Travel Diary: Mont Saint Michel, France

Looking to step into an actual fairy tale? Then Le Mont Saint Michel in northwest France is your place (literally, this dreamy, otherworldly town is what inspired the castle in Disney's Tangled).

Nestled in the Normandy region of France and only 4 hours from Paris, Mont Saint Michel is home to only 50 residents and is commonly referred to as the Wonder of the West. The city resembles a looming fortress, but make no mistake, its castle like appearance is actually home to an Abbey that dates back to the 11th Century. The Gothic-style monastery was built to honor the Archangel Michael. In 708, the Bishop of Avranches had a vision where Saint Michael instructed him to build an oratory and pilgrimage site for all to see. It only took a measly 1,300 years for the Abbey to reach completion!

But the real wonder that surrounds Mont Saint Michel is the ever changing tide. In the span of a single day, Mont Saint Michel has the ability to transform from a looming mountain stranded in sandy shallow water to an isolated island surrounded by water from the English Channel at high tide.

MONT SAINT MICHEL BY DRONE

Without a doubt, exploring Mont Saint Michel has been one of my favorite adventures. Its winding, narrow cobblestone streets are very Harry Potter-esque. With souvenir shops and restaurants hidden in every nook and cranny, I felt like I was walking along Diagon Alley!

Here's a few snippets of advice to help you plan your trip to the awe-inspiring island:

Check the Tides.

Before picking what day you plan to visit, take a look at the Tide Tables. If you want to see the dramatic tide changes, the best time to visit is a day or two after a new moon.

Be an early bird!

The tourist crowds are minimal in the morning, but by lunchtime it's hard to find any personal space and all your photos will be crawling with tourists.

Pack a jacket (even better if it's waterproof and has a hood)

Wind and occasional rain showers are a common daily occurrence for Mont Saint Michel.

Wear comfortable shoes.

An obvious one, but wear good walking shoes and be ready to climb! The mountaintop Abbey can only be reached by climbing the 900 step Grand Degré staircase.

Don't have a car, no problem.

While it does take some planning, it's very possible to get to Mont Saint Michel via public transportation (that's what we did). On the way out, we booked tickets on Rail Europe for $80. Took a 7am train from the Montparnasse station in Paris to Rennes and then caught a bus for the reminder of the journey. For the way back, we booked bus tickets through Flixbus for $25. We definitely got what we paid for here. Flixbus ran late, didn't have a clean bathroom, and had terrible customer service!

Pack your own snacks!

Whether your driving, taking the train or a bus, making the trek from Paris makes for a long day (at the very least, you are facing 8 hours of travel). Save yourself from being hangry and bring food to snack on throughout the day. You won't regret it.

Take the path less traveled.

Wanting a bit of peace and quiet or just a place to sit to rest your tired feet? Sneak into the less traveled Eglise Saint-Pierre Catholic Church or the Church of Saint Peter. It's quaint, quiet and if you are like my sister, the pews make for a perfect spot for a quick catnap.

Hungry, grab a crepe.

Skip the omelets and go straight for some Nutella crepes at La Vieille Auberge. They give you a hearty serving of Nutella and their terrace has a beautiful view of the surrounding bay.