As a tour guide who loves to travel, I’ve been to Paris a few times. Of the many sights in Paris that dazzle and delight, Versailles is one of the most spectacular.
I’ve been twice to Versailles -- once as a child and once as an adult.
As a child, I had so much fun romping in the endless gardens with bushes that were taller than me.
As a grown-up, I fell in love with the Palace’s opulence. I enjoyed learning the important role it played in French history.
Whether you like magnificent gardens, stunning decor, or French history, Versailles should be on your must-see list in Paris.
In this post, I will explain several ways you can travel to the incredible Palace of Versailles. It’s very close to Paris and so easy to get to.
I’ll cover the three trains you can take and some options besides the trains.
TRAINS
If you want to explore Versailles on your own, taking a train is your best bet.
I found the trains to be convenient, fast and cheap which was perfect for my budget.
These are the three trains with explanations of how to use each.
As you look at these options, the choice will come down to which is closest to your point of departure, your schedule and your budget.
For me, budget was my first concern, then how close the departure station was to where I was staying.
RER C Train
A ticket from central Paris to Versailles via the RER C line costs €4.15 each way per person.
As I said above, this was fantastic news for me since I travel with a tight budget.
Though you have likely heard of the Metro, you may not be familiar with the RER trains.
What is the RER in Paris?
The RER is a suburban train system that is integrated with the Metro so you can transfer between them at some stations.
The Metro serves only Paris, whereas the RER travels both in and beyond Paris.
The RER lines don’t have as many stops as the Metro lines which is why they are faster.
The Metro has 14 color-coded/numbered lines and the RER has 5 color-coded/lettered lines (A-E).
Some Metro tickets and passes include RER travel to certain zones, so you won't need to buy a different ticket.
I love the RER because it’s like the Metro but faster and it’s more comfortable than the Metro. It is very easy to use.
For the most part, I travel by Metro in Paris, as you likely will too.
I always use the RER B line when I travel to and from Charles De Gaulle Airport. (Check out our post, How to get to Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
RER A (the red line) is the line that goes to many top sights, so make RER A your friend!
TIP: The official Paris Metro and RER websites are really useful. Take a look here.
Using the RER C line to Versailles
This RER C line travels through Paris from east to west along the River Seine.
The journey from Paris to Versailles using the RER C line takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on your departure point.
While that seems like a long time, I think it is worth it because of how cheap the ride costs.
The first step is to locate the nearest RER C line station to your hotel or apartment.
It’s quite possible that you will not be near an RER C station as the line travels through the Left Bank (Rive Gauche).
On a side note, I recommend that you look into staying on the Left Bank, one of the most charming parts of Paris.
Ok. Back to the directions to Versailles!
If you are not near an RER C station, you will take the Metro to a station where you can transfer to an RER C train.
Below is a list of Metro lines that connect to the RER C line.
The first few of these Metro lines are in neighborhoods you may be staying in.
- Metro 6 at Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel.
- Metro 4 and Metro 10 at Saint-Michel – Notre Dame.
- Metro 8 and Metro 13 at Invalides.
- Metro 5 and Metro 10 at Paris – Austerlitz.
- Metro 14 at Bibliothèque-François Mitterrand.
- Metro 13 at Porte de Clichy.
- Metro 3 at Pereire – Levallois.
- Metro 1 at Neuilly – Porte Maillot.
- Metro 9 at Boulainvilliers.
- Metro 10 at Javel.
Now that you have figured out how to connect from the Metro to the RER C line, your destination is the Versailles Château-Rive Gauche station.
To find the right platform to get on the train heading to Versailles, you will follow the signs to the platform that says Versailles Château RG. (RG stands for Rive-Gauche).
Only get on a train that says Versailles Château RG or Versailles Château-Rive Gauche.
Do NOT get on a train that is heading to Versailles-Rive Droite or Versailles-Chantier.
When you get off the train, you will be just a 10-minute walk from the palace.
TER Trains
Another train option is to take a TER train.
TER stands for Transport Express Régional. TER is operated by the national railway company, SNCF.
These trains are much more like rail trains than the Metro and the RER. Think big comfy seats!
There are two TER lines you can take to Versailles (line N and Line L). The choice will come down to where you are staying.
TER Line L
If you are near the Paris-Saint Lazare station, Line L is for you. Here is the website for Line L.
If you are not within walking distance of this station, you can easily get to it by the Metro or RER.
Using Line L, your destination will be the Versailles Rive Droite station. (Rive Droite means Right Bank).
From Paris Saint Lazare station it is about 45 minutes to the Chateau Versailles Rive Droite station.
From the station, it’s an easy 10-minute walk to the palace.
Taking this train will save you at least 15 minutes off your journey.
The fare is 5€, which is so cheap!
If you are staying near Paris’s famed historic department stores Galeries Lafayettes and Printemps, taking Train L is a good option for you as they are near the station.
Side note: Even if you aren't into shopping, take some time to go into Galeries Lafayettes, the biggest department store in Europe.
I don't care that it’s big. But I was blown away by the gorgeous Art Nouveau architecture and its massive domed ceiling.
TER Line N
The TER Line L departs from Gare Montparnasse station so if you are staying in south Paris, this is going to be the option for you to get to Versailles.
Your destination will be the Versailles Chantier stop.
This train takes around 50 minutes and the station is only a 10-minute walk from the Palace of Versailles.
Again, the fare is very cheap at 4,15€.
Here is the website for information on TER Line N.
ROUNDTRIP BUS TO VERSAILLES
There are a few different coach services in Paris that offer round-trip shuttle transfers to and from Versailles.
Prices typically range from €25 - €35 per seat. This does not include the Palace of Versailles entrance.
I prefer going by train because of how cheap it is. But there are a few advantages to taking the bus.
The seats are more comfortable and you are guaranteed air conditioning in the summer!
The bus is direct and takes between 45-60 minutes each way.
Find out more information here.
BUS TOURS FROM PARIS TO VERSAILLES
This option is great for those of you who want a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles.
Tickets typically range from €55-€65 ($60-$70) and include:
- Transport to and from Paris by air-conditioned bus
- Skip-the-ticket-line entrance to the palace
- Guided Tour of the Palace
- Access to either Musical Garden or Musical Fountain show (depending on the day)
- Access to the gardens
You get a lot for your money! The entire journey lasts about 8 hours.
Bus tours aren't for everyone, but I will say that I think they are an excellent choice for someone who wants to sit back and relax.
Let someone else do all the planning for you!
For more information about this transportation option, please read our post covering guided tours of Versailles or purchase tickets for an organized bus tour to Versailles.
Where is Versailles?
Versailles is approximately 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Paris.
That’s pretty close and I consider it a day trip, which means you can be in Paris in time for an evening out!
No matter how you choose to get here, it’s about one hour to reach Versailles, with a car ride being only about 10 minutes faster than the train on average.
This means that you may want to focus more on the cost of the trip rather than the time spent traveling there.
Also, consider the comfort level and ease of each mode of transport.
You can use this Google Maps link to plan your trip.
The last thing I want to mention is the option of a walking tour of Versailles Palace, some of which includes a round-trip train ticket to Versailles.
Ticket prices for these tours range from €30 - €50 on average.
Find out more from our post on Which Guided Tours of Versailles Are Best?
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