A trip to France may seem incomplete without a visit to the wonder that is Mont-Saint-Michel.
Here is our complete guide to plan a 1-day trip from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel: your options for car, train, organized tours, private tour… And all our tips to have a good day!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Excursion from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel
Can we visit the Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris in 1 day?
Yes. It is possible.
The day will be long, very long. You should plan to leave early and return late. But it is quite feasible.
And you must realize that you will spend more time in transportation than on site.
Is it worth it?
It depends.
If you only have 3 days in Paris and it’s your first time visiting the French capital, there are enough great places to see there. We do not recommend it.
If you are staying in Paris for a week, then taking a day trip to discover the unique place that is the Mont-Saint-Michel is worth it.
However, you should know that it is a very touristy and small place. If you don’t like crowds, you may find that it’s not worth it. In this case, we recommend you to spend a night there, because the experience is exceptional. Read more about this.
Where is Mont-Saint-Michel in relation to Paris? How far away? Card
Beware, on a map, it may look close but it is not next door.
- West of Paris, almost in a straight line
- On the border between Normandy and Brittany
- Distance as the crow flies = 284 km (177miles)
- Distance by road = 360 km (224 miles)
- Driving time from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel = 4h to 4h30 (depending on traffic jams)
How long does it take to get from Paris to Mont Saint Michel?
Travel time depends on your mode of transportation:
- By car: 4h to 4h30
- By bus (organized tour): 4h to 4h30
- by train: 4h to 5h depending on the options – but you have to add the waiting time between trains and buses (that can make it 5 to 7h). We warn you right away, it’s not easy
It takes a 14 hour day to have some time to explore.
How to visit Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris: best options
The top 3 options are:
- On an organized tour
the road is still faster and with a driver, you will not be tired.
This is the option we recommend when you only have one day.
See the options on Viator or on Getyourguide. - By car
to have as much freedom as possible and more time on site – but you will have to drive a lot
Book your car on our preferred platform - By train
the best option is the TGV to Rennes and then the bus, but you have to make sure you get there because there are a limited number of buses during the day. There is no direct train.
Book your train ticket
We clarify each option in detail in the following sections.
And for even more tips, check out our full article on visiting Mont-Saint-Michel.
How long to visit Mont-Saint-Michel
If you go alone without a guide, we advise you to plan a minimum of 3 hours on site, but 5 or 6 hours will be more comfortable.
We saw people leaving after 2 hours but it was impossible to get the atmosphere, to visit the abbey and the whole village in 2 hours.
Don’t forget that once at the parking lot you still have to take the shuttle (15 min) or walk to the village (50min).
Be careful though, if you have difficulty getting around, Mount Saint Michael will be a difficult place for you.
There are many slopes, uneven pavements and stairs.
Opening hours
The Mont-Saint-Michel remains open at all hours. It is a village.
The shuttle operates from 7:30 a.m. to at least 11:00 p.m. in summer and from 8:30 a.m. to at least 10:00 p.m. in winter.
The abbey is open at least from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm – reserve your entryslot
The museums are open at least from 10 am to 5 pm.
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Option 1 – Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel in an organized tour
Benefits
- Easy – no headaches to plan
- Possibility to sleep in the bus
- No fatigue from doing a lot of driving
- You can look at the scenery or do something else on the way
- Lots of additional information provided by the guide to learn more about the place
Disadvantages
- The noise of the group
- Less freedom in planning – limited time on site (about 3 hours), you have to leave when the bus leaves!
Book
If you are traveling in the summer, we advise you to book early to make sure you have a seat.
This is one of the most popular excursions in France.
Choose one that includes the entrance ticket to the abbey. It would be a shame to come and not visit it at the top of the island.
See all options on Viator or on Getyourguide.
Our additional tips
We advise you to sit on the right side of the bus. That way, on the road, as you approach Mont-Saint-Miche, you will see it in the distance.
We advise you to take without the lunch option. Grab a sandwich, and make the most of your time there
Be sure to choose a tour that lasts about 14 hours so that it includes enough time on site.
The bus does not take you to the foot of the village. It stops at the parking lots and you have to take the free shuttle bus or walk to the fortifications.
