Once upon a time, people reached this place by wading through the shallows, timing their arrival with the ebb tide. Today, a modern causeway leads to Mont Saint-Michel, but the feeling of being at the ‘end of the world’ remains. This island abbey in northern France looks like a mirage: a rock topped with a spire, with streets sloping steeply upwards and a church bell lost in the fog.
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Mont Saint-Michel: audio guide to the island
The abbey is named after the Archangel Michael and was built in 709. Now, only 30 people live here, but millions of tourists and pilgrims arrive every year.
If you want to see Mont Saint-Michel from the inside, don’t forget to book your ticket to the abbey in advance.
How to get to Mont Saint-Michel Abbey from Paris?
Sights of Mont Saint-Michel
Once you are on the island, forget about a regular tour: just walking through the streets is an adventure in itself. Right at the entrance to Mont Saint-Michel, you will see the old building of the former Burgher’s Guardroom.
Now it is a tourist office where you can pick up a map, check the tide times, or simply catch your breath before the climb.
Office hours (depending on the season):
- May–August: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
- September–April: 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Thursdays (November to March): closed in the mornings (except during school holidays)
- Public holidays: opening hours may vary – please check in advance
Through the Boulevard Gate and the Royal Gate, you will find yourself on the island’s main street, Grande Rue. It is narrow, noisy, paved with stone, and leads uphill, winding past 15th–16th century houses. Here you will also find shops, museums, and cafés where you can take a break from the crowds.
Museums on the island of Mont Saint-Michel in France
There are four small museums on the island, each with its own theme and character. They are not very large, but they can easily brighten up an hour or two of walking, especially if the weather is not great or you want to see the island from the inside.
What to see:
- L’Archéoscope – a multimedia installation about the history and construction of the abbey. Impressive and informative.
- The History Museum – weapons, ancient documents, dungeons, and even a torture chamber. It gives an atmospheric glimpse into the life of the island.
- The Museum of the Sea and Ecology – tells about the tides and how the sea has determined the fate of the island for centuries.
- Le Logis Tiphaine – a 14th-century house where the knight Bertrand Du Guesclin lived with his wife. Inside, there are tapestries, furniture, and paintings from the era.
All museums are usually open daily from 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. to 5:00–6:30 p.m., depending on the season.
L’Archéoscope is closed in winter (November to January).
You can purchase a pass for all three museums in advance at this link.
Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
Before climbing the famous Grand Degré – the granite steps to the abbey – it is worth visiting the parish church of Saint-Pierre. It was built in the 15th–16th centuries and still holds services today:
| Mass is Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. | Sunday mass at 11:00 |
| Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. – Eucharistic Adoration | |
Confession from Wednesday to Saturday: from 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The abbey is open for independent visits. Admission is by ticket, and queues are possible at any time of the year, especially during the high season.
- From 1 May to 31 August: 9:00 to 19:00
- From 1 September to 30 April: 9:30 to 18:00
- Closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December
- Last admission is one hour before closing time
Tides at Mont Saint-Michel
The best time to visit Mont Saint-Michel is from May to September. Summers here are warmer, sunnier, and less windy. But even in winter, the island looks dramatic: the coast is covered in frost, fog hangs over the sea, and the fortress seems to float in the air.
However, people come here not only for medieval romance. Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its tides, which are the strongest in continental Europe. Twice a month, the water literally rises to the very walls of the island before your eyes and then recedes just as quickly. This spectacle is worth planning your trip around.
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When to expect high tide?
The maximum rise in water occurs approximately 36–48 hours after the full moon or new moon, especially in March and September. The difference between low tide and high tide is up to 15 metres. The sea covers or exposes up to 15 kilometres of sandy bay.
Current dates and times of the tides can be found on the city website – look for the «Times of the tides» section.
If you want to see everything live, it is better to arrive a day or two before the tide date and stay overnight: at peak times, cars are not allowed, and access to the island is restricted.
Important: you can only walk on the bottom of the bay with a licensed guide. The quicksand here is real, and when the water comes in, it is impossible to get out on your own. Don’t take any chances.
Where to stay in Mont-Saint-Michel?
You have two options: stay on the island itself or 3 km away, but with an unparalleled view of the abbey.
For those who choose to stay on the mainland, we can recommend:
Le Relais Saint-Michel – the only hotel with terraces in the rooms and a panoramic view of Mont Saint-Michel right from your bed
Saint Aubert – a quiet and cosy hotel in a green area, formerly a farmhouse
There are also good hotels on the island itself:
La Mere Poulard – a historic hotel in the heart of Mont Saint-Michel with a legendary restaurant and views of the abbey
La Vieille Auberge – a hotel with rooms in the upper part of the village, accessible by stairs, and terraces overlooking the bay
In addition, from 15 February to 11 November, visitors can stay at an electrified campsite in the nearest village on the mainland.
Choose a hotel near Mont-Saint-MichelWhere to eat on the island of Mont-Saint-Michel?
It is easy to find a place to grab a bite to eat or enjoy a gourmet meal with a sea view on the island. Almost all establishments are concentrated along the main street, Grande Rue.
The stars of the local cuisine are Mère Poulard’s omelette, mussels from the bay, buckwheat pancakes, and lamb from the salt marshes. All of these are real gastronomic discoveries that people come here specifically to try.
What and where to try
- La Mère Poulard – a legendary restaurant where the famous fluffy omelette is baked in a wood-fired oven. It is a tourist spot, but authentic
- Crêperie La Cloche – a cosy pancake house where buckwheat galettes are served with cider
- Le Tripot – Norman cuisine, mussels and omelettes, a pleasant atmosphere without pretension
- Au Pèlerin – the cheapest eatery on the island: pizza, sandwiches, salads
- Le Café Gourmand – quick but tasty: coffee, pastries, sandwiches
Have a great holiday!
Kilyan Sockalingum / Unsplash 
Stefan K. / Unsplash
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