Versailles - tour recommendations

[sydks]

In addition to being Uber excited about our upcoming first ever trip to the Champagne region, on the same trip this April we will also be spending a few days in Paris for the first time and a day trip to Versailles is high on the 'to do' list!

Like in Champagne I am looking for a really good quality small group or private full day tour. Looking for options that will start early to beat the crowds and be able to skip queues and get us into some of the more restricted areas like the kings apartments / opera theatre etc.

Finding many options online but so hard to know who's genuinely worth paying a premium for and who's just got a fancy looking website, so if anyone has any first hand experience or recomendations - would love to hear them!

Or if you have any general tips or recommendations for Paris itself (bars/restaurants or sights) please feel free to share as well.

Thanks in advance!
Sydks

 

[Pushka]

In addition to being Uber excited about our upcoming first ever trip to the Champagne region, on the same trip this April we will also be spending a few days in Paris for the first time and a day trip to Versailles is high on the 'to do' list!

Like in Champagne I am looking for a really good quality small group or private full day tour. Looking for options that will start early to beat the crowds and be able to skip queues and get us into some of the more restricted areas like the kings apartments / opera theatre etc.

Finding many options online but so hard to know who's genuinely worth paying a premium for and who's just got a fancy looking website, so if anyone has any first hand experience or recomendations - would love to hear them!

Or if you have any general tips or recommendations for Paris itself (bars/restaurants or sights) please feel free to share as well.

Thanks in advance!
Sydks

I think if you become familiar with the train system it’s easily a DIY. You could use Viator and maybe buy fast track tickets. I’ve missed Versailles the last 2 visits but this time (in June) it’s on the last for sure. Also check the days, it’s closed Mondays and there is a day that is free and which I’ve read is bedlam.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

a day trip to Versailles is high on the 'to do' list!

Best way IMO is to go with Blue Bike Tours on a day trip.

• Catch a train from Paris
• Collect bikes there
• Then visit a local market and buy some food and wine for your lunch
• Ride around the Versailles Grounds - which are vast. Walking is not that suitable due to this whereas going by bicycle is perfect and also allows you to easily visit Marie Antoinette’s private house where she lived and her farm where she acted out the life of a peasant (or at least glam-peasant!)
• And then if the schedule is the same as ours you finish the day with a Versailles Palace (self-guided) Tour when it is not as busy (though Versailles Palace is either busy or madly busy!)

Versailles Bike Tour | #1 Bike Tour TripAdvisor | Blue Bike Tours - Paris

We went years ago when they had not been going that long. Young couple consisting of French Guy with USA wife. We had the wife lead us and she was very knowledgeable and enthused about french History. They have clearly grown since then.

We had a female friend (50+) and her daughter (late 20's) do it with them in 2017 on our recommendation and they both loved it too.

They now run other tours as well. I have not been on those but suspect they would be good too.


PS: This is also a relatively modestly priced tour. But punches above its weight.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

the Champagne region

Sometimes the best things in life are free...in researching our trip to Epernay and Reims I discovered the free Greet Service that matches locals with a passion for their are with visitors.

We liked the sound of Pascal Pécriaux from what we read online, and he had worked his life in the champagne industry, and the walking tour that my wife and i did with him was one of the highlights of our trip.

greeters - - Greeters en champagne

Pascal in full throttle and just for the two of us.​

We followed this up with a Cellar Tour of Moet & Chandon which was very good.

The next day we rented a bicycle we hired bicycles from the Tourist Office (electric ones as we normally use normal bicycles and were curious to try out the electric ones) and road through the countryside and surrounding vineyards and armed with Pascal's knowledge.

One of the things that I did not realise is how interwoven the vineyards are. There is often only a few rows from one house next another. This allows each house to have many variations ion where their grapes are grown so that they can blend achieve just the right result. Each houses vines are identified by these little stones by the side of the road.​

To taste champagne from a number of smaller champagne houses we chose a small wine business in a village for a tasting session.

One of the interesting things in doing this is that various houses will blend the % of grapes differently and tasting in this way allows you to explore this.

In Reims we found a good Champagne Bar to again taste some champagne's that we had not heard of before. You discuss with the hostess what you would like to explore and can either then pay by the glass or buy a package to sample many.

 

[dk4]

Ahhh Versailles, I was there 6 months ago...

The fountains only operate at certain times on certain days (if it is important for you to see them in action).


Inside most people use the self-guided tour, which is hand held up to your ear. You can go as fast or slow as you like, you just press the appropriate button as you enter a room or see a feature.


I find the expansive grounds easy enough to walk around (with enough time), but you can hire your own electric golf buggy, or even queue to take a little tram-style ride around.


And a special shout out to the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, they really do look after me (room service: glass of champagne with that tower seen reflected from my balcony's door)

 

[Anna]

Wish I'd known about the bike tours in 2014. I went to Versailles by train from the CBD, walked around all day on my own, walked (limped) back to the train station, struggled back to the hotel, prised my shoes and socks off and then discovered my feet were bleeding But it was so entrancing and I didn't want to miss anything due to being gutless about pain!

 

[OATEK]

We took the RER out, walked to the Palace, Bought our entry tickets in advance online, skipped the queues and took the self guided tour through the palace (early) to beat the crowds. We then used the hop on/off little train/tram thingy to visit the outliers, including the Theatre, Petite and Grand Trianon etc. Had lunch by the lake. This way we avoided Anna's foot damage.

 

[Azzy]

When I went on the guided tour of The Private Apartments of the Kings a couple of years ago, the Opera House was also included. I see that it is not currently listed on the description but I can't remember if it was on it then.

It's a shame you're not travelling in June as the Fountains Night Show and the Royal Serenade are well worth seeing. The Royal Serenade had performances in various parts of the castle including the Chapel and Hall of Mirrors- Versailles is otherwise closed at that time so there are no other tourists about.