An iconic destination that fascinates young and old alike, Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the jewels of Normandy and a true architectural feat! With its medieval streets, ramparts and panoramic views over the bay, this unique site will appeal to the whole family. Whether you’re a history buff, adventure seeker or simply curious, discover our ideas for making the most of it. In this article, we’ve explored 12 kid-friendly activities for visiting Mont-Saint-Michel with children, not to mention our tips and photos. Follow us to discover these fun experiments!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel with children: a good idea?
Yes, visiting Mont-Saint-Michel with children is a good idea. With its picturesque lanes, ramparts and fun activities such as treasure hunts and crossings of the bay on foot, horseback or bicycle, there’s something for young and old to learn and marvel at. But don’t forget to bring good shoes, as there are lots of stairs, and don’t forget that this is one of the most visited places in France!
1. Explore the picturesque streets of Mont-Saint-Michel
Why visit with children?
The narrow, cobbled streets of Mont-Saint-Michel are a journey back in time. We enjoyed getting lost in this maze, admiring the old half-timbered houses and little stores. For children, it’s a chance to learn more about the secrets of the rock, or to be surprised by the Venelle du Guet. Did you know that this is the narrowest street on the mountain? It measures just 55 cm. If there areHarry Potter fans among the young and old alike, the enchantment and magic of Mont-Saint-Michel will undoubtedly immerse the whole family in this enchanting universe!
See more photos in our dedicated article
Practical advice
- Duration: 1h to 1 day depending on your interest and what you want to see
- Difficulties: narrow streets, cobbled and steep in places, many steps, good shoes and comfortable clothes for the whole family, baby carrier available for hire if required in Pontorson (see official website here), wheelchair available for PRM (see official website here).
- Access: fairly isolated commune, see our article on how to get to Mont-Saint-Michel, access possible by car then free shuttle bus from the parking lots (see our parking tips here) or by train then bus and shuttle bus.
- Book your ticket now / Avoid the queues, get your ticket!
- Price: free admission
- Timetable: access to Mont-Saint-Michel is open, but we advise you to check the shuttle and tide timetables (see official website for updates ).
- You can also opt for a guided family tour – see details here
2. Discover the secrets of the Wonder of the Mont: its Abbey
Why visit with children?
The abbey, perched at the very top of the rock, is a must for understanding the history of Mont-Saint-Michel. These walls, which are steeped in history and whose architecture has been constantly evolving for several centuries, have been classified as a historic monument. This building was one of the centers of medieval culture, and of major importance to the Christian West. We particularly appreciated the interactive application for children aged 6 to 13, which lets them discover the site in a fun way and learn while having fun. The huge halls and gardens offer splendid views over the bay.
Read our article
Practical advice
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours depending on your interest in the different rooms
- Difficulties: note that to reach the abbey on the Mont, you have to climb its gargantuan staircase (the Grand Degré) and its 350 steps (yes, we counted them!), so the visit is not suitable for baby carriages or people with knee problems, so opt for a morning visit to avoid the crowds.
- Access: the abbey crowns the rock and is therefore located at the very top of the mountain. Go north on Grande Rue, then climb the stairs to the north-west to reach the monument’s entrance (see section above on how to get to Mont-Saint-Michel).
- Price: full adult rate €11, free for under-18s
- Opening hours: open May 1 to August 31, 9am to 7pm; September 1 to April 30, 9:30am to 6pm; closed January 1, May 1 and December 25. – (see official website for updates )
- Book your ticket now!
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
3. Walking the ramparts
Why visit with children?
We loved strolling along the ramparts, with their views over the village, rooftops, abbey and bay. Probably our favourite part of the visit to the Mont outside the abbey! We enjoyed imagining the medieval battles as we explored the different towers, each one unique. Your children will be delighted to observe the rooftops and search for gargoyles from the covered walkway. If you start your walk early in the morning, you’ll avoid the crowds!
Practical advice
Once you’ve admired the lower part of the main street with its old houses (especially the timber-framed façade of the Auberge de la Sirène), don’t go any further up. Take the staircase behind you to the ramparts and walk up the covered walkway to the abbey.
It allows you to move between the various towers: some tall and circular, others horseshoe-shaped. Keep an eye on your children throughout the visit to these stone walls.
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4. Cross the bay on foot
Why visit with children?
