What to do, what to visit in a day at Mont Saint-Michel: prices, parking, tips…
What to do at Mont Saint-Michel?What to visit in a day at Mont Saint-Michel?
The Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy is undoubtedly the most famous, fascinating… and most visited village in France!
It offers a unique setting in the world, with its medieval abbey perched on a granite rock, at the top of a village with old houses, dominating a vast bay, with the highest tides in Europe!
The mount and its bay are inseparable and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
How long does it take to visit Mont Saint-Michel?What are the best activities at Mont Saint-Michel and its bay?
How to enjoy the summer evening events at the Mont Saint-Michel abbey?How to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris by train or car?
When to visit the mount, what are the prices/parking fees at Mont Saint-Michel in 2025?
Are there any tips to avoid paying for parking (and expensive) at Mont-Saint-Michel? Where to stay at Mont Saint-Michel?
Follow all my practical tips in this comprehensive guide to Mont Saint-Michel, which will help you avoid tourist scams at Mont Saint-Michel! 😉
Mont Saint-Michel is officially a village in France like any other, and not a paid attraction, even though it’s operated like a kind of “historical Disneyland”!
Therefore, there is no admission fee or opening hours for Mont Saint-Michel! Access to the village is completely free and open 24/7… as long as you walk to and visit Mont Saint-Michel on foot!
mont Saint-Michel at France Miniature
Even bicycles are prohibited, so you’ll need to leave your bike at the parking lot! 😉 Since the 2022 season, as an experiment, bicycles are allowed to circulate and park at the foot of the mount, on the esplanade.
Only the visit to the small private museums and the abbey at the top, which is a national monument, requires a fee, with many free admissions offered (see below).
Okay, let’s move on to the practical aspects of visiting Mont Saint-Michel! 😉
How to get to Mont Saint-Michel
Getting to Mont Saint-Michel by car
You can easily reach Mont Saint-Michel from the A 84 highway (or the “estuaries highway”, which connects Caen to Rennes), or the N 176 from Saint-Malo.
In fact, it’s the only village in France with 40 inhabitants that’s indicated on highway signs over 100 kilometers away!
Mont Saint-Michel Parking: 2025 Rates
It’s impossible to access the foot of the mount by car since the old dam was replaced by a bridge. Therefore, you’ll need to leave your vehicle in the large paid parking lots located at the entrance of the bridge… all of which are expensive!
For 6 to 24 hours of parking, expect to pay around:
14 € from November to March,
22 € in March, April, May, June, September, and October,
28 € in July and August!
After 6:30 PM, it’s free until 3:00 AM, except in the summer when it will still cost you 15 €! This allows you to stroll around the mount when most visitors have left and have dinner at a restaurant.
There are other rates depending on the length of stay and the season!
It’s free if you stay between 0 and 30 minutes (which isn’t very useful),
10, 16, or 20 € depending on the season for up to 3 hours,
12, 19, or 24 € if you stay between 3 and 6 hours.
The rates increase by an average of 2 € per year… Updated rates can be found on the official Mont-Saint-Michel website.
Note that you can save 2 € on parking if you reserve your spot online through the official website.
And it’s paid parking for everyone, including people with disabilities who have a parking permit! (a shame) Finally, don’t lose your ticket! Otherwise, you’ll be charged between 30 and 45 €, depending on the season…
A free shuttle bus runs throughout the day, allowing you to cross the 2 kilometers that separate you from the foot of the mount.
You can also walk to Mont Saint-Michel via the bridge, taking in the views! Alternatively, you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride, which costs 6 € per trip.
The mont Saint-Michel seen from Avranches
Where to park for free near Mont Saint-Michel: tips
So, how can you avoid paying for parking at Mont Saint-Michel? 😉
Well, you can try to find a spot in Beauvoir, before the official parking lots, and then walk up to the mount along the Couesnon river on the greenway. Avoid wild parking!
Expect a 20-30 minute pleasant walk in the sun to the starting point of the free shuttles. Alternatively, add 30 minutes more on foot to reach the mount.
