Our family (2 adults and 2 teenagers under 16) plan on going to Versailles on the last Saturday in May. We will be staying in Paris, taking a day trip, and want to see the fountains and gardens of Versailles as well as the Chateau.
I know that I need 2 Forfait Loisirs Chateau De Versailles for the 2 adults.
However, what I need for the teenagers is confusing. I know they get in free to the Chateau. However, do they need tickets to see the fountain show or other parts of the Chateau? If so, can I purchase these in Paris at the same place I get our tickets?
It appears that I can also purchase audioguide tickets for them in Paris and avoid the lines at Versailles - is this true?
And finally, I%26#39;m assuming we%26#39;ll need to purchase some type of transportation for them to Versailles? What would I need to ask for to get them to Versailles with us?
Thanks for any help -- everything I read is for adults and it%26#39;s confusing to figure out what I need for the kids.
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You can purchase advance audio guide tickets for the kids at any FNAC with a ticket counter.
When you go to the RER to purchase Forfait Loisir passes for yourselves, you receive tickets to the Chateau and separate transport tickets. Just ask for round trip tickets for the kids.
As far as I know, there is a charge only for the audio guide for those under 18.
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I concur. Follow the suggestions and you%26#39;ll be fine. The gardens will be an extra 8 euros for the kids. If you have the time, consider renting bikes and riding around the Grand Canal. I just did it with my adult daughters and it was a huge hit. We had big grins on our faces the whole time.
Linda
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I do not think there is a charge for under 18 for the gardens or the fountains. Just the audio guides.
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Please, please, go on the Versailles web site. They have an english site.
There IS a charge for under 18s for the fountains and the audio guides.
The fee is 6 for one 10 for both ( euros of course).
I wish more people would google sites and find the english sites, its not that its not good to get answers on this board, but frankly , sometimes people are wrong, or they forget details, or they do not have kids so therefore didn%26#39;t pay attention to certain things. Or schedules or fees change, so although you may get answers from people that were at one time correct , they are not now.
Anyways, I took my then 14 yr old son a few years ago and got him the audio guide , it was worth it, plus we saw the fountain show and rented bikes in the gardens. I kept my bike for 1/2 hour, and son who was bursting with energy kept his for an hour as I sent him to ride the circle around the canals,, it was perfectly safe and he loved the chance to burn off some energy and not be with me for every second of the trip.
Ticket for metro was 5 something euros.
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Thanks everyone for the info.
And I did go on the English Version of the Versailles site as well many other sites AND vacation books (Rick Steves Paris, EyeWitness, etc). However, the information I got was confusing and conflicting advice. Some sites said that under 18 was free for everything including gardes, some didn%26#39;t address water fountain days. And the Versailles site WAS confusing - at least to me. It specifically says that the Gardens are free access except during the fountains -- but doesn%26#39;t say how much access costs during the fountains and whether under-18 is free. The Audioguide/fountain package is mentioned -- again, nothing is specified about under 18 and I wasn%26#39;t sure if this was the only way to enter the gardens during fountain days - or if there is a separate garden fee during fountain days. I am VERY careful about doing my research before posting a question on this site, but often there is confusion which is why this board can be so helpful.
And, I%26#39;m still confused -- is there a way to pre-purchase the audioguide/fountain ticket at the FNAC stores in Paris before we go to Versailles? And I%26#39;m assuming that I buy them some type of train ticket to Versailles - but is there anything specific I am supposed to ask for (that is, what do I request at the ticket counter). I like to know this in advance so I don%26#39;t waste the ticket sellers%26#39; time trying to figure out exactly what I need.
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Joan, I could be incorrect, but I think you are slightly mistaken.
According to the Official Chateau de Versailles web pages, the One Day pass includes %26quot;Grandes Eaux Musicales%26quot; - and this pass is free to under 18.
