Do we need to get our train tickets purchased ahead for our trip to the Palace? do you know if we could just purchase the Paris Visite card right at the Eurostar- Gare du Nord station? Thanks, I know it's a lot of questions.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Versailles is in zone 4. The Paris Visite pass covers either zones 1-3 or zones 1-5. Yes, you can buy it at Gare du Nord, but it is overpriced. A single ticket from anywhere in central Paris to Versailles on the Metro and RER costs €3.35 each way. What pass (if any) would be best for you depends upon what day of the week you will arrive in Paris and what day of the week you will leave. What are those days? If you like to walk and won't be taking a lot of rides each day, buying ten-ticket carnets as needed and sharing the tickets works very well. Each ticket is good anywhere the Metro goes (some lines end in zone 3) and on the RER in zone 1 (all of central Paris) and provides unlimited transfers until you exit the system. Each ticket allows bus transfers up to 90 minutes after boarding the first bus, but you cannot transfer between bus and Metro/RER on the same ticket.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
holy cow, relax,, lol You can purchase your tickets for the RER to Paris whenever you want, ten minutes before or the day before or whatever, they are not valid till you compost them. When you get to Palace you get in the line for ticket and pass holders. It is the line for Security , not for Tickets( Billets). It can be VERY long if you don't get there early , so plan to arrive before it opens. Don't get Paris Viste pass its a rip off. Why would you pay 22 euros for a one day pass that includes Versailles and airport, when its only 8.20 return for Versailles, how many rides more can a person take in a day to make paying 22 euros worth it. Tickets to Versailles are now 4.10 each way. A carnet of ten one way tickets is 13 euros and that's 5 return trips around Paris. You don't have to buy every pass and deal offered, they are not all good prices. A museum pass can have value.
A carnet is usually fine for most people staying centrally and can last 2-3 days( assuming you take a ride to an area sightsee around that area all day then return to your area later)
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
The others are right, Versailles is reached by RER C, which is just a commuter rail line. Trains run about every 15-20 minutes. Be sure to board trains heading to Versailles Rive Gauche as there is a split in the line and some trains go to other destinations. If not sure, just ask someone as a train is approaching. You must have a ticket valid to zone 4. Central Paris metro tickets will not be valid all the way to Versailles. All return trains go through central Paris (along the left bank of the Siene).