By the way, you can see the dam on the Couesnon river, which was built in 2009 as part of the desilting of the Mont Saint-Michel bay.
Every day, the dam releases water to chase away the accumulation of sediments in the bay, offering a stunning spectacle.
Unfortunately, there is no longer a train that directly serves Mont Saint-Michel. You’ll need to go to the Pontorson train station, which is about 10 km from the mount.
The train station is located on the regional line Caen – Saint-Lô – Avranches – Rennes. A shuttle bus connects the mount to the Pontorson train station in 25 minutes, with a frequency of 3 to 4 buses per day. The fare is 3.10 € per trip in 2025.
How to visit Mont Saint-Michel from Paris by train?
Montparnasse station in Paris
Many people wonder how to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris by train. And it’s not simple!
The closest train station to the mount, connected by bus (see above), is the Pontorson train station. This train station is not connected to Paris on a daily basis, except during the months of July and August when a direct service was created, the “Mont Saint-Michel train“.
It takes around 4 hours of travel time (still!), but the fare is fixed (29 € in 2025).
Outside of this train, here are the options:
From Paris Montparnasse to Rennes by TGV, then TER to Pontorson (the fastest option in theory!)
From Paris Montparnasse to Dol-de-Bretagne by TGV, then bus to Pontorson
From Paris Saint-Lazare, take the TER Normandie to Caen, then TER from Caen to Pontorson
From Paris Montparnasse to Granville, with a connection at Folligny to Pontorson (by train) or at Villedieu-les-Poêles directly to the mount’s parking lot (by bus)
Note that these options may require multiple changes and can be time-consuming. It’s recommended to check the schedules and fares in advance to plan your trip accordingly.
Visiting Mont Saint-Michel from Paris by Car
It takes around 4 to 5 hours to drive from the Île-de-France region, via the A11 and A81 highways, or alternatively, the A13 highway via Caen and then the A84 highway (which is free).
Another option, simpler if you don’t have a car, is to take an organized tour from the capital!
What’s the best day to visit Mont Saint-Michel? Here are a few things to know!
When to come to Mont Saint-Michel? Simple: when it’s not invaded by tourists! 😉 In other words, the best period to visit Mont Saint-Michel peacefully is from November to March.
I suggest coming at the beginning of spring, in March and April, before the holidays, when the weather is nice and the crowds are small. From April to October, try to avoid school holidays and weekends, especially long weekends!
If you visit Mont Saint-Michel during peak season, especially in July and August, try to come early in the morning before the tourists arrive around 10 am.
Alternatively, come after 7 pm, when it’s calm again… and the parking is much cheaper. However, the abbey will be closed!
In July and August, you can still enjoy the evening events at the Mont Saint-Michel abbey! (see below)
The unique setting of Mont Saint-Michel is best admired in the sunlight. But the fog on the bay, or a stroll along the ramparts under the moonlight, offer other fascinating atmospheres!
High Tides at Mont Saint-Michel
Of course, the high tides during the equinoxes, at the end of March and September, are a privileged moment to admire the impressive flow invading the Mont Saint-Michel bay.
Other high tides occur in mid-April, mid-August (with a considerable crowd!), and mid-October, depending on the year.
Every twenty years or so, a “tide of the century” occurs, exceeding a coefficient of 118. The next ones will take place on Thursday, March 3, 2033, and Tuesday, March 14, 2051! 😉
Mont Saint-Michel Bay
Note that Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island again with a tide coefficient of 110.
The water height (or tidal range) reaches 15 meters in the bay, and the sea recedes by 15 kilometers during the high tides of the spring tide…
During these spring tides, the esplanade is underwater, and the mount becomes inaccessible for about an hour…
Can you visit Mont Saint-Michel at this time?
You’re wondering: can you visit Mont Saint-Michel at this time? And the answer is yes… except for those few hours each year when the esplanade is underwater! 😉
Below a coefficient of 110, the mount is perfectly accessible on foot! Above this threshold, which is only a few days a year, you won’t be able to access the mount at high tide.
marée basse dans la baie du Mont Saint-Michel
How long to visit Mont Saint-Michel?
