Versailles questions
 

Hello. I've got some specific and some opinion questions for Versailles. I'll be staying in central Paris and doing this as a day trip.

1. Is Versailles and Chartres possible in one long day trip? I know that is opinion and some will say no problem, others will say you could spend a year at Versailles. I'm looking for an in general angle. We'll saunter around Versailles but won't sit for hours any where.

2. In looking at the website for Versailles, I see something called Le Grand Trianon et le Petit Trianon that costs another 5 euro. What is that and is it worth it?

3. Is Versailles included in the museum pass?

4. Does the train that we will take have different classes and what is the train called (RER?).

5. When should we book the tickets for the train?

Thanks and feel free to add any other information you think interesting or useful.

Hi MD,

Here is the website for Versailles,
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/
train directions are given.

The Trianons are "cottages" on the grounds. They are considered by some to be great architecture.

Yes, Versailles and Chartres make a long, but doable day.

The RER is a commuter train.

Hello, I would recommend that each be a separate day trip. You can easily spend an entire day at Versailles, it's huge. It is included in the museum pass, but you need a separate ticket for the Apartments (well worth it). I think Le Grand Trianon et le Petit Trianon are included with your pass, and nice to see if you have the time - not as fancy as the Palace, but still important structures. Also, be sure to rent the audio guide, other wise you'll wander around the palace with no idea what you are looking at.

While in Chartes, see if Malcolm Miller is giving a tour of the Cathedral, he offer wonderful insight and information. Chartes also has other churches to explore, nice shops and cafes so you could easily spend a full day there too.

I will let someone else explain the trains in detail, but it was very easy and we did both trips without advance reservations.

Versailles and Chartres in one day (and part of an evening, for sure!) could be done, but it would mean hurrying rather than wandering. The palace is huge, as are the gardens, and getting from there to the Trianons is a fair walk, although you could take a carriage ride. You might also want to spend some time visiting Le Hameau, the "country hamlet" created for Marie-Antoinette and her ladies to play peasants. All that, plus one or two tours of the palace, makes for a very full day. And Chartres is worth at least half a day--so you see the problem.

It really depends on what you want to see at Versailles. We went and were not thrilled with it - we walked through the castle as all guided tours were booked for the day. We also walked extensively on the grounds and were still back in Paris shortly after noon.

You can buy tickets for the RER to Versailles at the train station just before you board. It looks just like a metro train, only it serves more then just central Paris.

And yes, it's included in the museum pass.

I would not try to see both Versailles and Chartres on the same day. It's possible, but not advisable. Chartres, particularly if you take Malcolm Miller's tour, which you should, will consume at least half a day. Versailles could easily consume more if you visit the palace, the gardens, the trianons, and Marie Antoinette's hameau. You'll need to factor in time for lunch, even if it's a sandwich from the vendors in the gardens at Varsailles.

The Petit Trianon was built in 1762 as a retreat for Louis XV. Marie Antoinette was enamored of the place.

The Grand Trianon was built by Louis XIV in 1687 to escape the stress of court life and the enjoy the company of his mistress, Madame de Maintenon.

Both places are considered architecural gems.

The commuter train (RER) does not have different classes. You just show up at the station and buy tickets for the next train. No "booking" involved.

The museum pass covers you at Versailles, not Chartres.

HI-
Regarding the Museum Pass: Yes, Versailles is included, but as grantop pointed out, you have to pay extra for the Apartments. The Trianons are free with the Museum Pass.

Have a good trip!

What time of year are you going? If it is late fall or winter, Versailles's gardens are not much to see. We were there in November and it was foggy, the fountains were not running, and most of the statues were covered. If you plan to do two activities in one day, get to Versailles when it opens. The gardens were a bust, but my husband and I were the only people in the Hall of Mirrors - great memory.

We did them on separate days. Versailles took us until around 2-3 p.m., and we arrived an hour before opening. However, we did take two guided tours and one unguided tour and had lunch on the grounds. We walked the grounds, but I would have liked an hour or two more. Chartres should be considered at most a half-day trip unless you want time to explore the town at leisure. We left in late morning and came back before dark. We did not do the Malcolm Miller tour. I believe he wasn't doing them that day due to a wedding. I would advise doing them on different days, but if it fits your schedule better go for it on the one day.

I'm planning a trip to Paris and found a post from Gregory titled "Versailles: Useful tips" helpful. Do a search for Versailles tips above and it should be the first item to appear (sorry I don't know how to paste in the URL).

We spent a day at Versailles and I would not repeat it, but that is my taste; use your own. It was crowded, but is so large that the crowds were never a problem, unless you wanted to enter a bathroom.

They make much of their water show; classical music blaring while they turn on the fountains for a few minutes. This is in the grounds, which was a separate admission charge.

When we got there we followed the crowd into a long line leading to an office market i; unfortunately, this was not the ticket office. We did get good information there, however. The lady asked if we wanted to see the grounds, as they had a separate admission charge. When we said we did (how many times in your life can you see a water show), she suggested we enter the grounds, since there was no line to get in, proceed to the Grand Trianon, and buy our museum pass there, since, according to her, there were always long lines at the main ticket office, and no lines at the Grand Trianon. Both the trianons and the palace are included in the museum pass, but the grounds and apartment tours are not.

I like to take my time visiting, so I would not go to Versailles and Chartres on the same day, and of the two, I liked Chartres a lot more, but you have to choose what will suit you.

