How to Visit Mont St. Michel in One Day from Paris

Have you been dreaming of visiting Mont St. Michel ever since seeing a picture of this majestic castle? I have been to France 6 times, and never made it to Mont St. Michel. That was until 2022, when I had a business meeting with Atout France, and a representative from the Normandy Tourism Board told me about a “secret way” to get there. Coincidentally, a few months later, we had 4 nights in Paris booked as part of our honeymoon. 

When doing your research, it looks like the duration is 4 hours and it takes about 3 trains each way to get there. Sounds like a hassle, doesn’t it? It doesn’t have to be! Let me teach you the “secret way” to get to Mont St. Michel.

First of all, you can book a one-day tour from Paris. However, the tour is simply a waste of time and money. The drive is 4 hours, after which the tour gives you limited time (not specified how long) to visit the castle, and then another 4 hours back to Paris. The cost of the tour is around $200 per person and includes transportation and admission to the castle.

The “Secret Way” to Get to Mont St. Michel

In order to maximize your visit at Mont St. Michel, you can take the TGV train from Gare Montparnasse to Rennes, a hidden gem of France located in the Brittany region. The ride from Paris to Rennes takes between 1.5-2 hours. Upon arrival in Rennes, walk across the street from the Rennes train station to the Gare Routière (bus station). There is a bus that goes from Rennes to Mont St. Michel and there are 3 buses per day from May to November. The ride is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Make sure you book the earliest train out of Paris, which is around 07:00, in order to accommodate for any unlikely delays. If you have time in Rennes, it is a nice city to walk or go for breakfast, coffee or brunch before catching the bus, depending how much time you have. Coming back, the last bus departs Mont St. Michel around 18:00, and the last train departs Rennes around 21:30. That will give you time for a nice dinner in Rennes. There are quite a few good restaurants and cafes within a 5-minute walk from the train station.

While the total duration may be longer since you must transfer between a train and bus in Rennes, it is much more relaxing than sitting on a bus for 4 hours each way. And the biggest benefit: time. Originally, I thought it would be a 2-3 hour visit, yet I was far from the truth. First of all, after arriving by bus, one must line up to catch a trolley that takes you along a short causeway leading to the castle. Alternatively, you can walk across the causeway which takes about 25 minutes. Once you enter the castle grounds, there is a short walk through what looks like a small medieval village, then several uphill slopes and stairs until you finally reach the main entrance to the castle. Taking the train and bus will give you about 7 hours worth of time to visit. There are also cafes and several souvenir shops, so there is plenty to do during those 7 hours without being left hungry or bored.

How Much Does this “Secret Way” Cost?

In a nutshell: almost the same as a tour. Here is an approximate breakdown of all costs:

If you’re visiting France, don’t overlook Mont St. Michel. Even if you only have a few days in Paris, take a day to escape the city and visit this inspiring landmark. At the time I wrote this article, I had been to France 5 times and I had never made it to Mont St. Michel. I cannot explain the feeling I got when I finally saw the castle, which I had been waiting forever to visit! Take “the Secret Way” to get there, and you will also cross off your bucket list a ride on the world-famous TGV train!