Taking a day trip to the Château de Versailles is an incredibly popular activity among those visiting Paris. People come from around the world to walk the grand halls, take in the intricate details within the seemingly endless rooms, admire the numerous works of art, and enjoy the picturesque gardens. It may seem hard to imagine living in such a grand palace. But a visit to Versailles gives visitors a little look into what life may have been like here for France’s royalty.

Some Versailles History

Versailles has been around for a very long time, serving as a residence for generations of French kings and for various other purposes long after the royal court abandoned it. Covering all of the details of estate history would be lengthy, so here are some brief key points.

Before the construction of the grand Château de Versailles, a small lodge sat here. Louis XIII built it in the 1620s to use as a hunting cabin and countryside escape. His son, Louis XIV also fell in love with the area and decided to expand the château, continuously adding onto it until his death in 1715.

After a period of neglect, Louis XV returned to Versailles with the intention of completing the work of his predecessors. Additions to the estate continued even after his death and during the reign of Louis XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette. Things took a turn with their execution and the beginning of the revolution.

Overall, the estate saw surprisingly minimal damages during the revolution. Efforts to make repairs began around 1790. After the collapse of the monarchy in 1792, many of the paintings and sculptures were moved to the Louvre and many pieces of furniture and other furnishings were sold off.

From this time on, parts of Versailles were used to store important items, converted into a museum, used as a library, made into a venue for parties and political meetings, and more. Repairs and restoration efforts have continued over the decades in order to preserve the estate and its history.

Getting to Versailles

Versailles is a popular day trip from Paris, and there are various ways to reach the town of Versailles using public transport options that run frequently throughout the day.

Take RER line C to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche, train line L to Versailles Rive Droite, or train line N or line U to Versailles Chantiers. Bus line 171 also runs from near the Pont de Sévres station to Versailles. Once you arrive in Versailles, it is about a 10-20 minute walk up to the palace, depending on the station you arrive at.

If you drive and plan to park near the palace, see the website for parking info, opening times, etc.

Sites & Hours

There are multiple sections of Versailles that have varying opening times. These hours also vary depending on season. High season runs from April through October and low season is November through March. Hours at the various sites are as follows.

Versailles Palace

The Palace was the original royal residence. It contains over 2,300 rooms, including the iconic Hall of Mirrors, opera room, and the King’s State Apartment. There are many beautiful spaces to walk through with intricate details and glamorous furnishings.

Palace Hours:

• Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. with last admission at 6 p.m. during the high season
• Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. with last admission at 5 p.m. during the low season
• Closed Mondays

Estate of Trianon

The Estate of Trianon consists of multiple beautiful buildings. The Grand Trianon is a pink marble palace built by Louis XIV as an escape from the court and bustling life at the main palace. It contains another mirrored room and beautiful apartments.

The Petit Trianon was built by Louis XV as a place to enjoy some privacy and spend time in his beloved gardens. It then was given to Marie-Antoinette who spent much time adding onto it. This building eventually became a museum dedicated to her. Here, visitors will find elegant dining halls, a chapel, private chambers, and more.

The Queen’s Hamlet also sits within the Estate of Trianon. There are multiple buildings here along a lake and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Some of these buildings include the Queen’s House, dairy house, the farm houses, guard house, and others. Note that the interior of the Queen’s House may only be visited on a guided tour and the other buildings can only be viewed from outside.

Estate of Trianon Hours:

• Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. with last admission at 6 p.m. during the high season
• Tuesday through Sunday 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with last admission at 5 p.m. during the low season
• Closed Mondays

Gallery of Coaches

The Royal Stables housed many horses used for general transport, hunting, and war. Many coachmen, blacksmiths, veterinarians, and others also worked within these buildings. Today, visitors can see the Gallery of Coaches in the stables. This exhibit houses numerous coaches, carriages, and sleds, all featuring incredible detail.

Gallery of Coaches Hours

• Saturday & Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. with last admission at 5:45 p.m. during the high season
• Saturday & Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with last admission at 4:45 p.m. during the low season
• Closed Monday through Friday

Estate of Marly

The Estate of Marly sits several kilometers away from the main palace. Louis XIV built it as an escape from the court and busy palace. It contains pavilions, gardens and a large park, entertainment halls, and more. The museum exhibits display art and photography, building models, and other items highlighting the estate’s history,

• Daily from 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. with last admission at 7 p.m. during the high season
• Daily from 8 a.m. to either 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. depending on the gate you enter through during the low season. Last admission 30 minutes before close.

Versailles Gardens

In the gardens, you’ll find stunning fountains, sculptures, and picturesque walkways among beautifully maintained green spaces and groves of trees.

Garden Hours

• Daily from 8 a.m. to either 7:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. depending on the gate you enter through during the high season. Last admission at 7 p.m.
• Daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the low season. Entrance through the Dragon Gate every Saturday, Sunday, and certain holidays from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Check the website for more info on the hours and days of Musical Gardens and Fountain Shows and the specific times certain fountains run.

The Park

The park stretches out beyond the garden. Here, there is the Grand Canal where visitors can spend time by the water or rent boats. The park also contains the Lake of the Swiss Guard and various walking trails.

Park Hours

• Daily from 7 a.m. or 9 a.m. to between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. depending on the gate you enter through during the high season
• Daily from 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to either 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. depending on the gate you enter through during the low season

The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery and the Royal Tennis Court are currently closed as of mid-2023.

The hours listed above can vary based on events, weather, holidays, etc. So, check the website for schedule updates, more information on the hours for specific gates, etc.

Versailles Tickets & Fees

There are a variety of ticket options and combinations of activities you can pick from based on the sites you want to see and experiences offered at Versailles. The most common ticket options are as follows:

Passport

Cost: €28 per adult

This ticket grants access to the Versailles Palace, Estate of Trianon, temporary exhibitions, Gallery of Coaches, Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery, and the Musical Gardens and daytime Fountains Shows.

