4 Days in Paris - should we go to Versaille?
 

Hello,

I will be travelling to Paris this August for four nights, roughly 3.5 days of time in the city. We have never been to Paris and are looking to see many of the major tourist attractions, including Notre Dame, Louve, Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, Montmarte, ect..

Should a first-time itinerary of four days in Paris include a day trip to Versaille, or is that trying to jam too much in?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

--Paul

It depends on how much you want to see Versailles. I've been to Paris twice and still haven't been to Versailles since I'm not particularly interested in it. I would, however, like to do a bike tour of the gardens the next time I'm visiting Paris.

You definitely will have more than enough to do if you spend all your time in Paris.

Depends on your interests. How much time do you wish to invest in the Sun King and what do you know about him or want to know?

You certainly won't be left wanting for things to do IN Paris if you decide not to visit Versailles.

BTW, it's Louvre and Montmartre, in case you're googling for info.

It is fabulous -- but I wouldn't. You don't even have time for all the major sites in central Paris so I wouldn't take out 3/4 a day for Versailles.

Also - by any chance are you arriving in paris after a long haul flight? If so you will be jet lagged and really won't have 3.5 full days since day one will be mostly for recovery and getting your bearings/exploring the area around your hotel.

Even if you aren't arriving from overseas, w/ just 3.5 days I'd skip versailles this time. Once you've seen Paris -- you'll definitely be back again . . . .

I agree, it depends how bad you want to see it. And what you'd be willing to cut from your Paris list mentioned. To my mind, that preliminary list of places, is already a pretty full 3 day itinerary!

Hi zin,

>Should a first-time itinerary of four days in Paris include a day trip to Versaille.....<

No it should not. Save Versaille for your next visit (more than 4 days, I hope).

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

but if inclined it is easily done - just hop RER C to the end of the line right by the palace -about a 30-minute ride to what many think is the world's finest palace and also a great park. Come on Sundays when the water fountains are all flowing and there is piped in classical music around them.

To me Versailles equals any single Paris central thing.

You can take guided-tour to Versailles. I've just returned from Paris (1st timer) and went to Versailles. The tour started at 9am (meeting point), took about 45 min by train (included in the fare), and ended around 2pm. The garden was huge and amazing, with a lot of statutes. I had about 3.5 days as well. One thing that you should not miss: the Louvre museum. It's the biggest museum in the world. I did not have a chance to visit Musee Orsay. If you have time, you should visit Basilique de Sacre Cour. It's on the hilltop, plenty of stairs, but once you're up there, you could see the entire city of Paris.
Bon Voyage!

No, with only 3,5 days - no!
Next time maybe you will stay more, and can you then in a weekend day to see the fountains. I do not recommend a guided tour there. It is easy to go there by RER and you can take your time to enjoy.

I vote no. There are so many wonderful things in Paris - that unless you must see a massive chateaux (besides the Louvre) I wouldn't, To me, the Musee D'orsay is about 5 times more interesting than Versailles.

It's a quandary. With such limited time, I'd be saying no, unless this is something you've always wanted to do.

Versailles includes the Chateau itself, then the gardens (huge), fountains and some outlying buildings (Marie Antoinette). So a visit would include an inside tour then outside walking (or biking/tourist train).

If you do decide to go, I'd recommend taking an early RER train to get there first thing when they open. Getting there late morning puts you in the midst of the coach bus tours. Early, see the inside, then wander the grounds. I could see spending till early afternoon.

but Versailles is in Paris IMO - heck a 30-min RER ride - about the same length of time you may take the metro someplace. And it need only take a half day.

But consider taking a picnic for the gardens, etc. I would IMO of course rank Versailles right up there with any Paris proper site - right with the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Period.

I would probably say no since it sounds like you don't have any particular interest in it (at least, nothing special). It is really easy to get to, however, and I personally would rather go to Versailles than the Eiffel Tower -- where I have never been, actually, even though I've been to Paris many times. So it's personal taste and interests. Versailles is really unique and an important part of French history.

