A Weekend Visiting Mont Saint-Michel, France
Mont Saint-Michel, France
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I will get a commission if you decide to purchase anything through my links. I only choose products and services for these links that I believe in. :)Visiting the one thousand year-old island that inspired Disney’s Tangled was something out of a dream.
My trip to Normandy was one for the books. From staying in the ancient city of Caen to day trips to Bayeux and visiting the D-Day beaches, I was completely submerged in thousands of years of history. Normandy quickly took its spot as one of my top favorite trips of all time.
But, I will say…Mont Saint-Michel…it takes the cake and will be a core memory for life.
If you’re short on time, skip to the section you’re looking for here:
Is Mont Saint-Michel Worth Visitng?
In my opinion, absolutely.
“This is so unreal” is what I kept saying to myself throughout the entire weekend. It quite literally feels like you’re stepping into a Disney movie.
The rumor is Mont Saint-Michel inspired the magical Kingdom of Corona in Disney’s Tangled and it is so easy to see why.
If you’re looking for an experience that is a little off the beaten path and completely out of this world, Mont Saint-Michel might be the place for you.
How to Get to Mont Saint-Michel
Getting to Mont Saint Michel is easily done by bus or car from Paris or other cities in France such as Caen.
Taking the bus from Caen usually takes about 2 hours and is super easy to navigate. FlixBus runs a few times each day and is relatively inexpensive.
What was supposed to be a quick two-hour bus ride turned into an eight-hour saga…thanks to a breakdown and four hours stranded at a rest stop in the middle of the French countryside (not the worst place to be stranded eh?).
This definitely wasn’t ideal but it is part of travel! From what can be read from other travelers on the internet, this particular event doesn’t happen often.
We just got lucky 😉
BUT, it should be said that mishaps happen during travel and it is essential to be prepared for the trip to go off course. Yet another reason to add to my list of reasons why insurance is a ALWAYS good idea.
After a detour back to Caen, our bus - now full of trauma bonded new besties- finally started to see the silhouette of Mont Saint-Michel in the distance.
The drive was one for the books, weaving through the French countryside as the small outline of the Mont in the distance got bigger and bigger.
The tune to When You Wish Upon a Star was stuck in my head throughout the entire weekend.
If you’re staying on the Mont, there is a shuttle stop at the edge of the village that will take you across the footbridge that is just over a mile long to the base of the island (best if you have luggage with you!).
We stayed off the Mont in the village on the shore so it was easy to head straight to the accommodation after getting off the bus.
Mont Saint-Michel Hotels
IMO - Mont Saint-Michel is best as a weekend getaway, rather than a day trip. You’ll want to spend at least one overnight.
Even though the Mont isn’t very large, there are so many nooks and crannies to explore. You’ll want a full day without any rush.
Plus, the view of the Mont in the evening as the lights come on is something you won’t want to miss.
You have two options for finding accommodation while visiting Mont Saint-Michel: you can either stay on the Mont itself and have the amazing opportunity to explore the Mont without the crowds in the evening.
OR you can stay on shore in La Caserne, the welcome area before the footbridge. You’ll have walkable access to the Mont and a gorgeous view as the sun goes down and the twinkling lights come on.
Options for Hotels on Mont Saint-Michel:
Options for Hotels off Mont Saint-Michel:
Mecure Mont-Saint Michel (This is where I stayed, great stay!)
The Mecure on shore in the neighborhood of La Caserne is great! The staff are lovely and let us leave our luggage the next day as we explored the Mont before our bus that evening.
Where to Eat in Mont Saint-Michel
If you’re wondering about where to eat while visiting Mont Saint-Michel, here’s the breakdown:
There are a few notable restaurants on the Mont, including La Mere Poulard where you can find world famous omelettes that have been feeding hungry travelers for over 100 years.
Just a note: La Mere Poulard is quite pricey at €38 per omelette (as of summer 2025) and you’ll need to make sure and book reservations in advance as grabbing tables the day of is quite tricky.
A couple of restaurants onshore in La Caserne are worth noting as well. La Ferme Saint-Michel is a converted farmhouse serving up local Norman dishes with fresh ingredients and an atmosphere that will leave you feeling like you stepped into a Pinterest board.
