AROUND THE WORLD · TRAIN EXPERIENCES
The best rail day trips sell their good hours weeks ahead. Below: the 4 to book early, what each one includes and where they differ.
Use a full-day Panoramabahn ticket to circle Schönbrunn Palace Park, stopping at nine points along the route. Hop off for gardens, cafés, the Gloriette, and other sights, then reboard later. Audio commentary is available in seven languages, and the train is wheelchair accessible.
“great to get to the top without walking and see bits only seen on the train.”
Travel from central Paris to Versailles by escorted RER train, then tour the palace and gardens with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Julie, Cecile, Ivan, and Claire bring the royal apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Musical Gardens, and Fountain Show to life.
“Our tour was wonderful! Both of the guides (transportation and Versailles) were knowledgeable, helpful, and SO kind. Berek maneuvered our group through a last-minute train cancellation with ease, which we never would have been able to accomplish alone! Christina was animated and very enjoyable to listen to. Her knowledge about the palace and gardens was impressive! We would recommend this tour to others who are interested in not only seeing the beauty of Versailles, but also those who want to truly engage and learn the history.”
Travel from central Paris to Versailles by escorted RER, then tour the palace, Hall of Mirrors, and royal gardens with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Claire, Adebayo, and Marion bring court life to the rooms, while an upgrade adds Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet.
“What a fun time! Our guide Sylvia had so many fascinating stories to share about the history of Versailles. Highly recommend!”
Meet at Le Peloton Café in the Marais at 8:15 am, take the train to Versailles, then explore the royal gardens by bike and on foot. Guides such as Marley, Jude, David, Ryan, and Cédric bring the palace grounds to life. Buy lunch at the market, visit the Trianons, and tour the palace independently.
“The tour was ok, the guide was good. There were 21 people in our tour which was beyond excessive. That many people can’t bike together down busy city streets. The amount of time consumed waiting for that many people to cross roads, get bikes locked up at every stop etc made this tour one I would NOT recommend. If I was to do it again I’d go to the palace and walk around you could do the same activities in a fraction of the time for a fraction of the price.”
A named palace, a kind of ticket, or a whole country of them.
