Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s most enchanting destinations. Perched on the edge of Normandy near the Brittany border, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a magical island crowned by a centuries-old abbey that feels like stepping into another era. You’ve probably seen it while scrolling through social media, but nothing compares to experiencing it in person. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
View of Mont-Saint-Michel from the bottom of the island
Church of Saint-Pierre – Le Mont-Saint-Michel
Approaching the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Normandy that feels like stepping into another century.
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Book Your Visit to Mont-Saint-Michel
Tickets are available a month in advance of your visit to Mont-Saint-Michel. There are a few options to choose from when booking, but no matter what, you need to know what time you will be there. Keep in mind there are a lot of parking spaces if you are driving, but I’d imagine they’d book up fast in the busy months.
How To Get to Mont-Saint-Michel
There are a variety of ways to get to the holy island of Mont-Saint-Michel. Personally, we flew into Paris and rented a car as we planned on visiting the WWII sites in Normandy afterwards on our own. I don’t recommend driving immediately after you land if you have not slept, but it is an easy way to get there! Keep in mind if you are renting a car and you are not from France, you must have an international driver’s license. If you do not plan to drive to Mont-Saint-Michel, there are plenty of day trips from Paris and beyond that you can find on sites like Trip Advisor. There is also a way to do this by train, but it would take you a long time!
Once you decide how you are getting there, the other question I had when visiting was how I actually got to the island. The answer: You can choose to either walk from where you parked (but it is quite the journey) or you can take a complimentary bus that comes back and forth every so often. We opted for the bus and it was very easy to navigate!
Things to Do at Mont-Saint-Michel
Take in all the beauty! There are plenty of stairs and hills to get your steps in (unfortunately, I don’t think this site is very accessible, but I haven’t looked into that too much). Explore all the ins and outs of every corner to learn more about one of Europe’s major pilgrimage sites and how Bishop Aubert built the church that eventually led the island to become a well-known Christian pilgrimage site. You can learn more about the history here.
Unique doorway on the bottom of Mont-Saint-Michel
Lots of stairs in Mont-Saint-Michel!
Bridge way between buildings
Charming beauty of Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel has no shortage of places to eat, drink, and shop, but it can get crowded — so plan ahead. One of my favorite things to do when visiting new places is to try the local beer.
I’d read on blogs and social media that the food inside the abbey wasn’t anything to rave about, but the atmosphere alone makes it worth stopping for a meal. With plenty of options, even picky eaters will find something, though I can’t promise it will be the best you’ve ever had.
After a long travel day, we kept it simple with pizza and beer at Le Saint Michel Ridel on Grande Rue since it was easy to get a table (it doesn’t have the best reviews, but it was tasty to us).
Views from the end of Grande Rue.
Eating pizza and drinking French beer at Le Saint Michel Ridel Restaurant
Grande Rue – the main street of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Sunset at Mont-Saint-Michel
Lastly, I HIGHLY suggest staying for the sunset at Mont-Saint-Michel. I am certainly no professional photographer, but this photo does not do justice for what an amazing experience this was.
We walked down the bridge a bit and jumped down to the grassy area (which, fun fact, is sometimes underwater depending on the tides). Everyone was doing this to catch the sunset. It’s so peaceful and calming to sit, watch, and listen to the waves. It does get very dark once the sun is down, so definitely make sure you use your cell phone flashlight to get back, if needed. It’s also important to remember the sunset is a lot later than other places in the world. This one was almost 10 p.m. by the time it came. You can view my video of it on our Instagram page linked below.
Where To Stay in Mont-Saint-Michel
If you decide you want to stay before or after your visit to Mont-Saint-Michel (and I suggest you do), it’s possible to stay right on the island. We thought of this a bit too late and everything was booked, so we actually stayed at the Best Western Hôtel Montgomery located in Pontorson. This hotel was only a 10-minute drive to where you park to get to Mont-Saint-Michel and the town of Pontorson is charming with a lot of options for food and drinks nearby. I should also add the drive from Pontorson to Mont-Saint-Michel had a lot of great places to stop and eat/drink along the way. Be sure to take a pit stop at one of the local cider joints!
Outside of Best Western Hotel Montgomery
Stairwell with huge mirror at Best Western Hotel Montgomery.
Hydrangeas outside of Best Western Hotel Montgomery
Courtyard at Best Western Hotel Montgomery.
Breakfast at Best Western Hotel Montgomery. I loved the tea selection!
Bar area at Best Western Hotel Montgomery.
Perfect starry skies outside of Best Western Hotel Montgomery.
Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I hope get to experience this enchanting journey someday! I’ll leave you with my video of my visit to the a song from Bridgerton.
