Love2Knit

My husband & I will be in Paris for 5 days in Sept., his 2nd time, my third. I have no doubt that we can fill our days easily in this wonderful city, but the idea has crossed my mind that we might enjoy going to Versailles for a day. Your thoughts, fellow globe trotters? If we go, should we go on our own or book a tour? (Neither of us are terribly fond of big groups following a narrator, but enjoy small guided tours). Any other suggestions for a day trip would be welcome. Thanks!

SpartanTartan

You must absolutely go to Versailles! Do not take a tour. Take the train from Paris, follow the crowd to the Palace and take a self-guided tour. It's easy. We did this on our very first full day in Paris and had a fabulous time.

cathies

I love Versailles, but to be honest I love the grounds more than the chateau itself. It's the most claustrophobic I've ever felt as we were pushed along with numerous tour groups. However, last time we were there I noticed that by about 3pm the crowds had gone and access was easy. So my advice would be to head there in the morning and spend the day exploring the massive grounds, including Maree Antoinette's folly which we love and THEN go inside to check that out.

When I was there in 2006 there were certain parts of the buildings that were only accessible with a guided tour including the chapel!!

Grandot

Versailles is wonderful, but if you have only five days, there are so many things to see and do in the city. Depends on your interests. If you do decide to go to Versailles, check out if they still have their fountain concerts on certain Sundays (possibly every Sunday) Quite a number of years ago, we were there and the fountains would spray and the music played (I think it was hourly) and it was magical. But the buildings were mobbed.

In Paris, l"Orangerie and the Musee Marmatton are only two of the small museums that are delightful.

CaliNurse

IMHO,for this trip, i would not go to Versailles. Agree with Cathies. My fav part of the inside was seeing the little door in the bedroom, where Marie Antoinette escaped into the hidden passage out of the Palace. To be honest, it just felt like too many rooms, too many crowds,too many paintings, etc. (Oh dear, does that sound terrible uncultured?!!)
The gardens and outlying buildings are beautiful and interesting, but require lots and lots of walking.Thank heaven for the shuttle bus! Hope this doesnt sound negative. I've been twice and it is spectacular...the sheer history of the place!!! i'm just saying it's NOT at the top of my list for a Paris trip only 5 days long.

soogies

Well, personally, I would go. I have been to Paris five times and never been to Versailles. Somehow I could never fit it in and I regret it. You and your husband have been to Paris previously and seen some major stuff, so I vote in favor of going!

PS: My daughter, by age 20, had been to Paris three times and Versailles 3 times. She is enamored of it, takes the train and does her own tour. I am slightly jealous....

wenday

We went in August and loved it!! I love the Hall of Mirrors!! Yes, crowds but it is still worth seeing. Take a tour, the self guided is not near as good. I agree try to go when the fountains are working.

tom18

Some other possibilities for a day trip: Chartres, with its great cathedral; Tours, to go to one or more of the chateaux; Reims, for its cathedral and other historical sites; and also the champaign country. You could even go to Brussels or Strasbourg for a day if you wanted.

Gina_07

I agree that you should go, since this is not your first time in Paris. We went there on a Sunday and enjoyed the classical music in the garden that Grandot mentioned. It was lovely. I regret very much going with a tour. I dislike yours but we had our 4-year old son with us and we thought it would be easier to go on a bus tour. We felt very rushed. I can't wait for the opportunity to go there again, this time on our own, and take the time to enjoy. I think you should go.

Gina_07

Sorry, I meant "I dislike tours" not "yours" above.

Speaking of day trips from Paris, has anyone been to Barbizon? I think it's a little picturesque town near Paris with art galleries. I heard about it in a conversation and was thinking if it's worth a visit, assuming there is enough time.

Michel_Paris

They also have tours of the stables on certain days of the week, and occasional night-time performances in the chateau.

danon

It can be busy, but the place is a part of French history
( and rather amazing) - I would go for 1/2 day.
Also, it is a short RER ride from Paris unlike some other towns.
Strasbourg is more than 2 hours travel time plus the time to get to and from the train stations - a very long day.

