Versailles :

The gardens

Let me help you to find out the way which suits you the best to get to the Chateau de Versailles and to make the most of your trip to Versailles.

The Palace of Versailles dates back to the seventeenth century. It’s a museum since the 19th century.

Versailles it’s : the Chateau, the Park and gardens, the Petit Trianon, the Grand Trianon and their gardens, and the Queen’s hamlet;

It spreads over 800 hectares ! It takes about half an hour walk to get from the Chateau to the Petit Trianon. 

Planning the transportation 

• I would recommend one of these 2 ways of getting to Versailles from Paris : Either Metro + RER C Line or the Versailles Express Coach.
• I would also recommend a full day trip rather than a half-day trip : The Palace and the Gardens are huge (it spreads over 800 hectares) and the transportation (going and coming back) may takes you about 2 hours.
• If it was my first visit to Versailles, I’d probably choose an entrance ticket to the Chateau and gardens only (or I would maybe add the visit of the Petit Trianon). Remember that  from the Palace of Versailles, it is about half an hour’s walk or 20 minutes by the mini-train or by electric vehicle to get to the Trianon Palaces and to the Marie Antoinette estate !!! .
  

Versailles express coach – A shuttle service 
Versailles express offers a shuttle service with or without the tickets for the entrance, the visits and the shows.Half day or the full day return trip ? I would recommend the full day trip. A half day trip sounds to me a bit too short : You may not have enough time to really enjoy the place. https://www.versaillesexpress.com/en

1. Schedules : 
   •  Half day trip  :
     • Departure 8 am (Eiffel Tower) – Return (Palace of versailles) 12.30 pm
     • or Departure (Eiffel Tower) 2pm – Return (Palace of Versailles) 6 pm
   • One day trip : 
     • Departure 8 am (Eiffel Tower) – Return (Palace of versailles) 6  pm
     • or Departure (Eiffel Tower) 2pm – Return (Palace of Versailles) 6 pm
2. Departure point : nearby the Eiffel Tower. Port de la Bourdonnais See the Red point on the map below – Metro : Bir Hakeim or Champ de Maris. Caution : it seems that quite a lot of visitors have some difficulty at finding this departure point. Please, watch carefully this map before.
3. Arrival : it takes you right in front of the Chateau de Versailles.

Price : 

This is a summary.  For all the details, please visit Versailles Express website : https://www.versaillesexpress.com/en

• Half day trip (no entrance included) : 29 euros  
• One day trip (no entrance included) : 32 euros
• Half day trip (transportation + Palace of Versailles admission included): 49 euros 
• One day trip (transportation + the Palace and gardens admission + mini-train admission +Entrance in the Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Estate admission).  : 58 euros Not included : Entrance in the gardens the days of Fountains Show and Musical Gardens (see calendar)
• One day trip (transportation + the Palace and gardens admission + mini-train admission +Entrance in the Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Estate admission + Entrance in the gardens, the days of Fountains Show and Musical Gardens) : 65 euros

Pros and cons of the transportation by “Versailles express”

• Advantages :
  • It takes you right in front of the Chateau de Versailles,
  • You’ll be sure to be at Versailles early in the morning
  • A confortable way of transportation : Air conditioned and you haven‘t got to change
  • The right choice if you chose to attend the night show
• Disadvantages :
  • It ties you to fixed times and a fixed departure point
  • You’ll have to get up early to be at the departure point at 8 am !!
  • It’s more expensive than the Metro/RER
  • You may find that their half day trip to Versailles is too short and their full day trip is too long…
  • It may take you 5 to 10 minutes maybe to find out where the departure point is located (for the departure)…Unless if the map above and the one below help !!

The coach starting point at Pont de la Bourbonnais @Versailles Express

METRO + RER C : another way to get to the Chateau de Versailles

The RER

Take the RER C up to “Versailles Chateau – Rive Gauche” stop . Count about 1 hour to get to the Chateau (maybe a bit less, depends on where in Paris you come from). 

