Versailles:

Versailles is on everyone’s itinerary when they travel to Paris, so you might be a bit surprised it has taken me 4 trips before I actually made it here. And, we were lucky enough to share the experience with some friends from Chicago!

Getting to Versailles from Paris is easy. Take the RER C and get off at Versailles Rive Gauche. Then follow the massive crowds to the chateau. You can buy your ticket at a machine or at one of the desks. Usually at least one machine will take cash in case you don’t have a chip and pin.

Some tips: (1) Make sure you get on the right train. There are multiple RER C lines. (2) Buy your  tickets in advance so you don’t have to wait in the ticket line. (3) If you arrive in the morning, the lines to the chateau are massive. Do not wait in them. To the very right side you can enter the gardens with zero wait and then go to the chateau in the afternoon when the lines are shorter. We knew we wanted to go to the gardens first but made the mistake of waiting in line (thinking we were in line for the entire place, not just the palace) and then immediately exiting to the gardens not realizing we would have to wait in the same line later when we wanted to go inside the palace. Ugh! (4) Bring a picnic lunch. The food is expensive and not great. They advertise that outside food isn’t allowed, but that isn’t enforced.

The gardens and Marie Antoinette’s estate were my favorite part of the experience, so definitely don’t skip them. They are a LOT less crowded and more enjoyable. Also, the gardens are massive, so wear comfy shoes!

If you wander off the main paths in the garden you will find hidden statues, fountains, and plazas.

As I mentioned, Marie Antoinette estate was less crowded. You feel free to wander the estate at your own pace, and you can get picture of the rooms without people constantly bumping into you.

This might have been the “escape” from the chateau life but it looks pretty royal to me!

In the afternoon, it was finally time to tour Versailles. It was beautiful but too crowded for me. If I had to do it again, I would skip the entire bottom level. It was paintings and history lessons that I already knew. By the time I got to the good stuff, I was already worn out from the crowds. Check out the crowds in the Hall of Mirrors  (3rd picture below)! I can’t imagine peak season… Pro tip: Don’t forget to look at the floors and ceilings! They are amazing.

Paris:

After a full day at Versailles, we made our way back to Paris for dinner, drinks, and cafe. Then, since it was our last night in Paris, we had to check out one more attraction, the Arc de Triomphe! (Stay tuned for Belgium!)