Looking for a memorable and educational experience? Crossing the bay with a guide is the perfect way to learn about tidal movements and shifting sands. You may even catch a glimpse of the island of Tombelaine. We appreciated the educational aspect, with explanations of the bay’s fauna, geology and ecosystem. Something to captivate your children! Walking barefoot on wet sand can also add a touch of adventure.
But don’t go it alone! Between tide times, dam releases and quicksand, a local guide is essential.
Practical advice
- Duration: 1h30 to 3h depending on the guided tour
- Difficulties: not accessible to wheelchair users, people with heart or health problems, service animals accepted, children accompanied by an adult.
- Find out more on the official Tourist Office website here
- Book your guided tour now!
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.
5. Observe the tidal phenomenon
Why visit with children?
Mont-Saint-Michel is also famous for its impressive natural spectacles: its tides, the highest in continental Europe, can reach up to 15m! We enjoyed watching the rapid rise in water levels, which transformed the mountain into an island in a matter of minutes. The best vantage points for observing them are the Mont, the ramparts, the West Terrace (accessible with a visit to the abbey) or the new footbridge. Your little ones will be fascinated by this unique phenomenon!
Practical advice
To admire the rising tide and the arrival of the tidal bore (a large wave caused by a sudden rise in water level), plan to be on site around 2 hours before high tide. Find tide times here.
Find out more about high tides on the commune’s official website here.
6. Discover Logis Tiphaine
Why visit with children?
Step back in time to the Middle Ages and live in the age of knights at the Logis Tiphaine in Mont-Saint-Michel. This historic residence will undoubtedly immerse you in the life of a knight and astrologer:
- To their rooms whose decorations have been preserved.
- With period furniture,
- The arms and armor of Bertrand Du Guesclin, famous knight of the Hundred Years War,
- At his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel’s astrology practice,
Their bedroom sets have even been preserved for an immersive visit!
Practical advice
- Duration: 1h to 1h30
- Difficulties: narrow, cobbled, steep streets to the museum, somewhat small museum rooms
- Access: on the main street of Mont-Saint-Michel (within the city limits)
- Price: full adult rate 9€, 12 to 18 years old rate 3€, 18 to 25 years old rate 4,50€, free for children under 12.
- Opening hours: open daily from April to October, 9am to 6:30pm, November to March, Friday to Tuesday, 9:30am to 5pm – (see official website for updates )
- Book your admission to 3 Mont-Saint-Michel museums now
7. Admire the Couesnon dam
Why visit with children?
On your return journey with the shuttle bus, remember to stop at the dam, especially if you didn’t see it on the outward journey on foot. Commissioned in 2009, it is built on the Couesnon river and is used to remove sand from the river to improve water circulation.
In addition to the ecological benefits of its 8 gates, it has been designed with a promenade bridge that blends seamlessly into the landscape, allowing you to admire Mont-Saint-Michel from the river. Isn’t it an idyllic setting?
Try to decipher the various symbols on the copper railings with your children. Hulls, the coats of arms of Normandy and Brittany, calligraphic letters in different alphabets… Can you see them?
Practical advice
Access is free on foot. You can also take a shuttle bus to and from the parking lots. Although the site is secure, be sure to supervise young children, especially during water releases when the current can be powerful.
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8. Take part in a treasure hunt on Mont
Why visit with children?
Do your kids love riddles and treasure hunts? Then this is the activity for you! The Office de tourisme du Mont-Saint-Michel (Mont-Saint-Michel Tourist Office) offers fun trail games to help you explore the mountain. Explore the hidden corners of this fortified enclosure, cross the drawbridge, stroll along the walls – it’s time for adventure! This treasure hunt takes place on the mountain (intra-muros). You can also choose not to complete the tour of the abbey if you prefer to remain solely within the walls, towers and alleyways.
Practical advice
- Duration: approx. 2 hours
- Difficulties: walking and many stairs, narrow cobbled and steep streets
- Access: on the intramural hill to the top of the abbey
- Note: 3 types of booklet: children’s booklet with double reading level for ages 10 to 13 (33 questions) and for ages 7 to 9 (18 questions), 1 adult answer booklet with anecdotes, historical reminders and topical questions.
- Price: €4.50 per booklet (excluding abbey entrance fee – see above)
- Find out more about booklets here
9. Marvel at the illuminated Mount
Why visit with children?
Don’t you think the silhouette of Mont-Saint-Michel has a touch of Disneyland Castle about it? At night, the Wonder on the Mount is adorned with light and offered us some magical moments. We enjoyed the peace and quiet at this hour and the beauty of the illuminated mountain. A family stroll along the ramparts in the evening will remain etched in your memory, always with caution.
