Paris to Versailles RER Map © 2014 Mikestravelguide. All rights reserved.

The easiest and cheapest way to get from Paris to Versailles

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Since the Château de Versailles is located about 16 miles outside of Paris, getting there, unfortunately, is not quite as easy as just hopping on a Paris Métro train. It requires a little extra information and planning.

The cheapest and easiest way to get to Versailles is by Paris RER train. However, negotiating the RER rail line is a bit trickier than the Paris Métro. So, to make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide for getting from Paris to Château de Versailles

Metropolitain Art Nouveau Sign Ile de la Cite Paris France

Step 1: Make your way to the nearest Métro station.

Green Ticket kiosk Paris France

Step 2: Purchase train ticket to Versailles (Destination: Versailles Rive G) from the Ticket Office or the green automatic ticket machines. Cost is about 7.00€ per person, round trip. Note: You will be given 2 tickets per person. One ticket for the trip to the Château and one ticket for your return to Paris. Once you’ve activated the first ticket, don’t confuse the two!

Metro RER map Paris France

Step 3: Locate the Métro maps (on wall) and find out how to get to one of the Métro/RER stations that service Versailles-Rive Gauche (RER C). Some of the main stations are: St. Michel-Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, and Champs de Mars-Tour Eiffel.

Enter ticket into turnstyle Paris France

Remove ticket into turnstyle Paris France

Pass thru Metro turnstyle Paris France

Boarding the Metro in Paris

Step 4: Insert and retrieve your ticket to pass through the turnstile and make your way to the appropriate Métro line that will take you to the Métro/RER station.

Direction signs to RER C platform in metro station Paris France

Step 5: Once you’ve arrived at the Métro/RER station, exit the Métro train (but not the station) and follow the signs to the platform for RER C: Versailles Château-Rive Gauche. Note: there should be a brown/white rectangle on the sign with the words Château de Versailles.

RER Schedule Screen at Platform Paris France

Step 6: Once you arrive at the RER C platform (Direction: Versailles Château-Rive Gauche), check the video screen on the platform to find the number of minutes remaining before your train’s arrival. The topmost train on the list is the one arriving next or is currently at the platform. When your train arrives at the platform, it will be listed at the top of the screen with the notation ‘à quai’. Caution: Not all RER trains arriving at this platform go to Versailles. Also, be aware that the destination Versailles Château-Rive Gauche is sometimes abbreviated as ‘Versailles Chateau-RG’ or ‘Versail. Chat’.

On the RER C to Versailles

Step 7: Verify that it is the train to Versailles Château-Rive Gauche (NOT Versailles-Chantier or Versailles-Rive Droit). You can identify trains to Versailles Château-Rive Gauche by their names; look for VICK or VITY. If in doubt about your train’s destination, ask someone nearby. Once you’re confident, board the train, find a seat and enjoy the ride. Tips: Always be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings. Pickpockets are active on Paris trains. The final destination of the RER C is Versailles Château-Rive Gauche and the travel time is ~45 minutes.

Station Versailles Chateay Rive Gauche

Step 8: Once you’ve arrived at the final destination, exit the train and the station. Note: you will need your train ticket (the one you used to board the train in Paris) to exit the station.

crossing the street at Versailles Rive Gauche

Cafe and green metal glass kiosk Versailles

Step 9: Outside of the station, cross the street at the pedestrian crossing and turn left between the café and the green metal/glass kiosk.

Pedestrian Pathway to Versailles

Step 10: Turn right onto the tree-lined pedestrian pathway and follow this until you reach the parking lot outside of the palace.

Parking lot in front of Versailles

Step 11: As you reach the parking lot, veer right and look for the open gates to the palace compound on your left.

Entrance Gates in front of Versailles

Paris Museum Pass Holders' Entrance Chateau de Versailles France

Ticket Line Chateau de Versailles France

Step 12: Enter the compound through these gates. From here, Paris Museum Pass holders will walk to the left to enter through the security checkpoint designated ‘No-Queue Access’. Those needing to purchase a ticket will get into the ticket line at the right.

Click here to see Mike’s Paris Guide! 