Here is the full list of restaurants on Mont Saint-Michel:
La Mere Poulard - Famous omlettes
Restaurant La Confiance - Rustic inn
Hôtel Les Terrasses Poulard - Panoramic bay views
La Sirène Lochet - Creperie
Le Chapeau Rouge - Crepes & local dishes
Les Terrasses De La Baie - Contemporary restaurant with bay views
If you’re like me and you’re more of a sandwich on the beach kind of person (featured in the itinerary later on!), there are several sandwich and “fast food” vendors throughout the Mont.
As for restaurants land side, here is what’s available:
La Ferme Saint-Michel - Converted farmhouse with traditional Norman dishes
Restaurant La Salicorne - Modern menu and relaxed atmosphere
Brioche Dorée - Cafe, great for breakfast!
Weekend Itinerary for Mont Saint-Michel
Day 1: Arriving to Mont Saint-Michel
Check in & dinner
After the unfortunate delay in travel, we arrived in the neighborhood of La Caserne (the small village that connects travelers to Mont Saint Michel) just in time for dinner. We checked into the Mercure Hotel and went right across the street to Restaurant La Salicorne.
Other dinner options include La Ferme, a gorgeous farmhouse-turned-high-class restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor area, perfect for breezy spring and summer nights. They specialize in Norman cuisine, making it a great place to start your weekend at Mont-Saint-Michel.
We went for the Restaurant La Salicorne for a more low-key vibe and for the convenience after a long day of travel. They had delicious food and a very friendly atmosphere.
Sunset view of the Mont
After dinner, the sun was barely starting to set and it was the perfect time to explore the cute neighborhood of La Caserne. It is a very small village/welcome area with just a handful of hotels and restaurants.
The two stand out things are cow statues with various designs around the village and, of course, the view of the Mont at sunset. It was absolutely stunning.
I would definitely bring a light jacket as it does get a bit chilly when the sun goes down (even in summer) but it is completely worth a nice long sit at the viewing point.
Note: If you do get to Mont-Saint-Michel earlier in the day, there are so many trails and viewpoints you can find around the village. There is the famous winding river through a field that leads straight to the Mont. It is supposed to be a fantastic walk.
Day 2: A day exploring Mont Saint-Michel
Breakfast & walking to the Mont
We started the day at 9AM - leaving us enough time to grab breakfast at the cafe across the street before taking the 2km / 1.2 mile long footbridge that leads to the entrance of the Mont.
There are free shuttles that leave around every 5-10 minutes all day. The time of the first and last bus depends on the time of the year but typically, pick up and drop off start around 7:30AM and ends around midnight.
A few insights: put on sunscreen and drink lots of water! Beautiful sunny days in the French countryside can be very deceiving with how good the weather feels but the sun will get to you quick! Especially walking to the Mont.
We got to the Mont between 10:00AM-10:30AM. On this day, it ended up being the perfect time before the crowds got too heavy.
Entering the village & treking to the abbey
Upon entering the village, we immediately started to make our way to the top of the Mont, straight to the abbey.
On the way up, you pass all the shops and restaurants that have been there for hundreds of years.
There are A LOT of stairs. Be prepared to hit at least 12,000 steps and get a good workout in.
10AM was a great arrival time as we didn’t wait too long in line to tour the abbey.
This tour was incredible. Much of the building has stayed the same over the years so its easy to imagine what it was like for the monks and nuns who have occupied the abbey throughout history.
It takes about 2 hours to get through the abbey. The self-guided tour was perfect for me but there are free guided tours available with more info and narrative.
The ramparts & the village
After the tour, its easy to follow the ramparts down to the village and enjoy the stunning views.
We also took this time to visit the shops in the village we were peaking into on the way up.
Lunch on the beach
There are so many great restaurants to choose from in the village…including La Mere Poulard, an inn and restaurant that has been serving world-famous omelets to travelers for over 100 years.
However, my favorite memory of this trip though was grabbing some sandwiches and having a picnic on the beach in front of the village where its possible to take it the scene and avoid the crowds.
Guided tours through the quicksand
After lunch, you can go and explore more of the village or join one of the coolest guided tours in France.
The bay is full of quicksand, and if you’re with a guide, you can safely explore this amazing landscape and even learn how to get yourself out of a quicksand hole.
As the tide comes in so quickly, it is very important to go with a guide. Here is one I would recommend: Walk in the heart of the Bay
Catching the bus back
The bus came and picked us up in the evening to head back to Caen. It ended up being the perfect amount of time to explore the Mont without feeling too rushed or ovewhelmed.
Overall, this was an amazing weekend trip. One that I would recommend to anyone planning a trip France.
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