How to Get from Montmartre to Versailles (the Easy Way)
The easiest way for us to travel from Montmartre to Versailles was by train.
Traveling by train from Montmartre to Versailles proved to be pretty easy, and here's the full rundown.
During our recent 8-day trip to Paris, we stayed in Montmartre, and with plenty of time on our hands, we knew a visit to the iconic Versailles had to be on the cards. The only question was how we'd actually get there.
Since the Chateau de Versailles was around 22 kilometers from where we were staying (and from central Paris, too), we had to figure out a way to get there that was both quick and cheap. So, we ended up relying on public transport, specifically the good old train.
When the big day of our Versailles trip finally arrived, we still hadn't figured out which train line to take. Our original plan was to catch the RER C from Musée d'Orsay since that's often mentioned as the easiest way to reach Versailles.
The catch was that this station was more than three kilometers from where we were staying in Montmartre. After doing some quick digging, Lucie found that we could also take the L train from Saint-Lazare, just 1.5 kilometers away from the hotel.
With that choice made, we thought we'd give this option a shot first, and if it didn't pan out, we knew exactly what to do next. But since we like to think of ourselves as seasoned travelers, the real question was how hard it could really be. So here's a step-by-step look at how our trip to Versailles actually went!
We began our journey to Versailles in Montmartre.
First We Walked to Gare Saint-Lazare
Our stay was at the lovely Hotel Litteraire Marcel Ayme, and being on the hill meant the walk was mostly downhill and pretty easy. Even with the morning crowds, it only took us about 15 minutes to get to Gare Saint-Lazare.
Just a heads-up, if you want to get to Gare Saint-Lazare from Montmartre by metro, your best bet is Line 12 from either Pigalle or Abbesses to Haussmann Saint-Lazare.
Then We Entered the Train Station
The train station's main entrance faces the fittingly named Rue Saint-Lazare, but coming from Montmartre, we found and took a side entrance on Rue d'Amsterdam instead.
Saint-Lazare was very busy in the morning.
It was a weekday morning, and residents from both the 8th and 9th arrondissements seemed to be flooding into the station for their daily commute. At the same time, people who had arrived were heading out. To say Saint-Lazare was busy that morning is an understatement.
Once inside, just a few meters from the main entrance, we came across the first ticket machine, standing like a small island in a sea of commuters. But since we didn't want to buy tickets surrounded by rushing crowds, we kept going.
We Navigated Through Gare Saint-Lazare
So we left the machine behind and headed deeper into the station, casually chatting about which ticket to buy. As usual, we weren't prepared, but we figured we'd sort it out. Since we weren't sure, we decided to look for the nearest Billetterie (ticket office) first to avoid any surprises.
Since we'd entered through a side door, we actually showed up right by the platforms. So we kept walking, bypassed that area, followed the Sortie/M/RER/BUS/P signs, and after a short walk through a gallery, we reached the main station area, which looked just like a classic shopping mall with escalators, shops, and all the usual stuff.
The billetterie was just up ahead on the right.
Since we entered from Rue d'Amsterdam, we were already on the highest floor, but if you're coming through the main entrance, you'll need to take an escalator to get up here.
Having already been at Gare du Nord after our journey from CDG Airport to Montmartre, this busy station didn't seem too intimidating. That said, if it had been our first experience with a crowded Paris station, it probably would've felt a lot more intense. Keep in mind that along with the L train, this is also the stop for J trains, RER A and E trains, Metro line 9, and buses.
After Locating the Billetterie, We Bought our Tickets.
Anyway, we walked a bit further and eventually found a small Billetterie tucked between the 6-11 and 12-15 train signs. There was a very short line, and after a brief wait, someone let us in to buy tickets, probably because there were six counters but not much room to wait. Luckily, this wasn't like the long lines we faced at Sainte-Chapelle or the Louvre, so we didn't wait more than a minute.
Once inside, we hit another surprise. Earlier, I'd tried to find the train ticket price to Versailles from Montmartre but couldn't get a clear answer (admittedly, I wasn't too thorough). Every result showed a different price, which just made things more confusing.
