Looking for recommendations for bike tours in Versailles? Also, is it worth it to do a bike tour vs. just visiting Versailles & the Château de Versailles, its gardens, etc? We're going with 2 teenagers so thought a bike tour might be a bit more interesting for them.
Posted by
NM, USA
888 posts
I would have liked a bike just to get from one area to another. It takes a lot of foot power to get around the estate. It's that or the small train that goes between the chateau and trianon.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7328 posts
On our last visit, we walked right up to the bike rental behind the palace, and selected bikes from their selection of sizes. It was great to ride around the fountain area on our own schedule (watch for pedestrians), and the journey out to Marie Antoinette's fantasy village was a big part of the whole Versailles experience.
Posted by
BC, Canada
27 posts
2 years ago I did a Versailles bike tour with Boutique Bike Tours. They were fantastic!!
Check out their website. Highly recommend. One of the few tour companies that are authorized to guide you themselves inside the chateau.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
124 posts
I have heard good things about Fat Tire Bike Tours from multiple people and they are recommended in Rick's guidebook. They have a few different tour options for Versailles depending on when you're going. I've booked their full day bike tour with picnic for when we're planning on being there Saturday October 2. https://www.fattiretours.com/paris/tours/Versailles-Bike-Tour
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
124 posts
I should also add... The first/last time I went to Versailles was in July 2009 and my intent was to rent bikes at the stand on-site however they were sold out. We ended up walking to the outer areas - the hamlet, Petite Trianon, through the gardens and to the canal. While there is a little train between the chateau and these areas, the lines were exceedingly long and moved very slowly. At the end of our last stop (the hamlet) we waited in line for an hour before giving up and just walking back. We were beyond exhausted (it was also about 90 that day), the estate is HUGE! So for this trip I didn't want to risk that happening again and decided to just book the bike tour through Fat Tire.
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1368 posts
Bike About Tours, https://www.bikeabouttours.com, they are located in Paris at Le Peloton Cafe and offer tours in Versailles near & on the Palace grounds. During Market days in Versailles, they stop off there for you to pick up items for a picnic to enjoy on the Palace grounds.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Re copperheadpdx: my husband and I took the fat tire bike tour to Versailles’s few years ago and it was a lot of fun! I think you would all enjoy it. They are based in and leave from Paris, taking the bikes on the train, an experience in of itself! We enjoyed our day there very much. Check out their website. They are (were?) a bunch of American college kids.