We recommend this tour, which lets you choose how to visit the abbey part (audioguide, guide or entrance ticket only) – See details and availability
Option 2 – Paris Mont-Saint-Michel private tour with driver
To have the advantages of the organized tour without the disadvantages, you can choose the private tour version.
It’s a bigger budget but:
- The trip is more comfortable
- You have privileged information
- You adapt a little more to your needs
- You can customize the tour
We recommend this tour with transportation in a luxury vehicle, private guide, visit of the village and the abbey and information on the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel in general.
See details, price and availability.
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Step 1: Plan and get there
Step 2: Decide on your program
- What to do at Mont-Saint-Michel – read
- Tour of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel – read
- The museums of Mont-Saint-Michel – read
- Where to eat at the mountain – read
- Visit Alligator Bay – read
- Visit the Scriptorial Museum of Avranches – read
- Discover the most beautiful views of Mont-Saint-Michel – read
Don’t forget to book your time to visit the abbey here!
Option 3 – How to get from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel by car
Benefits
- All the flexibility on the program
- You can come very early to avoid the crowds
- You can come late to see the sunset
- You can also drive around the bay for more views
Disadvantages
- 4h to 4h30 of driving in each direction, that’s a lot
- No guide to give you more explanations
- Toll prices for the fastest route (otherwise it takes 1 hour longer each way)
- Parking prices (per car with free shuttle included)
Book
You must reserve 2 items. Remember to do this early if you are traveling in the summer.
- Reserve your ticket slot in the abbey – see here for availability
- Reserve your rental car
- Think there will be a toll cost
- more pictures of the road, in our article How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Our additional tips
Leave Paris early to avoid traffic and to visit the abbey before the crowds.
Beware of the radars approaching Mont-Saint-Michel, there are many of them
The shortest and fastest route is with the A13 freeway to Caen and then A84 to Avranches. There are tolls to pass. You have to pay 25 to 30 euros in tolls in each direction.
The nearest parking lot to Mont-Saint-Michel is not free – more about parking.
Option 4 – Mont-Saint-Michel station (only in summer)
The nearest train station is Pontorson-Mont-Saint-Michel. But you still need a shuttle to reach the Mont-Saint-Michel parking lots.
There is no direct train to Mont-Saint-Michel out of season (you have to go through Caen or Rennes).
In summer (end of June to beginning of September), there is one round trip per day.
This is very limiting. This is not our preferred option.
Route
- Train
from Paris Montparnasse station to Pontorson station by TGV (high speed train)
Duration 1h45 - Bus
In summer, the company Kéolis Armor makes 3 round trips per day
The journey takes 1h10
Option 5 – The Mont-Saint-Michel train (via Villedieu-les-Poeles – in summer)
This is a fairly quick option, and usually the cheapest.
Route
- Train
from Paris Montparnasse station to Villedieu-les-Poêles station by Nomad train
Duration 2h50 - Bus
In summer, the SNCF (French train agency) has a shuttle that connects with the trains.
The journey takes 45min
The TGV and buses can fill up in summer, we advise you to book early.
Book your train ticket
Option 6 – Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel by TGV and bus
The fastest option is the TGV high speed train to Rennes and then the bus.
This is the fastest option, but high-speed rail can be expensive.
Route
- Train
from Paris Montparnasse station to Rennes station by TGV (high speed train)
Duration 1h45 - Bus
In summer, the company Kéolis Armor makes several round trips per day (more in summer than out of season).
The journey takes 1h10
The TGV and buses can fill up in summer, we advise you to book early.
Book your train ticket
Alternative
You can continue by train to Pontorson-Mont-Saint-Michel station and then take a shorter bus. We do not recommend it.
You can rent a car in Renne and drive the rest of the way (1h15 drive).
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Step 1: Plan and get there
Step 2: Decide on your program
- What to do at Mont-Saint-Michel – read
- Tour of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel – read
- The museums of Mont-Saint-Michel – read
- Where to eat at the mountain – read
- Visit Alligator Bay – read
- Visit the Scriptorial Museum of Avranches – read
- Discover the most beautiful views of Mont-Saint-Michel – read
Don’t forget to book your time to visit the abbey here!
