Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris, but how you plan your visit can make an enormous difference in your experience.
Tim and I have visited the Palace of Versailles twice, and those two visits could not have been more different. On our first visit, we arrived mid-morning on a rainy October weekend with our kids and found the palace absolutely packed. More recently, we returned with a 9 am timed entry and walked through several rooms with few other people around, including the spectacular Hall of Mirrors.
In this guide, we cover how to visit Versailles from Paris, including which tickets to buy, how to get here, the best time to enter the palace, how much time you need, and how to plan your day. We also share the lessons we learned from our two very different visits, so you can avoid the crowds as much as possible and have the best experience at Versailles.
Our Versailles Experiences
We have visited Versailles twice, and our first visit taught us exactly what not to do. We arrived by train from Paris mid-morning on a rainy October weekend with our kids. The palace was so crowded that it felt like everyone visiting Versailles that day was squeezed into the same rooms. Our kids were miserable, we weren’t having much fun either, and afterward we spent a short time walking through the gardens in the drizzly rain.
Years later, Tim and I returned on an unusually hot September day, when temperatures reached 97°F (36°C). This time, we booked our tickets in advance for the first entry of the day. The difference was remarkable. We walked through several palace rooms with few to no other visitors and even had wonderfully uncrowded views of the Hall of Mirrors. Although the extreme heat made exploring the gardens challenging, we covered a lot of the estate on foot and also used the tram.
This guide combines what we learned from both visits—one poorly timed and extremely crowded, the other carefully planned and dramatically better—to help you make the most of your day at Versailles.
How to Visit Versailles: At a Glance
BEST FOR | Half-day or full-day trip from Paris
BEST TIME TO ENTER THE PALACE | 9 am
TIME NEEDED | 2 to 4 hours for the Palace and gardens; up to 8 hours for the full estate
BEST TICKET FOR MOST VISITORS | Passport ticket
GETTING THERE | RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche
TRAVEL TIME FROM PARIS | About 30 to 45 minutes
CLOSED | Mondays
DON’T MISS | Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments & Gardens
WITH MORE TIME | Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon & Queen’s Hamlet
OUR #1 TIP | Book the 9 am Palace entry and arrive before opening
Things to Do at the Palace of Versailles
On a day trip to Versailles, touring the palace and strolling through the gardens are the main things to do, but you can also visit the Trianon Estate, cycle through the park, or visit a few galleries where sculptures and luxurious coaches are on display.
The map below marks all of these locations to help you plan your route: dark blue pins are buildings, light blue pins are notable sights in the gardens, red pins are restaurants, and yellow pins are transportation options.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Tour the Palace
Touring the palace is the top thing to do on a visit to Versailles.
Louis XIV, Benjamin Franklin, King Louis XVI, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Marie Antoinette all graced these hallowed halls. Numerous war ending treaties were signed in the palace and Mozart performed here at the very young age of 7 years old.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The palace is a maze of luxurious rooms…2,300 rooms according to the official website. This becomes a very crowded place to visit midday, so, for the best experience, plan to visit the palace first thing in the morning or late in the day.
There are a few notable rooms to visit. On this list are the Hall of Mirrors, Marie-Antoinette’s private chambers, the Royal Chapel, the Gallery of Battles, and numerous apartments of the kings and queens.
On our most recent visit, we had tickets for right at opening time. We arrived in Versailles at 8:30 am to be among the first in line, and once inside the gates, we headed straight for the Grands Appartements/Galerie des Glaces (State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors) to see them with the lowest possible crowds.
Walking through these immense, lavishly decorated rooms almost entirely on our own, save for a few other early visitors and docents, was incredible. It was a completely different experience from our first visit with our kids, when the palace was wall-to-wall people.
Here are a few photos of the palace. Since we visited Versailles at opening time and immediately entered the palace, you’ll see little to no people in our photos.
The Royal Chapel
The Mercury Salon
Hall of Mirrors (we took this photo just a few minutes after the palace opened)
Hall of Mirrors
Looking from the Salon of War into the Hall of Mirrors
COOL FACT: The Hall of Mirrors gets its name for the 357 mirrors on the walls. When this room was constructed, France wanted to demonstrate its might by challenging Venice’s monopoly on mirrors, which were very valuable at the time. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in this room on June 28, 1919, ending the First World War.
The Queen’s bedchamber
The Coronation Room
The Dauphin Apartments
Marie Antoinette’s bedchamber
Stroll through the Gardens
Our Take: Absolutely worth it. The view of the Orangery alone is gorgeous, and the gardens are tranquil, fun to explore, and a welcome escape if the palace felt overwhelming during your visit.
With tree covered walkways, ornately manicured gardens, enormous green lawns, and walking paths adorned with sculptures, the gardens are also well worth your time. In fact, if you toured the palace midday when it is at its busiest, exiting out into these beautiful gardens is pure bliss.
On our most recent visit, we walked through the gardens in 97°F heat. It felt sweltering, so we hopped on the tram a few times to save our steps and cool off.
The Orangery
The Colonnade Grove
We took this photo of the Latona Basin while the Musical Fountains Show was running
It takes several hours to explore all of the gardens. However, you can pick just a small part of the gardens. We like the walk through Bosquet de la Girandole and Bosquet de la Colonnade (the Colonnade Grove).
If you are visiting at a time when the fountain show is running, it’s worth waiting to see Latona’s Pool in action. This fountain sits near the palace and has benches around it that make a great place to sit and take a break.