GoodLuckGirl

Great opinions from fellow travelers is why I love Fodor's! Paris is my favorite, and wandering through the city discovering new museums,parks, and cafes, or re visiting old favorites is a passion for me.
Love2Knit, I understand you have limited time, but if this is a return trip, and Versailles has been on your "to do" list, then by all means, go. I have taken the train with a "self-guided" tour, and the bus. Cityrama, which leaves from the Rue de Rivoli near the Louvre, offers various "audioguides". Depending on the rates, (54 E to 109 E) you have many options. There are also multi-attraction day trips should you like to indulge.
Whatever your choice, enjoy it all and have a wonderful time!

theflock

Did not see Versailles until my 3rd trip to Paris, and only then because my daughter wanted to go. I didn't enjoy the palais de Versailles -- too many people. However, I really enjoyed the Petit Trianon and the Grand Trianon. The little train (for which there is a nominal fee) takes you there and drops you off. It was a cold, cloudy day and I will never forget walking from the Petit to the Grand Trianon and stopping at Angelina's for a hot chocolate, sipped outdoors. It was quiet, peaceful and oh, so beautiful.

Love2Knit

Thanks for the input, folks! I'm leaning toward going on our own, but my husband gets a vote, too! Chartres would also be a great day trip. L'Orangerie is definitely on this time; it was closed the first time I was there in 2000 and we just couldn't fit it in last time.

KTtravel

I visited Versailles two summers ago and took a tour that the palace offers. We took an English speaking tour that we booked on arrival and were so glad we did. The tour group was limited to perhaps 20 or so, the guide was very good and took us behind the scenes to places we would not have been able to visit on our own. We then joined the rest of the crowd going through the "public' part of the palace and didn't enjoy this part nearly as much. One of our group didn't feel up to exploring the grounds so we didn't do that but I remember enjoying them on a previous trip. The fountains do not "play" every day so I would suggest checking the website if you decide you'd like to see them as well.

ggreen

It really depends on what interests you, and since you say you're interested in going, then by all means do - it's an easy trip on the RER out and back.

For me, and I mean this with all sincerity, I'm not a fan of all that opulence, mile after mile of it. That said, I enjoyed the chateau the most on my most recent visit (the first having been 30 years ago, so over the years I've seen it in varying states of repair). I highly recommend the fountains with music, as others have. I personally would go through the (stuffy) rooms in the castle first, then expand out to the gardens.

Also, while it's true that Versailles is "part of history" because of what transpired to its most important residents, the same can be said of course of most everything one sees in Paris and environs!

A few more options less than 2 hours from Paris:

<b>Chartres</b> for the medeval history and the amazing stained glass. Get a tour by Malcolm Miller if you can (google him to see why); though he's up there in years and doesn't interact as much with his guidees as he used to, he's still an amazing font of knowledge about the cathedral.

<b>Giverny</b> - Monet's home is an interesting window into who he was as a person. But it's the gardens that you'd really want to see. They are lovely - almost as gorgeous as the paintings he made of them. (Best in spring/early summer when the flowers are in bloom.)

<b>Reims</b> for the tombs of French kings and the home of that most royal of drinks, champagne.

The chateaux of Chantilly and Vincennes (north and east of Paris, respectively) are also worth a trip, but maybe on a future vacation.

Gina_07, I haven't been to Barbizon, but it is famous for its painters, so it doesn't surprise me that there would be great galleries there!

tdk320n

BOOKMARK

Sidny

Someone else can advise more with the actual logistics, but Chartres and Versailles could be done as a single (long) day-trip. On my recent trip out to Chartres I noticed that Versailles was the first stop outside of Paris. Could someone buy a RT train ticket to Chartres, stopping at Versailles on either the way out or way back? Again, I realize it would make for a long day, but if you spent more time at Versailles in the morning you could just enjoy a relaxing ride out to Chartres, resting your feet, spend a couple of hours at the cathedral and wandering around town, have dinner, and head back to Paris.

virginiafish

been to Paris 3 times and, yes, went to V and it was lovely. But...last time, took a trip to Chantilly and Senlis and found it fun and relaxing. Check them out, especially if you like horses.