geocalia
Day itinerary · 48.64° N · 1.51° W
TGV to Rennes and a direct coach to the mount. The village and abbey in the morning, a walk back along the footbridge and dam, and lunch at a polder farm.
Part of Mont-Saint-MichelEnglish Channel
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
TGV from Montparnasse to Rennes; take one that arrives before 8:30
free Le Passeur shuttle from Le Verger; go up the Grande Rue
online ticket · €13 from October to March, €16 from April to September
go down the ramparts and return to the mainland by the walkway
+33 2 33 70 74 65
open every day · €29 menu until 14:30
4 Route de la Caserne, Le Bas-Pays, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel · +33 2 33 58 46 79
Keolis Armor from Le Verger; in Rennes at 18:00
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Mont-Saint-Michel is about four and a half hours from Paris by car, too far to go and return in a day. By train it is another matter: the TGV leaves you at Rennes and from the bus station a direct Keolis Armor coach leaves that reaches the foot of the mount in an hour and a quarter. Keolis Armor coordinates its timetables with the Paris TGVs precisely so that it can be done in a day. It is a long day, but it covers the village, the abbey and the walk back along the footbridge, which is where the best view is.
6:50 · TGV to Rennes. From Montparnasse, about an hour and a half. Find one that arrives before 8:30.
8:45 · Coach to Le Verger. It leaves from the gare routière, at the north exit of the railway station. It arrives at 10:00 beside the tourist information centre. The ticket is bought beforehand, online or at the ticket office; not on board.
10:15 · Grande Rue and ramparts. The free Le Passeur shuttle drops you in twelve minutes at the foot of the mount. Climb the Grande Rue before it fills up.
10:45 · The abbey. An hour and a half or two hours through the church, the cloister and the Merveille. With the coach ticket you get a discount on the admission bought online.
12:45 · Down along the ramparts and footbridge. Come down by the wall-walk and return to the mainland on foot over the bridge-footbridge, about 40 minutes, looking back. Beside La Caserne you will see the Couesnon dam.
13:45 · Lunch at La Ferme Saint-Michel. A former polder farm with pré-salé lamb and a lunchtime menu at €29, open every day.
16:45 · Return. Coach from Le Verger to Rennes, at 18:00, and TGV to Paris.
If you have no car and only one day, it is the most direct way. If you can, sleep nearby: the mount at dusk, without coaches, is the best of the place.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the bay's pré-salé lamb, the house speciality; at lunchtime, the €29 farm menu with starter, main and dessert
What to order: the traditional complete galette (€10) or the Normandy Delight with Vire andouille and camembert (€16), and a salted butter crêpe (€7)
What to order: the classic omelette (€45) or, to try several, the tasting menu to share (€45 per person, minimum two); for dessert, Annette's crème caramel
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
All year, every day: the Rennes coach runs seven days and La Ferme Saint-Michel is open daily. From November to March the abbey costs €13 and the first Sunday of the month is free. In July and August, avoid the Grande Rue at midday.
Tips
No ticket is sold on board and places are limited.
Between the Grande Rue, the abbey and the footbridge you walk about two hours, with lots of steps.
If a spring tide coincides in the afternoon, stay on the footbridge to watch the water rise.
Questions
Yes, by TGV to Rennes and the direct Keolis Armor coach: about three hours each way.
Keolis Armor publishes the round trip from €25.
At La Ferme Saint-Michel, on the mainland, open every day; in the village, La Mère Poulard, which is dearer.
It is not compulsory for individuals, but buying online saves the queue.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-by-train-abbey-and-ramparts
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-by-train-abbey-and-ramparts