See more photos in our dedicated article
Practical advice
Spending the night on the mountain (intra-muros) is also an option for strolling through the streets deserted by tourists in the late hours! See our sleeping tips
10. Dive into history at the Historical Museum
Why visit with children?
The Historical Museum tells the 1,300-year story of Mont-Saint-Michel and the monks who built it. It makes works, objects and legendary rooms talk about, for example, the dungeons or oubliettes. The Musée Historique houses a collection of paintings by Benedictine monks from the 15th to 17th centuries, as well as torture instruments from the period. You can admire ivory, bone and mother-of-pearl carved and engraved during the Age of Enlightenment. We liked the attention to detail and the educational approach to each object, its use and its place in the Montagne society of another era. You’ll also have the chance to see some of the Mont-Saint-Michel fashions of the time!
Practical advice
- Duration: 1h to 1h30
- Difficulties: narrow, cobbled, steep streets to the museum, somewhat small museum rooms
- Access: within the ramparts (intra-muros)
- Price: full adult rate €9, free admission for children under 12 accompanied by an adult, youth rate 18 to 25 €12
- Opening hours: open daily from April to October, 9am to 6pm, November to March, Friday to Tuesday, 10:30am to 5pm – (see official website for updates ).
- Book your admission to 3 Mont-Saint-Michel museums now
11. Visit the Park Alligator Bay
Why visit with children?
Meet panther chameleons, Burmese star tortoises and spiny-tailed iguanas… So many reasons why this unusual park contrasts with the magical, medieval world of Mont-Saint-Michel and is well worth a visit! We loved this surprising but fascinating experience, we had fun like children. It’s Europe’s largest reptile farm. For almost 30 years, the Alligator Bay wildlife park in Beauvoir, near Mont-Saint-Michel, has been presenting over 700 animals from 5 continents. It was created by a reptile lover, Jean-Pierre Macé. Nearly 115,000 visitors come to see it each year.
Discover our experience at the Park Alligator Bay
Practical advice
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours, depending on your passion for all these creatures. You can do at least 2 tours of the course during the same visit.
- Difficulties: playground just before the park exit, easy stroller access with numerous ramps along the tour route, toilets with baby changing facilities.
- Access: this park is not very accessible by public transport, so the easiest way to get there is by car (a 5-minute drive from Mont-Saint-Michel).
- Price: full adult admission €15 (over 12), children aged 3 to 12 €10, free admission for children under 3.
- Opening hours: open every Sunday and public holiday, except December 25th and January 1st; 10am to 6pm daily during school vacations in February, March, October, November and the Christmas vacations; 10am to 7pm daily from April to September; 2pm to 6pm the 1st week of February, the last 4 weeks of March, in October outside school vacations and the 2nd week of November – (see official website for updates here).
- Reserve your seats now!
12. Push open the doors of Moulin de Moidrey
Why visit with children?
Our experience at the Moulin du Moidrey in Pontorson was truly unusual. We never thought we’d be able to enter a windmill still in use, where its miller is still making flour. In our opinion, it’s a must-see if you’re in the area, located just a 10min drive from Mont-Saint-Michel. One of the most beautiful mills in France, and one of the few still in operation! Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site a few years after its restoration was completed, it was built in the early 19th century. It’s a lovely visit to make with the whole family! Your children will love both the interior and exterior of the Mill, the surrounding fields and all the explanations on how a windmill works.
Read more
Practical advice
- Duration: 30min to 1h depending on whether you take the guided tour of the Moulin du Moidrey or a “simple” tour with a few shots of the view and possibly a tour to choose your fresh flour.
- Difficulties: simple tour accessible to PRM but not the guided tour
- Access: by car from the road between Pontorson and Mont-Saint-Michel (10-minute drive)
- Price: single visit €1 per adult and €1 per child, guided tour €4 per adult and €2.50 per child
- Opening hours: February, daily 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm; April to June, daily 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 7pm; July and August, daily 9am to 8pm; September, daily 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 7pm; October to mid-November, daily 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm; closed mid-November to early February – (see official website for updates ).
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
Other zoos, theme parks, leisure activities
Other museums to see with children
- L’Archéoscope: a multimedia show in French with simultaneous translation into English, featuring a model, images and lights.
- Maritime Museum: discover the world’s greatest tides and a magnificent collection of 250 antique models – opt for the 3-museum ticket!
