Versailles Garden alone, to do or not.

I think it's a fantastic plan to spend time in the garden! While the chateau was worth the visit, I was even more impressed by the vast ground, garden, sculptures and canals. Be sure to pick a day to visit of nice weather and also when the chateau is open. I found out that the bike/golf cart rental as well as restaurants/cafe are not open when the chateau is closed.

Have a great time!

I really enjoyed the hamlet, it was one of my favorite parts of Versailles. The Palais Garnier is similar to the hall of mirrors, so it would give you the same idea with a much less stressful environment, if seeing the Palace of Versailles is not a priority. In my opinion, a ride around the gardens would be a nice addition to your itinerary, if you have a day with nice weather. As a disclaimer, i have only been to paris once for a few days, so I am not very experienced. Your trip sounds wonderful!

With only four full days in Paris (plus your first evening), I'd suggest skipping Versailles. Your "must do" list is certainly doable, with only two major museums, each of which could take a few hours or all day depending on your interest and stamina (the Louvre has evening hours two days a week, and I think the Orsay also, at least one day, which you could factor into your planning). I agree that the main chateau at Versailles would be too stressful, and with the gardens and Hameau it would take a full day of your four.

The Opera Garnier is a magnificent building, with very fine interiors, though I wouldn't compare it to the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, which is enormous (and also likely to be packed with people). There are English-language tours of Garnier, but not every day as I recall. But you can see the inside without the tour if necessary.

You're right about the value of "a dose of fresh air and outdoor greenery," but the Versailles gardens are a long way to go for that. Try the Luxembourg Gardens a few blocks from your hotel, or the Tuileries Gardens right across the river, or the Bois de Boulogne or Bois de Vincennes at either end of central Paris. Or, for a less upbeat version of outdoors, one of the big cemeteries like Pere Lachaise or Montparnasse. Plus you'll find little parks and squares all over the city with benches and fountains and playgrounds. One of my favorites is Parc Monceau a few blocks north of the Arc de Triomphe.

I don't know that bike-riding is possible in any of the Paris parks and gardens I just mentioned, I haven't done that in Paris. There are bike rental kiosks all over the city, and a company called Fat Tire offers popular bike tours, but you may not find biking on city streets to provide the relaxation you want. Others can help if bike riding is a priority for you.

And be sure to save some time for strolling, café-ing, people watching, a river cruise, and enjoying this beautiful city. And start your list of places to see when you return! :-)

I think your plan makes perfect sense. I would find the crowds to get in the palace very stressful. We elected to look at the Eiffel Tower from the bottom and we looked at bottom of the Arc as well. No lines and we felt satisfied that we had "done" these sites.

We did not go to Versailles on this trip...not enough time. (I did visit 30+ years ago when it wasn't so popular and that visit was in December -- place was pretty empty). If the commute out there is ok with you, as someone else mentioned it is a bit of a trek, I think just going to the gardens will give you a very good idea of the immense scale of the place. It is very famous but I don't think you have to go inside to appreciate its grandeur.

I lived in Versailles for 9 months and only once went inside the palace. I've been in the gardens countless times - so yes, seeing only the gardens is well worth it.

The nice thing is that you can play it by ear. You may find that there isn't enough time in your itinerary to make the 40 minute trek out to Versailles. In that case, plan it for next time. But if the weather is good and you have the time, non of the other green spaces in Paris are even remotely comparable to Versailles. Plan a picnic by the Grand Canal, explore the formal gardens and fountains, and ride a bike out to the Trianons and Hamlet. You are best to avoid the days when the fountains run as it can be crowded then and you must pay to enter the formal gardens.

Nothing can prepare you for how immense the chateau and gardens are.

Do you have more on your must-see list for Paris than you've included in your post? I guess I'm asking the question as you only have 2 attractions listed which are covered by the Paris Museum pass…unless you plan to climb the Towers at Notre Dame, and go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The total cost for buying these attractions separately is 44 euro: just slightly over the cost of a 2-day, 44-euro museum pass.

Adding Versailles would, of course, stretch the pass but do be aware that the museum pass doesn't cover the gardens if it happens to be a Musical Gardens or Fountain Show day:

http://en.parismuseumpass.com/musee-chateaux-de-versailles-et-de-trianon-64.htm

Just thought I'd bring this up as if you don't climb the towers or the Arc, and don't go Versailles, you're going to want to make better use of even that least expensive, 2-day pass. Individual tickets for the Louvre and d'Orsay would only total 26 euro.

