Directions to Versailles/Museum pass
 

Hello - We are arriving from The Netherlands into Paris Nord and need to get to Versailles. What would be the best route?

Also, can we get the museum pass when we buy our train tickets? Does the museum pass cover all of Versailles and the other Paris museums? Thank you. I have read conflicting info.

You can buy a ticket to Versailles at the RER station when you get your train ticket.
Yes, entrance to Versailles is included in the museum pass, but I'm not sure if it covers everything once you're inside.

From Gare du Nord take the RER B to St-Michel Notre-Dame. Transfer to the RER C and take it to Versailles Rive Gauche. (Note: The C line splits on the way to Versailles. Trains following the C5 branch to Versailles RG are named "Vick." Visit www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map.

The Paris Museum Pass covers admission to Versailles and many other museums and monuments. It is good for two (E30), four (E45), or six (E60) consecutive days. You can buy it at Gare du Nord. This pass does NOT include audiotours at Versailles. The one-day Versailles pass DOES include audiotours and costs E20. (See www.chateauversailles.fr/en.) You can also buy a Forfait Loisirs ("Transilien Leisure Package") at Gare du Nord which includes the one-day Versailles pass and return (roundtrip) tickets on the RER, all for E21.15.

Thank you very much. I will have to investigate the museum pass and see if it makes sense to get one.

Can you buy the one-day Versailles pass at locations other than Gare du Nord??

How are the audiotours at Versailles? I'm trying to weigh my options between the leisure package, or using the museum pass for Versailles.

Hi. Sorry to hijack someone else's thread, but I wonder if anyone can tell me what would be best for us in visiting Versailles- there are 3 of us, my husband and me and our 14 year old daughter. Would she have to pay to enter Versailles? Would it be better for us to use Museum passes and just buy train tickets to Versailles? Or what? Sorry to be so dim!

HI BB,

Have you been to http://www.chateauversailles.fr ?

((I))

AngelaS: You can buy the one-day "forfait loisir" for Versailles at any RER station that serves Versailles. I bought mine at St Michel station, where I caught the train. I thought it was a great deal. The audioguides you get (one for the State Apartments and one for the King's Apartments) were good (and I usually don't like audioguides). Hope that helps!

Deja- thanks for the info! We'll be right by Notre Dame so the St. Michel station will work great. So the RER C goes directly to Versailles? you don't have to switch any trains along the way?

Angela - See my note above for which C line train to take to Versailles.

Angela: It's direct from St Michel station to Versailles, no changes. It takes about half an hour. As Tim notes, you want the train that goes to Versailles Rive Gauche station(there are other trains that go to Versailles but that's the one you want). The VICK train, as Tim notes, is the right one. I think there is another train whose code starts with "V" that also goes there, but that would be a question for the person at the desk, who can tell you exactly when the next train to the chateau is. Versailles Rive Gauche is the last station on the line.

In St Michel station, the Versailles one-day forfait can be purchased at the SNCF desk marked "Suburban Train Lines". I'm not sure whether they sell it at the RER ticket desk right on the RER platform or not. The "Suburban Train Lines" ticket booth is by itself in the station; look for signs. It's not hard to find.

It's all easy-peasy, I promise!

Angela: I should point out that you really do need to look at the four-letter code on the front of each approaching RER train as you're standing there on the platform at St Michel station. Because not all trains are the ones that go to the chateau. Watch closely or you'll get on the wrong one. Trains to Pontoise and other destinations come through on that same platform.

Are there trains which will get you there before VErsailles opens so you can avoide the queues?

How long does the train take from St. Michel?

Deja- Thanks again for the info!! I really appreciate your help!! We leave Friday & I can't wait - it's going to be a great trip.

The RER and Metro start running before 06:00. It's 38 minutes by RER from St-Michel Notre-Dame to Versailles Rive Gauche.

Thanks for all the advice - much appreciated!

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Another posssibility is to buy a "forfait loisir" for Versailles in an RER train station. It combines the train ride and the entance to the hteau.

We took a train that got us there about 10 minutes before they opened and we were the first to enter. If you have a museum pass (and I assume a Versaille pass) you can avoid the line ups of people who want to buy tickets. The Museum pass doesn't cover entry into everything (the Kings apartments for example). However, how much gold leaf and barouque opulence can you take. I certainly didn't miss seeing the Kings apartments, more of the same as the State apartments. I definately recommend see Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. It was the highlight of the trip for me. Have a great trip!

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