- Musée Scriptorial d’Avranches: the only museum in France dedicated to the presentation of ancient manuscripts from the 9th to the 15th centuries, a unique place with an original, interactive itinerary that is a must-see.
- Écomusée de la baie du Mont-Saint-Michel: a place for safeguarding and promoting the natural heritage of Mont-Saint-Michel
- Maison des Polders: an educational space retracing the history of the 3,000 hectares of dyked and drained marshes along the coast of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Other castles to see with children
- Château de la Ballue: a 30-minute drive from the mountain, unique gardens in a 17th-century estate (like us, you can sleep there!).
- Château de Montgommery: beautiful 17th-century building in nearby Ducey, where the façade, staircase and ceilings are well worth a visit.
- Château de Boucéel: large, beautifully decorated 18th-century residence reflecting the French art of living, 25min drive from Mont Blanc.
Other theme parks at Mont-Saint-Michel
- Ange Michel Amusement Park: over 40 unlimited attractions in the heart of nature (see details here).
- Coba Parc Aqua Fun: amusement park set in 12 hectares of greenery, a 40-minute drive from Mont-Saint-Michel (see details here).
- L’Accrobrancherie: are you a fan of tree climbing, canoeing, kayaking or zip-lining? Park direction open from late March to early November near the mountain (see details here)
Other zoos near Mont-Saint-Michel
Other beaches at Mont-Saint-Michel
Please note that the nearest beaches are not in the immediate vicinity of the mountain:
- Bec d’Andaine beach 40 minutes away by car
- Dragey-Ronthon beach 45min away
- Jullouville beach 50min away
- Plat-Gousset and Hérel beaches in Granville, 1 hour’s drive away
Mont-Saint-Michel vacations: other places
Here are a few other places in and around the mountain that may appeal, depending on your children’s interests:
- Gabriel Tower: built around 1524, it is crowned with machicolations and gargoyles, an impressive little spot often overlooked by tourists on Mount Gabriel.
- Visit Mont-Saint-Michel by bike or on horseback
- Maison Pèlerin in Beauvoir: artisanal confectionery with workshop open to the public and on-site tasting to discover the secrets of caramel production.
See our article on our favorite activities at Mont-Saint-Michel.
Things to do when it rains
- Visit Mont-Saint-MichelAbbey
- Explore its museums
- Discover the Archéoscope
- Treat yourself at the Confiserie Maison Pèlerin in Beauvoir
Practical advice
Getting around Mont-Saint-Michel with children
- Located in the north-west of France, in the Manche department
- Accessible by train to Pontorson (change at Caen) then by bus
- Mont-Saint-Michel to Granville = 50min drive
- Mont-Saint-Michel to Caen = 1h30min drive
- Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris = 4h15min drive
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
Where to stay at Mont-Saint-Michel with children?
Mont-Saint-Michel is impressive by day, but seeing it at night is magical! Your children will be thrilled by the experience. Admire a sunset or a sunrise, stroll the streets after dark, listen to the wind in the stones whispering the secrets of this unique place… All the more reason to spend at least 1 night with your family! It’s also a time when there are fewer crowds in this popular tourist spot.
Please note that the parking lot is at a distance from the mountain and has to be paid for. There is no access by car, but there are free shuttles between the parking lots and the mountain. You are welcome to stay:
- On the Mount
- At La Caserne (between the parking lots and Mont-Saint-Michel)
- In and around the village of Beauvoir, 5 minutes’ drive away
- In Avranches, a 20-minute drive away
- And in Saint-Malo, Cancale or Dinard, less than 1 hour’s drive away.
Discover our best places to stay in Mont-Saint-Michel.
Where to eat at Mont-Saint-Michel with children?
Choosing which restaurant to eat at during your visit to Mont-Saint-Michel is no easy task. The incredible beauty of the Mont also has its downside: the houses are cramped and unsuitable for catering, the visitors are numerous and the offer is necessarily limited. But rest assured, here are a few suggestions for eating there with your children:
- Restaurant La Mère Poulard: a veritable institution at the entrance to Mont-Saint-Michel, and the oldest restaurant opened in 1888.
- Crêperie La Sirène: gourmet dining where you can watch the crêpier at work during your meal, the assurance that everything is homemade.
- Restaurant L’Auberge Le Mouton Blanc: in a 14th-century listed building, enjoy lunch or dinner in a room with exposed beams and a large stone fireplace.
See all our suggestions for good restaurants in Mont-Saint-Michel in our dedicated article.
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
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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…
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
