How to get from Paris to Versailles?
The Palace of Versailles is just 20 kilometers from the center of Paris in a southwest direction. Here are the three best options we suggest to get there on your own:
1. RER
This is a train that connects Paris with several cities located nearby, including Paris. The RER C line from Paris will take you to Versailles-Château Rive Gauche station. This station is as close as possible to the Palace of Versailles, you can also take the train to Notre Dame, Invalides, the Musée d’Orsay, or the Eiffel Tower.
As a recommendation, when you get to the platform to catch the train, check the screens to verify the train goes to Versailles-Château station because on the same platform, some trains take you to other cities, and returning is complicated, so you could lose valuable time.
This is the best way to get to the Palace of Versailles by public transportation, but we suggest that you always check the schedules depending on the time of the year you are visiting. In summer, for example, some sections are usually closed for repairs. If this happens, there are replacement buses but still, you may prefer to use another route.
The cost of the RER ticket is 4 euros per ride, in total 8 euros round trip from Paris. When you arrive at the station you’ll be asked for your ticket so keep it with you at all times, otherwise, you may be fined.
At the station’s exit, you’ll see several signs indicating the direction in which you should walk to get to the Palace of Versailles. It’s an 8-minute walk, it’s very simple and most people go there.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance because it is one of France’s most visited places, so it’s hard to buy them there, especially in high tourist seasons. Here is a comparison of the different tickets.
2. Train
To get there by train there are two stations: Versailles Chantiers which is a 15-minute walk and Versailles Rive Droite which is a 20-minute walk.
Versailles Chantiers can be reached from the Montparnasse train station in Paris. The ride time is 20-25 minutes and some trains leave every 20 minutes, some are direct rides, but you must be aware of the station so you don’t miss it, or you will end up in another city. The price is 4 euros per ride, in total 8 euros round trip.
To get to Versailles Rive Droite, there’s line L that leaves from Saint Lazare station in Paris, train frequency is about every 30 minutes. This same train runs through the area of La Defense, so you could also take it there. If you happen to do so, it takes 25 minutes from La Defense to Versailles, the cost is the same, 4 euros per ride, in total 8 euros round trip.
When you arrive at the station, it would be best to ask someone how to get to the palace or try to use Google Maps to guide you, as you must walk across the village of Versailles to get to the Palace.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance because it is one of France’s most visited places, so it’s hard to buy them there, especially in high tourist seasons. Here is a comparison of the different tickets.
3. Car, Taxi or Uber
This is the most comfortable way to get to Versailles.
If you’re traveling by car, you may park in front of the Palace, the parking cost per hour is 5 euros.
The cab or Uber price is usually 50 euros per ride from the Paris city center to the palace entrance.
Please don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance, as it is one of the most visited places in France, it’s hard to buy them there, particularly during peak tourist seasons. Here is a comparison of the different tickets.