What duration should you plan for visiting Mont Saint-Michel?
Plan for at least half a day to visit Mont Saint-Michel.
It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to reach the entrance of the Mont Saint-Michel abbey from the parking lot, depending on your physical condition… and the crowd.
Then, plan for about 1 to 2 hours to visit the Mont Saint-Michel abbey, taking the time to admire the view from the church terrace!
A day at Mont Saint-Michel is ideal for taking a leisurely tour of the site and the abbey.
Is one day enough to visit Mont Saint-Michel? In my opinion, based on experience, yes.
If you want to explore the surroundings or practice various activities (ultralight flight, hiking in the bay), I suggest staying elsewhere. It will be less crowded and much cheaper! 😉
Where to stay at Mont Saint-Michel
Sleeping at Mont Saint-Michel
The 7 hotels within the walls of Mont Saint-Michel are all located between the Grande Rue and the ramparts, in venerable old houses that are classified as historic landmarks.
With high demand and a very limited supply, prices skyrocket quickly during peak season! Expect to pay between 150 and 300 € per night… and be sure to book well in advance!
Disadvantage: you’ll have to carry your luggage on foot from the shuttle stop at the foot of the mount.
Advantage: if you’re an early riser, you’ll have the mount to yourself before the tourists arrive!
You can find my selection of the best accommodations where to stay at Mont Saint-Michel and its surroundings in my detailed article! 🙂
For my part, I’ve always preferred bed and breakfasts or rentals in the region, which are much more practical by car and less expensive. And if you choose well, you’ll have the chance to admire the view of the mount from the villages in the bay! 🙂
If you want to spend the night on Mont Saint-Michel, here are the 7 available hotels:
In terms of services and ratings, they’re all more or less equivalent. There aren’t any particularly good or bad addresses on Mont Saint-Michel…
Les terrasses Poulard
Sleeping in the Mont Saint-Michel Bay
If you don’t mind getting away from the village and not sleeping on the mount, the best hotels to stay at Mont Saint-Michel are actually… outside of the mount! The following ones are indeed better rated… and cheaper! 😉
L’Hôtel vert : 2.4 km from the mount. Ideal location, calm, just a short walk from the shuttle stop, with beautiful spacious rooms, but no view of the mount!
Le Saint-Aubert : 2.6 km from Mont Saint-Michel. Close to the shuttle departure point, the hotel offers a good location for a stay at Mont Saint-Michel.
Le Relais Saint Michel : not necessarily much cheaper, but better rated, with a breathtaking view of the Mont! Perfect for a trip to Mont Saint-Michel!
Apparthôtel Mont Saint Michel – Résidence Fleurdumont : 4 km away, you’ll have a studio or apartment in a residence with a pool! It’s an ideal place to stay if you’re visiting Mont Saint-Michel with your family! 🙂
Le Beauvoir : also 4 km away, well-rated and not too expensive. You won’t be far from the alligator greenhouse! Good location for a vacation at Mont Saint-Michel! 🙂
These hotels offer a more affordable and comfortable alternative to staying on the mount itself, while still being close enough to enjoy the area’s attractions.
Visiting the Village of Mont Saint-Michel
The village of Mont Saint-Michel developed during the Middle Ages at the foot of the abbey.
Fortified Court of the Avancée Gate at Mont Saint-Michel
You access it by first crossing the Avancée gate, with access to toilets, and then the Boulevard gate (with the La Mère Poulard restaurant). You finally arrive through the King’s gate, a drawbridge.
Main Street of Mont Saint-Michel
Main Street of Mont Saint-Michel
From this time on, you could find, along the unique and narrow Main Street, inns and souvenir shops for the pilgrims to Mont Saint-Michel.
They would buy lead tokens marked with the Saint-Jacques shell.
In short, not much has fundamentally changed, except for the visitors’ attire… and the trinkets, which are now made in China! The Main Street offers beautiful granite or half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries, with nice signs.
