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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Mont St-Michel?

51 replies

countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:07

Has anyone ever visited this place?
How on earth do you get there from UK (north)
It looks beautiful!

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DiscontentedWoman · 25/02/2023 20:10

Ferry, car. It's lovely but very touristy. We had a guided tour and it has always been touristy - for hundreds of years. So embrace it 😉

Original poster
countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:15

Looks beautiful!
I never knew it existed before today, would you recommend for a couple of days break during July?

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Clymene · 25/02/2023 20:15

We went last summer (last time I visited was when I was a teenager) and honestly it was awful. Just packed with people - there are 20 massive car parks and buses that go back and forth across the flats. The queues for the buses are 30 minutes+ and then when you get there, it's a slow shuffle up through the place. You can't see anything or get close to anything because it's heaving.

Really was awful. Such a shame - it was magical when I went years ago but not any more.

Twizbe · 25/02/2023 20:17

I got engaged there.

DH spent all of our visit trying to find somewhere quiet to do it and couldn't. He asked me when we got back to our car lol.

Bunnyishotandcross · 25/02/2023 20:18

Went about 20 years ago.. Awful pushing a pram up there!

Hbh17 · 25/02/2023 20:20

Day trip only, but make it part of a longer holiday in Normandy, which is gorgeous. Take your car on the ferry from the UK.

LawksaMercyMissus · 25/02/2023 20:22

Nooooo. Worth a day trip if you get there early enough, but there are so many other beautiful, uncrowded places to stay.

Clymene · 25/02/2023 20:25

Oh and it's about a 45 minute walk from the car parks to the island so if you don't want to queue for ages for a bus, it's a long old trudge.

Anyway, if you're determined to go, I'd suggest the best time is late in the day. A lot of the restaurants on the island are open in the evening and it's probably a much more chilled experience.

Digestive28 · 25/02/2023 20:26

If you get overnight ferry you can arrive for about 8.30am and car parks are empty. By the time we left after lunch it was rammed!

Coxspurplepippin · 25/02/2023 20:29

Do you need to go in peak season? We went weekday late September and it was quiet, especially first thing.

The Normandy/North Brittany coast is beautiful - lots to do.

fairypeasant · 25/02/2023 20:31

Walk over rather than get the bus. Go early in the day. It's lovely.

HidingUnderMyDuvet · 25/02/2023 20:32

We went last summer. Absolutely rammed, and not pleasant during the day. We went back in the evening to watch the sunset just outside and it was magical.

HidingUnderMyDuvet · 25/02/2023 20:33

Here it is! Beautiful 😍

Mont St-Michel?
Original poster
countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:34

Wow!
So many of you have been
Ahh my bubble slightly burst now, I saw it on an Instagram travel post, looked magical and not crowded at all!
Must say I'm a bit put off, the thought of it being thronging with tourists and being so small is making me rethink

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fairypeasant · 25/02/2023 20:37

It's worth it. Wear comfy shoes.

Original poster
countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:38

@HidingUnderMyDuvet stunning
Oh now I want to go again 🙄

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PolkaDotMankini · 25/02/2023 20:39

We're going in the May half term. I'm looking forward to it! We went to St Michael's Mount in Cornwall a couple of years ago and that was fun too.

monomatapea · 25/02/2023 20:41

It's beautiful but v touristy

monomatapea · 25/02/2023 20:42

countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:38

@HidingUnderMyDuvet stunning
Oh now I want to go again 🙄

It's magical just very busy

monomatapea · 25/02/2023 20:43

It's all OK though you all sort of walk round in the one route rather than wander all over it

samthebordercollie · 25/02/2023 20:45

I live very near Mont St Michel. It's definitely worth a visit, but go in the morning before the coaches from Paris arrive. Don't eat there, you'll find lots of restaurants cheaper and better on the coastal road to Cancale. If you stay a week in the region there is so much to visit : St Malo, Dinard, Dînan, Fougères, Vitré, the Normandy landing beaches...

Original poster
countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:46

Amazing!!!
Thankyou, I'll have a good look

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myveryownelectrickitten · 25/02/2023 20:49

The area around is lovely, but the mount itself is crammed with tourist tat and not especially lovely. Good for a day visit (as pp have said, go early…as early as you can); take a picnic and then escape to a nice unspoiled area nearby!

Greentree1 · 25/02/2023 20:51

We took the boat while the land bridge was still flooded. It was in the spring before summer holidays and was fine, not too busy, but taking the boat might have been a good ploy.

Meandfour · 25/02/2023 20:52

countvoncount · 25/02/2023 20:15

Looks beautiful!
I never knew it existed before today, would you recommend for a couple of days break during July?

I went with school in 2002. There seemed to be lots of schools there at the time. Couldn’t tell you what it was like, sorry.