Versailles - Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie Antoinette

If you want the most direct, head around the chateau to the right as you approach from the Train station. You can enter the gardens there, or continue to the right from the garden gate and enter directy into the Petite Trianon/Domaine. While I can't specifically remembe the names of the gates, I think that Ste. Antoine is the closest. The Domaine is one of my favorite places in Europe...

If going to the Trianons and Hamlet directly from Gare Rive Gauche (RER C line), you would enter the Queen's Gate. As Darren aluded to, you keep to the right of the palace. You can follow the boulevard the crosses in front of the palace or walk up the parking area almost to the palace and then there is a pedestrain walkway down to the street. When you get to Boulevard de la Reine, turn left and the gate will be a couple of blocks. That same boulevard leads straight to the Grande Trianon. The Petite Trianon and Hamlet will be to the right of that. The Ste. Antoine Gate is very close to the Hamlet, but would still be out of your way. For less walking, take the train to Gare Rive Droite, which is adjacent to Blvd de la Reine and just a few blocks from the Queen's Gate. That is RER L Line, which you can pick up at La Defense or Gare St. Lazare.

Wow, what great information!!! Thank you both so much for taking the time to provide such detailed directions. I can't wait to go!!

A little more advice. If you take RER C, be sure to buy a full ticket to Versailles. You can enter the RER line directly from the Metro in Paris, but Versailles is outside the central ticket zone. You will be fined if you try and go all the way to Versailles just on a Metro ticket. Also, that line splits into several branches. Be sure to board trains marked Versailles Rive Gauche/Chateau. The RER L line I mentioned cannot be accessed directly from the Metro, so you will need a full ticket to board. You save about 10 minutes of walking once in Versailles, but the ride from the Left Bank in Paris is longer as you have to get to La Defense or Gare St. Lazare. Will you not be visiting the palace or formal gardens? If you haven't already seen them, I hope you won't be skipping them. You can always walk back through the gardens to see them, even if you don't go through the palace (except on fountain days, all of the gardens are free).

Thanks again, Douglas. We won't be visiting the chateau this trip, but are definitely planning on walking through the gardens. Now we just have to hope for good weather in November! Have you ever visited in early/mid November? I've read that some of the statues will be covered and it won't be as lush as it is in the summer, but I think it will still be marvelous to walk through.

The weather in November will be pretty iffy. I've lived in Versailles so I've been there in all seasons. The gardens won't be much fun in the rain and wind, if that happens to be the weather on your visit. And if you go to the Trianons via the Queens Gate, understand that it is a long walk basically through open landscape and not much to look at. I'm not sure when they start wrapping up some of the more sensitive sculptures, but for the most part there will still be much to see in the formal gardens. The formal gardens are directly behind the palace, leading down to the canal.

Thanks Douglas! It sounds like the best plan to get to the Trianon/Domaine area is through the formal gardens - much more scenic! We will take the RER C to the Rive Gauche stop and walk toward the main gate. From looking at various maps, it appears that there is a separate entrance to the left of the Chateau entrance for those going just to the gardens - is this true? From there we will walk along the canal and gardens to the Trianon/Domaine area, buy our tickets when they open at noon, and head in. We'll be flexible and watch the weather - I agree walking around for hours in chilly rain doesn't sound like much fun!

Yes Dawn, if you're going in the main gate the entrance to the gardens is to the left of the chateau. The walk through the gardens and along the canal is wonderful. I hope you have good weather in Nov.