Introduction: Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles or in French Le Château de Versailles (the castle of Versailles) was the principal residence of the royal family from 1682 under Louis XIV until the French revolution in 1789.
The palace of Versailles is now a historical monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its main feature with the main palace: The Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Opera, the royal apartments. But also, the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon located within the park; the small rustic Hameau (Hamlet) created for Marie Antoinette; and the vast Gardens of Versailles with fountains, canals, and geometric flower beds and groves.
During the French revolution, the Palace of Versailles was stripped of all its furnishings, but many pieces have been returned and some of the palace rooms have been restored.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
Getting to Palace of Versailles
To visit the Palace of Versailles, you can come by car and park in front of site or around the park.
You can also come by public transport:
- From Paris Montparnasse train station, take a train to Versailles Chantier station and then walk 18min
- From Paris Saint Lazare train station, take a train to Versailles Rive Droite and then walk 17 min
- Take the RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche and then walk 10 min
- Bus 171 RATP from Pont de Sèvres to the Palace.
- Shuttle Versaille Express from the Eiffel tower to the Castle from Tuesday to Sunday (low season at 2pm, return at 6pm) (high season, go at 8am and 2pm, return at 12:30pm and 6pm)
Electric Car
But you can rent an electric golf car to go around the gardens and the park of Versailles:
- November and December: 10am to 5pm
- January: annual closure
- February and March: 10am to 5:30 pm
- April to October: 10am to 6:45pm
Price: 1 hour minimum at 36 €/h then 9 € for each additional quarter of an hour
Train of Versailles
Or you can ride on the Versailles train for 8€. The train runs:
- January: 11:10am to 5:10pm (January 1st from 12pm to 5pm). Closed on Mondays outside zone C school holidays.
- February: 11:10am to 5:10pm Closed on Mondays outside zone C school holidays.
- March: 11:10am to 5:10pm
- April to August: 11:30am to 7:10pm (Mondays from 11:10am to 5:10pm)
- September: 10:10am to 6:10pm (Mondays from 11:10am to 5:10pm)
- October: 10:10am to 6:10pm (Mondays from 11:10am to 5:10pm)
- November: 11:10am to 5:10pm. Closed on Mondays outside zone C school holidays.
- December: 11:10am to 5:10pm (December 25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Closed on Mondays outside of zone C school holidays.
Boat
You can rent a small sailing boat an embark on a journey across the Grand canal of Versailles. (30min, 14€, 1h: 18€ and then 4.5€/15min).
Weekday hours:
- March: 1pm to 5:30pm (last ticket at 5 p.m.)
- April, May and June: 11am to 6:45pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- July and August: 10am to 6:45pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- September and October: 1pm to 6:45pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- November (until the 15th): 1pm to 5pm (last ticket 4:30pm)
Weekends and holidays:
- March: 11am to 5:30pm (last ticket 5pm)
- April, May and June: 10:30am to 6:45pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- July and August: 10am to 6:45 pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- September and October: 10:30am to 6:45pm (last ticket 6:15pm)
- November (until the 15th): 11am to 5pm (last ticket 4.30pm)
Rent a bike
Rent a bike at the Saint Antoine gate or at the Queen’s gate. This rental point, open only on weekends and public holidays, allows you to move around the Park and to the Trianon châteaux.
- February (from the 15th): 10am to 5:30pm
- March: 10am to 5.30pm
- April to October: 10am to 6:45pm
- November (until the 15th): 10am to 5pm
- From November 16 to February 14: annual closure
Prices:
- 30 minutes: 7€ ,1 hour: 9€, The additional 1/4h: 2.25€, 1/2 day (4 hours): 19€, 1 day (8 hours): 21€
When to Visit the Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is open every day except Monday from 9am to 6:30am. Entrance offices close at 7pm.
The Trianon is open every day except Monday from 12pm to 6:30pm. Entrance offices close at 5:50pm. The Trianon gardens close at 7:30pm.
