Visit Mont Saint-Michel
My Selection of Onsite Private Guides
You can discover the history of Mont Saint-Michel with a private onsite licensed guide that you will meet at the entrance of the Mont.
Your guide will take you on a walking tour to discover the village and/or the abbey according to the option selected.
A good way to visit the Mount with a passionate guide just for you and your family and not in a shared tour.
Know that you can visit the abbey with an audioguide or in a group tour with a guide from the abbey (several departures per day at fixed times). A private guide is a « plus » but not mandatory of course to discover the Mont or the abbey.
I RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING EXCELLENT PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDES (click on each link) :
- Claire Collin from Normandy Brittany Tours – French, English and Spanish spoken.
https://guides-officiels-de-france.com/guides/collin-claire/ - Gaëlle Lotton from Philopatrie – French & English spoken.
https://guides-officiels-de-france.com/guides/lotton-gaelle/ - Amélie Saint-James from Amélie du Mont – French, English, Italian & Russian spoken.
https://ameliedumont.wixsite.com/visites-guidees?lang=en - Florence Rocaboy – French, English & Spanish spoken.
https://guides-officiels-de-france.com/guides/florence-rocaboy/
TO BE ON TIME TO MEET YOUR GUIDE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE MONT
The free shuttle « Le Passeur » (operating from 7:30am until midnight, every day) takes you from the parkings to the entrance of the mont : this is a 12-minute ride.
HOWEVER : the shuttle may be very crowded during the high season and therefore you must line up for a while, for 1 hour sometimes…
So if you don’t want to wait and if the weather permits, I advise you to reach the Mont on foot through the walkway bridge (about 30-45 minute walk / 2.7 kms – 1.7 miles).
This is a very pleasant walk and it avoids waiting in lines.
Access map and useful information of the Tourist Office HERE.
What to Visit ?
THE DAM - outside the Mont-
Take the time to go and visit the dam !
The bridge over the dam is really worth seeing : the mechanism is ingeniuous and the view of the Mont is stunning.
ON THE ROCK ITSELF
Mont Saint-Michel is a small village that you can explore on foot only.
Take the time to stroll along the ramparts, cobblestone streets and discover many hidden little places (and many small gardens) that you will discover by chance…
If you come with your own vehicle, schedule a full-day to discover the Mont.
Anyway, DON’T MISS :
– The Abbey (gorgeous !). See below details.
– The ramparts
– Saint-Pierre church
– The Gabriel tower built around 1524 which was a mill and then a lighthouse.
– The Cuckolds’ Alley : a cuckold is the husband of an adulterous wife. Also called «Venelle du Guet» (=lookout alley), it’s the smallest street of Mont Saint-Michel. It’s so narrow that you could not pass with horns, hence its name ! Take the « Grande Rue » and turn left in front of the Hotel La Croix Blanche.
The Abbey
A masterpiece of architecture : you cannot be in the Mont and not visit the abbey !
My favorite places in the abbey are the cloister and the monk refectory.
Did you know ?
Since June 2001, the spiritual life of the Abbey has been maintained by the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem : there are now 5 brothers and 7 sisters living in the abbey. You can sometimes see them during your visit.
More info about this community and Mass times HERE. All Masses are open to the public for free – no entrance fee is required.
- Open all year round except on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
- Opening times
May 1-August 31 : 9am-7pm
September 1-April 30 : 9:30am-6pm - Last entrance 1 hour before closing.
- Last audioguide withdrawal 1,5 hours before closing.
- Pets not admitted. A kennel is available at the Tourist Office located on the car-parks (outside the Mont).
** MY TIPS TO BUY YOUR ENTRANCE TICKET **
– Book a skip-the-line ticket online for every option, this will avoid lining up at the entrance of the abbey… You can also buy it onsite at the Tourist Office located at the Post Office in the Grande Rue.
– Everyone must have an entrance ticket so don’t forget to book also your free tickets online.
– Download your e-tickets before arriving on the Mont as there is not much network there.
The visit is free with proof for
– young people -18
– young adults 18-25 if Europeans or holders of a residence permit or a long-term visa
➔ but they need to have their free entrance ticket all the same.
Free for everyone with no need to book tickets or a slot :
– during the «European Heritage Days» (usually, the 3rd weekend of September).
– on the 1st Sunday of the month from January 1 to March 31 and from November 1 to December 31.
4 OPTIONS OF VISITS ARE AVAILABLE
Buy your tickets HERE.
- Option 1– Self-guided visit every day (AUDIOGUIDE with a small extra cost : available in 10 languages (which I recommend) / duration : 1hr30) : you must book a time slot and your ticket online.
- Option 2 – A 45-minute guided tour from Monday to Friday (group tour with a guide from the abbey) : check schedule online ( 3 English tours per day) : mandatory booking online.
