I wanted to know if the museum pass from Paris works for entrance into Versailles and if not caqn you buy tickets in advance and if so how???
Also if you can buy train tickets in advance if you know what day you want to go??
It seems like in Rick's books he is always talking about buying in advance to avoid waiting in long lines.
We are traveling the first week in April.
Thanks for input
Yes, museum pass works for entrance into Versailles.
Getting train tickets (RER) can be done easily at the machines at the RER/Metro station -- I wouldn't bother with getting them in advance.
David,
The Paris Museum Pass does provide admission to the Chateau at Versailles but NOT the gardens. That's what I found when I was there in July. The cost for the gardens was only about €8 so not a huge expense. If you walk through the arch to the right of the Chateau, you'll see a small booth where you can buy a ticket for the gardens. There will probably be a small tourist train parked there also, should you want to get a ride down to the far end.
Depending on where you're staying in Paris, you'll use a combination of Metro and RER to get to Versailles. I don't know if its possible to buy tickets in advance, but there's really no point in doing that. The simplest and easiest method is to just buy a return ticket at your departure station. There are no reserved seats so buying in advance has no benefit.
Happy travels!
FYI - The gardens are free EXCEPT on days when the fountains run. Then you must pay the extra fee, not covered by the pass. You can find the fountain schedule on their website.
Do buy your RER ticket round trip so that you don't have to stand in line in the station at Versailles.
@Douglas,
"The gardens are free EXCEPT on days when the fountains run."
There were no fountains operating the day I was there. In fact, one of them was torn apart for re-construction. I was told by people at the site that my Paris Museum Pass would not provide admission to the gardens (except for the Trianon Castle and Estate of Marie-Antoinette). This would seem to be consistent with the information on the Museum Pass website which states "Not included: shows, musical water shows, musical GARDENS, conferences, restaurants and transport services."
Entering the Chateau was quite a different story. I just waved the Museum Pass and the guard just motioned me through without even looking at the validity dates.
Perhaps I didn't understand the details correctly, but that was my experience.
Cheers!
Perhaps I didn't understand the details correctly
You did not understand correctly - as I stated, the gardens are free EXCEPT on days when there is a musical fountain show. Even on those days, the fountains do not all run at the same time, so perhaps you did not see them running. Your details refer to the musical fountain and garden shows, for which the pass is not valid.
Even if David arrives on a fountain day and has to buy a separate ticket, the garden ticket line is short and quick.
