How to get from the Palace of Versailles to the Eiffel Tower

By car or taxi

Driving from the Palace to the Eiffel Tower typically involves taking the A13 highway or the departmental roads along the Seine. Taxis and rideshare services provide door-to-door convenience, picking up passengers near the Palace entrance.

Under light traffic conditions, the drive lasts about 25 to 35 minutes. However, congestion near the Quai d'Orsay and the Champ de Mars can significantly increase travel time during peak hours.

Parking near the Eiffel Tower is limited and expensive, so a taxi or rideshare is often more practical than a personal rental car for those preferring a private vehicle for this specific urban route.

By metro

While there is no direct Metro line from Versailles, visitors can use a combination of the Transilien train and the Metro system. Travelers take the Transilien Line N from the Versailles Chantiers station to Gare Montparnasse. From Montparnasse, they transfer to Metro Line 6, heading toward Charles de Gaulle-Étoile.

Passengers should exit at the Bir-Hakeim station, which is the closest Metro stop to the Eiffel Tower. This route serves as an excellent alternative if the RER C line experiences maintenance or delays during the tourist season.

By bus

Public bus line 171 offers a unique route that connects Versailles to the edges of Paris, though it requires a transfer to reach the Eiffel Tower. Passengers board the bus at the Versailles Château stop and travel to the Pont de Sèvres terminus. From there, the journey continues via the Paris Metro Line 9 toward Mairie de Montreuil.

Travelers exit at the Trocadéro station, which offers a famous panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower across the river. While the bus provides a more scenic look at the suburban neighborhoods, the total travel time often exceeds 60 minutes.

Photo: “RATP Bus Line 171 Avenue Roger Salengro - Chaville” by Chabe01.

By river shuttle (Batobus)

A seasonal alternative involves taking a train to the city center and transferring to the Batobus river shuttle. Travelers first take the RER C to the Musée d'Orsay or a similar central stop. From the riverbank, they board the hop-on-hop-off water taxi that circulates along the Seine.

The boat stops directly at the Eiffel Tower quay. While this is not the fastest method, it combines transportation with a river cruise experience. The shuttle provides a unique perspective of the Parisian bridges and monuments. This option suits those who wish to avoid the heat or crowds of the underground rail system.

By bicycle

For active travelers, cycling offers a direct and eco-friendly path between the two sites. The route generally follows the Véloscénie or local bike paths through Viroflay and Chaville before entering the city via Boulogne-Billancourt. Once inside Paris, cyclists follow the dedicated lanes along the Quai de Grenelle.

The journey spans roughly 15 kilometers and takes between 50 and 70 minutes at a moderate pace. Numerous self-service bike stations, such as Velib', allow users to pick up and drop off bicycles at both ends of the trip. This method avoids underground tunnels and provides a constant view of French architecture and urban parks.