Sign on the Main Street of Mont Saint-Michel
After the Mont Saint-Michel tourist office, next to the post office, you will pass under the Artichaut house, a 15th-century house, which was once a dependency of the old Licorne hotel.
Its unique roof with wooden ridge tiles gave it its name! (also visible from the rampart path)
Halfway between the King’s gate and the Saint-Michel church, notice on your left a curious anomaly at Mont Saint-Michel: the Guet alley, just opposite the Croix Blanche hotel.
It’s also nicknamed… “Cuckold’s Alley”! Given its narrowness, you couldn’t pass through with horns, so they say… 😉
Museums of Mont Saint-Michel
The Main Street and its surroundings have four small private museums:
The Museum of the Sea and Ecology, with a collection of 250 boat models and a few panels,
The Archéoscope (opposite the parish church), a “multimedia show” that evokes the history of the mount (in reality, a lit model and a soundtrack!),
The Historical Museum, which presents wax figures, ancient objects (locks, weapons…) and a reconstruction of the abbey’s dungeon (a cardboard reconstruction, not real dungeons!),
The Logis Thiphaine or Maison Du Guesclin, built in 1365 by the knight for his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel, a three-room furnished house, a bit dusty due to poor maintenance (owned by the La Mère Poulard group!).
A ticket for 9 € per museum, or a package for 18 € (still expensive!) in 2025 allows you to visit the 4 museums of Mont Saint-Michel. Finally, if you can call these places museums!
Honestly, they don’t, in my opinion, ABSOLUTELY make up the essential activities to do at Mont-Saint-Michel!
They are not indispensable, really outdated, dusty due to lack of maintenance, and very expensive for the content, in short, in my opinion, pure tourist traps!
You’re wondering what to do at Mont Saint-Michel? Go visit the abbey instead, you won’t regret the visit or your money! (and if you don’t believe me, go read the online reviews, you won’t be disappointed!) 😉
Walls of Mont Saint-Michel
To climb to the Mont Saint-Michel abbey, I suggest avoiding the main street and taking the walls instead. This will save you from getting stuck in the crowds during peak season!
Let’s continue our Mont Saint-Michel tour. Just after passing through the King’s Gate (the third gate after entering the mount), take the stairs to the right towards the King’s Tower!
The walls of Mont Saint-Michel date back to the 13th to 15th centuries.
They offer superb views of the bay and the Tombelaine rock throughout their ascent, as well as views of the village roofs. Follow the wall path to the end, to the North Tower.
After passing the seven watchtowers, you will arrive directly at the foot of the stairs leading to the abbey. You will now face the Châtelet stairs, followed by the Grand Staircase of the abbey! 😉
Paths of Mont Saint-Michel
Another option: take the paths of Mont Saint-Michel, between the Main Street and the abbey’s escarpment. This is the ideal place to go for a walk at Mont Saint-Michel, away from the tourists! 😉
Unknown and little used by the crowd of visitors, they offer a leisurely stroll through the small gardens of the mount, with nice views. It’s a walk to take when visiting Mont Saint-Michel as a couple! 🙂
Located outside the main areas of interest of Mont Saint-Michel, you can discover the parish church of Saint-Pierre, dating back to the 11th century but modified in the 15th and 16th centuries, and its cemetery.
By the way, the apse of the church spans a alley leading to the cemetery!
Nave of the parish church of Saint-Pierre at Mont Saint-Michel
Okay, given the size of Mont Saint-Michel, you won’t get lost! You can also arrive at the foot of the abbey stairs. You can climb to the abbey via the walls and descend via the paths, or vice versa, both are interesting!
Take a look at the main street after 7 pm: the tourists are gone, and you can finally admire the details! 😉
Visiting the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
Visiting the Mont Saint-Michel abbey is truly a must-see for its historical significance, its stunning architecture, its famous “Merveille”, and the immense view it offers.
The abbey is the only worthwhile expense that I really encourage you to make during your visit to Mont Saint-Michel.
