Mont-Saint-Michel opening times and access
The village has no opening hours
This is the most misunderstood point about the site. Mont-Saint-Michel is an inhabited village: you can enter on foot, free of charge, at any time, without a ticket or reservation. No one checks anything at the Porte du Roy. The public toilets on the Grande Rue, 50 metres past the drawbridge, are free, open 24/7 and accessible to those with reduced mobility. What does have opening hours is the abbey and the shuttle.
Abbey opening times
1 May to 31 August: 9 am–7 pm. 1 September to 30 April: 9:30 am–6 pm. Final entry one hour before closing, allowing just enough time for a self-guided visit lasting about 1 hour 15 minutes. Annual closures: 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Daily opening times and any exceptional closures are published by the abbey itself.
Getting there and back
The free shuttle, Le Passeur, runs from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm from November to February, from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm in mid and high season, and from 7:00 am to 1:00 am in July and August. It runs roughly every 15 minutes and takes 12 minutes. Allow a further 45 minutes to 1 hour from the car park to reach the abbey entrance, including stairs. If the abbey closes at 6:00 pm, arriving at the car park at 4:00 pm is already tight. Other ways to get here are onhow to get there.
Last entry is one hour before closing, not last admission. You enter at 5:00 pm for an abbey closing at 6:00 pm, and the self-guided tour takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Either speed up or come in the morning. The full time calculation is onhow long to plan.
Book an entry slot
The ticket costs the same as at the ticket office and sets your arrival time. The price varies by season, higher from April to September than the rest of the year.
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening times for Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey?
9 am to 7 pm from 1 May to 31 August, and 9:30 am to 6 pm from 1 September to 30 April. Final entry is one hour before closing. The abbey is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Do you need a ticket to enter the village?
No. The village is a residential commune: access is free and unrestricted, 24 hours a day. Only the abbey charges admission, with higher rates from April to September than the rest of the year. Details are available on the prices page.
Are there toilets at Mont-Saint-Michel?
Yes, free public toilets are located on the Grande Rue, 50 m past the drawbridge, open 24 hours a day and accessible to those with reduced mobility. A useful detail to know before tackling the 350 steps. See steps and accessibility.