Recently, I came across some discussion regarding the pre-buying of train tickets prior to one travelling to Versailles.
Is this true?
Does the ticket have to originate from the station you are travelling from:?
For us, it would be Gare St. Lazrare.
I had read that the lines to buy tickets - in the station - can be quite long.
Thanks for your guidance.
There is no need to prebuy. You can buy a ticket to Versailles from the metro station you are originating from, even (or from the Ile de France ticket machines at St Lazare station if that's easier. Lines at machines are reasonable.). Just make sure to choose the right station in Versailles: if you take the train from Saint Lazare, that's Versailles-Rive-Droite.
What you should do is buy 2 tickets per person: that way, the return trip is covered, and you avoid the line at the machines out of Versailles (those lines are real). You can use a Paris-Versailles ticket to travel from Versailles to Paris, as long as you use the same station in Versailles as the one on your ticket. Tickets include a metro transfer if needed.
