How do I get from Paris to Versailles? Most importantly, how much will it cost??

Question

I'm debating between and organized bus tour or going alone to Versailles. Bus tours seem to be very expensive ~ 80 Eur. Maybe it will be cheaper for me to get there myself and do it on my own??

Answer 1

Go on your own. Its easy and considerably less expensive.

There are a variety of ways to get there by public transportation. Ther RER  C line station Versailles-Rive Gauche is only a 10 minute walk to the Chateau and the #171 bus which departs from outside the Pont de Sevres Metro stop will drop you right at the front gate.

Entry to the Chateau, the grounds with its many other attractions and is €20 on weekdays. Everything is well marked and there are audioguides available.



the website of the Chateau is here: http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/

Answer 2

My aunt, uncle, and I rode the train there and got back for under 40 euros each. It would probably be a ton easier if you went by yourself. French people have very thick accents if they can speak English at all, so you might want to do it by yourself.

Answer 3

You got some good answers and it's really up to you but I can tell you my experience:  Buy "Le Passport"  for 25 euros.  That includes everything except food:  it gets you roundtrip train fare (the RER C line) entry into all parts of the palace and gardens (keep the passport tri-fold card handy) and includes headphones for the palace tour that you just follow along at your own pace.  Le Passport gets you to the front of the line too--no wait to get in.  You can spend as much or as little time on things at your discretion and don't have to worry about time limits or getting somewhere on a schedule if your enjoying something you don't want to leave just because you're out of time.  It's an amazing place and having the freedom to go wherever you want for the time you want to take makes it relaxing and more fun.  There are spots to get something to eat and going on your own should not scare you.  Its easy to get there on the RER (Last stop is the one you want) and follow the crowd on the short walk to the entrance.  By the way, Rick Steves has a good write up on Versailles you can read and it might make you comfortable.  Have fun and enjoy everything!!

Answer 4

Hiya,

You'll better take the subway and the bus from the city center.

It will cost you around €5 maximum.

Here is the Internet link for the RATP (Bus and Subway services in Paris).

http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/

Cheerio.

Answer 5

Yes it will probably be cheaper to do it on your own.

I've been twice and both times took an arranged tour. The best one was in a minibus, just my wife and I. The larger buses mean that you have to sit while they go around all the hotels picking up people and dropping them off on the way back. It takes hours and your hotel always seems to be the last one.

So Pros and Cons...

For Arranged tours.

Small vehicle is good.

Sit back and relax, they know where they are going.

You will see more and have it explained to you.

For doing it on your own.

I'm sure that you can get a bus, not sure about a train.

Need to figure it out.

Probably more tiring and stressfull.

If you have lots of time and a low budget, this probably the way for you.

Either way, you will never forget it. It is definately worth going there. I would go back in a heartbeat and I've been there twice.

Answer 6

try train eurail.com

Answer 7

I did a half day trip to Versailles on a guided tour, as I was travelling alone ( and it was really my first holiday by myself ) I really appreciated this tour....I don;t remember it being that much ( but I was livign in the UK and earning GBP)...I have put a link to one webiste I often went thru.

I found the tour good as I turned up, they drove me there, there was no waiting in any lines ( we went straight in) and our tour guide was excellent, giving us lots of really interesting stuff...we were often overtaken by other groups as she told us these neat stories and people kept asking her questions and wanting more!

We then had time to go outside and explore for an hour or so ( I went in Feb , so it was not as pretty as other times of the year and also may have been cheaper as a result too) and then came back...I think it was around 4hrs.

If I had to go again with another person, I would proably do the tour again, but I can see your dilemma with price etc!

I tihnk you just have to weigh up what you want to get out of it...if you have a book/info on the place etc you would get more out of it than going without anything!

Just to point out, as the place was ransacked by the French there is actually not an awful lot in the way of furniture etc ( they decided to leave it that way), which really surprised me!

however GRAND is an understatement for things there.....things are GINORMOUS.......and I really liked the idea of history and things like the signing of the Treaty of Versialles in the hall of mirrors etc.