It’s one of the most beautiful monuments in France! Only about half of the visitors to the mount visited it in 2019, which is really a shame! 🙁
2025 Rates for Visiting the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
Self-Guided Tour of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
The entrance fee to the Mont Saint-Michel abbey is 13 € in 2025 (11 € in 2023, a sign of inflation…)
The usual free admissions for national monuments apply: for young people up to 26 years old living in the EU, the unemployed, teachers, people with disabilities and an accompanying person, etc.
And it’s free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month from November to March. The audio guide is an additional 3 €.
Online booking is mandatory. It is possible to buy on site according to availability, but in the summer, the line at the ticket office is discouraging!
To be sure to have a spot, you can book for the same price on the Tiqets or Get Your Guide websites.
Good to know: cancellation is totally free, unlike a purchase on the official website. These sites also have a contingent of additional places if everything is full on the official website.
Night Visit to the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey with Immersive Sound and Light
In July and August only, enjoy a night visit to the Mont Saint-Michel abbey!
The walk is free from 7:30 PM to midnight (last entry), with a visual and sound immersion. In 2023, the theme was elevation!
The visit-show has a specific pricing, and free admission only applies to children under 7 years old. A slight reduction is available for young people up to 18 years old, students, and job seekers.
Guided Tour of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
A guided tour of the Mont Saint-Michel abbey with a guide-lecturer is recommended (count 2 hours and an additional 7 € to the entrance fee).
I followed it, and a passionate lecturer will evoke the amazing history of the mount.
And it will allow you to access places that are usually inaccessible, such as the balustrade of the church roof, offering a breathtaking view of the mount!
The Mont Saint-Michel abbey is open every day from September 1st to April 30th from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and from May 2nd to August 31st from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Ticket offices close and last access is 1 hour before. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th.
A Brief History of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
The Mont Saint-Michel abbey is a model of medieval architecture, both military and religious. Originally, there were two granite mountains and a vast bay.
The history of Mont Saint-Michel began in 708, when Bishop Aubert built a first sanctuary on Mont-Tombe in honor of the Archangel Saint Michael.
At the request of the Duke of Normandy, Richard I, Benedictine monks settled there in 966.
Mont Saint-Michel quickly became a major pilgrimage site and an intellectual center, with the preservation of many manuscripts. It earned the nickname “City of Books”.
Mont Saint-Michel was a religious center, but also a fortress on the borders of the duchies of Normandy and Brittany.
The abbey was therefore heavily fortified by the Duke of Normandy, and then by the Kings of France during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1421, during the English siege, the Romanesque choir of the abbey church collapsed!
It was not rebuilt until a century later, in the flamboyant Gothic style. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the abbey declined, and the abbots commendatory abandoned the place!
For ten centuries, the abbey underwent transformations, due to fires and collapses. After the French Revolution, emptied of its monks, it even became a state prison!
In 1863, the prison was finally closed, leaving the buildings in disrepair. Fifteen years later, the road dam was built to the foot of the mount.
Mont Saint-Michel then became a purely tourist curiosity, until the return of a monastic community in 1969.
Visit to the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
The visit to the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey reveals around twenty rooms.
It begins with the ascent of the Grand Staircase, which leads to a room exhibiting models of the site throughout the centuries. And in the Middle Ages, they didn’t plan for an elevator! 😉
Grand Staircase of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
We then arrive at the abbey church and its esplanade (phew!)
The abbey church of Mont Saint-Michel is built at the top of the mount, at an altitude of 80 meters.
It rests on a platform 80 meters long, consisting of four crypts attached to the tip of the rock.
We then walk along the monks’ promenade, followed by the refectory and the cloister of the Merveille, which was entirely restored in 2017.
Built in the 13th century, it is the pinnacle of Gothic art in Normandy.
The Merveille is a major ensemble of Gothic architecture: it consists of six main rooms spread over three levels, on the north side of Mont Saint-Michel.
The visit to the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey continues by descending into the Guest Room, located under the refectory.