The gardens of Versailles are open every day from 8am to 8:30pm. Last admission at 7pm.
The Parc of Versailles is open every day from 7am to 8:30pm
If you want to have the best experience there, get there early or late. Avoid public holiday, weekends, or the high season (July, August)
Where to Stay Near the Palace of Versailles
There are many places where you can stay in Versailles or even in Paris, but if you want to stay close:
- Le Petit Nailly (€) (with a car)
- Les Carrés (€€)
- Le Louis Versailles Château – Mgallery (€€€)
- Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace (€€€€)
Staying near the castle will allow you to be early there. Even if you have a 9am ticket, plan on being there at least 30min earlier if you want to be the first.
What to Eat at the Palace of Versailles
There are a couples of restaurants and snacks area around the Complex of Versailles. You will also fin some juices stale around the complex. But it would not be a bad idea to bring your own food and picnic in the garden or park. That will also save you a lot of money.
Entrance Ticket to the Palace of Versailles
You can buy all the ticket online and we would recommend doing so in advance. Now with the COVID-19, it is even mandatory. This way you will have e-ticket easy to use.
- Palace of Versailles: Ticket all the time: 18€
- Gardens of Versailles: Only free on Wednesday and low season (November to March) (rest of the time there is the Musical garden): 10€
- Park of Versailles: Free
- Domain of Marie-Antoinette: Ticket all the time: 12€
- Combined ticket with everything: 27€ or 20€ on Wednesday
On top of the regular entrance ticket, you also have the guided tour (in French)
- Marie-Antoinette at Versailles: 10€
- Private apartment of the king: 10€
- The apartment of Louis XY daughter: 10€
- At the King’s favourite: 10€
- The Petit Trianon of Marie-Antoinette: 10€
- The Queen’s hamlet: 10€
- At the king’s table: 10€
- Versailles, from the king’s Castle to the republic palace: 10€
- Promenade in the king’s garden: 10€
- The sculpture gallery: 10€
- Tree Story, promenade in the Trianon’s garden: 10€
And the special event:
- the fountains night show: 28€
the Palace of Versailles - Main area
The Place of Versailles
Discover a part of the castle and some incredible place. You start the visit by the main front yard and then visit a series of room full of painting. Later, you will discover the hall of mirrors, the kings’ apartment, the war’s room and much more.
The palace has over 2 300 rooms, but you will not visit them all. Yet plan a good 2 to 3h there.
The Gardens and park of Versailles
The gardens of Versailles are the most beautiful and maintained part of the park. There are over 32 points of interest to see in the 830ha park. There are over 200 000 trees, 210 000 flowers, 55 fountains, 650 water sprinklers and 14 bosquets.
You will need from 2 to 4h to visit all around the Gardens of Versailles. To see the complete park, you will have to add another couple of hours depending on how you feel like.
The Domain of Marie-Antoinette
Also called the little Versailles or Estate of Trianon, it was a more private place for the king and the queen. It is made of the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Queen’s Hamlet. It’s also surrounded by a private park.
Plan here also 2 to 3h to visit it and its garden.
Other events in the Palace of Versailles
Musical Garden
Every Tuesdays from June 30th to October 27th and Every Fridays from June 12th to October 30th, the musical garden is on at Versailles on Tuesdays and Fridays. At this time music is played throughout the garden.
Musical fountains show
Every Saturdays and Sundays from June 6th to November 1st. Set out to explore the fountains and groves with their water features spouting to the rhythm of music.
Night fountains show
Every Saturday from June 27th to September 19th. From 8.30pm to 10.40pm and fireworks from 10.50pm to 11.05pm (water displays from 8.30pm to 10.45pm)
When night falls, the Gardens are transformed to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects.
