Paris In The Springtime

[Ric.ror]

My friend has booked to spend the week after Easter in Paris - she is hoping to visit Versailles amongst other sights but I seem to recall the palace is quite a way out of Paris and its not as simple as hoping on a bus to get there
Any advice regarding this and any other itinerary hints would be very welcomed

[Buenchico]

It might not be as simple as hoping on a bus but it is as simple as hopping on a train!

RER Line C runs direct to Versailles-Rive Gauche station. The southern part of Line C basically follows the Left Bank of the Seine (i.e. the southern side of it), serving such stations as Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (for the Eiffel Tower), Museé d'Orsay (for the museum) and St Michel Notre-Dame (for the cathedral and the Latin Quarter), so it's easy to fit in the Château de Versaiiles with many other tourist attractions.

A Passe Illimité ticket, covering the whole of the Paris Transportation area (including Line C all the way to Versailles-Rive Gauche station) costs €22.20 for one day, €33.70 for 2 days, €47.25 for 3 days or €57.75 for 5 days. It gives unlimited travel on buses, trams, Metro services and RER trains.

However your friend probably would only the need a 'whole city' pass for just the one day (to visit Versaille). On any other days she could use a 2-zone Passe Illimité ticket, which covers all of the central tourist attractions. A 1 day ticket costs €10.55, 2 days costs €17.15, 3 days costs €23.40 and 5 days costs €33.70.

Paris is one of the easiest cities in the world to find your way around. Using the RER trains (which are like a 'limited stop' version of the Metro) is usually the quickest way to travel.

Chris

[Buenchico]

PS: Another great way to get around Paris is by river boat. There are plenty of very expensive guided tours but the Batobus is much cheaper and (in my opinion) just as good. It provides a 'hop on/hop off' service between Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, calling at (or near) other tourist attractions along the way. A one-day pass (for unlimited travel) costs €15, 2 days costs €18, and 5 days €21:
http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

[Ric.ror]

Excellent advice
Many thanks

[coccinelle]

The Palace is closed on Mondays. Wednesdays are the less busy days. Instead of waiting in a queue to buy your ticket you can order on line and pick up:
http://www.guidatours.com/en/versailles-tickets-entrance-ticket-palace-c-16_48.html?language=en
OR you can buy the ticket at a few café restaurants in town for example: La Brasserie du Musée 2, place Gambette and La Café Bleu Roi 7, Rue Colbert. (You don't have to drink/eat anything there).
The quickest way to get in is to be booked with a guide but of course that solution is more expensive.
Also if your friend wishes to visit the Louvre and actually take a photo of the Mona Lisa without someone's head in it, the best time is Wednesday morning.

[Blinkered]

There is a good suburban rail link to Versailles. Been a while since I was there, think it is the RER line. Check on internet. It's a nice town in itself. We had brunch in a pleasant cafe before visiting the Palace.
In Paris itself try the Isle de la Cite for a quieter stroll..quaint streets..we found a fine ice cream shop.
Don't miss the Place Des Vosges..amazingly preserved old architecture. It surrounds a rectangular grassy park..sit with a snack.
Down at the Seine across from Notre Dame is a famous quirky bookshop, Shakespeare and Co.
The Rue Moufftarde has lots of fresh food shops and an open air market most days. (Hemingway lived nearby).

[sd324]

The easiest way of getting to Versailles is to take tube line 9 to the western terminus (Pont de Sèvres) and then get bus 171 to the Palace gates. The bus runs every 8 minutes or so and takes about half an hour.

The best all-day ticket is called Mobilis. For Versailles you need one covering zones 1-4. They are available from bus and rail enquiry/ticket offices and some tobacconists. Be sure to inscribe your name and the date on the ticket before using it!

Travel information is at www.ratp.fr - and be sure to pick up the relevant bus/tube maps (there are 13 different ones covering the whole region).