St Mont Michel, how much time do I need
 

I was thinking of a day trip from Paris, it seems the train arrives at 11 Am,and leaves at 5.30 PM,so I have around 6 hours. Is that good enough to walk around, climb up, soak in the views? And are sundays crowded in march at this site? And is it well lit in the evenings to warrant a night stay?

I can't tell you how long you need to visit a site, but FYI, it doesn't have a train station. So it ios a bus to arrive and depart, which connects to a train at different points. Leaving, the bus goes to Rennes train station, arriving, you get off the train at Dol de Bretagne. But your times are correct.

buses are timed with some morning and afternoon to/from Paris TGV trains at Rennes main station and go right to the Mont - Sundays around Easter can be very crowded as schools are on break and folks on holiday. Normally yes that amount of time is more than enough for many - the Basilica or whatever they call it is the only main sight and may have long lines.

Yes IMO the Mont at night when it is sublimely illuminated inside and out and the day tripping crowds have dissipated is even nicer than daytime but that means staying over here just for that - the views from the mainland are awesome and there is a gaggle of inexpensive hotels right where the old causeway ended. Is it a wow factor enough to spend the night (assume you have a Paris hotel booked) - IMO no.

Book your train tickets at www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com - same trains same fares latter one is said to be easier for Americans to use - book early for deep discounted tickets (non-changeable non-refundable however from a specific train - but way cheaper than full fare. for lots on trains in general check www.seat61.com - great advice on discounted tickets; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I'd say your plan is about the least enjoyable way to see MSM, unless you enjoy elbowing down small corridors in big crowds. You'll be there at the same time as every big-bus and day tour group. We were there this fall and MSM has an international draw; we saw big groups even from China, I guess it must be on a dont-miss list somewhere.

Do along the lines of what PalenQ suggested; arrive in late afternoon (4pm or later), stay on or near MSM (we stayed in one of the hotels just across the bridge). Note that dining places close early, so visit MSM itself and then be seated for dinner by 7pm. That nite, go back for some great nite photos and a visit. The next morning, one more trip back across the bridge, then leave town by 10am or so.

Friends of ours drove to MSM & arrived mid-day. They surveyed all the other cars & huge buses in the parking lot, got out their car, took a picture, got back in the car, and departed.

In about 2001 we arrived at 8:00am, toured town, the church when it opened, and were outa there by 11:00 - when it was shoulder-to-shoulder people.

Stu Dudley

I agree with those who comment on the down-sides of trying to see Mont St. Michel during the day. It is so much more enjoyable -- even magical -- after daytrippers leave!

I would not even bother. It will be a total mob scene and it takes longer to travel there than you are probably calculating. You have to either take a very long train ride and a short bus ride, or a faster/shorter train ride plus a long bus ride.

So unless you can be there in the evening (or early morning) it won'y be a pleasant experience.

I suggest spending a night or not going at all. Evenings and mornings are great, in part because there aren't enough rooms for overnighters to constitute a crowd. It feels a bit otherworldly, a few visitors and the residents.

You are sure it's going to be a total mob scene in March? I think if on a weekday in March it can't be as mobbed as in the summer?

Anyone been there in March and seen it swamped? Could be I don't know but would think not - unless around Easter perhaps.

Thanks a lot! Still working on my itinerary to see if I get a night stay(otherwise I'll leave it for another trip), the train timings makes it really tough. I couldn't really find many cheap hotels as well, just looked at booking.com and tripadvisor. any places probably not covered by these sites?

Also, the bus which leaves in the morning leaves at 9.30 from Mont-St-Michel, so is that still enough time for the morning?

With another train option, I can reach in the evening at 6,so I dont have time to see the abbey from inside, and the next day, the bus leaves at 11, so Is just about an hour(9-10 AM or so) good enough?

I used to take student tour groups to Le MSM every March, and it was always a total mob scene. I can't imagine the traffic has died down much in the intervening years. Especially on a weekend.

No, an hour would not be sufficient, at all.

One of the best ways to see the church is to attend mass. My visit was also in March and a storm raged outside, exciting at the top of the mont, wind whistling, memorable. One need not be Catholic to enjoy the ambiance, we were the only visitors at the service and were welcomed warmly (in English!), from the alter steps. The doors are closed to visitors but not to worshipers.

I agree with some of the posts that suggest that Mont St Michel is NOT worth a day trip from Paris. It really is a tourist trap — feels very Disney walking up the crowded street, lined with tacky tourist stores, to the top of the island.

Stay closer to Paris ... Versailles, Giverny, even a day trip to Honfleur.

Tourist traps also to avoid:

Versailles, Notre-Dame Cathedral; Eiffel Tower; Latin Quarter; all of Florence and Venice; October Fest - only go where few tourists want to go!

Indeed, I'd be interested to know how Mont St-Michel is a tourist trap and those suggested by Travelhorizons aren't. Apparently no insight into how to avoid the crowd, while ignoring crowds elsewhere. Selective reasoning?

It really is a tourist trap — feels very Disney walking up the crowded street, lined with tacky tourist stores, to the top of the island.>

again you've seen or heard of this on say a week day in March? What leads you to say that? Yes in summer but MmeLost makes a good point - those other places - at least Versailles and especially Monet's House and Gardens are just as Disney crowded IME - Is Monet's House and Gardens even open in March - what is blooming in the gardens, the real attraction, in March?

Sorry to intrude! Stu, I sent you an email on Feb. 3 about your trip update and didn't get a response yet. Kindly check your spam folder for donna f rhody at gmail dot com (no spaces). Thanks.

Has anyone been to MSM in March and was it super-dooper mobbed - curious?