Getting closer and closer to my first visit to Paris (2 weeks Yeah!!) and planned on doing the Palace of Versailles. Could some one give me their opinion on the following.

1) how much time did you allot to touring? should I figure the entire day?
2) I see that I can order tickets online. Is this easier?
3) There is only a few dollars difference between the Palace only ticket and the passport which would give us access to everything. Is the Marie Antoinette and Triannon tours worth doing? I know this is subjective so maybe I should ask, did you enjoy it?
4) was it easy getting there from Paris? We are staying at the Concorde opera hotel which is in the 8th district.

TIA,
Eliza

It is very easy to get there from Paris. Half a day is plenty of time. Don't go on the weekend. When it is crowded there, it is a miserable experience.

Tickets in advance will save a lineup to buy once there... there will still be a security line though. I'd get them in advance.

Two routes via public transit is to take the RER C to "Versailles Rive Gauche". It's then a 10 minute walk. The closest RER station to you would be at Invalides.

Since you'll be closer to Gare St Lazare at your hotel you can buy a ticket at the station for "Versailles Rive Droit". A slightly longer walk to the chateau upon arrival.

How much time? Depends on what you want to do. If you're the type who takes their time and inspects every room minutely then plan on a whole day. After a while I found it too overwhelming and wanted to leave. Sort of like eating a whole chocolate cake! ;^) It's rather empty too as so much was looted.

Then it depends on how long you want to spend wandering around the massive gardens... my wife would spend a week if she could. There are bikes, Segways and golf carts you can rent to get around.

The Trianons and Le Hameau are there so why not see them? Frankly Le Hameau disgusted me... a rich woman playing at being a peasant while the real peasants were taxed mercilessly into starvation. The deluge didn't happen soon enough! (Sorry for the rant!)

But half day or full day... it's up to you!

Eliza
1) Our 1st time there, we spent all day. Subsequent visits have been half to 3/4 day
2) Never ordered tix online for Versailles, its usually a decision we make in the morning of the visit
3)Get the tickets that allow for visiting everything, we enjoyed Marie Antoinette house/garden touring the most
4) One time we stayed at that Concorde, big rooms some street noise, a bit dated but comfy. Make sure to get a wakeup call if your package includes breakfast. There arent a whole lot of breakfast options nearby, and the Starbucks next door is a zoo. The train station to Versailles is right next to the hotel, we bought our tix that time about 15 min before the train left...

I spent about a half day there, I suppose, but I don't do intense tourism. I have never spent a full day touring any tourist attraction that I can think of. So I probably spent around 10-2 there.

I think the passport is worth it to see things other than the palace, definitely. As long as you are going all the way there and spending that time, I wouldn't scrimp on a few euros for the full ticket.

It is real easy to get there, just take the RER, get off, and walk a short distance (I don't remember how far, maybe 300 km).

I don't know about buying tickets online, sounds easier, but only if that means you don't have to wait in line. I presume it does or what is the purpose of it.

I would allow a full day, that way you can relax a bit and have some slack time in case of crowds, etc... We used our Paris Museum passes. We got an early start to the day, easy train ride, then short walk. We were there on a beautiful June day, so we spend a lot of time exploring the grounds. Its an amazing place.

We really enjoyed taking the English speaking tour when we visited two years ago. We were in a small group (15 people or so) and were able to learn quite a bit of the history of the palace and get into some of the rooms not open on the regular tour. We signed up for this tour when we arrived at the palace (we got there just as it opened.) As you walk up to the palace, the tickets for these special tours are sold in a little room on the left hand side of the building.

All good info above (though I may argue about the M.A. statement

You might want to get there by RER, timed to arrive when the place opens. Once the buses start arriving, bit more hectic. Avoid weekends, unless the fountains are a priority.

They used to have visits of the stables, but it has been removed from the website.

If you want organized:

http://fattirebiketours.com/paris/tours/versailles-bike

I don't like being in crowds and the palace can be full of busloads of tourists. However, we took the little tram (about 9E each, I think) which ran loops through the gardens to the Trianon and Petite Trianon. We loved this part of Versailles -- no crowds, quiet, peaceful and so very lovely. I think we spent about 3/4 day there.

1) If it's your first time, then maybe you'd have to allot a full day to soak everything in. We were there just 3 weeks ago, on a Friday - naturally it was teeming with tourists. The crowds make for a much slower pace when touring especially when you're jostling for that perfect angle to take that perfect photo. And well, you just move slower because it's crowded.

2) We got ours at the tobacco kiosk at the Louvre the same time we got our tickets to the Louvre. If you take the metro to the museum, you'll find it near the underground entrance with the inverted pyramid. Just look for the signs. No line at all. But if you're sure of when you'll be visiting Versailles, then by no means purchase it online for much less hassle.

3) Take the pass that allows you to see everything. That doesn't give you access though to the musical fountain show in the gardens (check the sked online to see if it will be happening during the day of your visit; if there is a show, you'll be required to pay an additional entrance fee to the gardens if you want to access the Trianons and the others). You can access the Trianons without passing through the gardens (thus saving you that approx Eur8 entrance fee) but you'll have to walk all the way around the palace. Being from a tropical country, I didn't like the idea of walking in the midday heat to get to those places (which is not a joke of a walk, mind you - the grounds are huge and sprawling!) so like theflock, we took the little tram that gets you around the grounds. That cost us another Eur9 each if I remember right (or was it 6?). If you do prefer to walk, allow for another 2 hours or so. Didn't get far enough to Marie Antoinette's house because of the heat! But still worth seeing I suppose!

Best of luck. Enjoy your first visit to a really beautiful city!

I been three times now - 1/2 day each time. I really depends how long you can stay on your feet or how long you can go without a break. I would also wait and see what the weather is the day you plan to go before committing to tickets.

Best advice I can give is to go EARLY. Arrive at the gates right when they open. It will be a few hours before the buses and masses arrive and makes for a MUCH more pleasant visit.