RER line C

What’s the RER ?  Paris RER is 5 express train lines connecting Paris city centre to surrounding suburbs. In Paris the RER acts as an express underground or subway train. Beyond Paris city centre, the Paris RER is a ground level commuter train connecting outlying suburbs and popular destinations such as CDG Airport (RER B), Disneyland Paris (RER A) and Versailles (RER C) to the heart of Paris. The RER C which will take you to Versailles runs along the south bank of the river. One of its western lines ends at Versailles Château

Get your transportation tickets 

• Buy a special ticket return to Versailles rive Gauche. You can buy it in advance in any Metro Stop  in Paris 
• You ask : « 1 aller-retour » pour « Versailles rive Gauche ». They will give you 2 tickets (one to go  to Versailles and one to come back) for each of you
• You will use the same ticket from your starting point in Paris to Versailles Rive Gauche (including the Metro if you’ve got to take it to get to the RER C line)
• Keep your tickets with you  until you’ve arrived at Versailles Rive Gauche
• A simple one-way adult metro/rer combo ticket from Paris to Versailles : 3,55 €  Price of the 2 tickets (one ticket to go, and one to come back) : 2 x 3,55 € = 7,10 € for each person 

“Javel” the RER C stop

Take the RER C : from “Saint Michel” metro stop or from “Javel” metro stop

Use the Metro line to reach RER Line C.  Have a look at the Metro map (click on the metro map to get it larger) to find out how to reach the RER line C

• At « Saint Michel » metro stop : Take the RER C,   direction “Gare de Versailles Château RIVE GAUCHE” : 13 stops to get to « Versailles Rive Gauche » = 37 minutes 

OR 

• At “Javel” metro stop : Take the RER C, direction “Gare de versailles Château RIVE GAUCHE” : 8 stops  to get to “Versailles Rive Gauche” = 23 minutes. I recommand the RER stop Javel to make it easier : a much “understandable and smaller metro station”, so an easier place to take the RER C

  Be careful : NOT ALL THE RER C trains go to VERSAILLES… Look at the lighted signpost on the platform to be sure you are taking the right RER . This RER should be called « VICK » (don’t ask people about this name because they usually ignore the name of the RER, but it should be written (lighted) in front of the train and also on the lighted signpost on the platform.

• Get off at “Versailles Rive Gauche”. It’s the last stop on the line so you cannot get lost or miss it.
• Walk from the RER to the gate of the Chateau de Versailles (map below) : 7 minutes walk. There were signs pointing to the palace so you find it easily. Or follow all the people who are going to the same place !!!! (= the Chateau de Versailles)
  

  7 minutes walk from Versailles-Rive Gauche to the Chateau of Versailles

Pros and cons of the transportation by Metro + RER C

• Advantages :
  • It gives you flexibility of departure point and frequent trains which you can take at your leisure
  • It’s cheaper than the Coach
• Disadvantages :
  • It doesn’t take you right in front of the Chateau de Versailles,
    
  • You’ve got to spend sometimes to study how to get there before you go ! (Though I hope this post will help you !). And you’ve got to be more attentive to be sure you’re taking the right train and changing at the right stop !
  • Maybe a bit less confortable than the Versailles Express coach

Entrance tickets to the Chateau of Versailles : 

• Purchase your tickets in advance and be at the gate as early as you can for about 8.30am/9am. In any case, before 10am.
• Advanced tickets are available on the Chateau of Versailles’ website : en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices 
• The main offers are  :
  • the ticket entrance to the Palace (with the audioguide) and  the gardens : 18 euros per person 
  • the Passport ticket for the admission to the whole estate (including the Palace (with the audioguide), the estate of Trianon (Marie Antoinette and the gardens) : 20 euros per person
  • Please visit the Versailles web site for more options : Musical fountain shows, Musical Gardens… en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices 
    

    Details of the Hall of Mirrors

• Please note that :
  • Some of the “Versailles express” transportation offers include the entrance to the Palace and Estate
  • The park of the Chateau de Versailles is huge : it spreads over 800 hectares. It’s difficult to visit it within a day.
  • Even if you’ve already bought your entrance tickets, there still is the security line up in front of the chateau.
  • The ticket line up is separate to the security line up in front of the chateau
  • The Trianon Palaces and the Estate of Marie Antoinette are open in the afternoon only (from 12 noon to 5.30 or 6.30 p.m)
    Each of the three spaces (Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet) can be visited independently of each other.

A guided tour ?  The apartments of the Kings :

Behind the walls and royal life of the Grand Apartments lie the private apartments of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Accompanied by a qualified guide, this tour gives you a look into the intimate atmosphere and the refined decoration of these living areas.

For booking a guided tour : http://billetterie.chateauversailles.fr/guided-tour-the-private-apartments-of-the-kings-english-visite-css5-chateauversailles-lgen-pg51-ei170661.html

A review by a FB friend : “7€ and the tour was about 90 minutes with a very knowledgeable guide. Offered in the main languages,…. And after the end you are let loose in the general area.”