Palace Ticket

Cost: €19.50 per adult

This ticket grants access to the Versailles Palace, temporary exhibitions, Gallery of Coaches, and the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery.

Estate of Trianon

Cost: €12 per adult

This ticket grants access to the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, the Queen’s Hamlet, Gallery of Coaches, Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery, and the Trianon’s respective gardens and temporary exhibits.

Estate of Marly

Cost: €7 per adult

This ticket grants access to the museum at the Estate of Marly. Visiting the surrounding park and gardens is free. We didn’t see a place to reserve tickets to the Estate of Marly online in advance or combine this visit in another ticket package.

Musical Gardens

Cost: €10 per adult

This ticket grants access to the gardens and groves during days when the music displays are on. Note that this doesn’t always coincide with the Musical Fountains. Access to the gardens is free on days when there aren’t musical or fountain shows.

Musical Fountains

Cost: €10.50 per adult

This ticket grants access to the fountains and groves when the water features are timed with musical presentations during the day. Access to the gardens is free on days when there aren’t musical or fountain shows.

Musical Fountains Night Show

Cost: €31 per adult

This ticket grants access to the gardens at night for fountain and light displays, music, and fireworks.

Free Entry

No tickets or reservations are required to visit the park, gardens on days where there are no fountain or musical shows, and Gallery of Coaches.

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As mentioned above, there are various add-ons you can select for an extra cost, such as an equestrian show, mini train transport, and meals. This table from the official website lays out all of the ticket options and add-ons available.

Note that if you opt to visit the palace, you should reserve a time slot, even if you qualify for free admission. You aren’t guaranteed access if you show up without a pre-purchased ticket and reservation. Also note that some options, such as the Gallery of Coaches and fountain shows, may not be open on the day you visit, even if it is included in your ticket selection. So take note of the available sites on the day you plan to visit when deciding on a ticket.

To see if you qualify for free admission, click here. Admission is also free to all on the first Sunday of the month from November to March. Otherwise, buy tickets online here.

Regulations

Food and drink are not permitted in certain areas, including the palace and estates of Trianon and Marly. You can bring a clear water bottle smaller than 500ml inside. Pets are permitted on leash only in the gardens, park, and Marie Antoinette’s Estate.

Visitors cannot use flash photography, tripods, or selfie sticks inside the palace and estates of Trianon and Marly. The use of drones is also not allowed.

There is a free bag storage where visitors can leave bags of a limited size and other items like umbrellas, canes, etc., space permitting.

As with any attraction you visit, please be respectful of all the exhibits, staff, and other visitors who have come to enjoy this beautiful place as well.

Exploring Versailles

Planning Your Visit

The Versailles estate is absolutely massive and we’d recommend dedicating most of a day to seeing it.

We think our most important tip would be to do some research ahead of time to somewhat plan your excursion beforehand. As shown in the sections above, there are many different variables that contribute to your experience, from ticket packages and when the fountains run to the various parts of the estate and their opening hours.

Keep the available attractions for the day of your visit in mind when deciding which ticket to buy. We wanted to see the palace, gardens during the Musical Fountains, park, and Estate of Trianon. So, we planned to visit on a day when these were all an option and bought a Passport Ticket. It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance to guarantee access to the sites and for convenience.

Check out the Versailles interactive map to help plan your visit!

Visiting Versailles

If you want to visit with less crowds, we recommend arriving when the palace opens. We arrived before opening and the estate was absolutely stunning in the morning light. We were one of the first in line. After a quick security check, we entered the palace and it was really nice to be there before the crowds. It was particularly great in the iconic rooms, like the Hall of Mirrors, where we could stroll about and take photos without the room being packed.

After spending the early part of the day wandering the palace, we then headed outside to walk through the gardens. We planned our route based on the timing of the musical fountains. It was early fall and the gardens were beautiful with the changing of the season.

To end our day at the estate, we headed to the Estate of Trianon to walk through these smaller (but equally beautiful) buildings and their respective gardens.

If you’re planning to visit much of the estate on foot, definitely wear comfortable shoes and plan for the weather accordingly.

Guided Tours

The amount of information displayed at Versailles is minimal, so if you’d like to learn more about the history of the place, consider a guided tour. The palace offers guided tours of the palace for an extra €10 for a 1.5h tour. A guided tour allows visitors to see some parts of the palace that cannot be visited without a guide. See more guided tour options and book here.

Additionally, there are tours offered by independent companies that can be found on sites like Get Your Guide and Viator. These often offer perks like transport from Paris and organization of tickets.

Aside from a guided tour, there are audio guides available for €5 that you can reserve online in advance when buying tickets and pick up upon arrival. Alternatively, you can download the free Palace of Versailles app that contains maps and various audio guides for different sections of the estate. The app also provides basic information, including opening times and tips for visiting.

Amenities at Versailles

There are free restrooms and water-filling stations at various points around the estate. There are also multiple information and ticketing points where visitors can ask questions and grab a map.

Visitors can also access various shops that offer sweets, souvenirs, books, and more. Learn more about the specific shops and their hours here.

There are a few dining options on the grounds as well. This includes cafés and snack stands to upscale dining. The options are a bit pricey though, so another option would be to grab lunch in the town of Versailles or bring a picnic to enjoy in the park or gardens. Just remember that food is not permitted in certain areas of the estate.

Lastly, there are options to take the Little Train and rent bikes and golf carts. These can be a convenient way to get around the estate if you don’t have the time or energy to spend walking the whole thing. Row boat rentals are also an option for those looking for a unique way to enjoy the park. Learn more about these rental options here.

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