Paris Museum Pass & Versailles Le Passeport Pass

You can purchase the Museum Pass at any participating museum. Some good locations are the Orsay Museum (there's a separate desk that sells only the Pass) and the Paris Archaelogical Crypt (sits right by Notre Dame and usually has no line).

Don't confuse Le Passeport with a Forfait Loisirs. The latter included transportation to and from Versailles--and it indeed has been discontinued. Le Passeport for Versailles still exists and it gives you more benefits than the simple entrance coverage provided by a Paris Museum Pass. You can read all about it on the Chateau de Versailles site.

Go to the web site below, and on the left, click on "points of sale". This shows all the places to purchase the Paris Museum Pass. Gare du Nord is listed under "in Paris" and "Office of Tourism", I believe. I haven't bought a pass there, but have been researching it since we will also be arriving in Paris at that station.

http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php

I tried to buy Le Passeport in January and I was told it was no longer available.

We bought our Paris Museum Pass at the "sewer" museum - the entrance is on the quay along the Seine - just another easy option. The Rodin Museum would be good, too. Versailles was included with the pass, but it doesn't look like it would be worth the cost of a 4 day pass - there are daily passes available at Versailles. Be sure you get the regular Paris Museum Pass. Check out the options - I think there are 2 different passes, but they are very different.

Andrea,

Thanks for the update on Le Passeport. It's still listed (with details) on the English version of the official Versailles Web site. Apparently the English version hasn't been updated. When I checked the French version I found it listed as a heading on a drop-down menu, but when I clicked on the link I got an error message.

Andrea - when you tried to buy LePasseport in January was it just the option with train fare that you couldn't purchase or was it any version of the pass? Where did you try to purchase it?

We bought our Museum Pass at the Gare du Nord as we got off the train. It couldn't have been simpler. No line, English spoken, polite and helpful folks and out the door into beautiful Paris in just minutes.

Update on "Le Passeport": I just checked the official Versailles site again. Complete details for "Le Passeport" now appear on the French version--and as "One-day Pass" on the English version. You can order the one-day pass online and print it yourself.

Vivian,

The information in Rick's book is inaccurate. Le Passeport only provides admission. The Forfait Loisirs provided both admission and transportation, but it is no longer available.

If you wish, buy Le Passeport online. Take the metro to a RER C station and take the RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche. A ticket costs 2.95 EUR each way and includes transfers from the metro to the RER. Be aware that the RER C line divides on the west side of Paris. Be sure to get on a train that is going to Versailles Rive Gauche. (All trains with the nameplate VICK go to Versailles RG.)

Hi Tim,

I've read on many forums, and gathered the same information as what you have mentioned. Thanks for the response!

Hi all,

I'm interested in the Le Passeport one-day pass to the Versailles when I'm visiting Paris in August, and I understand that it would be very much easier to print the tickets online.

Just a quick question, however, if I print the tickets online, would this still cover the round-trip train ride to Versailles? (I read on Rick Steve's book that buying "the pass before you leave the city - Paris, you'll pay EUR 1.50 more, but it will cover your round-trip train ride")

Vivian- I bought one day tickets to Versailles online and printed them at home. It worked very smoothly. We will be in Paris soon, and through my research I believe that there is currently construction on the RER C line, and it is closed from Gare d'Austerlitz to Invalides. I know that will make the trip to Versailles a little more difficult for us, as I was planning on catching the RER C at St. Michel near Notre Dame. I could only find this info on a French language page; as mentioned above sometimes the French and English versions of a site don't have all the same info.

We will be in France late in August and plan to stop and spend the day at Versaille on our way from Normandy to Paris where we will spend the last four days of our trip. I want to buy the four day Paris Museum Pass and begin using it at Versaille and I would like to purchase it at Versaille. Does anyone know if there is a point of purchase there? Also, I have decide not to purchase the pass for our seventeen year old since he can get into so many places at no cost. Does that seem like the right decision? I will get one for our nineteen year old, my husband and myself. Thank you.

You do not need a pass for the 17 year old. Check the paris museum pass website (I posted the web address earlier in this discussion)to see whether or not you can buy the pass at Versailles.

Can I buy the pass at Versailles? That is our first stop. It does not say that I can on the website.

Kristen, Yes, you can buy the Passport at Versailles. But why stand in line to do so when you can buy it online and print it yourself?

Tim, when I go to the Paris Museum Pass website I'm only seeing the option to purchase online and have the passes mailed for about $20 extra. Am I missing an option somewhere? I'm not sure I really want to pay that much for shipping when I can buy them fairly quickly there.

Honestly, I just got back from Paris and a trip to Versailles and I'm recommending to my friends that Versailles is skippable. The crowds are out of control and the lines too long. If you really want to see it, go to the gardens only and admire the buildings from the outside. You're not missing that much if you've seen other chateaux and castles before.

Original Poster here. First, I highly recommend purchasing online ahead of time. If you don't do this you will end up standing in a very long line to purchase tickets and then you will have to line back up again to get into the palace. If you have already purchased and printed your passes online and get there first thing in the morning you will basically be at the front of the line to get in and won't have to waste extra time or deal with lots of the crowds. Second, I totally disagree with Renee (above). Versailles was one of the highlights of our trip. We absolutely loved it and it was well worth the trip. Get the audio guide (I think it is included if you purchase online ahead of time) and go early.

Dellinda, I was talking about the Passport for Versailles alone, not the Paris Museum Pass which includes Versailles. You can buy the Paris Museum Pass at Versailles, but you'll have to stand in line to do so.

Can any one give an on the current situation for the Versailles Le Passeport (or other pass for visiting Versailles) - the last reply I see is from June 2011. Is this pass still available and where to buy it?

Serge, This page on the official Chateau de Versailles site answers all your questions.

Thanks , Tim