montparnasse to versailles

staying at the meridien want to go to versailles. What are my transportation options ? Should I buy tickets in advance (both train and admission)

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We stayed at the Meridien and visited Versailles three weeks ago. Your options are basically two:

- Take a commuter train from Montparnasse to Versailles-Chantiers Station

- Take the RER (M4 to St Michel, then RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche)

The commuter train is the shortest time if you%26#39;re already standing at Montparnasse station.

Go downstairs as if going to the Metro, go to one of the automated machines, have your coins ready (no U.S. credit card). Say you want single tickets and choose the destination, then deposit your change.

Tickets in hand, turn AWAY from the metro entrance and look for signs to the commuter / banlieue lines. On the platform look for the Versailles train on the big board. No reserved seating on the commuter trains. The ride is about 20 min and walk to the chateau in 15 min. Trains run with great frequency. No %26quot;advance purchase%26quot; per se though you could buy from the kiosk (or the ticket desk) and travel anytime with the tickets. They look like regular Metro tickets.

Timetable search here:

transilien.com/web/…en

Good luck,

Jason

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Thanks. One question : From the train station in versailles is walking the only form of transportation or are taxi%26#39;s . The reason I ask is that I will be traveling with my parents who may not want to do the walk

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I think there was a taxi rank outside the station... but I wasn%26#39;t really on the lookout for them so I might be wrong. Per Google maps it%26#39;s 1.3 km (18 min) from that station to the chateau entrance.

FYI: if you go the RER route to Rive Gauche station it%26#39;s about half the walking distance once in Versailles -- but probably a net wash because of the extra distance at Montparnasse to reach Metro Line 4 and then the line switch at St. Michel

J

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There%26#39;s a bus that runs from the train station to the Chateau.

Go to www.ratp.fr

In the first box - use Station, Montparnasse

In the second box, change to Lieu and type in Chateau Versailles.

You%26#39;ll get an itinerary - note the map icons in the column on the right for actual location detail.

Agree that it%26#39;s much easier and more efficient to take a train from Montparnasse to Versailles than the RER.

It is definitely a good idea to purchase and print tickets ahead of your trip (see Chateau Versailles website) so you can use the advance ticketholders entrance at the Chateau.

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Thanks for all the help