This Gothic room has two naves, separated by slender columns. It was here that the abbot received kings and distinguished guests.
Guest Room
Crypts of the abbey
The tour then passes through the tiny Chapel of Sainte-Madeleine to reach the crypt of the Gros-Piliers.
Located under the choir of the abbey church, this crypt features ten enormous pillars, 5 meters in diameter, made of granite from the Chausey Islands.
Three other crypts are located under the choir, including Notre-Dame-sous-Terre, a Carolingian construction that can only be discovered through a guided tour.
We then enter the severe crypt of Saint-Martin, with its Romanesque barrel vault spanning 9 meters.
Next is the large wheel, which occupies the former ossuary of the monks. Built in 1820, it dates back to the time when the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey became a prison!
Five or six prisoners would walk inside, hauling materials and provisions. And to think that we still subject rodents to this today! 🙁
After the Chapel of the Dead, or Chapel of Saint-Étienne, the grand North-South staircase leads to the monks’ promenade, a long room with two Romanesque-Gothic naves.
Hall of the Knights
Hall of the Knights
We then arrive under the Merveille in the Hall of the Knights, an immense room measuring 26 meters by 18 meters, with four naves. This is where the scriptorium was located, where the monk-scribes worked. We then head towards the exit… and its gift shop!
Gardens of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
It’s through the gift shop that you can access the gardens of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey for free, which many people miss without realizing it!
Located on the north side of the mount, they offer a peaceful spot with a view of the west side of the mount and the Chapel of Saint-Aubert.
Where to eat at Mont Saint-Michel
So, I would rather tell you where not to eat at Mont Saint-Michel: at La Mère Poulard!
This institution on the mount since the 19th century still serves its famous whipped omelette, at the beginning of the Grand Rue. You can’t miss it!
But given the location, the fame, and the two to three million annual visitors to the mount, it’s safe to say that the efforts to provide quality food and service are minimal.
It’s therefore VERY expensive (around 35 € for an omelette!) for a very questionable result.
Go read the TripAdvisor reviews to understand what I mean! Moreover, the company was caught posting fake positive reviews on this site…
restaurants of Mont-Saint-Michel
Try instead the Duguesclin, higher up on the street, which also offers the famous omelette at a lower price! Additionally, it has a room on the upper floor with a view of the bay.
Otherwise, the La Sirène creperie remains a good option at a more democratic price, as well as La Cloche.
Overall, it’s best not to eat on the mount. There are too many tourist traps, or even outright gastronomic scams, especially in the lower part of the Grand Rue!
Why not bring a picnic basket? 😉 Apart from the mount’s omelette and seafood, the other local specialty is the pré-salé lamb.
What to do at Mont Saint-Michel when it rains?
a street of Mont Saint-Michel
Rain is rare in Normandy (hum), but it does happen! And unfortunately, it’s often when you’re there! 😉
So, what to do at Mont Saint-Michel when it rains?
On rainy days at Mont Saint-Michel, there aren’t 36 possibilities: the most interesting thing to do is to spend time at the abbey!
Why not take the opportunity to follow a fascinating 2-hour guided tour? You’ll discover secret places that most visitors don’t get to see…
Alternatively, you can take the time to visit at least one of the small private museums on the mount. Okay, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a bit pricey for the somewhat outdated content…
Finally, if the rain is forecast before your arrival at the mount, I also suggest visiting the scriptorium in Avranches, or the aquarium, or one of the museums in Saint-Malo!
The mouse’s review of Mont Saint-Michel
Alors, est-ce que le Mont Saint-Michel vaut le coup ?
Of course, Mont Saint-Michel is one of the must-see places in Normandy, and even in France! As it’s so well-known, you won’t be alone, though…
I enjoyed my multiple visits to this unique place, but less so the crowds that come with it! There are no fewer than 20,000 tourists per day in high season!
So, you need to get off the beaten path and avoid coming at the same time as everyone else! Nevertheless, it’s truly magnificent!
I highly recommend visiting the abbey, another unique place (even if the Sacra de San Michele near Turin is similar!), which I really loved!
