Mont Saint-Michel had been sitting on my bucket list for what felt like forever. So when we booked a holiday to Paris, it immediately popped up as a “maybe we should…” kind of plan. At first, the idea was to rent a car and do a little road trip, but Paris itself had way too much to keep us busy, so we decided to skip the long journey… at least for a while.
That was until, after days of non-stop walking, I wore my fiancé out. Suddenly, a long train or bus ride sounded like a dream to him—because it meant he didn’t have to move his feet. 😅 And just like that, Mont Saint-Michel was back on the itinerary!
History of Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island in Normandy, crowned with a jaw-dropping abbey and surrounded by some of the most dramatic tides in Europe. It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, but its story stretches way back.
The legend goes that in 708, the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to Saint Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, and instructed him to build a sanctuary in his name. Aubert initially resisted, but after several divine nudges – including one where Michael supposedly poked a hole in Aubert’s skull with his finger, he finally listened. In 966, Benedictine monks moved in, establishing the first church, and soon a whole village sprouted up beneath it to welcome pilgrims.
Through the Middle Ages, Mont Saint-Michel was one of the great pilgrimage destinations, alongside Rome and Santiago de Compostela.
During the Hundred Years’ War, it was turned into a fortress, and thanks to its unique location, it resisted sieges for nearly 30 years. Even quicksand and dramatic tides became allies in keeping invaders out. Later, during the French Revolution, the monks were forced out and the abbey was transformed into a prison. It stayed that way until the mid-1800s.
The island survived the Second World War with minimal damage, though it was occupied by German forces for several years. By 1979, it had earned its spot as a UNESCO site, and today it’s one of the most iconic sights in France—visited by more than 2.5 million people each year.
How to get there
By car
From Paris, it’s about a four-hour drive one way. Parking is plentiful, but unless you’re a fan of eight hours of driving in a single day, you’ll probably want to stay overnight nearby. That way, you can experience both high and low tides, which completely transform the landscape.
By train
There’s no direct train to Mont Saint-Michel. You can take a TGV from Paris to Rennes or Pontorson, then hop on a shuttle bus to the island. The system works well if you plan ahead. Unfortunately, our trip was very last-minute (we decided the night before!), so train tickets were already sold out. You can find more information here https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/unmissable-sites/the-mont-saint-michel/paris-mont-saint-michel-by-train/
Flix bus
There’s also a direct FlixBus option from Paris, which is convenient and budget-friendly. Sadly, the time slots we wanted were sold out, and the remaining ones didn’t leave us with enough time to really explore.
By tour company
In the end, we went with a semi-guided bus tour. The biggest perk was not having to worry about logistics—we just showed up, hopped on, and relaxed. On the way there, we got bits of history and fun facts from our guide, and they had already booked our abbey tickets, which meant skipping the notoriously long lines. We had around four hours at Mont Saint-Michel, which ended up being just enough to see the highlights.
What to do there
Watch the tides
The tides around Mont Saint-Michel are legendary. At high tide, the island looks like it’s floating in the sea, while at low tide it’s surrounded by vast stretches of sand. Both are equally spectacular. Sadly, our timing only let us see low tide, and my photographer self was dying a little inside with FOMO.
Remember to check out the tide schedule.
Check out the bay
At low tide, you can actually walk out into the bay. But fair warning—this isn’t something to do lightly. The tides move fast, and there are dangerous patches of quicksand. For safety (and peace of mind), it’s best to hire a local guide if you want to go far out.
Explore the city
The moment you step through the gates, it feels like stepping into a Harry Potter set. The main street, La Grande Rue, is straight out of Diagon Alley—narrow, winding, and packed with shops and restaurants. It’s also extremely crowded. If you want to avoid the throngs, try coming early in the morning or late in the evening when day-trippers haven’t yet arrived or are already gone.
Walking along the ramparts is a must—the views over the bay and the rooftops of the village are stunning.
Visit the Mont Saint Michel Abbey
The star of the show is, without question, the abbey. It’s a climb to the top, but totally worth it. The abbey’s gothic halls, cloisters, and chapels are breathtaking, especially when you consider how old they are. And the views from the top are spectacular. I highly recommend booking tickets in advance, as they can sell out. You can do that here. We were lucky because our tour had it all pre-arranged.
Consider also getting the audioguide or joining one of the guided tours, which unlock areas that aren’t usually open to the public. We had a small app provided by our tour company that gave us more details about the places we were exploring.
Food & restaurants
Here’s where we failed: we didn’t eat at Mont Saint-Michel. Between the massive crowds and limited time, we couldn’t snag a table anywhere. So, lesson learned—bring snacks just in case. If you do get a chance to eat, try the local lamb. The sheep graze on salty marsh grasses, which gives the meat a unique flavor.
The best views
Don’t just rush to the shuttle bus that takes tourists from the parking lot. Walk instead (it is a 20-30 minute walk) towards the bridge instead. From there, you get picture-perfect views of the mount rising in the distance, giving you time to take in its sheer grandeur and snap a plethora of pictures.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely, yes. While I wish we’d had more time to see both tides and maybe even cross the bay with a guide, our four hours were enough to soak up the atmosphere, explore the abbey, and wander the charming little streets. My fiancé’s feet also thanked me for the bus ride—he was recharged and ready for more Paris adventures the next day.