- Option 3 – Conference tours (in French and English) of two hours to discover areas usually closed to the public : at certain dates, check online. Online booking mandatory.
- Option 4 – Visit the abbey with your private guide if you hire an onsite guide for a few hours : this one must be a licensed guide to be allowed to make a visit in the abbey. So check on that when you book the guide.
– All the guides that I recommend for the Mont Saint-Michel are licensed guides.
– Even if you are with your private guide, you must book your ticket online (or check with the guide if he/she provides the abbey tickets). The licensed guide does not need a ticket.
See my recommendations for « On site licensed guides in Mont Saint-Michel » HERE.
Lauds in the abbey : a magical moment
If you spend the night on the Mont and if you wake up early, you can attend the lauds in the abbey (in French).
Access is free, just be at the gate of the abbey 10 minutes before service starts.
WHEN ?
From Tuesday to Friday at 7am (arrive at 6:50am)
Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and in August at 8am (arrive at 7:50am).
CROSSING THE BAY
VERY IMPORTANT : NEVER WALK IN THE BAY OF THE MONT ST MICHEL WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL GUIDE : THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE TIDES AND QUICKSAND.
USE THE SERVICES OF AN OFFICIAL GUIDE ONLY.
If you are an active person, once you are there, you can opt for an outdoor activity such as crossing the bay with an official guide.
A great way to :
– observe the fauna and flora of the bay and perhaps see seals.
– understand the tides and the infuence of the moon.
– walk in quicksand.
– and have a natural mud bath !
More details on this activity HERE.
My Selection of Museums
There are 4 museums on the Mont intramural (they are mostly in French) :
The Historical Museum – The Archeoscope – The Maritime Museum – Logis Tiphaine.
Honestly, I find them a bit expensive for what they offer.
However if you are with children, they will certainly like the Historical Museum.
If you want to pay to visit a place on the Mont, select the abbey, it’s really worth it.
Museum tickets must be bought onsite.
Half-price pass for the 4 museums.
Check opening days & hours as they change throughout the year.
I will only talk about the two below.
THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Duration of visit : about 1 hour.
1,300 years of history through wax figures.
Collection of ancient weapons, Middle Ages torture instruments, a person sinking in the quicksand, the iron cage of Louis XI, the oubliettes…
When I visited this museum when I was a little girl, I was a bit scared by the wax figures but I loved it. This is why I said to make the visit with children. They will like it.
Mostly in French.
Scan a code in each room with your smartphone to get translations…
THE MARITIME MUSEUM
Duration of visit : about 1 hour.
In French only.
A museum to understand the tides in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel and the recent operation to restore the maritime character of the Mont.
The great interest of the museum : if you are passionate about boats, there is a collection of 250 old model ships.
Where to eat on the Mont intramural ?
Mont Saint-Michel is not known for having restaurants with good value for money; it’s a very touristy place!
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Since restaurants are often full at lunchtime, I strongly recommend bringing your own picnic and a bottle of water to avoid paying double and waiting in line for an hour.
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Nevertheless, here are some good places for lunch or dinner. Reservations are highly recommended but during the high season, some restaurants may not accept reservations, especially for lunch.
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GOOD CREPERIES WITH CORRECT PRICES
La Sirène
– In the main street, Grande Rue, Mont St Michel
– Open every day from February to end of November from 11:45am /closed on Friday out of French school holidays.
A small creperie on the 1st floor of a shop offering very good galettes (buckwheat pancakes) and crepes (sweet pancakes).
Warm welcome.
Very correct prices.
For lunch, I advise you to arrive at the opening time so as not to wait ( 11:45am).
La Cloche
– In the main street, Grande rue, Mont St Michel
– Open all year round from 12pm
Very good galettes, crepes and ice-creams.
Very correct prices.
– Reservation is possible : creperielacloche@gmail.com
A GOOD SNACK-BAR
Au Pèlerin
– In the main street, Grande rue, Mont St Michel.
– Open from February to end of October.
A small and cosy place to eat very good fast food at very correct prices such as hotdogs, sausage and fries, pizzas, sandwiches… In summer, breakfast is possible.
Warm welcome and quick service ! A good address.
Traditional Restaurants
La Mère Poulard Restaurant
– Located close to the main entrance of the village of the Mont in « La grande Rue ».
– Open all year round
– No booking except for groups
– Open 11:30am-2:30pm & 6:30pm-10pm (last show up 8:30pm)
– Continuous service in high season from May.
Of course, I cannot not talk about the Mère Poulard restaurant which is THE FAMOUS restaurant of the Mont : it’s interesting « to watch » from the street, the cooks preparing the famous puff omelette cooked over a woodfire : it is a very pleasant and nice show.