I agree with Palenque, Versailles is definately worth a visit. Seeing the palace in person really helps you to understand why the people were angry enough to storm the Bastille. I stayed in Paris for 4 nights with the same iternary interests as you and was able to see what was the most important to me in Paris and still take a whole day trip to Versailles and Giverny. The key is to do a ton of pre-planning and prioritizing ahead of time. For example, the Louvre is so massive that it's impossible to see everything or even 1/2 of it of it in one visit, so go browse their collections on their website and decide which pieces that you want to focus on seeing during your visit. (Make sure to wear very comfortable walking shoes and eat a power breakfast before you go.) Consider a visit to the Musee Rodin too. It's in gorgeous old hotel with a lovely garden. The museums are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays, so that will determine how you should budget your time. If you arrive at your hotel early enough in the day, you can quickly unpack and head out to explore your neighborhood and have something to eat. Then you can head to one of the museums on your list. The Orsay is great museum to visit on your first day in Paris because it's much more managable and enjoyable than the Louvre. After your museum visit, you can have a relaxing dinner at a cafe and then rest up for a power sightseeing day the next day. Notre Dame opens at 8 a.m., so you could start the next day there and then head to the Louvre. You'll probably be exhausted after your visit to the Louvre, so I recommend going for a nice meal, riding to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and then taking a relaxing river cruise along the Seine. The next day you could visit Musee Rodin, or any other museum that catches your fancy, and then go explore Monmarte. I highly recommend the whole day trip to Giverny and Versailles as a wonderful way to spend your last day. For a lovely last dinner, I suggest Le Cigale Recamier (Metro stop: Sevres-Babylone). Hope that helps, and bon voyage!!

If your arrival is after an overnight flight -- you very likely won't be up to any major museums or other indoors stuff. You'll want to be outside in the fresh air trying (hopefully) recover from the jet lag so you can survive the next 2+ days.

Day 1 is a time for a Seine cruise, walk in the parks, visiting the Eiffel Tower (not necessarily going up though), sidewalk cafes and the like. The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay and other museums are best left to another day. You could do Notre Dame/Ste Chapelle and a walk on the islands plus a boat trip -- that would be a good first day.

Versailles is something to see, yes. Try to go on the weekend or Tuesday when the music and fountains are going. But .... If it is raining or there is a day of national strike DO NOT DO IT!!! What was supposed to be a highlight for me turned out miserably because of the above 2 factors.

If going to Versailles and Louvre and Orsay then consider the Paris Museum Pass for 2 days (if that option still remains) as the pass will approximate the cost of the three museums and you get priority entrance, i believe, at all (not sure - please correct me if not so)

and with the museum pass you may also pop into some other museums that you pass by but where you would not normally pay to go in - the Cluny Museum not far from Notre-Dame or the Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie, all also nearby, etc. by the pass at any museum.

Paris Museum Pass | Official website
With the PARIS MUSEUM PASS, you gain free entry, without queuing and as many times as you wish, to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris.
www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php

Thank you very much for everyone's insight. This has been a tremendous help. Versaille sounds great, and if possible, I would like to go.

That said, here would be a potential itinerary. We arrive around noon on Saturday, so it would be as follows:

Saturday:

Notre Dame
Sainte-Chapelle
Walk around the islands

Sunday

Musee d'Orsay
Eiffel Towel
Arc de Triomphe
Walk Champs-Élysées
Possible boat trip

Monday

Louvre
Explore Montmartre

Tuesday

Versaille

Is there anything really significant that we would be missing here, are we jamming too much into a day or should anything be re-adjusted?

Additional insights are much appreciated.

--Paul

I believe the Eiffel Tower's ticket and lift lines get shorter as the day goes on - you could wait a long time around noon or so - and i like to go up at dusk or near dusk to see the lights of Paris come on.

Personally, I thought Versailles was worth the visit. I spent 3 days in Paris, touching the "main" spots on a London/Paris tour. If you intend on this being your one and only visit to Paris, I would go to Versailles, but only if you are interested in what it offers.

