Where to Stay near Mont-Saint-Michel
Even before heading to Normandy, I scouted the satellite map around Mont-Saint-Michel and figured out the best place to stay.
Not *inside* the abbey (way too cramped), but just outside—close to restaurants, shops, your car, and of course, the abbey itself.
This spot—let’s call it «the village»—sits like a neat little park with several hotels and restaurants about 2.5 km from the abbey, on the banks of the Couesnon River.
A good visual landmark is the bridge over the river marked on Google Maps as Best view of Mont St Michel—this is the viewing point where crowds gather in the evening to capture the abbey glowing in sunset light.
Each hotel here has its own parking, cheaper than the public lot behind the village. And there’s a free shuttle bus to the Mont-Saint-Michel gates every 6 minutes (until 8:00 PM).
Still, I recommend walking at least one way—it’s scenic and peaceful.
Hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel
I started looking for a hotel just a day before the trip. Rookie mistake.
The better ones—like Mercure Mont Saint Michel and Le Relais Saint Michel—were fully booked.
Same for the more budget-friendly Hotel Gabriel and Le Relais Du Roy.
The only room left was at Le Saint Aubert, which has the lowest rating in the area.
Lesson learned: book your Mont-Saint-Michel hotel well in advance.
To drive into the village area, you need a barrier code. My hotel forgot to send it—so I had to park in the public lot for €14 and walk to the hotel.
If you’re booking a hotel in the village, message them immediately via Booking and request the code. It’s valid for 24 hours.
After entering the code, the gate gives you a ticket, and you can drive in and out freely during your stay.
More photos and trip details in my forum report: Normandy in 3 Days: Rouen – Étretat – Honfleur – Trouville – Mont-Saint-Michel – Giverny
🚗 Need a car for the trip? Check prices here: DiscoverCars
