knobs5, here is a little primer on public transportation to Versailles.

The best way from CDG airport to Versailles is by RER suburban train:
1. from CDG, take the RER B3 and get off at St.Michel. Trip time ~33 minutes
2. walk over to the RER C platform, St.Quentin-en-Yvelines/ Versailles Rive Droite direction.
3. Wait for a RER C5 train to Versailles Rive Droite. Trip time ~35 minutes.

Pricing is a little complex, RER pricing being on a zone system (Versailles is in zone 4), and airports being on a different (premium) price scale:
- single ticket from CDG to Paris is, IIRC, €7.70. Covers connection to any metro, but probably not all the way to Versailles.
- Paris-Versailles RER ticket should be ~€3.
- one should be able to buy a CDG-Versailles RER ticket at a manned ticket booth in CDG.
- best bet during stay: Mobilis one day pass, €8.75 for zones 1-4. Not valid on airport bus/trains.
- Paris Visite pass. €16.75/26.65/37.35/45.70 for respectively 1/2/3/5 days for zones 1-5. Valid on airport bus/trains + Montmartre cog train too.

Unlike say Japanese trains, one cannot pay the difference when getting off the train. If the arrival station is unmanned, the recommended solution is to jump the gates

Printable PDF maps of RER and metro lines in Paris can be found here.

Links are in French, for lack of English versions.


There are a number of normally priced restaurants in Versailles. A few on the right side of the château, some more on the main road leading to it, and more in the town center. Keep in mind Versailles is an upscale residential area, not just a tourist town.



[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 10-11-2003).]