We asked for round-trip tickets from Gare Saint-Lazare to Versailles and were pretty surprised when the clerk said they cost only €5 each (€2.50 one way). It turns out Versailles is in Zone 4, so it's still inside zones 1 through 5. That was a real bargain and much cheaper than the info I'd found online.
Here's what the ticket machine at Saint-Lazare station looks like.
Buying tickets at the Billetterie felt like the safest option. On the way back, we made a stop at La Défense to top up the Navigo card ourselves, and the process was pretty easy. We started by switching to English, then just followed the steps. The only slightly confusing bit was placing the card on the blue reader (check the picture below). You can also do the whole thing through the Ile-de-France Mobilites app on your phone.
We Located Where the Train to Versailles Was Departing From
With tickets in hand, we set out to find the train to Versailles Rive Droite, the final station on the L line. From here, we turned right, walked around 20 meters, and went through the gallery (look for the violet L sign marked Zone Rose) to reach the main platform. Inside the gallery, we also saw another set of ticket machines, which are handy if you want to skip the Billetterie.
We caught the train from platform 3 in Zone Rose.
The first five platforms were marked Zone Rose, so we scanned the screens to find one showing Versailles Rive Droite. Each platform had a dedicated screen with the next train's details, and because the platforms were side by side, we quickly discovered the train was leaving from Platform 3.
The train was leaving in just four minutes, so we quickly hopped on. Once inside, it was nearly empty, so without much thought, we grabbed seats on the left side.
The train was clean and had seats in funky colors.
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We Took the Versailles-bound Train
Picking seats on the left side on our way to Versailles let us enjoy a pretty view of La Défense and the Seine River, and occasionally we spotted the Eiffel Tower far away. Other than that, it wasn't really a big deal.
We even saw the Eiffel Tower from the train.
According to the screen, the trip was supposed to last 39 minutes, and it pretty much did, maybe a minute more. The train was clean and modern, and with plenty of empty seats, the ride was super comfortable.
Trains to Versailles are pretty frequent. That morning, the next one was leaving in just 9 minutes. Interestingly, each train stops at different stations, and this one was set to take only 36 minutes.
When we arrived in Versailles, we got off the train and made our way to the platform's end, where we went through the turnstiles to validate our tickets. Just behind them was a water fountain, so we filled up our bottles before moving on.
At the end of our journey to Versailles, we had to tap our Navigo card.
Finally We Arrived in Versailles Rive Droite
The only small downside to arriving at Versailles Rive Droite by L Train instead of Versailles Château Rive Gauche by RER C was that it's a bit further from the castle entrance.
The Rive Droite station was roughly 1.3 kilometers from the Pavillon Dufour, while Château Rive Gauche was only about 750 meters away, which is the main entrance for day visitors.
Versailles Rive Droite station was significantly smaller and quieter.
We didn't mind it, really. Because the route was a little longer, we ended up seeing more of the town. About two or three minutes after leaving the station, we walked past the bustling market at Place du Marche Notre-Dame.
At this point, we turned right onto Rue de la Paroisse to check out Eglise Notre-Dame, a 17th-century church. We also popped into a pastry shop on the corner to buy croissants and chocolate rolls, which we saved for a snack later in the castle gardens.
We spent the rest of the day checking out Versailles, including its gardens and Trianon palaces. Once we'd seen everything, we headed back to the train station, stopping briefly at the Coach Museum, which was unfortunately closed for unclear reasons.
There was a huge line when we finally reached the Palace of Versailles.
After Versailles, We Journeyed Back to Paris
Arriving at the station, we noticed the next train to Montmartre was leaving shortly, so we rushed through the turnstiles and caught it just in time. The return trip was meant to take about 40 minutes, but ours ended up longer because we took a detour.
The view of La Defense from the train was pretty amazing.
The L Train route was great because it passed through La Defense. So, on our way back, we thought it made sense to explore this modern side of Paris since it was on the way, and we had a little time to spare.
That's exactly what we did, though we'll save that story for another time. If you've got any questions about this journey, feel free to ask in the comments below!
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Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
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