Royal serenade
Every Saturday from June 13th to September 19th. Departures at 6.30pm, 6.50pm, 7.10pm, 7.30pm and 7.50pm
After the Musical Fountains Shows or before the Night Fountains Shows, the musicians and dancers of the Compagnie Baroque await you to join in a French-style ball in the sumptuous setting of the Hall of Mirrors.
Palace of Versailles Guided tour
Marie-Antoinette at Versailles
Behind her state apartment, the Queen had interior rooms, in which she often took refuge to escape the heaviness of official life. Precious furniture, paintings and works of art evoke Marie-Antoinette’s personality and lifestyle, her passion for decoration, the arts and fashion.
Duration: about 1h15
Private apartment of the king
Behind the walls and the pageantry of the Grand Apartments lie the private apartments of the kings. Discover the intimate atmosphere and the refined decor of the living rooms: the dining room, the Pendulum cabinet and the games room.
Duration: about 1h15
The apartment of Louis XV daughter
Two royal princesses, Madame Adélaïde and Madame Victoire, affectionately known as “Loque” and “Coche” by their father, lived in these apartments until the Revolution. Located below the Grand Apartment, they were the sumptuous living environment of these women with a pronounced taste for “modern” art.
Duration: about 1h15
At the King’s favourite
Royal favorites have sometimes made the history and legend of Versailles. Madame de Pompadour, Madame du Barry, both occupied luxurious accommodation, in the immediate vicinity of the small apartments of King Louis XV. Beyond the visit of magnificent places, this theme makes it possible to evoke an essential part of the daily life of kings.
Duration: about 1h15
The Petit Trianon of Marie-Antoinette
In 1774, the Queen was offered the Petit Trianon by Louis XVI. The domain will become his kingdom. Freed from the label, she creates a world there that reflects her personality and the fashion of her time.
Duration: about 1h15
The Queen’s hamlet
At the end of the estate, along the shores of the lake, stand the hamlet cottages built by Richard Mique for Marie-Antoinette. Survivors of a brilliant and eventful era, they illustrate the Queen’s taste for the charm of country life. Their interior reveals a refined decor that contrasts with their rustic appearance. To rediscover thanks to the restoration work.
Duration: around 1h30
At the king’s table
A true model throughout Europe, the table of the royal family meets the requirements of sovereigns and reflects the transformations of court life. Between large public feasts and meals taken in private, the ceremonial is more or less developed and the dishes vary.
Duration: 1h30
Versailles, from the king’s Castle to the republic palace
Along a wide route through the corridors and alleys of Versailles, discover the Château in its most diverse and sometimes lesser-known facets. Royal residence but also Palace of the Republic, museum of the History of France and place of contemporary creation.
Duration: around 1h30
Promenade in the king’s garden
At the foot of the Castle are the gardens of Le Nôtre, remarkable for their composition combining symmetries, perspectives and optical games. It is good to stroll and marvel at the botanical treasures. At the bend of the alleys, let yourself be surprised by the groves, these green rooms where the greatest fantasy reigned.
Duration: around 1h30
The sculpture gallery
A sort of Noah’s ark which collects statues that are too fragile to remain in the Gardens, the gallery
of sculptures and casts has become over the years, for those passionate about statuary art, a veritable Ali-Baba’s cave. Since the 2000s, sheltering statues has become more systematic. The exceptional opening of this space, close to the reserve, gives the public the opportunity to re-examine among the masterpieces of French sculpture, the Horses of the Sun through the Apollo served by the nymphs.
Duration: about 1h15
Tree Story, promenade in the Trianon’s garden
What do the Japanese Sophora, the Giant Sequoia or the Tortillard Beech tell us? To walk from tree to tree is to walk through a history, marked at Trianon by the experiments of Louis XV, the great maritime expeditions and the pranks of Marie-Antoinette. It also means listening to the rustling of the leaves, feeling the creaking of the bark, understanding the way the Domaine is managed and remembering the dangers that these giants can incur.
Duration: around 1h30
There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself. – Louis XIV
