We will be staying at Kyriad Hotel in Bercy Village and I am trying to find a way to Versaille Chateau on a day trip. Metro is about 50 metres away, but it seems a little cumbersome and lengthy timewise. Any tips on transport rather than booking a sightseeing tour keeping in mind time and cost.
Thank you
Gary
If you're staying in Bercy Village you can walk across the river to Bibliotheque Francois Miterrand RER station. You can get a direct train from there on Line C to Versailles Rive Gauche. Make sure you take a train with that specific destination, as Line C has several branches to the west of Paris.
RER C is by far the best way to go to Versailles, it is not cumbersome at all, and it's cheap. Just make sure you get on a train bound for Versailles Rive Gauche and not Versailles Chantiers, this one is not direct at all.
The trains have a destination on the front of them over the engine...use the vick train.
Total time from Bibilotheque Francois Mitterand is 44minutes. Fare is around E4,10 each way.
You may want to download the free Paris Metro app.
Following up on the above post - make sure you have a ticket to Versailles and not just a Metro ticket. Versailles is out of the central Paris zone, so even though you can transfer for free onto the RER C line, you cannot exit at Versailles without the full fare ticket.
Several ways to go to versailles : http://www.paristoversailles.com
Gary,
As the others have mentioned, using the RER C is a cheap and efficient way to get to Versailles (and not affected by traffic). The cars may be a bit crowded, but it's an easy trip. As someone else mentioned, look for the word "Vick" above the driver's window, as that will be the correct train. Also as mentioned, be sure you have a return ticket to Versailles and not just a Metro ticket.
The walk from the station to the Chateau will take 10-15 minutes. When you get off the train, just follow the herd as they'll likely be heading for the Chateau as well. As you exit the station, turn right for a block or so and then turn left. You'll see the Chateau in the distance.
One other thing - are you planning to buy a ticket there, or use a Paris Museum Pass for entry into the Chateau?
Happy travels!
