ann99bray

Many thanks for all the input. We will have a week in Paris. We are leaving next Tuesday. We just wanted to take one day trip out of Paris. I think we will leave very early in the morning and go to Versailles and then play it by ear from there. We can maybe go to Chartres another day if it does not work out, but there is so much in Paris to do and see. We probably will not make it back to Paris, so we foolishly want to see everything. I have learned so much from this forum. Before I would have signed up with a tour company to go to Versailles or Chartres. But after reading the posts here, I feel we can do it on our own using public transport and that is a lot more interesting and cost effective. Thanks for all the great tips!!

JoeTro

Wise choice. Versailles takes a full day IMO, and I'm young and move fast. There is so much to see, lots beyond the actual palace itself.

Robespierre

You don't have to see ALL of ANY place - Chartres, Versailles, <u>or</u> Paris.

First of all, it's impossible, and second, seeing a wide variety of sites/sights can be more interesting than focusing on a few.

I encourage people to get out into the suburbs and surrounding areas even if they've only got a couple of days in Paris. France isn't all city streets and monumental sculpture.

tod

I guess some folks just like to be able to say &quot; Been there, done that&quot;!

Robespierre

I think that misses the point. One can spend several hours in Chartres Cathedral, miss the entire rest of the town, and the trip would still be worthwhile.

Or a week in Versailles - or a month in one wing of the Louvre, and not see more than a few percent of what's in either place.

By focusing too much attention on a small number of attractions, one can easily overlook the Big Picture.

rkkwan

Chartres isn't a very big town. When I was there last fall, we leisurely walked through town, spent plenty of time in the cathedral, admired the view from behind it, had lunch at a cafe nearby, walked some more. All done in about 4 hours.

Say the OP depart Versailles at 3p, get to Chartres by 4:30p, take the last train out at 9:20p. It's not hurried and have more than enough time to get a good feel of the town in additional to the cathedral.

But if the OP has a week, they can easily go to Chartres for 3/4 of one day, and then Versailles for 3/4 of another day, leisurely.

PalenQ

I'm more in tune with Robes Peter. I can see a not too hectic day by going to Chartres first, spending a few hours in the cathedral doing the tour, etc. and then heading back to Versailles to leisurely spend the rest of the day. Have a Museum Pass to skip long ticket lines and then linger around the gardens.

Chartres, though a sweet regional town, is not all that great really though ideally yes you'd spend a day in each place.

Veteran travelers can always leave something for another trip. But travelers who may not come back much want to yes see as much as possible of the things they have been dreaming about in Europe.

Graziella5b

I have found out that it is not only the question to have the time to go from let us say Chartres to Versailles in one day. It is also a question of how much can be enjoyed in one day. In my case, it would be terrible to try to fit in my mind in my spirit (let us put it this way)
two very enormously rich places, and to try to enjoy them both. The Cathedral of Chartres the main attraction requires and merits a long visit, not to mention the Chateau of Versailles with its many rooms, apartments, public areas, gardens, fountains, sculptures, gilded mirrows, etc etc.
To encourage to visit both in one day in my opinion is not the best way to enjoy them ....it is to ill service both. Of course if you feel it will fine with you go ahead and have fun.