Bicycling around Versailles

Has anyone ever used Viator for this tour? Any feedback would be most appreciated.

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haven%26#39;t used a tour group, but when we were at Versailles last month, we noticed that there are bikes to hire in the grounds which looked pretty good. They were by the lake.

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Thank you. I have found more info on two companies: BikeAbout Tours and Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris. I think I have a better feel for my options.

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When I went to Versailles, I just asked the nearest person in uniform where I could rent a bike. He gave me a map of the grounds and pointed out each of the bike renting stations. I picked the nearest one and paid about 6E for an hour%26#39;s worth of riding. It%26#39;s a great way to explore the beautiful gardens. Make sure you use the bike bell ;-)

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How did you get to Versailles? Where were you staying? Did you miss having a guide to tell you all the information?

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I was already in Paris, so I took the RER line C to the Chateau de Versailles stop. I rented an apartment on the border of the 7th and 15th arrondissements through ParisAttitude.com. Since I study French history and civilization in school, I already had some familiarity with the place. However, the Michelin Green Guide for Paris has loads of information on the history of Versailles, including a complete map of the grounds.

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This is a bit off the subject, but is there not a special pass that visitors can buy for riding the trains more economically? If you have any info, I%26#39;d love for you to shre it.

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skigirl, please do a quick search for %26quot;navigo decouverte%26quot;... or go here:

transilien.com/web/…en

also:

transilien.com/web/…en

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If you are in Paris for less than a week, I would recommend the Paris Visite Pass. They are priced according to 1) zone: some can be used in Zones 1-3, others Zone 1-6; and 2) amount of days: 1, 2, 3, or 5 days.

Link with more info and prices -%26gt; www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php…

If you will be in Paris for a week or more, you should get a Carte Hebdomadaire (weekly metro pass) instead. They are priced according to zone.

Carte Orange -%26gt;

ratp.info/informer/tarif_abonnements_o.php

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You can rent bikes on the grounds, they go by the 1/2 hour to hour rate, so to rent one for 2 hours is about the same as taking the tour( when you throw in the admission ticket;

We have rented bikes on the grounds, and I have also taken the Fat Tire Bike tour. I really recommend the Fat Tire Bike tour if besides the bike ride you want a little information. We found the guide funny and interesting. Not a %26quot;heavy into history %26quot; tour, but just enough to keep you interested.

They have a web site , just google %26quot;Fat Tire Bike Tours%26quot; You will meet at their office at 7:30 am, ( near Eiffel Tower area) then check out a bike , then they will take you ( you bike) to the train station, you get on the train with your bike, then , in Versailles they will take you to a market to buy picnic supplies. You then bike through the town around back of the grounds of the palace, grounds are HUGE , first stop is the Grand Trianon, the gardens are very pretty, and the view up the canal wonderful. Then you bike to the foot of the Grand Canal for a picnic, amazing vantage point to put in perspective how large Chateau and grounds are.

After lunch bike up to Chatuea and go in, and this is the one dissppointment for me, you have to wait in line to get in, even though they supplied the tickets in advance, the line for security is horrendus. Once in they give you about 2 hours or so on your own.

It was fun.

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NOTE:

the bike stands within the grounds of Versailles may be a SEASONAL vendor, as we (and other posts I%26#39;ve read) were unable to rent in the month of October.