I see that the musical fountain shows are on every weekend while we are in Paris.... I was thinking of going on a Sunday.
Is the show worth making the trip on a Sunday when I know crowds will be higher?
I was also contemplating booking a bike tour.... if anyone has done so, was it worth it?
Any other tips or recommendations with kids aged 9 and 12?
Thank you
We took a bike tour from Paris and it was a wonderful way to see the Versailles gardens. Our first stop was a market where everyone picked up their picnic items and then we cycled to a beautiful area and everyone shared their lunches. It would be a perfect outing for your children. I would have to say the chateau was a huge disappointment due to the huge crowds even though we had a reservation for our group and it was late in the day mid week. We refer to it as a cattle call! It was so crowded we got literally pushed through and had no way of stopping even if we had wanted to....
With kids, especially, I would stick to the grounds of the Palace: the Trianons, the Queen's Hamlet, Grand Canal (where you can rent boats), and of course the fountains if they are running. If you do not bike there from Paris, you can rent bikes, Segways, golf carts at Versailles to get around, or walk.
I agree, the interior of the palace can be crazy crowded, and might not be that enjoyable for kids.
I have done the Fat Tire bike tour and it WAS really fun.. even though I had already been to Versailles at least half a dozen times before.
The palace is very crowded and hot.
Maybe consider a daytrip to Provins ( look it up , world heritage site) or Pierrfonds instead if just going for the "see a palace/castle" thing.. Provins doesn't have an actual castle but it has old medival ramparts, an old town, and shows that are worth seeing, I saw the Birds of Prey one and it was pretty cool,, they are outside and the participants are in medival costume.
Pierrefonds is a rebuild.. but its where they filmed parts of Merlin.. so kind of cool looking, and the little lake has some cute places to grab lunch .
I love the history of Versailles , but over the last 10 years its just become harder and harder to enjoy the palace.. its really a mosh pit, with no air conditioning.. and pushy tour groups. The grounds and outer buildings are still wonderful.
Personally I would avoid weekends.. the fountain show wasn't worth the etc crowds to me.. but I have been numerous times now so perhaps I don't see things the same way.
The bike tour was at request of a friend.. I was against it at first,, but I was wrong, it was a fun day.
The kids might enjoy seeing the fountains run - you would know best. I could see how they would otherwise be rather boring to look at for kids. Note that the fountains do not all run at the same time; they stage them and you wander around as they turn them on and off. The Neptune Fountain, which runs at the end of the day, is pretty impressive to see running.
There is a boat rental on the Grand Canal. They might enjoy that. A picnic lunch by the canal is a favorite pastime of mine. Something the family can enjoy if the weather is nice.
A bike tour could be fun. Or they rent bikes in the gardens (first come first serve so a weekend would be tough unless you get there early). You can also ride a tram out to the distant sites.
The Trianons and Hamlet might be more enjoyable for the kids. They could see something of what the palace was like in the Trianons.
I went with my daughter who was 4 and another child who was 6. We enjoyed the palace especially the Hall of Mirroirs but it was midweek. The grounds were more fun for the kids. They enjoyed the train and the Petit Hameau. My daughter and I went rowing on the canal. That was lovely on a hot day!
Sandra when did you visit ? My last 4-5 visits it's been so crowded I can't imagine a 4 yr old liked the mass of does around them , but I've only been June July and August when crowds are insane
