Mont Saint Michel is one of France's most incredible UNESCO sites. With the rising and lowering tides that continuously change its landscape, it is a site well-worth seeing.

The best points of departure to get to Mont Saint Michel are Rennes and Nantes. Many visitors also set out from Paris and enjoy a day or weekend trip on the coast of the western region. 

For comfort and convenience, a private transfer service will be your best bet. You can even arrange for pick up on different days if you wish to spend the night on the "island." Another good option is to drive there. Road travel to Mont Saint Michel usually takes around two hours from Nantes and four from Paris. 

Finally, you can go by train. However, this option is decidedly more complicated, as you will inevitably have to transfer to a bus to reach your destination.

For an off-beat experience, join this 7-day cycling tour through Mont Saint Michel and its surrounding countryside. You can also explore Paris and historical spots around Normandy—including the sites of D-day landings—on this week-long tour.

By Private Transfer

Duration: 1:15-4 hours

If you don't want to worry about any of the logistics of the trip, hiring a transfer service is a great option. Services will drive you to and from your point of departure, providing comfort and ease. 

Most visitors leave from Rennes (1:15 hours away), Nantes (2:15 hours away), or Paris (4 hours away). If you hire a service, you won't have to worry about parking, and you can ask your driver to drop you off closer to the cross-bridge.

By Car 

Duration: 1:30-4 hours

Renting a car affords you more flexibility. If you are leaving from Paris, you can take the A84 Caen-Rennes highway, and make a detour to charming Caen.

As most people reach Mont Saint Michel by car, there is a large parking lot available. Free shuttle buses run continuously from the lot to the bridge, so you don't have to worry about walking all the way.

While planning your trip, make sure you check the tide schedule so your arrival doesn't coincide with a spring tide. During these particularly high tides, the bridge may be inaccessible for a couple of hours.

By Train and Bus

Duration: 1:30-3 hours

The closest train station is Pontorson. As it is quite small, however, reaching it can potentially mean several transfers. From this station, you can take a 20-minute shuttle to Mont Saint Michel.

The best alternative from Nantes and Paris is to take a direct train to Rennes. Here, you can also take a direct shuttle bus from the station directly to the parking lot. Both legs of the journey take around 1:30 hours.