Advice for touring in Paris

I normally walk or use the metro for getting around. If it's less than a 15 minute walk, I go by foot. Getting in and out of the metro will usually consume that much time. If it's longer, I take the metro. I buy carnets of tickets (10 tickets). Carnets are sold at a discount, I think 1,49 euro per ticket now and can be shared among your group (1 ticket for each rider).

Carnets and the metro if not walking.

As to Versailles, I prefer an audio guide to an in person guide as I am a slow tourist and prefer my own pace. It has been a few years since I went to Versailles from Paris, but there is a train that goes easily....it's a different line and not at the major train station, however, but someone here is bound to be able to give you the specifics. Easy peasy.
I will say that there is something special about going to Versailles on the Musical Fountain Show days. They are the original water works and quite interesting as well as beautiful.

I recommend the carnets, or the Navigo pass if you are staying a week or longer. This tickets and pass can be used on buses also, which I am using more and more often in Paris instead of the metro. The Rick Steves Paris guidebook has detailed information on every transportation option in Paris, and detailed instructions on how to get to Versailles, Chartres, and other sites.
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The metro can get you literally anywhere in Paris. Also, Paris is big and distances can be deceiving, so consider hopping on even if it doesn’t seem especially far. Of course, it’s an amazing city to walk and that’s also an integral part of enjoying the city.

I also used the Paris bike share program (Velib.) that was actually a great way to get around. There are tons of docks and bikes to use. A day pass was cheap, though it charges a $350 deposit on your card when you do so. Paris is surprisingly ok to bike around. I found drivers to be very respectful of me on the bike. I’ve heard the program has taken some hits after being privatized, but I imagine it affects short term users less than members.

Agree with BG about using the buses -- Metro is great, but the bus is more scenic (and doesn't require lots of stairs.) Navigo for trips that include a Monday-through-Sunday stay, carnet for other times. Haven't used an on-and-off boat ride but it sounds expensive.

No trams in Paris.
If in Paris Sunday to Saturday: best to buy a 1 week metro/bus pass called Navigo. Cheaper than buying tickets at 1,49euro each. (there are posters at the kiosk windows at most metro stations explaining your ticketing options and how they compare in price.
NOTE: THEY STOP SELLING NAVIGO CARDS BY WEDNESDAYS.
Buy for zones 1-5 and it will take you all the way to Versailles using the regional train RER C (Chateau Versailles Rive Gauche). A zone 5 ticket will also take you to other chateaus just outside Paris like: Fontainebleau (another royal chateau which predates Versailles and way less crowded), Chateau Vincennes and Chateau Chantilly.
Guided Tour of Versailles: been there many times over and have used the audio guide provided with your entrance ticket. Since the museum has significantly reduced the amount of rooms visitors are allowed to enter, an organized tour may not be worth it. (Buy timed entry ticket on line to avoid ticket purchase line ups. Separate entry for timed entries.)
Viator sells tours to the palace, but yikes, they are expensive! In my humble opinion, a guided tour is not necessary. The audio guide is very good, indeed. Download the Rick Steves App. He can be your tour guide ; )

Thank you everyone. Many great suggestions. We will be in France for a little over two weeks, but we are only going to be in Paris for 5 days.
Thanks again!

Rick Hanes

Of course there are trams in Paris; they ring the city and you can use the same tickets to transfer from bus to tram or back. For central Paris IMHO the metro is hands down the best way to get around.

The Batobus is terrible transportation -- take a cruise on the Seine, but use the metro to get around.

If I were new to Paris and all I knew of the transportation network is what is written in this thread, I would be absolutely lost and totally confused.

The Navigo Découverte is a plastic card. It is not a pass and it is sold every day of the week. To be valid for travel, it must have a photo of the bearer (25 mm x 30 mm), his name printed in the space provided, and it must be loaded with a valid fare. These nontransferrable cards may be purchased for 5€ at any RER or métro station as well as at any of a number of independent retailers throughout the Ile de France

Fare options include the:

• Navigo jour (a day pass)

• Navigo semaine (a Monday through Friday pass sold in various zone
  configurations). Fares for the current week may be purchased and loaded onto the card through Thursday. Fares loaded after Thursday are valid the following Monday through Sunday period.

• Navigo mois or a month pass sold in various zone configurations.

Zone 1 to 5 fares are valid on the métro, buses, tramway, funicular, and the RER within the Ile de France. (There are a few RER stations outside of the Ile de France requiring separate ticketing).

There are two types of single ride tickets:

• T+ - used on the métro, bus, tramway, funicular. RER usage is restricted to zone 1 or Paris. Currently, the T+ costs 1.90€ each or 10 for 14.90€. Purchased from a bus driver, the T+ costs 2€ and does not allow any connection.

• Origine-destination - RER tickets are sold point-to-point. Paris itself is considered as one point.

A carnet is not a ticket. Using the ticket kiosks in English, one never sees the word carnet. In French, a carnet is a group of any 10 like tickets, sold at a reduction of the single ticket price. It is possible to purchase a carnet of tickets T+, it is equally possible to purchase a carnet of 10 tickets origine-destination.

If you are new to Paris and want 10 tickets T+, the wording at the kiosks to look for is Booklet of 10 tickets T+.

The best way to see Paris is by walking but many people only really need a group of tickets T+.

I used the metro trip planner website - it defaults to fewer subway line changes so will direct you to start your journey at the most convenient stop with that goal in mind. So every day almost we left the hotel and walked in a different direction to reach the station most convenient for that day's sight-seeing:

https://www.ratp.fr/en/itineraires