I found directions on the website but I frankly don't understand them. Can someone dumb them down for me...can't tell how many different trains they're talking about:
"Bytrain :
RER ligne C
direction Versailles-rive-gauche-château
from Montparnasse station
train SNCF direction Versailles-Chantiers
from Saint-Lazare station
train SNCF direction Versailles-rive-droite
trains timetable"

Versailles IS included on the museum pass, but not all of it. There are extra charges for some places on the property, but I do not recall which ones. Refer to a good tour guide.

You do not need reservations on the RER.

Either Versailles or Chartres could be considered a half day trip, NOT including getting there and back. But, a full day is better.

There's a huge difference between "saunter" and "sitting for hours". But half a day at each would be wildly rushing with no sitting whatsoever.

If you are the sort of folks who "breeze through", half a day at each would likely satisfy you, though you would not appreciate a full visit at either, along with transportation times.

I hope you have a great time in Paris and Versailles. I planned to spend an 1/2 day at Versailles last June but stayed all day. My advice is to do Versailles on one day.

Again, you have gotten good advice. The gardens are not included in the museum pass but the palace is included.

You will want to take the RER-C train. Trains may be called "Vick" or Versailles R.G. - Rive Gauche. DO NOT board trains that say Versailles C.H.)

just a couple things to add to what others have said. we spent most of a day at Versailles and didn't see everything, so it depends what you want to do. We did Rick Steve's tour from "Mona Winks" of the palace, we saw the grounds during the water show. We also went to the stables to see the dressage exhibition. we did not get to the Trianons, which I would have liked to see, nor did we see the kitchen garden which I heard was very interesting if you are into that sort of thing.

the museum pass was good for the palace, but not the grounds or stables. that did prevent having to wait in the longest line, however, which was the tickets to enter the palace.

we screwed up and got on a train which went to Versailles Chantiers instead of Versailles Rive Gauche. We got off there, and not knowing how far it was to the palace, we took a cab. It cost us about 3 Euro or so. I think the walk would haveb een only about 5-10 minutes longer than from the Rive Gauche station, so really not bad.

mdtravel-

In terms of directions:
I think you got those from Versailles website, which I agree is not too user friendly.

The most straight forward way is to take the RER-C train. Make sure the one you get on goes to Versailles-Rive Gauche. You can buy your ticket from any metro station. When I went, I waited for the train at Invalides, and it was around 9am. I would say that 90% of the people on the platform were tourists waiting for the same train, so don't worry!

Once you get off the train, just follow the crowd. It is about 5-7 mins walk to the entrance.

But I would suggest you go early in the morning to avoid the tour groups. Or better yet, you can first tour the Trianons and garden; then tour the Apartments in the afternoon. The tour gps usually tour Versialles apartments between 9a-12n. I made that mistake and ended up touring with hundreds of visitors.

Hi mdtravel,

One piece of advice that I didn't see posted here is that you will need to keep your RER ticket as you will need it to exit the station (there are turnstiles that prevent you from leaving until you put your ticket into them, just as you do at the beginning of the trip).

I did Versailles in one day. My sister and I took the RER train by the Musee de Orsay museum. We did not make reservations. There was a train around 10:30 that we took. Once you get off the train it is an easy walk to the palace. The grandeur is amazing. The hall of mirrors astounding. The grounds beautiful. We went the beginning of march so none of the flowers were in bloom yet. The other buildings are a definite to see. Those were built by the king as summer residences. We caught a train back around 2 or 3. The Rick Steve's book helped when walking through here.
Auvoir

Wow...once again the folks here come through. Thank you very much.

The directions did come from the website and they did confuse this soon to be first time Paris visitor quite a bit!

Hello again. I was just re-reading everything and saw this in a post above:

"You will want to take the RER-C train. Trains may be called "Vick" or Versailles R.G. - Rive Gauche. DO NOT board trains that say Versailles C.H.)"

This scares me because:
1. I don't understand it.
2. If there is a wrong way to go, I tend to go there.

Can you please elaborate on how I, a non-French speaking first time Paris visitor, can be sure I don't end up going the opposite direction that I intend?

It's a running joke both at home and the office that I build in time for getting lost!

Hey - it's actually really easy. Really!

Every RER platform has lit-up signs with stops along that line. If the train stops at the station you want, the little light bulb is lit next to the station name.

There are a couple of Versailles stations ('cause it's a big town), and you want the Versailles Rive Gauche stop - it's closest.

All RER trains have 4-letter acronyms, most often names or weird words, on the front. This is for locals, who would know that VICK or whatever is their express train . . .

We always like to make up other 4-letter words they could use as mnemonics instead ;)

Enjoy the bistros & bars in centre ville, too.
Hope this helps - you'll have a blast.

We are also planning a trip there in May. We will be there for the first sunday of the month. Is entrance free on that day for Versailles or is it just the paris museums. How crowded would it be on a day like that.
I will have a museum pass for the monday, tuesday, and wed. Would it be better to go one of those day.
Thanks in advance.

Hey MD-

Do not worry. People are very friendly there. It was very easy. I don't think they ever came around asking for tickets. I was scared also when my sister and I went but it was very easy.
Be careful there of the gypsies. My sister being naive that she is got circled by a group of young gypsies. I grabbed her hand and just stared them down and got her out of there fast before they could do anything.

If you want Versailles without crowds, it won't happen. It can indeed get packed. However, if you want some of Versailles without crowds, go before the palace opens. You can still stroll around the gardens, along with the few other visitors who will be there at that hour, and you can get in on the first tours of the day without waiting in a long line and without having to elbow your way through the palace. We found that it really got crowded by mid-morning. It is worth it to head out from Paris early.