Option 7 – Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel by train via Caen
This is a longer option but I still put it if you want to combine it with the Battle of Normandy museum in Caen (with a night at Mont-Saint-Michel or Caen).
Route
- Train
from Paris St Lazare station to Caen station - Train
from Caen station to Pontorson station - Bus
Shuttle service of less than 30 minutes between Pontorson station and the Mont-Saint-Michel parking lots.
PLAN A
DREAM TRIP TO Normandy
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Tips for your Paris – Mont-Saint-Michel tour
What day to visit
If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, don’t visit on a weekend.
On weekdays, it’s about the same in attendance but still with quite a few people. Don’t think you’re alone!
What is the price of the Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is a village in France. This is a non-paying venue. You can enter for free. Its access is free.
Stroll through the narrow streets, climb the ramparts, admire from the dam… it’s free.
The shuttle from the parking lots is also free.
What pays:
- parking as close as possible to the mountain – then you have to walk or take the shuttle
- the visit of the Merveille (the abbey), a must – see our article
– reserve your entry slot - entrance to the museums – there are 4 museums in the village. They round out the experience a bit with history and artifacts. But these are small private museums… Buy a combined ticket
- And of course the restaurants that have higher prices, given their location in a tourist area.
How to dress and what to bring
The most important thing is to have good shoes.
It is an old village, on a small rocky island. Therefore, there are old cobblestones, steep slopes and many stairs.
Heels are strongly discouraged.
Choose stable and comfortable shoes.
Moreover, the mountain is located in a bay open to the English Channel.
The weather is therefore changeable (and not tropical).
It can be sunny, then rainy and then be shaken by strong winds.
Bring different layers of clothing for wind, heat and rain
And if you are crossing the bay, boots may be necessary. Follow the instructions of your guide.
What to see at Mont-Saint-Michel
Here is an overview to help you find your way around. It includes the different sections of the village: Grande Rue, abbey, ramparts…
See our complete article on what to do in Mont-Saint-Michel.
Mont-Saint-Michel in 2 hours – not to be missed
2 hours is really limited.
We recommend:
- take the shuttle
- admire the island from the footbridge
- go up through the ramparts to the entrance of the abbey
- go back down the main street
- take the shuttle back
Mont-Saint-Michel in 4 hours – not to be missed
- take the shuttle (or walk if you are good walkers to enjoy the views of the mountain)
- admire the island from the footbridge
- go up to the abbey by the ramparts
- visit the abbey (1h to 1h30)
- take the main street and explore the alleys and stairs around
- take the shuttle back
Mont-Saint-Michel in 6 hours
- archer if you are good walkers to enjoy the views on the mountain: with the fields and the sheep, with the footbridge, with the sand of the bay / or the water
- go up to the abbey by the ramparts
- visit the abbey (1h to 1h30) – see our guide
- take the main street and explore the alleys and stairs around(see our article on the streets of Mont-Saint-Michel)
- take the shuttle back
Frequently asked questions
Véloscénie – Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel by bike
It is also possible to reach Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris by bicycle.
The route is called the Véloscénie.
The journey is 450km long.
It is obviously not possible to do it in a day trip…
Mont-Saint-Michel: 1 or 2 days?
Here we explain how to visit in one day but if you can, we recommend spending a night.
It is really a magical place once the sun goes down.
Seeall our pictures of the Mont-Saint-Michel by night.
See our tips on the 7 hotels in the city.
WHERE TO SLEEP AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Option 1:
Choose one of the 7 hotels on the mountain, within the city limits – see our article
- The historic Auberge Saint-Pierre Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2:
Or sleep in the part called La Caserne which is between the parking lots and the footbridge to Mont-Saint-Michel.
- Mercure 4 starhotel – see prices, pictures and availability
Option 3:
And if you are looking for luxury, check out our article dedicated to luxury hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel.
- The charming guest house Clos de Gilles – see prices, photos and availability
Option 4:
The Normandy countryside is very green and inspiring. At the bend in the forest or in the fields, pretty villages with beautiful buildings transport you to another world, or even another era.
- Hotel Ermitage at 5min – see prices, pictures and availability
- Château de Boucéel at 30min – see prices, pictures and availability
