Hello.
Mom and I are going to Paris for Christmas this year and I wonder if a day trip to Versailles is easy from Paris. When arriving in Versailles, is it an easy walk or will we need to purchase some kind of transportation at the station? We will be using the Paris Museum Pass for sightseeing in Paris and that includes entry at Versailles.
Also, we will have three full days in Paris, what "off the beaten path" sights would you recommend?
Thank you!
Very easy day trip. The station at Versailles Rive Gauche/Chateau is about 1/4 mile from the actual entrance.
Here all is clearly explained: http://mikestravelguide.com/the-easiest-and-cheapest-way-to-get-from-paris-to-versailles/
From the end station in Versailles it is a short walk. (You can check on Google Maps or ViaMichelin).
I think that with your three full days the beaten path will give you enough to do. And those off the beaten path suggestions are mostly highly personal.
Thank you. Should we plan on a full day in Versailles? It looks like there is so much to do and see that I would hate to be rushed.
I would plan for a whole day at Versailles, it is worth it in my opinion. I would get up early and take the train so as to arrive about 60 min before the palace opens, the walk will take 15 minutes to get to the gate and you have to buy your tickets before you get in the long line to get in to the palace, please listen to this! I waited for 1.5 hours my first time there to get to the entrance only to find that you have buy the tickets in a side building before you get in line. If you have a museum pass (Paris Pass) it will get you in without a ticket. The tour of the palace takes 1-1.5 hours, then go into the gardens and plan on spending the next several hours just strolling, have lunch back by the lake were the boats are docked and after lunch go see the Summer Palace and Marie Antoinette's peasant village where she and her ladies in waiting use to spend the day being "ordinary people" in. If you get tired do what we did and take one of the boats out on the lake, it's relaxing and you see the gardens from a different perspective. I love Versailles, and have been there four times and would go again if fate allows me.
If you have a museum pass (Paris Pass) it will get you in without a ticket.
Don't confuse the Paris Pass (terrible deal) with the Museum Pass (good deal).
We will be using the Museum Pass, which looks like a great deal for four days, and I think we will purchase a book of 10 metro tickets, which looks like the best deal for transportation. Of course, we will have to purchase a round trip ticket to Versailles.
Do you know if the Museum Pass allows entry to Marie-Antoinette's estate as well as the palace of Versailles and the palaces of Trianon? One the website it just mentions the palaces.
Thanks again, I really appreciate all the information and insight.
Cheers!
Yes, the museum pass allows access to the Petit Trianon, the Grand Trianon, and Marie Antoinette's hamlet. You'll love them all!
Thank you, thank you all! Much appreciated!
Easy connections. Be sure to note the info on Step 7 of the link that was provided above. You don't want to be disappointed that you boarded the RER going to the wrong destination; they both head towards the same direction.
I haven't been to Paris in Winter. This may end up as a half-day event if the weather is too cold to wander around the grounds for hours. So, have some other options in mind - so many wonderful things to see & do in Paris!
I don't remember exactly how and where I did it, but I bought my Versailles tickets from a shop in a metro station near the Louvre the day before the visit.
You need a full day for the visit; even if you skip the park - which I did as it was very cold - a good part of the day went in visiting the castle.
Be sure to confirm the Palace is open before you go! Our friends took the train to Versailles a couple of weeks ago and discovered the Palace was closed due to a strike.
Visited there in June 2015. Confirm open times, train times and arrive as EARLY as POSSIBLE. We went later in the morning and stood in line for 2 hours just to get through the gate. It was crowded and we were exhausted by the end. Plus.... security was very tight. and more so than any other location in Paris. AND there were no SKIP the LINE options like stated. Have your good walking shoes on. It's huge, gorgeous, lovely gardens but we ran out of time for the smaller palaces and Marie's little oasis. ENJOY!!
It can be pretty "chilly" to spend an afternoon at Versailles' garden in December ! I would opt for an early train to see the buildings, and then quickly get back to Paris. There is so much to do indoors in Paris where you can be warm and comfortable.
