Chateau de Malmaison

I did this a while back and am a little fuzzy on the second leg. You can get to la Defense with a t+ ticket if you go on the metro line 1 but NOT if you go on the RER (big fine for not having a valid ticket as La Defense is not in Paris) You need a second ticket for Malmaison and I think the t+ works on the bus. You can't transfer from Metro to bus; it is a second t+ ticket.

t+ ticket works on buses trams metro therefore:

the regular t+ ticket will get you to La Defense
you will need use another t+ ticket for the bus
source:
https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/t-tickets

A t+ ticket will get you to La Defense if you take the No 1 Metro, but not the RER A.
Its a Zone 1 to Zone 3 Point-to-Point ticket for 3.65 EUR, so I would think that 2 t+ tickets would do it.

When I put in La Defense to Musee Malmaison, it gives a price of 1.95 EUR, which is more than a normal t+ ticket. So maybe just pay the bus driver 2 EUR?

Is there a reason why you can't switch days so you can go here when you have your Navigo pass? It would certainly simplify things for you.

Wow, thanks for the quick replies!

I thought I remembered reading either here or TA that someone got a citation for traveling to La Defense on an invalid ticket but could not remember the particulars so I appreciate the information about RER vs Metro.

Carolyn, I could probably change the day to the Monday before when I do have the ND. I had thought to go to Chantilly then which I know is a train from Gare du Nord. I'll have the Museum Pass for both Mondays as I will probably get a combination of a 6 day and a 2 day ( or 4 and 4) so the admission cost doesn't matter. Thanks for the suggestion.

If I did go on a ND day, then that would cover me for both the Metro Line 1 and the bus from La Defense?

Yes it would.

Also be warned that the chateau closes for lunch from 1230 to 1330.

Philip's warning reminds me of how we were officiously ushered out of the Chateau at noon. There is (or was?) a restaurant near the Chateau where the bus stops, so we went there, had a decent lunch and then returned to the Chateau. It was quite funny.

We managed to arrive just at lunch time at Chantilly driving from Bruges and had a similar experience of having to cool our heels for an hour and a half before visiting the chateau and grounds.

Sam, thanks. I am confident (mostly) about taking the Metro in Paris but I've not taken the bus before so I appreciate you responses.

Philip, Norma and Janet, thanks for the reminder about the lunch time. I did notice that, maybe from where Janet might have mentioned it on a question about Chantilly? It looked like Chantilly would be fairly easy since there are places to eat on the grounds but Malmaison looked to be more difficult. Excellent to know they start ushering you out at 12! Norma we will look for that restaurant or perhaps go late enough we can grab something before we enter. I did try and googlewalk the area but saw mostly walls, hahaha!

I've spoken with my co-conspirator and we will move our visit to the previous week when we do have the ND as it seems like it will be easier that way. We'll make sure to have some change as well.

Thanks to everyone for the input. Looking forward to some day trips!

One more thing -- Make certain you take your passport or other Govt-issued photo ID, so you can get the (very good) audio tour. I rarely carry my passport and they declined to give me the audio with just a credit card...

I would never leave a passport for an audiophone. Losing a passport is a minor tragedy and is very time consuming and expensive. I am not handing it to someone to stick in a drawer. You can use a driver's license or passport card either of which is less awkward to deal with if lost.

Pam, I was at Malmaison last week. Just wanted to tell you that when you get off the Metro there will be some signs for buses, but nothing specific for #258 until you actually get to the bus loading area. I'm glad I went, but it does take longer to get there than the time it takes to tour the chateau. I thought it was interesting to see suburban Paris. While you are at La Defense, do take the time to go to the top of the Grand Arch. Even with the Wind and rain the day I was there, it was worth it.

If you plan to be there in December and will be passing through La .Defense, there is a wonderful Christmas market on the esplanade in front of the Grande Arche. Best I have ever been to.

Thanks for the additional info.

Crooney and Janet, I have my DL with me for those times so thanks for the heads up. I, too, would not want to leave my passport.

Carolyn, that is very helpful about the bus number so we will look carefully for the sign. I hadn’t thought about going up in the Arch! I’ll look for the cost and since it is new I expect there’s an elevator. Also good to know the visit time frame as well.

Norma, thanks! Actually I’m in Paris now and my friend arrives later today. We plan to go during the week when we have the ND, probably Wed. but the Christmas markets are on my to-do list some day!

Yes, take the elevator up to the top of the arch. Wonderful straight view all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. When we were last there before it closed, there was a small but interesting art exhibit. Maybe there still is.