Day Trip to London, and Then to Versailles

Posted by Borden (Minden, La, USA) on 04/23/09 09:58 PM

Hey, one of my friends and I are going to Europe this summer. The last 4 days we will be in Paris; we are planning on using the suggested 3 day Paris itinerary from Rick Steves' Paris. The third day we are in Paris, we want to take the Chunnel to London. We will arrive in London at 8:00. Does anybody have a suggested itinerary for the full day?

We will arrive back at Paris Nord at 9:47; what would be the quickest way to get from there to an RER station where we could buy a "Le Passeport" pass and take an RER out to Versailles?

Thanks for any suggestions. I apologize for the amount of information I have requested.

Sincerely,
Borden

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

04/23/09 10:04 PM

23297 posts

For a quick day in London, the hop on/off buses work well for a quick overview and transportation. There are several so pick the route with the stops you most want to see.

Posted by pat

victoria, Canada

04/24/09 12:32 AM

11507 posts

I am confused,, you are going to be in Paris for four days,, but will leave Paris on the third day,, meaning you are alloting all of two days to Paris?? And then your other two days "in" Paris you are leaving, one day to Versailles and one to London... wow, what a whirlwind tour of Europe..

Posted by Norma

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

04/24/09 05:25 AM

8293 posts

There is an RER station at Gare du Nord.

Posted by Tim

Minneapolis, MN, USA

04/24/09 08:14 AM

8700 posts

Borden,

You can buy "Le Passeport" ("one-day pass" in English) on the Versailles site and print it yourself at home. See here.

Note: Do not mistake "Le Passeport" for the "Forfait Loisirs." The latter included transportation to Versailles and back as well as admission, but it has been discontinued. In spite of what Rick Steves' Paris guidebook says, "Le Passeport" never has included transportation.

To get to Versailles from Gare du Nord take the RER B to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. Transfer to the RER C and take it to Versailles-Rive Gauche. Be aware that the RER C line divides on the west side of Paris. All trains with the nameplate VICK go to Versailles-Rive Gauche. The fare each way is €2.90.

For a zoomable map of the metro and RER system, go here.

Posted by Borden OP

Minden, La, USA

04/24/09 09:52 AM

6 posts

Thanks for the information; I could not see were I could buy the Saturday pass; does that go buy a different name? Also, I will still be able to skip the lines, right?

Skipping lines will be important since we are going to try to make it back to Paris to do the Marais Walk and the Monmartre walk. (Our hostel is in Monmartre, so once we get to this point, the whirlwind day will wind down some.)

Posted by Tim

Minneapolis, MN, USA

04/24/09 10:51 AM

8700 posts

There are several kinds of tickets you can purchase online. The first on the list is the 1-DAY PASSPORT. You want the third item, PASSEPORT GRANDES EAUX. It includes the weekend musical fountain displays. The first one is from 11:00 to 12:00. The second one is from 15:30 to 17:30. Yes, you will be able to skip the lines.