Paris on a Budget: Day 2

To make the most of your 3 days 2 nights Parisian experience, you have two (2) options to choose from where to spend your second day.  For the child at heart, head off to Disneyland Paris  in Marne La Vallée.  This is accessible via RER A Train from Central Paris Stations or for those coming from CDG Airport, there is a TGV train going straight to Disney. 

This place has been in my bucket list at the tender age of 5 and surprisingly enough, Not Disney.  So it was a no brainer for me.  I was extremely excited!  I couldn't wait to see the formal gardens and the interiors of this majestic work of architecture!

The chateau is closed on Mondays! It's usually open daily from 9AM- 5:30PM November to March  and 9AM -6:30PM April to October.   Feel free to purchase entrance tickets online  to avoid the long queues.  Do start your visit early to make the most of your trip there. 

 Your visit is not complete without checking The Hall of Mirrors and the various chambers inside the Grand Palace. There are various audio guided tours available to choose from in several languages. The first half of the day was spent exploring the Grand Palace.  During mid day, we enjoyed our own DIY walk in the Gardens.  

We found a small restaurant outside the palace grounds on the right where we had lunch. I enjoyed my spaghetti bolognese.  Lots of carb burning during this tour so I needed the energy. After lunch, we continued our garden stroll and visited the Trianons. There are two informal restaurants within the gardens; La Flotille and La Petite Venise. There is also a Cafe within.  You will find more restaurants beyond the Palace walls.

This pink marble trianon designed by the architect, Mansart,  was where King Louis XIV stayed surrounded by orderly gardens.  We have witnessed an actual wedding ceremony held there during our visit.