NEAR PARIS - France 2014 - page 315

In general, allow 1.5 hours each for the Château, the Gardens, and the Trianon/Do-
maine. Add another two hours for round-trip transit, plus another hour for lunch, and
you're looking at an eight-hour day—at the very least.
Orientation
Cost: Buy either a Paris Museum Pass or a Versailles Le Passeport Pass, both of which
giveyouaccesstothemostimportantpartsofthecomplex(see“Passes”later).Ifyou
don't get a pass, buy individual tickets for each of the three different sections.
The Château: €15, includes audioguide, under 18 free. Covers the famous Hall of
Mirrors, the king and queen's living quarters, many lesser rooms, and any temporary
exhibitions. For €1 more, you can get a guided tour of the Château—a sensational
deal (see “Guided Tours,” later). Free on the first Sunday of off-season months (Nov-
March only).
The Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette: €10, no audioguide
available, under 18 free. Covers the Grand Trianon and its gardens, the Petit Trianon,
the queen's Hamlet, and a smattering of nearby buildings. Free on the first Sunday of
off-season months (Nov-March only).
The Gardens: Free,exceptonSpectacledays,whenadmissionis€8.50(weekends
April-Oct plus many Tue; see “Spectacles in the Gardens,” later).
Passes: Thefollowingpassescansavemoneyandallowyoutoskipthelongticket-buying
lines (but not security checks before entering the palaces). Both passes include the
Château audioguide.
The Paris Museum Pass (see here ) covers the Château and the Trianon/Domaine
area (a €25 value) and is the best solution for most. It doesn't include the Gardens on
Spectacle days.
The Le Passeport one-day pass costs €18 and covers the Château and the Trianon/
Domaine area. The price bumps up to €25 on Spectacle days.
Buying Passes and Tickets: It's best to buy tickets or passes before arriving at the
Château. They're easiest to get at the municipal TI in Versailles: You'll walk right by
theofficeonyourwaytotheChâteaufromtheRERstation(see“Information,”later).
Versailles tickets are also available at any Paris TI, FNAC department store (small
fee),oronlineat www.chateauversailles.fr (printoutyourpass/ticketorpickitupnear
the entrance).
Your last option is to buy your pass or ticket at the Château ticket-sales office (to
theleftasyoufacethepalace).TicketwindowsacceptAmericancreditcardsbuthave