If you absolutely want to have lunch or dinner here, keep in mind that the bill will be quite high — but some people have always wanted to try the famous omelette… I did : it was good, but the price was much too high for just a few eggs in my opinion…
THE ORIGINAL INN AND LA MERE POULARD COOKIES
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Originally the inn created by Annette Poulard and her husband in 1888, was the place in Mont Saint-Michel where pilgrims and visitors could stop to enjoy a good meal.
Then, Annette became a French chef respected and loved by all and many personalities came to eat at his restaurant.
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La Mère Poulard cookies are a nice souvenir (not expensive) to bring back home !
You will find everywhere in the shops of the Mont, the Mère Poulard cookies that were originally some «lucky cookies» made and given by Anette Poulard to the children and pilgrims wishing them Good Luck and Good Life.
These cookies are made with pure butter, free-range eggs and high-quality French ingredients.
A typical souvenir to offer to family or friends once back home.
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Le Duguesclin
– In the main street, Grande Rue, Mont Saint-Michel.
– Open from March to November.
– From 11:30am-2pm & 6:30pm-8:30pm
– Reservation possible : 02 33 60 14 10
A panoramic restaurant with a nice view of the bay which offers various set menus at correct prices : local dishes and specialties of Normandy and Brittany.
MY TIP : A good recommendation for dinner if you stay at Mont-Saint-Michel for the night.
Reservation recommended.
Where to stay on the Mont intramural and nearby?
MY GOOD TIP
If you stay for the night on the Mount intra-muros, just come with a small travel bag and bring only what you need.
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As you have to park off the island, then take a shuttle, then walk to the entrance of the mount for 400 meters and finally walk through narrow cobbled streets (or even climb stairs) you can imagine that taking a large suitcase is not the best choice!
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LA TETE NOIRE B&B (intramural)
FOR A UNIQUE AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE !
La Grande Rue, 50170 Mont Saint-Michel.
Bookable on « Airbnb ».
This Bed & Breakfast is located in the oldest house of the Mont (dating from the 14th century) and is classified as a Historic Monument.
2 bedrooms available.
This beautiful property is a true return to the past offering on one side a magnificent view of the bay and on the other of the abbey.
By staying there, time is suspended for a while… A unique and magical place, as if you were sleeping in a museum !
L'AUBERGE SAINT-PIERRE (intramural)
Grande Rue, 50170 Mont Saint-Michel
Ph : 02 33 30 14 03
Email : contact@auberge-saint-pierre.fr
Website HERE.
An authentic and traditional 3-star hotel on Mont Saint-Michel in a half-timbered house dating from the 15th century and classified as a historical monument. All the charm of yesteryear with modern comfort.
The hotel has two buildings : the Inn and the Chapeau Blanc Logis : the Inn is on the main street and the Logis is further up in the village.
– Nice and cosy charming rooms with exposed beams, wood floor and traditional windows : a very warm atmosphere.
– There is a restaurant with various set menus and à la carte dishes.
– A brasserie menu is also available.
– Continuous service every day from 11:30am until 9pm.
It’s my favorite hotel on the Mont. I particularly like the rooms in the Logis accommodations (Logis du Chapeau Blanc) – where I stayed for one night a few years ago – which are former fishermen’s houses : some of these rooms have a bay view (wonderful but the others are great also).
FYI, the rooms located in the inn/auberge don’t have a bay view but are nice and charming all the same.
More about the Logis rooms HERE.
MY GOOD TIP : As the Logis building is located further up in the village, there are many stairs to climb to access the accommodations. So take with you a small bag with your belongings just for the night and not a big suitcase…
IF YOU HAVE A CAR :
Park at the P3 car park which is reserved for hotel guests and accessible with a code to ask the hotel receptionist at the time of booking.
You will have to take the shuttle with your bags so another good reason to travel light that day.
I recommend some other great accommodations not far from the Mont if you want to experience something different in the area.
A Chateau Experience near the Mont
CHÂTEAU DE BOUCEEL
20 minutes drive from Mont Saint-Michel.
Château de Boucéel, Vergoncey, 50240 Saint-James, Mont Saint-Michel.
Ph : 02 33 48 34 61
Website HERE.
An elegant family property (a Historic Monument) dating from the 18th century and owned by Count de Roquefeuil and his family.
Indulge in understated luxury within a welcoming and tranquil atmosphere.
– Beautiful and elegantly appointed bedrooms and suites within the chateau.
– 3 charming fully renovated houses in the park for 4-5 people each.
– a heated swimming pool in the park open from Easter to September.
Experience the enchantment of castle life for one night or more… It truly is a remarkable place !
DID YOU KNOW ? Château de Boucéel is located in the town of Saint James, which is also the namesake of a well-known French clothing brand. The SAINT JAMES workshops, located just a 10-minute drive from the castle, have been crafting quality marine sweaters and striped shirts since 1889 (and now also offer other clothing).