No, pure and simple. Enjoy Paris.

When I was in Paris 2 weeks ago, there was a temporary theme-park (carnival-like, if you will), where you can take a ferris-wheel ride to see the entire city at night. I paid only 6 euro for 1 ride. During my 3.5 day trip, I was able to visit: Arc de Triomphe, Champs, Eiffel, Versailles, Louvre, Tuileries (garden in front of Louvre), Centre de Pompidou, Basilique de Sacre Cour, & Notre Dame. If you're into shopping, visit the following: Outlet near Eurodisney, Champs, Galleries Lafayette, Rue Cambon, & shops around Place de la Madeleine. Shopping in Europe is tax-free. If you're planning to shop, visit VAT tax free website.
Do you research to find out which place is closed during your 3.5 day visit. I know some museums are closed 1 day/week.
Bon Voyage :)

Of import to answering your itinerary questions is where you will be staying. If you're staying north, say near montmartre, then your first day itin. would be different than say if youre in the 7th. I would propose amending your first day schedule to include (assuming youre located near city center) walk on the islands w/o going in to churches (too much info for jet lagged brain)and eat late lunch there; cross over to louvre side of river and walk the outside, thru the tuileries garden; that'll take you up the champs to the Arc choice of going up or not. Catch an early dinner at any cafe you choose in the area. From the Arc, take Av. Kleber south to the Trocadero. From there, you'll have a great view of the tower. Walk down to the tower and visit up or not your choice. Walk back to the river and catch the last boat ride back to the islands. Go to your room and sleep. You will be acclimated to the time, and will have plenty of rest for the remaining 3 days.

As for Versailles, it is purely a personal choice. I'm a history buff so it was a must see. Since its' a one hour excursion from the RER station in central paris to the gates of the chateau (which includes the walk from the station to the gates) taking the early train out is important. Check on-line for the opening times for the particular visit date you have in mind and catch a RER train that complements the arrival time at the gates accordingly. As with any of the more important sites, you can certainly spend a day at each, but pick out your favorite parts to see those items, places that are most important to you. I will visit Versailles every time I go to Paris, along with the Louvre. To me, they are the most impressive of all they have to offer.

The Orsay, for me, was a significant downer. I had heard the reviews of it here and made it a must see. Interesting, but not impressive to me. Personal choice.

Keep in mind to be flexible. You may very well see something while you're walking that catches your eye and might want to stop.

Please don't forget to give us a trip report when you return!

Good luck and enjoy!

No, skip Versailles! There is so much to see in Paris proper that you'd waste time going out and coming back.

No way. Save it for next time (and you WILL start planning your return by your last day in Paris...). Also, next time stay at least 7 nights.

Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle are close to each other so visiting them on the same day makes sense - but try to go to Sainte Chapelle when it's sunny. The windows will be beautiful.

The lines at the Eiffel Tower are often very, very long so you may not have time to wait. I went just after it opened on a weekday and had to wait only about 20 minutes.

Personally, I don't understand the attraction of Champs- Elysees but it's your trip and if that is what interests you, definitely go there. Same with Versailles. Even if you only have 3.5 days - if you really want to go there, go there. It's your trip.

Zinnimal-

Is this list chronological for Sunday:
???
<<Sunday

Musee d'Orsay
Eiffel Towel
Arc de Triomphe
Walk Champs-Élysées
Possible boat trip>>

If so, you may want to place the tower first @ opening time (or 45min before) to maximize your time.

Additionally, you may want to hop on the Bateaux right after the tower and take your self-tour using it as a mode of transporation to d'Orsay. From there hop back on it to get to the Concorde stop (the boat will go up river in the opposite direction and do a "U-turn", giving you some time to relax and see some of Paris from the river). At the Concorde stop, you can walk up the Champs to the Arc.

Note: there is/was at least (I think) one boat company that does NOT give you a day pass or provide one for sale - maybe someone here can advise of this. Check all the official websites for info on the boats.

As others mentioned, please allow for extra time. You WILL want to see other unplanned things along the way as you come to them.

