Which typeTransportation in Paris?

kathy,

I'm sure one of the rail experts here will be along shortly. The method I'd use in the same circumstances would be to take the RER from Paris/CDG to Gare du Nord and then Metro from there to the Ecole Miliataire station; just buy P-P tickets.

For the trip to Versailles, the RER is also a good option, but I believe there are two stops and I'd have to check to determine the name of the correct one. For daily trips on the Metro, I'd probably just buy a Carnet (10 tickets).

Happy travels!

Ken made some great suggestions...the one I would make would be to make good use of your feet. Paris is one the great walking cities. (Not to Versaille, of course, but through the central area.)

I usually stay not far from Ecole Militaire and if it's a nice have been known to walk to Latin Quarter, the Marais, ile de St. Louis, etc.

As Ken says, a couple of "carnets" of 10 tickets would probably serve you for the few days you will be there. A Paris Visite pass would not be worth the very high price. If you will use bus or metro many times a day, you could each buy a "Mobilis" pass for around 5 euro, good for one day of travel in Paris.

Buy single tickets (€8.40) to get from CDG to Paris on Thursday. Do the same to get to CDG on Sunday morning.

Buy single tickets (€2.90 each way) to Versailles and back.

Buy carnets (€11.40) as needed for your rides in Paris and share the tickets. One exception: Your daughter can buy a zone 1-3 Ticket Jeunes pass (€3.20) for Saturday so she will not need to share carnet tickets that day.

The Paris Visite pass is overpriced.

For all your ticket and pass choices with links to detailed explanations of each one, go here.

Hi kathy, all the good suggestions above, like ken, etc, reflect my thoughts too. Remember to reserve museums ahead where ever possible. Also, please forbid it, strikes on transport in france are not impossible. Twice i've had to find cabs to make inside paris trips, for that reason, but if you have time, walking is best anytime in the super compact paris center

I have only been to Paris twice, but I have never heard of making museum reservations in advance. A museum pass is a great time saver, as it doesn't look like you have much time there. Two full days isn't a lot of time to do museums AND Versailles. I would suggest planning your time carefully so as not to waste it. Paris is a very walkable city, but walking long distances does take time. The Paris Visite Pass is very overpriced. As others suggested, just buy a carnet (10 tickets) for the metro. If you need more tickets buy them when you need them.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. I appreciate them and will utilize them in Paris!

Kathy,

To add to my previous post, you might consider buying the two day Paris Museum Pass. It will allow you to bypass the lines for tickets, and covers quite a wide variety of sites. Check their website for details and costs.

You didn't say which Museums you were planning to visit, but with only one day, you'll need to be VERY selective. If you'll be visiting the Louvre, I'd suggest concentrating on one wing only, perhaps the Denon Wing (where the Mona Lisa is displayed). Visiting all three wings takes considerable time! Another Museum / Gallery that I'd highly recommend is the Musee d'Orsay, which is located in an elegant old building that used to be a train station. It has a wonderful collection of impressionist art. There's no shortage of places to see in Paris!

Cheers!

And to add to my previous post, if you go to Versailles on Saturday, your daughter will benefit from buying the zone 1-5 Ticket Jeunes rather than the zone 1-3 Ticket Jeunes. Versailles is in zone 4.

If you are not taking the Paris Museum Pass, then when you go to Versailles be sure to purchase the entrance to Versailles itself at the same time that you are getting your RER ticket (this is also only if you have not made an advanced reservation for Versailles). At the RER station you can purchase a combo pass that will get you return travel on the RER plus access to Versailles, and the lineup can be as much as 10-20x shorter than if you wait until Versailles to purchase the tickets.

Unfortunately, that combo pass, RER transportation and Versailles admission - know as a "forfait loisir," is no longer available. So using a day for Versailles is probably your best bet. After all, Friday and Saturday will be your only two complete days there.

Can't you purchase museum passes at one of the museums? I was planning to do this, and going to Versailles on Saturday - I was going to purchase the 5.80E round trip tickets - are the ticket Jeunes zone 1-5 cheaper for my daughter? I also thought that the mobillis would be the best tickets to buy for Friday, and just purchase a bus ticket @CDG for 8.90E to go into Paris. Is the mobillis ticket easier to use (less confusing) than the carnets? Thanks for your help!