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33 Comments

  1. Susan

    awesome that you posted directions. a printable version would be perfect. thanks

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Susan, Thanks for stopping by the site. We appreciate the suggestion and will be working on providing printable versions of our guides. Happy and safe travels.

  2. Andrzej

    Your instruction on how to go to Versailles saved my time and stress. Thank you. Keep on doing what you do! Best regards

  3. Paul Barrons

    I am traveling to Versailles after a few nights in the city. I am staying the Le Marais district, what would be the easiest Metro station to go to? Thank you for the detailed guide!

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Paul, I do not know where you are staying, but Hotel de Ville or St Paul are probably the closest stations. Have fun!

  4. Annie

    Hi MIke,
    This is truly helpful. My husband and our 26 y/o daughter will be going to Paris for 3 days. Do you mind giving us a suggestion for a 3-day trip to maximize our vacation to Paris? Thank you!

  5. Hi Mike!

    I am planning a trip to Europe in August and these tips are SO helpful! I am feeling much more at peace thanks to your guide. Thank you very much for taking the time to do this, I really appreciate it and I’m sure many others do as well!

    Best Regards,
    McKenna 🙂

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi McKenna, Thanks so much for stopping by our site and for your kind comments. It’s nice to receive positive feedback. We hope you have a great time in Europe, and would love to hear back from you regarding your travels 🙂

  6. Maggie

    Is it the same directions (reverse) to get back to Paris?

    Thanks!

  7. Eric

    usually i dont leave comments, but your walk-through is too good! just a couple of questions you may or may not note in your guide. when will the return ticket expire? is 24hours after i activate the first ticket? also, we will visit versailles next month. is it rare that some tourists take train with their luggage ? Thanks again.very good guide!

  8. James27

    Love the directions – need to be in that neighborhood for business.
    Thank you, Mike!

  9. Angelynn

    Thank U for such a detailed post with pics !! I got lost on my last trip. Now I am going to try one more time & hopefully with your guide ; I ll make it !!

  10. Mandar

    Simply Brilliant & Hassle Free… Kudos…

  11. Carol Wong

    Hi Mike, your guides are very ez to understand. But I need a little more information/suggestions. I’ll be travelling with my 72 year old mother and we only have 4 days in Paris. Shall I buy the entrance tickets from counter-to-counter upon arrival or from the travel agents such Paris Pass, Viator, etc? What is your best suggestion for us to maximize our trip? Tq.

  12. Your guide is awesome! We cited it on our blog (www.excursioneverywhere.com) and plan to use it when we visit Paris in 2 months. Thank you!

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Lindsay,
      Thanks for your comments and for citing our site on your blog! We hope you have a great time in Paris and would love to hear back from you about your trip. Happy travels!

  13. juno

    I am going to Paris in September and I am reading as much as I can to be able to do what I want to do. I can see that your directions for going to Versailles from Paris will really help me when I finally make the trip. You are so very clear, thank you very much! Now, I will look through your site and see if you also included equally clear directions for going to Giverny haha.

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Juno, You’re welcome! And thank you for your comments. We hope you have a great time in Paris and Versailles. Unfortunately, we haven’t yet visited Giverny, but hope you’ll still look through our site 😉 Thanks, again!

  14. Maui

    On average how long does this journey take?

  15. Marjan

    I’ve checked it last weekend and everything worked as mentioned in this guide. One way ticket for one person costs 3.55 euro so round trip costs 7.1 euro.

    Beware of people who wants to help you when there are big queues to ticket machines, because they can offer you one day ticket for all 5 zones for 49 euro.

  16. Rocio

    I’ve tried it by the end of July. It does work. However, for some reason many stops of RER C where closed and I had to go to Javel to take it.

    • Mikestravelguide

      Hi Rocio,
      We appreciate your comment and hope you enjoyed your journey, even with the temporary RER stop closures.

  17. Biswajit

    Hey, I just visited the Versailles today.
    thanks to your guidence!!

  18. Matt

    Thank you for the detailed instruction

  19. Trang

    Hi, thanks for your sharing. But i am still confuse that the round ticket includes 01 train from metro to rer c station and 01 train from rer c station to metro station in return way?

  20. Hubert

    Thank you Mike.
    I used the instructions to get to Versailles and it worked spot on.
    Also enjoyed your site while we were in Paris for 2 days.

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