Tours of Versailles, Lyon
Dec 3rd, 2016, 11:12 PM
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No need for a tour.
Please see your other post:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-442535-2.cfm
Please see your other post:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-442535-2.cfm
Dec 4th, 2016, 01:57 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you just want a guide on-site or do you mean a tour that takes you to these places and has overnights, from somewhere else?
If you just want a guide on-site at Versailles, you can just sign up when you are there or in advance, they are 7 euro. Their website tells you how to do that.
If you prefer not want to manage transportation on your own or cannot (it is on the RER, then not too long a walk from the RER stop), I know Parisvision does one-day tours from Paris. These seem rather expensive to me, but they exist.
http://www.pariscityvision.com/en/versailles
I did use that company for a one-day tour to another chateau that is more difficult to get to, and they did an excellent job FWIW.
There are some others, of course. you can just check www.viator.com
However, this website which is geared more to French people has half day tours from Paris that are a lot cheaper, only 39 euro. That includes the transportation, audioguide, no queuing access, etc. If I were not going to do-it-myself, I'd go with that
http://www.francetourisme.fr/versailles-palace.html
For Lyon, here is a company that does some mini tours of parts of Lyon (Vieux Lyon, etc). They claim they are "free" (really for tips) but somehow have a 2.5 euro fee, I don't get it, but in any case, it is a small investment.
http://www.airotour.com/france/lyon/free-tour-lyon
That doesn't look too bad, fairly small groups. I presume it is in English, but check, the website is. There is also this arrangement that is organized by the city tourism office, similar concept -- locals who will show you around a bit for free.
http://www.lyoncitygreeter.com/en/
looks kind of fun, worth a try
Sorry I have no personal experience.
In Lyon, if you want a general tour of the city for one day or something like that.
If you just want a guide on-site at Versailles, you can just sign up when you are there or in advance, they are 7 euro. Their website tells you how to do that.
If you prefer not want to manage transportation on your own or cannot (it is on the RER, then not too long a walk from the RER stop), I know Parisvision does one-day tours from Paris. These seem rather expensive to me, but they exist.
http://www.pariscityvision.com/en/versailles
I did use that company for a one-day tour to another chateau that is more difficult to get to, and they did an excellent job FWIW.
There are some others, of course. you can just check www.viator.com
However, this website which is geared more to French people has half day tours from Paris that are a lot cheaper, only 39 euro. That includes the transportation, audioguide, no queuing access, etc. If I were not going to do-it-myself, I'd go with that
http://www.francetourisme.fr/versailles-palace.html
For Lyon, here is a company that does some mini tours of parts of Lyon (Vieux Lyon, etc). They claim they are "free" (really for tips) but somehow have a 2.5 euro fee, I don't get it, but in any case, it is a small investment.
http://www.airotour.com/france/lyon/free-tour-lyon
That doesn't look too bad, fairly small groups. I presume it is in English, but check, the website is. There is also this arrangement that is organized by the city tourism office, similar concept -- locals who will show you around a bit for free.
http://www.lyoncitygreeter.com/en/
looks kind of fun, worth a try
Sorry I have no personal experience.
In Lyon, if you want a general tour of the city for one day or something like that.
Dec 4th, 2016, 05:37 PM
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In case you decide to do it on you own: Versailles in the morning can be a horribly long wait to get into the main palace. The line on the courtyard is really really long. An hour's wait or more. We asked an attendant when it got to be about 10:30 and we got the best advice ever: Go into the gardens first (free), at noon the Marie Antoinette buildings (Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon) open, by the time you've seen them, the courtyard has practically no line for the palace and you still have plenty of time to see it, especially since now you can move more freely.