It’s a lovely souvenir to bring back home !
– Saint-James website HERE.
– FYI : there is a Saint James store in Bayeux on the main street at 51 rue Saint-Martin ! Open everyday except on Monday morning and Sunday.
An Unusual Stay 7 km from the Mont
HOBBIT BREE
10 minutes drive from Mont Saint-Michel, come and spend the night in a Hobbit house ! And be careful : lower your head …!
Hobbit Brée
Open from March to September.
13 rue Bellevue, 50170 Tanis
Email : jeanluc.teurterie@free.fr
Website HERE.
Choose from the 4 Hobbit houses (each house can accommodate 4 people) offered by Jean-Luc and his wife who built and decorated them all themselves : each house is semi-buried with a green roof and everything inside was crafted from custom wood by Jean Luc evoking the atmosphere of Tolkien’s novels !
Each house is very comfortable with :
– 1 double bed & 2 single beds (bed linen provided).
– a fully equipped kitchen
– a pellet stove
– shower, sink and toilet facilities.
Towels are not provided.
Experience a memorable stay in this unique setting !
Nice Experiences/Activities
CROSSING THE BAY & OTHER ACTIVITIES with Romain Pilon
Romain Pilon is a passionate specialized tour guide in the bay of the Mont Saint-Michel.
Group tours (limited to 30 people) and private tours.
French and English spoken
– Website HERE.
Romain has been an independent guide for over 15 years in the Bay of Mont Saint Michel. He aims to « tell you about the Bay » during a tide, passionately and convivially highlighting the natural environment, sharing his knowledge and experience as a naturalist and promoting a way of life : listening, observing and reconnecting with your senses.
The crossings led by Romain are friendly, lively and informative. He covers various themes during the outings, including landscape, dangers, fauna and flora, ornithology, the history of the Bay, tidal phenomena and spirituality.
All the outings offered by Romain are available for both groups and individuals.
Important tips to follow for an excursion in the Bay :
The weather in the bay may be windy, sunny, cold or hot in the bay so always bring the following items according to the conditions :
– a hat to protect you from the sun or wind
– sunglasses & sunscreen if it’s sunny
– a windbreaker if it’s windy
– wear shorts (you will be walking barefoot and in the water)
– a towel
Some of the tours that Romain suggests in the bay :
– Traditional circuit from Saint Leonard to Mont Saint-Michel : Duration : from 2hr30 to 6hrs.
– Classic loop : The Mount – Tombelain – The Mount. Duration : 2hr30.
– Some « a la carte options » are also available such as Night Outings, Introduction to natural fishing, Observation of the tidal bore…
Contact him directly through his website for further information.
E-BIKING TOUR WITH HUGO
If you are an active person and enjoy cycling, Hugo from the company Petite Reine offers an e-bike tour to Mont Saint-Michel departing from Bayeux.
Find all information on Hugo’s tours HERE.
Contact him for more details at : hugo@petitereinenormandie.fr
– Pickup from your accommodation in Bayeux or surroundings.
– Transfer to the Mont by vehicle.
– E-bike tour upon arrival (e-bikes provided).
– 3 hours of free time at Mont Saint-Michel to explore on your own.
– Return to Bayeux (shuttle transfer)
Please note : Check with Hugo about purchasing the fast-pass abbey ticket if you want to visit it.
GAMES & ADVENTURES IN MONT SAINT-MICHEL FOR KIDS
Amélie and Gaëlle, two certified guides can arrange several fun activities for your kids and family at Mont Saint-Michel.
You’ll need to be clever to complete the challenges and achieve success!
Find all the details HERE.
An original way for the whole family to discover Mont Saint-Michel !
Enjoy a treasure hunt or search for Mike McLock’s treasure.
Some activities are available in French, English and Italian.
ULM FLIGHT OVER MONT SAINT-MICHEL
ULM Mont Saint-Michel
Instructor Didier Hulin (can speak some English).
Request info : reservation@ulm-mont-saint-michel.com
Website (in French) : http://www.ulm-mont-saint-michel.com/Bapteme.html
What an exhilarating experience to observe the Mont’s bay from the sky !
Embark on a 20-minute flight over Mont Saint-Michel, departing from Avranches aerodrome or Dragey, offering an affordable price for an unforgettable adventure.
Additional options include 10, 30 or 60-minute flights.
Instructor Didier Hulin boasts over 30 years of experience and was the first professional in the Mont Saint Michel bay.
IMPORTANT : This activity is highly weather-dependent, so please note that services may be cancelled in case of inclement weather. Normandy’s weather is notoriously changeable, even in summer, with the possibility of rain, wind or sunshine. I recommend scheduling this activity for the beginning of your stay, particularly if you plan to stay in the area for several days, to allow for potential postponement.
Don’t forget to inquire about the company’s Cancellation Policy.
