Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - D'orsay/Versailles

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D'orsay/Versailles

I was thinking of combining these two in a day's tour, is it better to start with D'orsay to avoid crowds or to get to Versailles earlier?

I think this is an unusual mix of attractions. Either place can use the better part of the day. On Thursdays Musee d'Orsay is open late in the summer. Therefore, if you can visit both on Thursday, you will have time. We tried going to Versailles early to beat the crowds. No such luck. Tour buses begin to arrive at opening time, and the number of arrivals never seems to abate until afternoon. We took the RER from Invalides to Versailles Rive Gauche. We arrived at the ticket office just as it was opening. For the first 20 minutes we were able to move about freely, but the tour groups caught before we got to the Hall of Mirrors. The great hall was quickly so full of people that I could not really move about at will to see the vases, paintings, chandeliers, and other decorative pieces. I really think you might combine Musee Rodin with Versailles without as much risk of having to cut either of the visits short. Perhaps I am being a little extreme in saying that I would not schedule competition for Musee d'Orsay. I like that type of painting and personally I would not want to feel like I was having to rush through it. Of course, if you visit on Thursday in the summer, you could arrive at Musee d'Orsay at 5 PM and have until after 9 PM to enjoy the paintings and statues. I don't however think you can beat the crowds at Versailles by going early. That was not my experience. The late time for Musee d'Orsay is during the summer and early fall only. My guide book says that the 9:30 closing time on Thursdays is from June 20 through Sept 20.

Go to VErsailles early in the morning, use what time you need, return to Paris and do something that fills the amount of time and energy you have--Rodin, Cluny,Carnavalet--probably something small before collapsing at Le Deux Magots for a drink.

Hi Keep in mind that both are closed Mondays. Did you mean a tour on your own, or an organized group of some kind? I wouldn't combine both in one day unless it's absolutely necessary. It would be a tiring day. Both are best started early in the day in my opinion. At Versailles, allow at least 2 hours for the palace and 2 hours for the gardens, but many people stay all day and still don't see it all. www.chateauversailles.fr/ To avoid the Versailles entrance lines, buy a Pariscarte (museum pass) which gives you 3 or 5 days access to museums and monuments. You will want this in Paris anyway to avoid entrance lines at the Louvre and the Orsay museums. My strategy for the Orsay is to get there 1/2 hour before opening time if I don’t have the museum pass, and just before opening time if I have the pass. The information desk near the entrance has museum floor plans in English. I start on the top floor of the museum where most of the impressionist paintings are--early in the day you can see them in relative peace. Flash photography is not permitted inside the museum. If you are interested in decorative arts, there are some beautiful furnishings and objets, especially on the first floor, to see in addition to the paintings and sculptures. If the Musee Orsay is still open until 9:45 on Thursday nights you may want to plan an evening visit. Guided tours in English at 11am Tues-Sat and 7pm Thurs. There are also audioguides for rent. www.musee-orsay.fr website says open Thurs evenings with no caveats about the season.

Too much of a good thing to me... my brain shuts down after a while.. Too much beauty to run through. If you must, go straight to the top floor of the Dorsey and skip the rest. Make sure you buy tickets for the Dorsey at the Metro Station, you go straight to the front of the line.

Thank-you all for your advice, I'll tweak my plans a bit, they were overambitious! Elaine, thanks for the great and detailed info, you are the best!

I would think it close to impossible to see both in one day. It takes nearly 40 minutes by RER to get out to Versailles, then you walk around the palace and grounds and then catch a late afternoon return train. There is the possible exception of being able to do both on a Thursday when the Musee d'Orsay is open until 9:45 pm. The Musee d'Orsay hours are as follows: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 6pm Thursdays from 10am to 9.45pm Sundays from 9am to 6pm Galleries start closing at 5.30pm, 9.15pm on Thursdays The museum is shut on Mondays. and on January 1, May 1 and December 25 It takes a good 2 hours to fully see and appreciate the Musee D'Orsay and would best be seen on another morning or afternoon that you could go see some nearby Paris sites for the rest of the day.

Hi Adrienne, I actually did both in one day when I was there last year & didn't find it too much! I got to Orsay nice & early, spent a couple of hours there marvelling at the beauty of the artworks (particularlay the impressionists on the top floor!), had a lovely lunch at the museums cafe before hopping on the RER at the station that was very close by to head out to Versailles. It was a Sunday when the fountains were running so after touring the insides of the building I spent a very relaxing afternoon wandering around the gardens which were amazing. I had a fantastic day - it was full but not too tiring for me personally.

Lucy, That's the reason I first thought of it, since the RER station was right there and all! But now I think, not knowing if we'll want to stretch out our stay at Versailles or just spend a few hours, we'll go there in the morning one day and leave the afternoon for pere la chaise or the carnavalet or just a cafe! Thanks for your input, it makes me feel much less foolish for thinking it could be done!