Paris RER C Map: Route, Stations & Versailles Travel Guide

 

RER C at a Glance

Main Route	Pontoise / Versailles / Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines ↔ Paris, Juvisy, Dourdan and Saint-Martin-d’Étampes
Number of Stations	More than 80 stations
Total Length	Approximately 187 km (116 miles)
Travel Time to Versailles	About 40 minutes from central Paris
Travel Time to the Eiffel Tower	A few minutes from central Paris stations
First Train	Around 5:00 AM
Last Train	Around 12:30 AM
Frequency	Every 5 to 15 minutes depending on the route and time of day
Serves Versailles Palace?	Yes
Serves the Eiffel Tower?	Yes (Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel station)
Valid with Navigo Pass?	Yes

 

The Paris RER C map helps you explore some of the most famous attractions in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Versailles and the Seine river. This guide covers routes, stations, ticket prices and practical travel tips.

 

RER C map

 

 

 

RER C Overview

RER C crosses Paris from the north-west to the south. It connects the city of Pontoise in the north, to Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Dourdan-la-Forêt and Saint-Martin-d´Étampes in the south, through the city center of Paris.
Inaugurated in 1980, over 500 trains are running daily over the 187 kilometers of the line. Around 500,000 passengers also use the RER C every day.

 

Tourist attractions on RER C

RER C is known for serving some of the most beautiful monuments in Paris and around the city. It is the only line serving the Palace of Versailles, which is located 20 kilometers away from the city center of Paris. Many sites located around the river inside the boarders of the French capital are also accessible with RER C.

Palace of Versailles

• You can visit the Palace of Versailles, which was the royal residency of Louis XVI, from Versailles-Château / Rive-Gauche station. It is located 500 meters away from the RER C station, a quick walk is therefore needed to get there.

Visit Palace of Versailles for Free

Eiffel Tower

• The Eiffel Tower is also served by RER C, with station Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel. The metro station is located on the Champ de Mars side, you will therefore need to cross the river to reach the Trocadéro square.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

• Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the most beautiful gothic church building in the world, is served by station Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame.

 

Best Way to Get to Versailles from Paris

The RER C is the easiest way to reach the Palace of Versailles from central Paris. The journey takes around 30 to 40 minutes and stops at Versailles Château Rive-Gauche station, located just a short walk from the palace.

 

RER C stations

As the RER C line is follows the river inside the boarders of Paris, it does not serve the exact centre of the city and the big interchange stations. However, many major tourist and transportation locations are situated on the line.

• Versailles – Château / Rive-Gauche station serves the beautiful Palace of Versailles. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes from the center of Paris.
• Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel station is located just next to the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars garden side.
• Invalides RER station serves the palace of Invalides, where the tomb of Napoléon is located, and the national Museum of Army.
• Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station is located just next to Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is know for the terrorist attack which occured in 1995 where 8 people died and 80 were wounded.
• Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand station serves the French national library which holds the name of the former French president.
• Pont de Rungis – Aéroport d’Orly station is connected to a bus line which serves Orly airport in a few minutes.

 

Airports and Train Stations on RER C

Orly Airport

• Orly airport is located 3 kilometers away from the station Pont de Rungis – Aéroport d’Orly. There is a bus connection from the RER C station to the airport. You can check here the different possibilities to reach Paris from Orly airport.
• Train station Gare d’Austerlitz, where you can take a train to the south-west of France, to Bordeaux in particular, is located on RER C line.

 

Metro lines connected to RER C

• Metro 13 at Porte de Clichy.
• Metro 3 at Pereire – Levallois.
• Metro 1 at Neuilly – Porte Maillot.
• Metro 9 at Boulainvilliers.
• Metro 10 at Javel.
• Metro 6 at Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel.
• Metro 8 and metro 13 at Invalides.
• Metro 4, metro 10 and RER B at Saint-Michel – Notre Dame.
• Metro 5 and metro 10 at Paris – Austerlitz.
• Metro 14 at Bibliothèque François Mitterrand.

 

RER C Ticket price

If you take the RER C within the borders of Paris, then the standard metro ticket price applies, €2.15. However, be careful, you will have to pay more if you travel outside of Paris. A ticket from Paris to the Palace of Versailles, for example, costs €4.15.

TIP : Use The 4 Day Paris All-Inclusive Pass and get FREE entrance to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, 1 day hop-on, hop-off Paris bus tour, a Seine river cruise, a French wine tasting in the Louvre cellar and many other activities. You would pay much more if you would buy the tickets for those attractions separately.
 

RER C schedule

You can check the RER C line timetable on the site of Transilien.

Line Invalides – Etampes / St Martin D’Etampes / Angerville

Line Invalides – Dourdan La Forêt

Line Invalides – Brétigny

Line Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel – Juvisy

Line Invalides – Juvisy / Massy Palaiseau / Versailles Chantiers

Line Invalides – Pont de Rungis Aéroport d’Orly / Massy Palaiseau

Line Bibliothèque François Mitterrand – Viroflay RG / Versailles RG / St Quentin en Yvelines

Line Bibliothèque François Mitterrand – Ermont / Pontoise

 

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About the RER C

Does the RER C go to Versailles Palace?

Yes. The RER C provides direct service to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche station, located just a short walk from the entrance of the Palace of Versailles.

How long does it take to get from Paris to Versailles on the RER C?

The journey usually takes between 35 and 45 minutes, depending on your departure station and the train service.

Which RER C station is closest to the Eiffel Tower?

Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel station is located within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and is one of the most convenient ways to reach the monument.

What ticket do I need for the RER C?

For travel within central Paris, a standard metro ticket may be sufficient. Journeys to Versailles and other destinations outside Paris require a dedicated ticket or a valid Navigo Pass.

Can I use my Navigo Pass on the RER C?

Yes. Navigo Pass holders can travel on the RER C within the zones covered by their subscription.

What are the main stations on the RER C?

Major stations include Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel and Versailles Château – Rive Gauche.

Is the RER C the best way to get to Versailles from Paris?

For many visitors, the RER C is the simplest and most affordable public transport option for reaching the Palace of Versailles from central Paris.

Does the RER C run late at night?

Yes. Services generally operate until shortly after midnight, although schedules vary depending on the destination and day of the week.

What is the difference between the RER C and the Paris Metro?

The RER C covers much longer distances than the metro and connects Paris with suburbs and major attractions such as Versailles, while making fewer stops and offering faster journeys.

Which attractions can I visit using the RER C?

The RER C serves many popular attractions, including the Palace of Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Les Invalides, and Saint-Michel in central Paris.

Is the RER C useful for tourists?

Yes. The RER C is one of the most tourist-friendly train lines in Paris because it provides access to several of the city’s most famous landmarks and day-trip destinations.