Following on Kathy's reply, if you are indeed only going to use the Museum Pass for those two museums, but were thinking it was worth it to skip the lines: you can buy advance tickets for those museums online, allowing you to skip the ticket-buyer's line.

On the other hand, I loved the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe so much that I used my Museum Pass to go up twice, once by day and once by night.

That's a great option, Harold. Also, the Louvre is enormous, and the card will let you pop by more than once (late openings are great times to stop in for a bit) if it's too overwhelming to do in one shot. We went back again twice on our pass!

I highly recommend at least adding Sainte-Chapelle to the list.

We have signed up for the Private Apartments of the Kings tour; our trip is in September. Supposedly you go through private rooms in a group of no more than 30. I've read fantastic things; we're looking forward to escaping the crowds while on the private tour. If you are interested in the Palace but afraid of the crowds, it could possibly be a good option for you?

I love visiting Versailles, I have been there over a dozen times now( over many years!) and still, with only four full days, I say skip it!
Depending on where you are in Paris, the actual comute can take about an hour each way, metro to Rer line, 35-45 minutes to Versailles( as I said depends on starting point) then 5-10 minute walk to palace.

A bike ride on the grounds doesn't equal two hours of my day if I only have four days ( if you had a week ,yes, maybe) .

This last visit to Paris my daughter and I visited Buttes Chaumont, beautiful natural style park in the 19 th, you can actually sit on the grass there, lol . google for images , its very beautiful!

Thanks everyone, I am sensing from your responses that even if we skip the palace--- the gardens, trianon and hamlet are worth going for alone (with bikes). Now I will arrange our schedule so that we can decide as we get closer to do this, or skip it all together. With the palace out of the way, the trip would take less hours our of a day, making it easier to "plan as we go". yay.

Thank you for validation qp2898.

Tamara, I think we will enjoy the Hamlet best. Thank you for the Idea of visiting Palais Garnier to get a similar feel(although not the same). I will incorporate this into itinerary for sure.

Dick, Parc Monceau is something I will look into and jot down just in case. Thank you for your advice!

Thank you for your advice Eef!

Douglas- that amazing! haha. Yes, If we go it will be on Thursday before Noon. I will leave that day in such a way that we can decide when we are there to do so or not.

Kathy, We do plan on climbing Notre Dame, and Arc of Tromphe, and we also plan to step into Center of Pompidou for the view... I also like the option we have to "step into" a Mueeum on the go if that even happens. lol--- keeping the options open as they come.

Harold, that may just happen with us too :-P

Julie, thank you for this bit of information. We are not dying to go in--maybe we will use this in the future!

Pat-I will check out that park, thanks!

May I quickly ask about the picnic suggestions? If we first visit the palace and then do the gardens, what about a small shoulder bag full of lunch? Carry I just carry it with me, or check it?

Denny no food allowed in palace,, there is however a cloakroom. The only substance allowed in palace are bottles of water. On the website it does say the left luggage is free.. so that's good.

Check out the Versailles website.. its kind of a pain to use, but it is in English.

Thank you, Pat. I couldn't remember from our last visit nor easily find it on the website. Thanks again.

I'd do it.
I go to Versailles on every trip to Paris, and I love the Gardens. In fact, I haven't actually been inside the palace since 2009... It's definitely a must see at some point, but the Gardens are definitely where the gems are. The Hamlet is one of my favorite places in France (although part of it was under construction in June, might be finished now) so you should definitely head that way. Bikes, boats, cafes, strolls.... You might find yourself unwilling to leave once you get there...

You can 100% skip going inside the castle. the only impressive room is the hall of mirrors. unless you're very tall, all you end up seeing are the backs of the crowd's heads, walls and ceilings... and how fantastic can that really be?
Now the gardens! The price to get into the gardens is substantially less if you don't but castle tickets too. And no lines to wait... just follow the signs to the south/left of the crowds and there are the gates.
Slowly make your way back to the queens hamlet. Peaceful and serene. In fact, if you are a person who intuits you might be able to feel that these gardens ooze peace from out of the ground... no wonder why the young queen built her escape here.

There are certain parts of month when the King's kitchen garden's are open to tours. You might want to do this too... amazing if you grow vegetables/fruits/herbs yourself.
Have a great time, don't feel like you're missing out by not going inside!

While Versailles is a feast for the true Francophile, I've often suggested for friends to skip it. Not everyone digs Louis XIV grandeur...

I've been to Versailles two times, once in September and once in December (of 2008). I enjoyed myself, but after the fifth grand room (one in about every color of the rainbow) you get a little Versaillesed out. The Hall of Mirrors is splendid and the gardens as well. If you feel possessed to go, just doing the gardens should be fine.