My advice for a best organisation of your visit :

Versailles can be a tiring place to visit…. It can be really crowded…. making you feel as if you were in the metro at the rush hour…. Especially if you’re going to Versailles during Summer. So if possible make the best choices to make to trip as enjoyable as possible !

1. Visit of the Palace first :  In the morning, as soon as possible. For a quieter and less crowded time in the Palace, visit it preferably straight away, when you arrive. 
   1. When you enter get the audio handset which is FREE .
   2. And don’t spend time at the ground floor nor in the first rooms. Go up to the floor upstairs where the most interesting rooms are.  
2. Then visit the gardens,    or have a lunch and a rest (!) at Angelina, then visit the gardens
3. Then visit the Trianon (if you’ve bought a ticket which includes the Trianon). But if it’s your first visit to Versailles, I think you can be fully satisfied (visiting the Palace and the garden ) without visiting the Trianon and the Estate of Marie Antoinette. 

Other possibility : Visit the Palace after 3pm when it’s often less crowded, though probably better to visit it as early as possible in the morning.

Best days and time to go to Versailles

• Plan preferably an all day outing in Versailles : It’s better to take your time to really enjoy the place rather to rush. For instance, plan an arrival at Versailles at 9 am and plan to leave around 3.30 pm
• Days to choose : choose  Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
• Days to avoid : Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays, The Palace gets crowded especially on these days. Actually, as most museum in Paris are closed on Tuesdays, visitors often choose the Tuesday to go to Versailles. So Versailles is more crowded on Tuesdays. On Mondays : Versailles is closed
• Plan an early morning arrival to Versailles. Be at the gate as early as you can for about 8.30am/9am, In any case, before 10am
• Opening time :
  • Palace : from 9am to 6.30 pm – Closed on Mondays
  • Estate of Trianon : from 12.00 pm to 6.30 pm – Closed on Mondays
  • Gardens : from 8.am to 8.30 pm
    

    The courtyard of the Chateau of Versailles

Angelina in Versailles : 

• Having a rest, a lunch or a teatime at Angelina is a wonderful experience in Versailles;
• 2 addresses for Angelina in Versailles : one near Le Petit Trianon and one in the Chäteau de Versailles.

A Saint Honoré at Angelina

Angelina in the Chateau de Versailles

• I recommend the Angelina INSIDE  the Chateau de Versailles. Except during the high season : the place can be crowded
• If you’re still wish to go to Angelina during the high season : make a reservation 
• Angelina at Versailles : http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/facilities/restaurant-angelina 
• Access: on the first floor of the Palace. (another Address for Angelina at the Petit Trianon)

A review made by a FB friend : “We enjoyed the food, the wine, our waitress and we emerged ready to endure the chateau for a few more hours.”

The Hall of Mirrors

It’s the most famous room in the Palace. Work started in 1678 and ended in 1684. The whole length of the Hall of Mirrors : 73m). It’s here that the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, ending WWI. Since then, presidents of the Republic have continued to receive official guests here.

The Hall of Mirrors

Some useful links :

• http://en.chateauversailles.fr/
•  Contact Versailles
• Practical information on Versailles website : http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/practical-information
• The Versailles express website  : http://www.versaillesexpress.com/en
• Metro website : http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/fr
• http://parisbytrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/paris-metro-map-2014.pdf
• Angelina at Versailles : http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/facilities/restaurant-angelina

Summary – If I was a first time visitor to Versailles :

• I would take the Metro + the RER C
• I would book my tickets in advance on the “Chateau de Versailles’ Website and would choose an entrance ticket including the Palace and gardens. Maybe I’d plan to visit Marie Antoinette Estate too. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/
• I would take an audioguide when I arrive, then I would start my visit of the Chateau straight away. I would just cross the rooms at the ground floor, and would go straight away to the rooms upstairs
• Then, if I wasn’t visiting during the high season, I would  go  for a light lunch at Angelina (located in the Chateau). I was visiting during the high season, I would choose to go in one of the restaurants in the garden. Probably “La petite Venise”, a charming setting (listed historic monument) for a quiet lunch (italian-style cuisine). Not the cheapest prices but still moderate prices.
• If I’d go to Marie Antoinette Estate in the afternoon, I would take the mini train (or an electric vehicle that you can rent in the gardens nearby the Chateau).
• I would plan to get to the Chateau of Versailles at 9 am and would plan to leave at about 3.30 pm to 4 pm

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VERSAILLES

VERSAILLES

HISTORY OF THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES