If coming from Paris, should I plan on spending the whole day at Versailles? Half a day? We would be there in winter, so I don't think we would spend too much time in the gardens.
Posted by
Greenville, SC, USA
263 posts
I plan to go in August/September, from Paris, and am assuming I can do it in half a day, per Rick's itineraries under the France page.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
I was just there last Sunday! A half day is fine if you only want to see the main chateau and some of the gardens. If you want to go to the smaller palaces that are a half hour walk (the Domaine of Marie Antoinette area) and see more of the gardens, then make it a full day. We did not plan it out that well and were just able to do the main house. Rick is not kidding, it's a zoo on Sunday. If I had to do it over again I would have picked another day and devoted the full day to it. We missed out on a lot due to poor planning. But that is a great excuse to go back again some other time.
Posted by
Italy 2012
104 posts
We went on a Friday a few weeks ago. Not that crowded, 1/2 day was plenty for us but if you want to take out a boat, rent a bike, have lunch etc it could easily be a whole day. It was cold and cloudy so we did not do any of those things but it all looked like fun on a beautiful day. Plan for a whole day but have a back up plan if you decide 1/2 a day is enough.
Posted by
Cocoa, FL, US
34 posts
We did a quick walk through on our own and a half-day from Paris was enough time. Took the REU_C train there and then went to Montemarte for early evening strolls.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
If you are visiting in winter, then a half day is probably enough. It takes about an hour to get there once you get to the RER C station in Paris (including the 10 minute walk to the chateau). The gardens in winter will be less interesting and without all the boat rides and picnicing that can be fun in nice weather. Pray for snow though, the gardens are stunning with a banket of snow.