%26quot;Audioguide Package
only for people with free access to tour areas
You have a choice between: €6
€10 (with access to Grandes Eaux Musicales days, in high season)%26quot;
I believe that the audioguide costs €6 on non-fountain days and €10 on fountain days.
There is a charge for the audioguide %26quot;only for people with free access to tour areas%26quot;.
I think the charge is for the audioguide only, not access to the fountains. It%26#39;s just that the price is higher on fountain days.
But, for Janet: You can definitely purchase the audioguide tickets for the kids at any FNAC with a ticket counter. I have a list of locations if you need that. You can order online with FNAC. There is even a note that you can print the tickets at home (though I haven%26#39;t tried this). There is a small service charge (€1.60 each) either way. But, it would make more sense to print them at home. However, to purchase tickets with FNAC online, you are required to select a date, which you may not consider a problem.
Once at Versailles, there may be (perhaps someone knows) a separate place, other than the entrance or the ticket booths, to pick up the audioguides. It may not be all that necessary to get the audioguide tickets in advance.
When you go to a station on RER Line C, just hand them the Transilien web page, so they%26#39;ll know what you want. Ask to purchase two adult packages (entrance tickets, transportation tickets) and also two round trip tickets for the RER for the kids.
Please note that there is not always someone on duty at the ticket windows in the RER stations. And, sometimes they are there, but on break or having lunch. (You%26#39;ll see people in the office, but a sign on the window when they%26#39;ll return on duty.) So, it%26#39;s a good idea to drop in a station ahead of time (you can purchase Forfait Loisir packages ahead of the day you plan to go) just to be sure.
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I don%26#39;t find the site confusing. The one day pass has two prices listed. One price is for the days when the fountains run, and one price is for non show days. The fountains do not run every day, only weekends.
Free assess is offered to under 18s but the audio guides and the fountain show does have a fee, which is listed as 6 euros or 11 euros. On non show days the gardens are free to everyone. I am sorry I don%26#39;t know how to be any clearer.
As for buying tickets ahead I don%26#39;t know , the first two times my passes were purchased for me, the next three times I purchased them myself at Versailles, and the last time I was on the bike tour and did they took care of the tickets.
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If there is a separate fee to enter the gardens during fountain days, then why isn%26#39;t that listed on the Versailles website? It just says that gardens are free during non-fountain days. And it makes no sense that you MUST rent the audioguide to get access to the gardens on fountain days. So, I DO find the site confusing. I guess that we%26#39;ll have to sort it out when we get there.
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You do not have to rent the audio guides, ever, and you do not have to pay to enter all the grounds, just the gardens near the palace where all the fountains are.
If you go on the website it actually shows the little kiosks set up behind the palace where you would normally buy your garden tickets on fountain days. They put up temporary rails on show days, you buy the ticket you walk in, no ticket, no assess that way.. BUT you are still free to assess the lower grounds around the canals, the cafe, the bike rental area, and the Grand Trianon and the Hamlet, but you must walk all the way around the walls till you get to the side entrances.. gosh, You know, I do not think I am helping you at all,, it sounds confusing to me now, LOL.
Relax , it will all unfold when you arrive.Get the kids metro tickets, and when you arrive you can get the garden tickets for them, in the garden, if you wait in line to buy them inside where you get the audio guides line could be way too long.
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Joan1 is right, relax. Get the tickets for the adults at the RER C line (make sure it is going in the direction you need), the child%26#39;s round trip RER ticket was 10.80euro (don%26#39;t throw out the ticket, you need it to return). As for the audio guide, it is just a 20-30 sec blurb per room, you can even share it if you want. THe tickets you buy at the Rail station includes the audio guide for the adults. You can buy garden tickets for the children at the entrance to the gardens if the fountains are on, else it is free to enter. You can see the fountains from inside Versailees (windows) if it is on too - good if raining. tip: Go to bathrooms before starting tour - long lines.
BTW, when we went in March, some parts of Versailles were closed, and there was a discount 20euro i/o 30euros combo train/entrance ticket, not sure if its still on.
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