To the north of the bay, the Bec d’Andaine in Genêts is the starting point for walking crossings of the Mont Saint-Michel bay. But you can also simply drive or bike there to admire the view of the two mounts in the vast bay!
Warning: only cross the bay with an experienced official guide! Don’t take the risk of getting lost without knowledge. Between the quicksand and the tide, accidents are regular.
Granville and the Chausey Islands
Granville, closing the north of the Mont Saint-Michel bay, offers an old town surrounded by ramparts on its rock. Okay, it’s a bit like the Monaco of the Channel with its rock dominating the sea! 🙂
Okay, certainly, the resemblance stops there: the climate and water temperature are different (hum).
Still, the town is pretty, it offers a beautiful beach, a thalassotherapy center, and the house of Christian Dior, a native of Granville, which can be visited.
Granville
The port of Granville is the starting point for excursions to the Chausey Islands.
This small Norman archipelago, uninhabited all year round, was forgotten when the other islands were ceded to the United Kingdom, so it remained French!
You can admire an astonishing landscape that changes with the action of the tides, especially during the strong equinox tides.
Granville is a must-visit place in Normandy if you’re looking for something to do between Caen and Mont Saint-Michel!
Cherbourg, its Cité de la Mer, and the Cotentin
The port of Cherbourg is unknown to many tourists, and they’re wrong!
You’ll find a charming little town, umbrellas (!), and the largest French marina on the Channel.
But above all, you have to visit its fascinating Cité de la Mer, with its aquariums, its Titanic reconstruction, and a visit to a nuclear submarine!
The north of the Cotentin offers the grandiose landscape of the Nez de Jobourg, at the Cap de la Hague.
But you’ll also discover Barfleur, one of the most beautiful villages in France, and the Gatteville lighthouse (which can be visited), the second-highest in the country with its 75 meters!
Barfleur
It’s also the starting point for the D-Day beaches, at Sainte-Mère-Église.
In Brittany: the Emerald Coast
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo, the pirate city, is a stage that many tourists visit after exploring Mont Saint-Michel. They’re right to do so: the setting is superb, the walled city is astonishing, and the museums are interesting.
You can reach Saint-Malo by strolling along the bay, via Cancale (yes, the oysters!)
The walled city of Saint-Malo seen from Dinard
Don’t miss the walk to the Pointe du Grouin! I’ve never seen pigs there (groin = snout in english!), but just a superb view of the Mont Saint-Michel bay!
View of Mont Saint-Michel from the Pointe du Grouin
You can also go up the Rance estuary, upstream from its famous tidal power plant, and visit Saint-Suliac, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Dinard, the very British seaside resort!
Visiting Saint-Malo is an opportunity to discover the pretty seaside resort of Dinard, which has many Belle Époque villas! 🙂
Dol-de-Bretagne and Dinan
Further upstream on the Rance, the medieval town of Dinan is still surrounded by ramparts.
It offers beautiful half-timbered houses, a medieval castle, a lively atmosphere in season, and even the Railway Museum, with a model railway in its station! 😉
Dinan and its small port on the Rance
On the way, halfway, take a detour to Dol-de-Bretagne, a pretty little town with a cathedral.
Dol-de-Bretagne
2 km north, don’t miss the ascent (on foot or by car) of Mont Dol. 61 meters high, it offers a remarkable panorama of the Mont Saint-Michel bay! 🙂
Elsewhere in Normandy…
Quai Sainte-Catherine in Honfleur
Further on, you can continue your stay in Normandy and discover Honfleur, a wonder of the region with its magnificent old harbor, its old town, and its museums!
Don’t miss Rouen, the regional capital, which is somewhat underrated despite its beautifully preserved historic center, its cathedral, its half-timbered houses, and its superb museums!
Jambourg Beach in Étretat
The famous cliffs of Étretat are among the must-see sights in Normandy and France.
Norman house in Veules-les-Roses
Finally, Veules-les-Roses is one of the most beautiful villages in France and is worth visiting!
