Fontainbleu

What is your choice? Fontainebleau or? FWIW. Fontainebleau is quite uncrowded and easy to visit; well worth a day trip and it is covered on the Navajo Decouverte if you have that.

Forgot to add: Need to choose between Versailles or Fontainbleu. Thanks

Admittedly, a difficult choice, a toss up. My first time Paris in July 1973 I went to Versailles, didn't even think of going to Fontainebleau, basically forgot about it. Four years later in August 1977 my 2nd time in Paris, I spent the whole day at Fontainebleau. At that time I knew what I was after at Fontainebleau.

The last time was in 2010. Between two is there one I miss? Fontainebleau is the answer. Weather wise May is a good time to see Fontainebleau.

Fontainebleau is covered in the 2017 Rick Steves Paris Guide near the back. I went to Fontainebleau this past September. It was not crowded. Actually, I also went to Vaux-le-Vicomte on the same day via a Paris City Vision tour. I visited the Palace at Versailles many years ago (It was crowded then, too), and to the King's Potager a couple of years ago, opting not to go to the chateau because of the crowds, and frankly, I was tired. Fontainebleau would be my choice because it is not crowded, so you can do a leisurely visit without being pushed through by the hoard behind or slowed down by the crowd ahead.

If you don't enjoy being in crowds, choose Fontainebleau. The palace of Versailles is gorgeous, but until such time as they decide to institute timed tickets a la Stonehenge and -- oh how i wish! -- a ban on selfie sticks, seeing the interior in person is an exercise a lot like riding the NYC subway. However, a "visites guidee" (special tour) to any of the rooms not ordinarily open to the public is definitely worthwhile, if you choose Versailles. And the gardens are much less crowded as it seems most visitors either don't care or don't allow themselves the time to venture out there.

I would suggest you go to Fontainebleau, where it won't be crowded.

We've been to both. And it's really like comparing apples and oranges. The only thing they have in common is that they were royal residences. The biggest difference (for us) was the visitor experience. There's a reason why everyone comments on the lack of crowds at Fontainebleau. Touring there is such a pleasure because you can move along at your own pace and see whatever you want to see without craning your neck past a thousand other people. We were there in mid October and the grounds were showing their fall colours at their best. May would likely be beautiful.

It's included in the Paris Museum Pass, and travel is included in the Navigo Decouverte pass. See if you can get hold of the 2017 edition of the Guide book. It's in there.

I agree with the last post that it's like comparing apples and oranges. I have been to both Versailles and Fontainebleau in December in the past 5 years (different trips). I dislike crowds very much, and still am glad I saw Versailles - - - but I cannot gauge what the crowds are like in May. I did find it a little complicated to get to Fontainbleau via public transportation. Finding the correct train and exiting at the correct station were not a problem. I knew which bus I needed from the train station. The complication came in being unsure where to exit the bus...and I thought the signage to the site itself was lacking. Once inside, I enjoyed Fontainbleau very much - - - very interesting to have a combination of so many royal periods + Napoleon.

To add to the Napoleonic aspect of Fontainebleau, even if you're there specifically to see the famous Chateau, the site Napoleon's
farewell to the Guard, (the Cour des Adieux), the site where Napoleon signed his first abdication, the town itself markets itself on its Napoleonic connection.

You'll see that just about everywhere in the centre ville.

Is there Museum dedicated topic wise to Napoleon? Luckily there is. It's the Napoleonic Musee of Art and Military History, located on 88 rue Saint Honore, ca 40 min walk from the Chateau.

The bus going from train station to the Chateau stops in front of the Touist Office, also opposite of the Chateau itself..

I visited three chateaux as day-trips from Paris this past summer (July 2017): Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau, and Chantilly. I enjoyed them all, but I liked Fontainebleau and Chantilly the best of the three. (Like you, I found it odd that these three are on Rick's show but not in his books anymore. Same thing happened when I went to Berlin and Potsdam wasn't covered in the book. Or I hear that Ravenna has been removed from his new Italy book!?!) It's been 17 years since I went to Versailles, so my memories are fading, but the crowds were intense. Vaux-le-Vicomte was nearly empty when I was there last summer; in Chantilly, there were more people at the racetrack than at the chateau; and Fontainebleau was very busy [HORRIBLE ticket line! Worst I've been in in France! Just a very poor design!] but still enjoyable. All three have decent online information in English, and if you search for Paris day trips, there are LOTS of great websites out there. Have a great trip!

another vote for Fontainbleu. Versailles is unforgetable but very crowded. Had to wait a while before I got in. I went to Fontainbleu this past June strolled straight in. Easy to get to by train (a bus from train station to Fb is timed to meet the train). Did not visit the town itself, only saw it from the bus to and from train station. It will probably be a generation before the on-going renovation project brings Fb up to Versailles standards, but well worth it.