Our flight landed in Paris CDG from Rome at 7pm. On hind sight we should looked for flights landing at Orly which is closer to Versailles and the city as well. We rented a car which was a bit smaller than Toyota Camry and bigger than Toyota corolla called Opel Insignia. We left CDG at 8:15 and reached the apartment we rented about 5 min drive from the Palace gate.
We parked right in front of the gate for 20 euro at 9am when they opened. We used the Paris pass and were inside by 9:15am. Rick Steve's audio self guided audio tour was more than enough to see the palace in 90min. They had water fountain in the gardens behind the palace and just for that they charged a fee of about 12 euro. The water fountain was nothing compared to the Trevi fountain in the US but when the fountain is running you have to pay to see the gardens. That was rip off 1. They had golf carts to rent but then you have to walk 25min to get there. You could also park behind the palace and rent the cart which was another 30 euro for just 1hr. They had a tram to take people one way from the back to the front for 4 euro each. On hind sight, I should have parked in the back and seen the gardens first and taken the tram back when we were tired. The 4th rip off (after expensive parking in the front, paying to see the pathetic fountains, golf cart, tram was 3 euro for water. This is not a 3rd world country or an island like Bahamas where water is sold. When you compare it to the facilities we get in the US national parks like Yosemite once we pay the entrance fee, it was a surprise. Not really friendly for the disabled. No wonder we hardly see wheel chairs in Paris and even Rome.
Palace was nice. In the back was Marie Antonette's estate which was interesting. We were done with the visit by 2pm. Total 5hrs.
https://goo.gl/photos/buuQJovZNQheBxMP7
Recommendation:
We rented the car because we also drove to Champagne wine country and we had a heavy checkin bag. Otherwise train is convenient to go to Versailles.
I suggest parking in the back or take a taxi to the back if you take the train. See Marie Antinette's estate first, walk through the gardens, see the palace, coming back is downhill and easy to walk. Skip the golf cart. They also rent bikes. I would try that if all the people in your party like to bike. 4hrs is plenty. Carry water and even lunch. Not much of lunch choice there and ridiculously expensive.
We parked right in front of the gate for 20 euro at 9am when they opened. We used the Paris pass and were inside by 9:15am. Rick Steve's audio self guided audio tour was more than enough to see the palace in 90min. They had water fountain in the gardens behind the palace and just for that they charged a fee of about 12 euro. The water fountain was nothing compared to the Trevi fountain in the US but when the fountain is running you have to pay to see the gardens. That was rip off 1. They had golf carts to rent but then you have to walk 25min to get there. You could also park behind the palace and rent the cart which was another 30 euro for just 1hr. They had a tram to take people one way from the back to the front for 4 euro each. On hind sight, I should have parked in the back and seen the gardens first and taken the tram back when we were tired. The 4th rip off (after expensive parking in the front, paying to see the pathetic fountains, golf cart, tram was 3 euro for water. This is not a 3rd world country or an island like Bahamas where water is sold. When you compare it to the facilities we get in the US national parks like Yosemite once we pay the entrance fee, it was a surprise. Not really friendly for the disabled. No wonder we hardly see wheel chairs in Paris and even Rome.
Palace was nice. In the back was Marie Antonette's estate which was interesting. We were done with the visit by 2pm. Total 5hrs.
https://goo.gl/photos/buuQJovZNQheBxMP7
Recommendation:
We rented the car because we also drove to Champagne wine country and we had a heavy checkin bag. Otherwise train is convenient to go to Versailles.
I suggest parking in the back or take a taxi to the back if you take the train. See Marie Antinette's estate first, walk through the gardens, see the palace, coming back is downhill and easy to walk. Skip the golf cart. They also rent bikes. I would try that if all the people in your party like to bike. 4hrs is plenty. Carry water and even lunch. Not much of lunch choice there and ridiculously expensive.
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