Side trip to VERSAILLES
 

We're planning a side trip to Versailles. Is a tour worth while for convenience in getting there, quicker admission, or guidance and information once you're there? We are planning to get a Paris Museum pass and I think Versailles is included. If a tour isn't necessary, how do we get there?

Sandy: The train ride from Paris to Versailles is a breeze. We took the RER from Paris (Javel, I believe) to the Versailles RG station and walked to the palace, maybe ten minutes or so. We found the museum pass valuable in avoiding the long, long, long lines. We also opted for an 1.5 hour English language tour (don't remember the cost). Finally, purchase a RT ticket and arrive early. I'm sure other travelers can give you better particulars, but I hope this helps.

If Versailles is included in your museum pass I would definitely go> We did the same as the previous author and took the train: very easy and quick trip--nice little walk to the palace. Also toured Petite Trianon. Get the english audio version tape,etc and enjoy!

On Sundays during the summer, the fountains are going (although I've read that the gardens are currently undergoing renovations) - but it's very, very crowded. If you're going on your own, be sure to check the tour bus brochures to determine which days they go - then, pick a different day.

I believe Versailles is closed Monday. Many big museums and art galleries in Paris, including the Louvre, are closed Tuesday -- so don't go to Versailles on either day!!! And definitely go early when you do. The crowds can be horrible. Make sure you really explore around the gardens...I'm so mad that I missed the Petite Trianon and the Hamlet of Marie Antoinette!

I would say don't go on Sunday because the crowds were awful, but the fountains were really beautiful. We didn't go through with a tour because our La Carte Musées et Monuments just got us into the building (you'll still have to pay to get down into the gardens - not much though and that may only be on Sunday when the fountains are running). If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely have taken an English-speaking guided tour. We missed so much. In fact, if in our ignorance, we hadn't mistakenly followed a French-speaking group into the chapel, we wouldn't have been allowed to enter. Much to our horror, the tour guide shooed out other stragglers rather rudely. My mother and I just made a concentrated effort to look like we belonged. When the French group looked at the ceiling, we looked at the ceiling, etc. When the guide would make comments we would look very thoughtful as if taking it all in. However, after the chapel, we decided not to press our luck and we left the group. Unfortunately, we didn't see much afterwards. Many of the rooms are off-limits if you aren't a member of a tour group. Let's Go Paris described the different tours in its Versailles section. You might take a look at that. Have fun!

You can avoid crowds anywhere if you go early enough. Most people just don't like to get up early or don't plan ahead. I think Versailles opens around 9:00 (check a book), but the gardens much earlier. Try going around 8:00. You will have an hour to walk around the gardens closer to the house before the crowds arrive. We were about the first at the chateau by doing this. Then line up as soon as the doors open for buying tickets for tours, etc. Pick the tour you like most and do it first thing. The rooms can get amazingly crowded later (by late morning). Do take the advice that others offered about having a museum pass. If you get your tickets early in the day for tours, it probably isn't as necessary, but if you need it for anything at Versailles, the lines are huge (you can use it for some of the outer buildings)! After doing the tours, you don't have to be too concerned about crowds, since the gardens are so big, that it won't be unbearable. If you want good garden and building exterior photos though, go very early. <BR>

Jen is absolutely right: DON'T TRY TO GO TO VERSAILLES ON MONDAY. It is closed. My wife and I weren't aware of that until after we parked the car and walked the distance to what would have been the entrance. <BR>To top it off, we had to pay the parking fee just to leave! We couldn't talk our way out of paying for that one! <BR>Have a good time when you go.

The only tour of Versailles that we found crowded is the main tour of the State Apartments(the one all the tour groups take). Get there early, rent the audioguide and try to bypass the groups or let them bypass you. After this tour, you can rent an audioguide and tour the King's (Louis XIV's) apartments and the apartments of the Dauphin and the Dauphine. This tour is not at all crowded and is excellent. There are also tours of different parts of the palace led by museum guides. We have taken the tour of Louis XV and Louis XVI's private apartments and the Opera and our guide was excellent. Pick up an orientation guide as you enter the gates(on the left) and this will tell you where to enter the palace for the various tours. Le Chien qui Fume is a great restaurant about two blocks from the palace.

Go! It is so beautiful. Wish we had taken guided tour. Do get there no later than 10:00. Be sure to take the little train to see the rest of the grounds. Marie's Hamlet was enchanting. We spent 2 weeks in Paris last summer and it was delightful, but my favorite memories are from the not-so-little Hamlet! (There are nice snack bars in the downstairs of the main apartments) Don't miss the Petite Trianon, either. It is also lovely and the last stop on the train is a beautiful spot by the "pond".

I MUST CAPITALIZE THIS: DO NOT GO TO VERSAILLES WITH A TOUR GROUP. THEY ONLY COVER A SMALL PORTION OF THE PALACE, AND THE TIME ALLOWED IS INADEQUATE. DO IT ON YOUR OWN AND TAKE YOUR TIME. IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT VERSAILLES, READ. I WENT WITH A TOUR GROUP AND I REALLY FELT CHEATED. THE NEXT TIME THAT I AM IN PARIS, I WILL DEFINITELY DO VERSAILLES ON MY OWN.

I seem to remember that the fountains only go at certain times: I think the 15 minute mark on the clock. The tour guide made a big point of getting us to the windows for this. Does anyone else who has gone recently remember the times for the fountains? Thanks.