As for Versailles, I saved it for my 2nd trip, and had I known I would have taken a lengthy 3rd trip, I would have pass up Versailles a second time and waited for my 3rd trip. But it all depends on your level of interest and how much time you would want to dedicate to the palace. Even on my 3rd trip, I spent less than 6 hrs there.

Please report back and let us know how things went and how much you loved Paris!

~Jay

We recently had four nights/3.5 days in Paris and this is what we managed to fit in.
Arrived early afternoon, found hotel and went wandering around the Marais where we were staying.
Next day we visited Notre Dame, took the Batobus along the Seine to Champs Elysee, walked to the Arc d'Triomphe and the Effiel Tower, then boated back to Notre Dame and walked back to our hotel.
Third day we took the RER train to Versailles, visited the palace and then had a wander around the town of Versailles. That took a full day.
Last day we walked to the Orsay Museum, then took the Metro to Abbesses and walked up to Sacre Coeur and wandered around Montmartre. As the Louvre was open late that night, we arrived there at 6pm to take advantage of the cheaper entry fee then had a late dinner afterwards.
Hope this helps.

No, skip Versailles! There is so much to see in Paris proper that you'd waste time going out and coming back.>

I disagree - i will posit that Versailles and its fantastic gardens, including Marie Antoinette's Petit (?)Trianon is the number one attraction in Paris - in terms of history, visual impact, grandiosity, etc.

I would put it above the Louvre, Orsay or anything in Paris proper

and the time it takes to get there is only about 30 mins - Versailles IMO is Paris' Numero Uno attraction. Is it a must - no simply because IMO there are no must sees.

but i'd rather spend a few hours strolling thru the famous park and gardens at Versailles then battling mobs of tourists just to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa any day.

To each her own. Given only 3 1/2 days in Paris I would rather take a day trip to Giverny than Versailles. But your time in Paris will be so short I think you'll find plenty to see in Paris proper.

Versailles is more than just than the world's most famous chateau - it is also a lovely regional town - an upscale to be sure but still typical French regional town - the market square is still graced by a Les Halles type wrought-iron market hall.

Just to the south of the chateau is a part of Versailles that is very interesting to me - here were the former embassies, etc. from days when Versailles was the seat of the French Government under the kings who resided here. This is a very quaint area with imposing squares, etc.

When you get off the RER C train, cross the street and head to the Versailles Tourist Office and ask for their free walking tour of this neat area, which tourists largely ignore.

Paul,
We are also going to Paris for 4 days in August. This will be our first trip. Any travel tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Whoever mentioned not caring for the Champs echoes my feeling exactly. It is a wide sterile street. BUT one way to really enjoy it, and get somewhere else is to take the bus that travels down the Champs. Get off near Place Concorde and walk up to the Madeleine area and enjoy seeing the fine food shops just beyond that.
Or do the Hop on bus tours on your first day and get a nice overview of many points of interest.
I wouldn't waste hours waiting in line for the Eiffel Tower, but the lines are shorter at night. And the sun doesn't set until very very late.

I just got back last week and we skipped Versailles. I wanted to go but the timing just didn't work out. Next time! We were in Paris for more than 4 days and I still feel like I barely scratched the surface - if you stay in the city there will be plenty to do.

I agree that the Rodin museum is fabulous. It's walking distance from d'Orsay, so we did that the same day. If you don't want to linger in the garden at Rodin it can be a quick trip and it is definitely worth it.

Get a museum pass! They pay for themselves, there are a lot of places that you wouldn't think of as museums that accept them. Like Sainte Chapelle and the Arc de Triomphe - not what you think of as museums but they take the pass and that cuts down your time in line. The only places on your list that don't accept them are the Eiffel Tower and the boat trip.

Get the audio guides at the Louvre and d'Orsay. They're worth the money.

I think a boat tour on your second day is smart if you're flying overnight. I couldn't sleep on the plane at all (did not realize when booking that it was the Romper Room flight) and found myself nodding off on the boat tour that afternoon.