Mont St Michel questions

There is 'hoopla' about Cafe la Mere Poulard? The Poulard clan own everything in sight and there is nothing fabulous about any of their food. It is fine if you are hungry and need to eat on the island but not a destination for food. I would want about 4 hours for the island and abbey and we went during an uncrowded time; I imagine it gets trickier during season when it is wall to wall tour groups going up the hill and through the Abbey.

Your question is sketchy enough that I will suggest you find Rick Steves France in the library, and read the MSM chapter. Many people skip the short shuttle ride to pretend that they are medieval pilgrims. You may be disappointed about how far MSM is from the main highway, and how long it takes to walk up the main medieval street, buy an abbey ticket, and climb the many stairs to see all the abbey, then return on the scenic wall-walk. But it's definitely worth SIX hours from Dinard until your return to the highway for the long drive to Bayeux. Any interest in Vitré?

We made an early start driving from Bayeux to Dinan. We stopped for perhaps 4,5 hours and had a nice enough visit. The parking area is huge and the shuttles were frequent. As I recall there is an info center at the parking lot. Most of our time was devoted to the Abbey itself with itinerant wandering thrown in as well. We did not eat on MSM. We did gorge on oysters sitting on the sea wall in Cancale; if timing and taste cooperate you might consider a short stop there. We were there in early September. I will admit that viewing MSM from a distance was basically the highlight; once in town, I felt we could have pretty much been in any town in France....which isn't a bad thing at all. Have a great trip.

Thanks for all these suggestions. We're trying to plot our drive without being too tired. And of course, Cancale is a must!

I drove the opposite, from Bayeux to MSM, then stayed in Cancale. I spent about four hours there, long enough to go up the ramparts and see the Abbey, then wander a little on the way back down. I looked in a couple shops but they're pretty much standard tourist fare. I decided not to stay for the tide because it was going to be dark and possibly overcast. I didn't get an omelette because they were 35 to 50 euro each (I'm not exaggerating at all). I ate oysters in Cancale instead at a very reasonable price.

The shuttle runs continuously. They have at least two or three that keep driving back and forth. I think it's best to arrive either early or late, rather than the middle of the day when the tourist buses are there. You should check the hours of the Abbey to ensure you can see that. I think the walking tours of the mudflats at low tide might be worthwhile but I didn't check the price.

These tips are great. Thanks so much!

I made this trip last October with three friends. We drove from Bayeux to MSM. I would agree that you need to be there early. The shuttles run frequently from the parking lot - we didn't have to wait long at all. We followed Rick's suggestions (see video on YouTube) to bypass the crowded streets and walk up to the abbey via the stairs! The views are spectacular, and you can get there before much of the crowd. We did not eat at Cafe La Mere Poulard, but we did have an omelette at another cafe nearby. To be honest, it wasn't that great, and was expensive! It was nice to sit outside though, and the views were spectacular. MSM is beautiful. Pick up some of the locally harvested sea salt from one of the gift shops. Enjoy!

I stayed in MSM for one night a few days ago. We arrived in the evening and got onto the island via shuttle around 830 and the place was pretty empty! Most people there were inside the restaurants eating, I guess. We walked around, investigated some of the ramparts and left around 10 pm just when the tide was just coming in. It was amazing how fast that water came in. We did spend the night off the island and got up early the next day to tour the abbey at 9 am and by 11 am, the island was packed. It was such a different experience. I could not wait to get off the island and away from the mob, honestly. If you're just planning to stop by on your way to Bayeux, try to do it in the off hours. If it's feasible to stay 1 night, I recommend it. I enjoyed my time on the island in the evening and early morning. The shuttles to the island run till midnight and start running early in the morning. They pick up passengers first from the lot for day trippers. Regarding Cafe La Mere Poulard, no omelet is worth €35!

Without having read every response (so, sorry if i am repeating anything):

I went to Bayeux and MSM summer of 2016. I stayed in outside of Bayeux and drove to MSM, with the goal of arriving there around 5p (as suggested by RS). I left my b&b at 9:30 am. Thus, I spent the day driving with no agenda - drove the west/southwest coast of Normandy, stopping in an empty beach town for lunch - taking 5 hours to drive what would take 1.5 if Id gone directly. Arrived at 5p, and everyone was leaving. Parking lots were nearly empty. The abbey was nearly empty. It was amazing. Temps were perfect, vibe was peaceful, sights and views lovely. We walked around the abbey for 2 hours, found some dinner in the little street at the base of the abbey, walked in the mud flats around the abbey (there's a water spigot for hosing off after), and drove back to Bayeux, arriving by 9:30p. A perfectly timed day.

So you could take your time from Dinan. Arrive in MSM in the evening, and still make it to Bayeux for the night.

My tip for anyone visiting for a few hours...eat elsewhere!

We had lovely lunch in nearby Avranches, which is where the Mont St Michel museum is as well.

This thread was particularly helpful. There were a lot of good nuggets that I can use to gain perspective on my upcoming trip. I don't say that about all threads. Thanks to all for making it informative.

-Matt

Great suggestions. Thanks!