Day trip to Versaille

What is the best way to do a 1/2 day trip to Versaille? Through a tour company or on our own. This is our first trip to Paris. Also, how do we see the fountains when we%26#39;re there?

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You can get to Versailles by RER, which is part of the metro system. It is very easy. Versailles is the end of the line about a half hour from central Paris, so you can%26#39;t miss your stop. The Palace is only about 2 blocks from the train station and everyone getting off the train will be going there, so just follow the leader. We spent about 2 hours on a self guided tour in November, but we did not spend time outside due to the weather.

The cost of the train was about 5.40 round trip. If you have a 5 zone metro pass this is included, but probably not worth buying the extra zones just for the trip to Versailles. if you are unfamiliar with metro fares/passes you can read the many posts on this site.

There is also a great crepe restaurant across from the train station in Versailles.

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Much will depend on how much %26#39;..hand holding..%26#39; you need. You can certainly take one of the many escorted tour out to Chateau de Versailles but this is one of the simplest and esaiest DIY day trips that you can do from Paris.

Simply take the RER C-5 train (in the direction of Versailles-Rive Gauche) from one of it%26#39;s stations along the Left Bank--Saint Michel, Musee d%26#39;Orsay, Invalides, Champ de Mar--to the end of the ligne at VERSAILLES-RIVE GAUCHE (apprax. 45 mins--8-9 Euro r.t.), then out of the station and a short stroll (5 mins) up to the chateau (head for Entrance Gate %26#39;B%26#39;). If you have a Carte Musee et Monuments pass, basic enrtance fees but not the State Apartments tour or the Grand Fountain displays (in-season).

The GRANDES EAUX MUSICALE fountain shows will not begin again for the season until March 26th. Then they will be offered on Saturdays %26amp; Sundays at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM and will require a separate entrance fee (tickets can be purcahsed at the fgate. Once at Versailles, you can sign up for one of their own escorted tours or take one of the self-directed audio tours.

CHATEAU de VERSAILLES-- http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

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przyk %26amp; kdksail - thanks for the great info. we don%26#39;t really need the hand holding so much as the information they share along the way. we are already doing an actual tour guide to normandy, and didn%26#39;t really want to do another if it was realistic for us to do on our own. do they do guided tours once you%26#39;re there. thanks for the tip about the crepes! plus, we want to take the train to see some of the scenery outside of paris. Bummer about the fountains, we will be there in july, monday through friday, leaving early am for barcelona.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; we will be there in july, monday through friday%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Bear in mind that the Chateau is CLOSED on MONDAYs and Wednesdays may be the best day for escorted guided tours offered by the chateau. I seem to recall that they used to do an evening fountain/light/music show on Wednesdays (or my memory may simply be playing tricks on me)--but there%26#39;s none on this year%26#39;s Calendar of Events---but add the Chateau de Versailles web site to your FAVORITES list and keep checking up until you leave for up-dates to it.

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I have the same question that you posed in 2005. Seeing a historical site with a guide can provide a more interesting and informative experience. Is Versaille much better with a guide and worth the extra expense, or is it set-up well for a self-guided tour? It appears to be easy to reach from Paris on your own.

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We did Versailles totally on our own and enjoyed it just fine - the fountains were fabulous!

The only thing I was concerned about was using the RER as it was my first time in Paris and it is a bit different from the metro - lines split, etc. But if you read much on this forum, you can get all the help you need on that topic.

I%26#39;m not much for tours, so I say go it alone . . . either way, you will love Versailles.

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