A rocky island, fortifications, an abbey… the Mont-Saint-Michel is a must-see in France, a UNESCO site that will transport you to another world.
But we still have to get there…
Here are all our advices on how to get to Mont-Saint-Michel by car, by train or by organized tour: how to get to the parking lot but also the access to the village by foot or by shuttle.
BEFORE OUR TIPS + PHOTOS
HERE ARE OUR favorites
Our favorite car rental platform with great offers: DiscoverCars
Discover this place from every angle:
Book your time to visit Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
Hike through quicksand
Fly overhead in a microlight
Our favorite places to stay:
On theisland: Hôtel Auberge Saint-Pierre – see photos and availability
At the end of the bridge: Hotel Mercure – see photos and availability
In the countryside: B&B Le Clos Saint Gilles – see photos and availability
In a castle 30min away: Château de La Ballue – see photos and availability
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel: options
Where is the Mont-Saint-Michel?
Mont-Saint-Michel is located west of Paris, on the border between Normandy and Brittany.
Here is a map to help you orient us:
The options for going to Mt.
Mont-Saint-Michel is quite isolated.
It’s easy to get to by car but it’s very complicated to get there by public transportation:
- If you have only one day in Paris, choose an organized tour to rest in the bus because the road is long (4 hours in one direction)
- Otherwise, your best option is really the car. The road is easy and there are large parking lots (paying) at the arrival – details in
- We will explain the train options in a section of this article, but you will see that it is not easy.
We detail each option in this article.
Note:
In the first sections, we explain how to get to the Mont-Saint-Michel parking lots.
For the last part between the parking lots and the village, we made a different section at the end with the walk and the shuttles.
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.
How to reach Mont-Saint-Michel by car
Is it easy to get to Mont-Saint-Michel by car?
Yes. It’s long enough, no matter where you are. But the road is excellent and it is not difficult.
Just be aware that on the last fast roads approaching Mont-Saint-Michel, there are a lot of speed cameras.
Driving time
Plan:
- Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel = 4h to 4h30 drive (depending on traffic jams)
- Caen to Mont-Saint-Michel = 1h20
- Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel = 1h20
- Nantes to Mont-Saint-Michel = 2h30
- Rennes to Mont-Saint-Michel = 1h
Access roads
The access roads are:
- From Caen: Motorway A84 then N175
- From Saint-Malo: the N176 road
- From Rennes, the D175 then the D975
The nearest city is Pontorson. Closer, you will find only villages.
Be careful, there are a lot of radars at the approach of the Mont-Saint-Michel!
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel by car
Then you have a few minutes of driving on county roads (1 lane in each direction). It’s easy. You are now on the Route de la Baie.
The Mont-Saint-Michel is always well indicated until you arrive at the parking lots.
The finish is clear. Either you are coming from Beauvoir, and you have to go to the parking lots and not to the entrance gate to the La Caserne area (picture below).
Either you arrive from the east, and you will come across the parking signs directly.
Understanding parking – parking on the mountain
Follow the arrows when you arrive at Mont-Saint-Michel. There are several parking areas surrounded by trees.
They created a whole area of vegetated parking lots at a distance from the bay, to allow nature to regain its domain and limit the impact of all those cars.
- P2 is for people with reduced mobility (with a card)
- P5, P6, P7, P10, P11, P12 and P13 are the parking lots. If they are not full, we recommend P10 and P11 for quick access to the shuttle.
- P8 is for motorhomes
- P9 for motorcycles
- P3 is for people who spend a night on the mountain (a code is given by the hotel)
- And if you sleep in one of the hotels of the Barracks, you have the right to pass the barrier, the information is given by the hotel.
The parking lots are all paid. Count 9 to 20 euros for a 24h package. See the price.
More tips in our article on parking at Mont-Saint-Michel.
WHERE TO STAY 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, photos 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
How to access Mont-Saint-Michel by train
The Mont-Saint-Michel train station
The nearest train station on Mont-Saint-Michel is the Pontsorson station.
It is a very small country station with one train track in each direction.
It is located on the line that goes from Caen to Rennes.
Access to Mont-Saint-Michel from the train station
And once you arrive at the station, you haven’t finished your journey.
It is located 8km from the parking lots and 10km from the entrance of the fortifications.
2 options:
- Either you walk the 10km or 2h
- Either you take the bus that leaves just outside the station: line 2. This bus takes you to the parking area and the other free shuttle. This bus is not free, and the transfer takes 25 minutes.
There are 3 to 7 trips per day. See the schedule
Train from Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris
There is no direct train between Mont-Saint-Michel and Paris.
You have 2 main options if you only have one day:
- In summer, the Mont-Saint-Michel train
The direct train from Paris to Villedieu-les-poêles with a shuttle managed by the SCNF to the Mont-Saint-Michel (one return trip per day) - Otherwise
TGV (high speed train) to Rennes
Then shuttles (1h10) between Rennes and the Mont-Saint-Michel – several times a day.
Alternative: train and car
To reduce your impact while keeping a convenient schedule, you can take the train to Rennes and then rent a car to reach Mont-Saint-Michel.
And see car rental offers in Rennes .
USE OUR GUIDE TO PLAN A
DREAM TRIP TO Normandy
All the information you need for your trip:
- 8 maps that make planning easier
- 160+ pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- 300+ photos to help you choose
Best tours to visit the Mont Saint-Michel
If you only have one day to visit Mont-Saint-Michel and you are in Paris, we strongly advise you to book an organized tour by bus or with private driver.
As you can see in the beginning of the article:
- It takes 4 hours in each direction to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris
- And by train and bus, there are 3h30 in trains and buses but you have to add all the waiting time between the 2. So at least 5h30.
So it is better to sit in a bus, relax during the long drive to be in shape and enjoy this unique place.
See tour options on Viator or Getyourguide.
For less intense days, we recommend 2 or 3 day tours.
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Step 1: Plan and get there
Step 2: Decide on your program
Step 3: decide where to sleep
Access to Mont-Saint-Michel from the parking lots
Now you have arrived at the parking area of Mont-Saint-Michel, but you are not yet at the mount!
Once parked, you can walk, bike or take the shuttle to the village.
Our recommendation
We prefer to walk to the fortifications to get the view and enhance the experience by admiring it as it gets closer. And return by shuttle.
Access on foot
The walk to the mountain is splendid with sometimes sheep in the fields, then the sand of the bay and sometimes some pools of water which offer reflections. The path is well maintained and easy.
This step raises the anticipation!
It takes 40 to 50 minutes to walk to the ramparts.
There are 3 different ways to reach the access bridge (maps are displayed everywhere).
- La Lisière” path – continue straight ahead along the trees after the tourist office
- Path “Les Berges du Couesnon” – find the river bank (as seen above)
- or the central route to cross the area of La Caserne with its hotels and restaurants.
Before the footbridge, you walk near meadows where there are sometimes sheep:
Then you arrive at the footbridge to finish your walk over the sand or water (depending on the tides).
The footbridge is 760m long. The pedestrian zone is wide and protected. The floor is covered with oak.
Shuttle “Le Passeur
From the parking lots follow the signs with the bus icon.
And line up at the shuttle departure point. It is located between the parking lots and the tourist office.
The shuttle is called “Le Passeur” and it is very practical.
In less than 15 minutes you reach the entrance of the mountain (after 2 stops).
You can use it as much as you want, go up and down as much as you want.
Just be aware that it may be full in the summer and you will have to wait.
Price: the shuttle is included in the price of the parking.
Schedules:
- summer: 7:30 am to 1 am
- spring / fall : 7h30 to 23h
- winter: 8:30 am to 10 pm
It is wheelchair accessible.
Dogs are not allowed on board except in bags or if they are guide dogs.
It stops at 350m from the entrance of the mount, from the ramparts. You will have to walk a little bit more, but this will give you time to admire this unique place from the outside.
And you can also see the driver change cabs because the shuttle is reversible!
In your level of tiredness, do not forget that you will have still 350m to walk to find the departure of the return shuttle.
Access by bike
You can also go to the Mont-Saint-Michel by bike.
Either from the parking lot, or from the village of Beauvoir (where parking is free) or because you are traveling by bike.
The fortified village is located on 3 major bicycle routes in France:
– The Channel to North Sea Bikeway (EuroVélo4)
– The Véloscénie, 450km from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel
– The Véloroute from the landing beaches to Mont-Saint-Michel
Hoops are in place near the entrance to the mountain and also at the dam.
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Access according to your starting point
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris
Driving time: 4h
To visit Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris, we recommend
- An organized tour if you only have one day – See organized tour options on Viator or Getyourguide.
- Rent a car in Paris or Rennes (after access by train) if you have more than one day – see offers or see our guide to renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Bayeux
Driving time: 1h30
Bayeux is a great place to stay in Normandy with easy access to the D-Day beaches, Caen and Mont-Saint-Michel. To visit it from Bayeux, we recommend:
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive – see options
- Rent a car in Paris at the beginning of your trip or in Bayeux (after accessing by train) – it’s an easy drive – see our guide to renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Caen
Driving time: 1h30
Caen is also a good place to stay in Normandy with easy access to the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel. To visit it from Caen, we recommend:
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive – see options
- Rent a car in Paris at the beginning of the trip or in Caen (after accessing by train) – the route is easy – see our guide on renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Rouen
Driving time: 3h
If you like historical medieval cities, perhaps you stay in Rouen. Or you can stop there during your cruise on the Seine. To reach the Mont-Saint-Michel:
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive
- Rent a car in Paris at the beginning of the trip or in Caen (after accessing by train) – the route is easy – see our guide on renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Rennes
Driving time: 1 hour
If you are in Brittany, to go from Rennes to Mont-Saint-Michel, we recommend
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive – see options
- Rent a car at the beginning of the trip in Paris, or Nantes or Rennes (after access by train) – the road is easy – see our guide to renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient, but you can take the train to Pontorson, then the bus to the parking lots, then the shuttle.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Le Havre
Driving time: 2h30
If your cruise stops at the port of Le Havre, you can choose an organized tour to visit the Mont-Saint-Michel:
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive – see options
- Rent a car in Le Havre – the road is easy – see our guide to renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Brest
Driving time: 3h
If your cruise stops at the port of Brest, you can choose an organized tour to visit the Mont-Saint-Michel:
- An organized tour if you don’t want to drive, if offered by your ship
- Rent a car in Brest – the road is easy – see our guide to renting a car in France
- Public transportation is really not convenient.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
- Deciding where to go in Normandy – the best destinations
- Our weekend ideas: best-of, romantic, unusual, seaside, luxury, family
- 16 seaside hotels in Normandy
- The most beautiful charming hotels in Normandy
Best of
Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
