Mont Saint-Michel in One Day: Tips and Route

Route: Paris 🚄 Rennes 🚌 Mont Saint-Michel 🚌 Foot of the mountain. 🚄 Departing from Paris, I took the 6:44 train to Rennes. Unfortunately, it was delayed by nearly an hour, so I couldn’t catch the bus from Rennes to Mont Saint-Michel at around 9:00. 🚌 I bought the ticket on-site, which seemed more expensive than online, costing €31 for a round trip. However, if you book online in advance and encounter delays like mine, it’s uncertain whether you can take the next bus. The bus ticket purchase point is actually located next to an exit on the first floor of the train hall, so you don’t need to go outside. 👉 Online bus ticket purchase: The boarding point is at the bus station outside the train station near the ticket purchase point. My bus departed from platform 2. Outbound: Departed at 10:45 and arrived at the foot of the mountain by 12:00. Return: Departed at 17:00 and arrived at the train station by 18:15. 🚌 After getting off the bus, walk straight for about 50 meters to find a free shuttle bus to the foot of the mountain, with frequent departures. On the day I visited, the tide was very low, and the weather forecast predicted heavy rain and strong winds. I initially considered rescheduling. In reality, the wind was indeed very strong, to the point where people could barely stand, but the rain wasn’t as bad, and the afternoon even saw some sunshine 🌞. After April 25, there will be several days of high tides; you can check the tide schedule on Calameo. It seems many people enjoy walking in the mud, so you can bring water shoes to experience it and explore the distant mudflats. There are two paths for climbing the mountain: the outer path offers views of the sea and some old defensive structures, while the inner path lets you explore the town, shop for souvenirs, and dine. The abbey has a single route; just follow it to complete the tour. Classic sheep viewing spot: Get off at the first stop of the return shuttle bus, where you’ll see a bridge. Cross the street, go past the fence, and keep walking for about half an hour to reach the winding paths and sheep. After taking photos, continue straight, exit the fence, and navigate to the visitor center to return to the bus boarding point. This segment also takes about half an hour.