Day trip to Mont Saint Michel with kids

Our road trip through Normandy takes us to Mont Saint Michel. Mont Saint Michel is probably one of the most beautiful places to visit in France.

Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, Mont Saint Michel is a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey located on an island in Normandy.

It has been a strategic fortification since ancient times and has been the seat of the monastery since the 8th-century.

For all you Disney fans, Mont Saint Michel was also the artistic inspiration to the movie “Tangled” and is easily recognizable in the movie. 

On the blog I share what to see on a day trip to Mont Saint Michel with kids, so you can plan your trip to France and visit this amazing island in Normandy.

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Mont Saint Michel’s history

According to legend, in the early 8th century, the archangel Michael appeared to the bishop of Avranches and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet.

Since then, it has been a popular Christian pilgrimage site, and considered a Holy place.

Mont Saint Michel is a major tourist attraction in the Normandy Region of France, and we were fortunate enough to experience its beauty.

The drive into Mont Saint Michel was just so beautiful. As you get closer to the town, the silhouette of Mont Saint Michel appears and you are left breathless!

Essential Tips for visiting Mont Saint Michel

How to get to Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint Michel is an easy day trip from Paris with many bus tours departing from Paris to Mont Saint Michel.

We chose to drive to Mont Saint Michel and stay for the night, just so we can experience the island at night as well.

You can easily see most of the main sites on a day trip to Mont Saint Michel.

But if you can, I suggest spending one day to make the most of your visit to one of the most unique places in France.

Driving distance from Paris to Mont Saint Michel: 4 hours

Driving distance from Normandy to Mont Saint Michel: 2 hours

Best time to visit Mont Saint Michel

The best time to visit Mont Saint Michel without the crowds would probably be sometime in the fall or early winter.

We visited in October and the crowds weren’t bad at all, and we had the island almost to ourselves at night.

*I suggest getting here early in the morning as well to get those crowd free photos.

Where to Park in Mont Saint Michel

If you plan to drive to Mont Saint Michel, be aware that you are not allowed to drive up to the island.

The only way you can pass the barriers is if you have hotel reservations in the town.

The hotel will give you a pin code, which allows you to park your car in the town right outside of Mont Saint Michel.

Otherwise, there is a car park nearby where you can catch a shuttle bus to take you to the abbey.

The FREE shuttles leave from the parking area, right next to the information center.

Where to stay in Mont Saint Michel

During our visit to Mont Saint Michel, we decided to spend the night to explore the island in the evening.

La Caserne is a small town right outside the island where we found a place to stay.

Mercure Mont Saint Michel was the perfect stay located right next to the island.

There are accommodations on the island of Mont Saint Michel, but make sure to reserve rooms way in advance as they are usually sold out.

Book your hotel on Mont Saint Michel here:

Day Trip to Mont Saint Michel with kids

Tickets to Mont Saint Michel’s Abbey

You can freely explore the grounds of Mont Saint Michel, but there is a fee to enter the abbey, which includes either a self-guided audio tour, or a guided Mont Saint Michel Abbey tour.

We purchased our tickets onsite. Since we visited in October, the lines for tickets to Mont Saint Michel weren’t too long.

But if you’re visiting during peak season, I suggest getting your tickets ahead of time.

*You can also do a Full-Day Mont Saint-Michel Guided Tour from Paris, including pickup from your hotel.

Get your tickets to Mont Saint Michel here:

The Tour of Mont Saint Michel

When visiting Mont Saint Michel with kids, make sure to go on a tour of the Abbey. We did a guided tour of Mont Saint Michel and it was interesting!

We learned so much about the island and the Abbey on the tour, while our little one had a blast pretending to look for buried treasure in every room.

Mont Saint Michel is the perfect playground for little ones, with all the stairs and alleyways to explore. It’s one of the best places to visit in Normandy with kids.

Some interesting facts about Mont Saint Michel

One interesting fact about Mont Saint Michel is it’s connection with Victor Hugo.

Up until 1863, The Abbey was used as a prison to hold clerical opponents to the republican regime.

Victor Hugo and some other influential figures launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure that led to its closure.

Mont Saint Michel Abbey was also considered as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations, along with the Vatican and the Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and is still so today.

Learning about all the history of Mont Saint Michel was such an amazing experience. But the best part about visiting Mont Saint Michel was merely strolling through the picturesque town, exploring the many winding streets. 

Stroll through the Main Street of Mont Saint Michel

The Grand Rue, or Main Street is the perfect place to grab a bite or to shop for souvenirs.

There are many restaurants, hotels and cafes, as well as shops selling locally hand made products and souvenirs.

One of the most popular places to eat at Mont Saint Michel is at La Mère Poulard, famous for its omelette cooked on an open fire since 1888.

This region in Normandy is also known for its apple cider as well as its caramels, so make sure to purchase these before you leave.

Experience Mont Saint Michel at night

One of the best things about staying in Mont Saint Michel for the night, is when all the day-trippers have left for the day and you are left to explore the abbey without the crowds.

Watching the sunset from Mont Saint Michel was such an amazing experience, and getting to see it all lit up at night made it even more magical and enchanting.

We enjoyed our day trip to Mont Saint Michel with kids. It was one of the most beautiful and unique places we’ve seen during our road trips in Europe. If your ever in Paris, plan a day trip to Mont Saint Michel, it’s so worth the visit!

*Read our “12 Most Charming Fairytale Towns in Europe” blog for more inspiration on the most beautiful places to see in Europe

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