Leaving from central Paris, how much time should I allow to see Versailles and return. I don't want a really in-depth tour, just a general first time visit.

You can probably see much of the inside during an afternoon. There are two tours within the palace. One is a self-guided tour through &quot;the apartments&quot; for which you'll have a CD player. <BR><BR>The other has guides by language. We went on our own on this part in about 45 minutes.<BR><BR>If you want to tour the grounds, as well, you'll need a few more hours. <BR><BR>BTW, we went via the RER train line and didn't bother with one of the arranged bus tours that leave from Paris.

I'd say give yourself most of a day. We planned to just go for awhile, as well, but the place is huge and there is much to see. The gardens are phenomenal.<BR><BR>If I remember correctly, the train ride is about an hour (give or take), and then you might have to stand in line once there. We left fairly early, spent about four or so hours there (still never saw it all), and had an early dinner before heading back to Paris.<BR><BR>I suppose you can make it as long or short of a day as you wish, but don't short change yourself with rushing thru it. Also, we did this the last day as something &quot;different&quot; to do, once we had seen all we wanted in Paris. That way we ensured that we didn't miss anything the city.<BR><BR>Have fun!

A day at the very least! But since you don't have that, take the train or RER from Paris that gets into Versailles around 8:30am-9:30am. It's not a long walk to the entrace of the Palace.<BR><BR>You may not want to pay extra for the Chambre du Roi (King's bedroom). Walk through the Hall of Mirrors, take a picture at the end of the Hall so you don't have photos of the backs of people's heads. Stroll down the main concourse in the garden to the Apollo fountain (weather permitting). In one of the side gardens is my favorite statue there: the one of Laocoon (from the Greek myth). The Grand Trianon is very nice and the small hamlet too and there is a small shuttle train to those parts since they are very removed from the main palace. Just bear in mind the Palace, not to mention the grounds, is EXTENSIVE! I encourage you to visit it at least. You can familiarize yourself with Versailles and the layout on the French Government website at: www.chateauversailles.fr It has a wealth of information on admission prices, maps, etc. Don't arrive on the day it's closed!

Eye Spy is right on as usual. You should plan on a day.<BR>On returning, before getting on the train walk down to the village and on the same side as the train station about 200 yards is a wonderful bakery(can't spell patissiere).<BR>Great snacks for the train ride back to Paris.

The RER train to Versailles takes less than a half hour because it's not that far away -- about 12 miles. It probably takes longer to walk from the station to the palace than the train trip.

One big warning about the train, the RER C line has two end points. One is near the palace in Versailles, the other isn't. I can't remember the specific names for each and which is the correct one. Can someone refresh my memory? <BR><BR>

For Versailles on the RER C, you must detrain at VERSAILLES - RIVE GAUCHE (end of the line for that segment). Do NOT take the train headed for Versailles-Chantiers, St-Cyr and then St-Quentin-en-Yvelines as the terminus.

RER c Rive Gauche will take you to within 5 minute walk to entrance

What about going there in early February (Feb 2). How much time do really want to spend in the gardens/grounds? Isn't it going to be really cold and everything dead looking or is there more to it?<BR>With that in mind, then how much time would you plan for the visit?

Versailles is really big! In my view, the grounds were the best part, but we were there in May on a Sunday (fountains are running on Sunday and they play French classical music over the loudspeakers). It took us a whole day, but we're pretty compulsive about having to see everything--we loved it. If you just did the palace, 1/2 day would be fine. We had a really good lunch at the restaurant on the grounds also.

Unless you are one of those &quot;if-it's-Tuesday-this-must-be-Belgium&quot; type of traveller, most of the previous posters are correct. Versailles deserves a day of your time.

I recommend that you DO pay the extra for the King's Chambers. It's only 4 euros, and that includes the audio guide. You see as much in that section as the rest of the palace.