

For the best views of the bay — and a miniature version of the Alhambra — the abbey is an absolute must-see while visiting Mont Saint-Michel.

🏖️ Walk Along the “Beach”

It smells like the beach, but the sand won’t slip between your toes — it feels more like clay. If it’s not too windy, this is a peaceful spot to read a book, people-watch, or write in a journal.

crowds in mont saint-michel — Mont Saint Michel old town; June 2024

Tips for Mont Saint-Michel

Here are some of the things I wish I knew about Mont Saint-Michel before going:

Seagulls will try to eat your food in this region of France. We had one steal a caramel beurre salé crêpe right out of our plate! It’s best to sit in a covered restaurant if you don’t feel like sharing your food.
There’s only one “free” bathroom we could find on the island. Make use of your time when in restaurants to use the bathroom.
It gets crowded at the end of the day. If you can stomach it, going to Mont Saint Michel earliest is best to avoid the mass of people and enjoy to its full potential.
If you want to walk around the beach, try and look up when the tide is expected to reach a high – or go whenever you see that it’s walk able before it’s covered in water!
You can use card every where on the island, don’t worry about needing cash.

🏰🇫🇷 FAQs on Mont Saint-Michel 🇫🇷🏰

💶 Do I need cash for Mont Saint-Michel?

No, we were able to use our cards everywhere on Mont Saint-Michel — but I would still carry cash here just in case.

🧥 What should I wear to Mont Saint-Michel?

I would aim to wear layers, as even during the summer you can get gloomy days. Also, try to wear comfortable shoes you don’t care about — especially if you decide to go walk on the beach, as the sand is very clay-like and might stick to your shoes.

☀️ When is the best time of year to visit Mont Saint-Michel?

If you want to take a day trip to Mont Saint-Michel, especially from Paris, the best time of year is no doubt summer — as you’ll have long daylight hours to make the most of the adventure to this iconic French castle in Normandy.

🚆 How long does it take to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris?

Whether it be by train, bus, or car — you’re looking at a little over 4 hours each way to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris.

Want to see a snippet of our Mont Saint Michel adventures in action?

Watch my YouTube video below!

Looking for more information on France as you plan the rest of your trip?

Click here to discover more, as I have several articles like this to help you plan the perfect trip to Paris and the rest of France.

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Last updated: January 27, 2026

How to Get to Mont Saint-Michel + Tips for a Day Trip