I would like to take an afternoon trip to Mont Saint-Michel from St Malo. Is it possible to do a half day excursion? What is the easiest and most flexible method?

1) What time of year? Tells you how crowded it will be.
2) Do you have a car? Almost mandatory.
3) Early is the best as it gets jammed with tourists.
4) If you go in afternoon make it later in the afternoon,
hopefully after a lot of tourists leave.
5) This might help you
http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en
6) Note the parking change beginning in April 2012.

Personally if the weather was nice in St. Malo, I'd rather be outdoors at a cafe in the afternoon.

Will you have a car? if so, combine it with a stop in Cancale for seafood.

It is possible to take a bus or train from Saint Malo to the MSM. http://www.keolis-emeraude.com/en/ has the details of bus/train times.

A half-day excursion would be very difficult to accomplish, with any meaningful time at the MSM. However, a 9am departure from St Malo with a 5pm arrival back does give a good 3 - 4 hours at the MSM, without worrying about parking (tides) or driving.

Thanks for replies. I’ll be in St Malo in late May on a Friday and free after 1pm. No car, but if this is the most flexible method to get to MSM I’ll consider it. Train is not very hospitable for an afternoon round trip.

A roundtrip in the tie you have simply sin;t possible via public transit. A car is the only way to do it - and yuo will still not have a lot of time there.

Especially if crowded time of year the entire area can e packed elbow to elbow and the climb to the top of the Mount is long and steep. After that there is extensive climbing up and down stairs inside the building - and then a long steep walk back down to the parking level. I don;t think 3 hours is reasonable to see much - 5 is more realistic - esp if there ara lot of tourists.