Watch the Musical Fountains Show
Our Take: Nice to see, but not worth planning your visit around, since it only runs a few days a week.
From April 5 to October 26, the fountains in the gardens come to life, paired with music. This is only offered several days a week (generally Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday) and when this is running, you must pay a fee to enter the gardens. You can get hours and pricing here.
We visited Versailles on a day the Musical Fountains Show was running. We thought it was nice but it’s not a must do. Strolling through the gardens without the music is a great experience, plus the gardens are free to visit when these special programs are not running.
Latona’s Pool
Visit the Estate of Trianon
Our Take: Worth adding if you have more time. But if you only have a few days in Paris, we’d skip it and spend that time in the city instead.
The Estate of Trianon is tucked away within the gardens, a hamlet for the kings and queens who wanted solitude and peace, away from the palace.
The Grand Trianon was built by Louis XIV as a private residence. It was known as the ‘Marble Trianon” for its pink marble panels. The colonnaded gallery, also called the peristyle, is one of the most popular things to see at the Grand Trianon.
The Mirror Room in the Grand Trianon
The Peristyle
The Peristyle
The Petit Trianon was originally constructed for Louis XV and his mistress in 1768. However, it was later gifted to Marie-Antoinette by Louis XVI. Marie-Antoinette redesigned the surrounding gardens and this became her sanctuary away from the palace.
The Marble Staircase in the Petit Trianon
The Queen’s Hamlet is a small village set around a lake. It was commissioned by Marie-Antoinette and has the appearance of a quaint, rustic village.
Cycle through the Park
The Park is an enormous area filled with forests and grassy areas. This sits on the western end of the palace grounds. On a quick visit to Versailles, visiting the park is not worth the time, in my opinion, but if you plan to spend a full day here, you can rent bicycles and cycle around the park and the gardens. Bicycles can be rented at ASTEL, which is near the Apollo Fountain and Little Venice.
Paddle on the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the large body of water that sits in the park. Rowboats can be rented for a half hour or longer from the shop in Little Venice. Get hours and pricing here.
The Grand Canal and the Park
Rowboats for rent
The Coach Gallery
Located in the Great Stables, which sits outside of the palace gates, within the town of Versailles, is a museum containing a collection of coaches used at Versailles.
The Coach Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery
Located in the Small Stables, not far from the Great Stables, are copies of Greek and Roman statues as well as original sculptures from the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
This one surprised us. It’s more interesting than we expected.
The Sculpture Gallery
Restaurants in Versailles
There are a bunch of restaurants at the Palace of Versailles, ranging from take-away shops to full-service restaurants.
La Flottile. This restaurant is in Little Venice, near Apollo’s Fountain. We had lunch here. The food is decent and it has a good location and a nice outdoor setting.
La Flottile
La Petit Venise. This Italian restaurant is located in Little Venice. It is open for lunch through 6 pm and has indoor and outdoor seating.
La Petit Venise
Grand Café d’Orleans. This restaurant is located in the palace and serves sandwiches and desserts.
Angelina. Angelina is a famous pastry and tea shop. They have a small, outdoor cafeteria at the Trianon Estate and a larger indoor restaurant at Pavilion Dufour. We stopped at their outdoor location for a snack before heading to the Trianon. It’s a nice place to take a break in the shade.
Laduree. Laduree has a small café in the basement of the palace. We stopped here for espressos before heading out into the gardens.
Laduree at Versailles
Le Dauphin and La Girandole are two small cafes located in the gardens.
Ore. Located on the first floor of the Dufour Pavilion, this elegant restaurant is run by Alain Ducasse and it is open for breakfast and lunch (until 6 pm).
And of course, you can pack a picnic and have a picnic lunch in the park (just be aware that picnics are not allowed in the Gardens of Versailles).
Our Recommendations: Must See’s in Versailles
The must-have experiences are touring the palace and strolling through the gardens. Together, plan on 2 to 4 hours.
For those who want to explore farther, it’s worth adding on the Trianon Estate to see the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet. This adds another 1.5 to 2 hours to your visit.
Visiting the Gallery of Coaches and Sculpture Gallery is only worth it if you have a specific interest in these. For most people, we don’t think it’s worth the extra time.
How Much Time Do You Need at Versailles?
On the shortest of visits, plan on spending 2 to 3 hours at Versailles, which is just enough time to tour the palace and stroll through part of the gardens. If you want to see the gardens in full, budget closer to 4 hours for the palace and gardens combined.
Add on another 1.5 to 2 hours to visit the Trianon Estate.
With travel time to and from Paris, the entire visit will last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
It’s easy to spend a full day at Versailles, taking time for a leisurely lunch, cycling through the park or paddling a boat on the Grand Canal, and visiting the Gallery of Coaches and Sculpture Gallery.
In the evenings on some days of the week, there are also special events, such as nighttime fountain shows and the Royal Serenade.
When is the Palace of Versailles Open?
The Gardens are open every day from 8 am to 8:30 pm, and the Park is open every day from 7 am to 8:30 pm.
The Palace and the Estate of Trianon are open every day except Monday. The Palace opens at 9 am, and the Estate of Trianon opens between 10 am and 12 pm, depending on the time of year.
The Gallery of Coaches and the Sculpture Gallery are open only on Saturday and Sunday.
For hours, visit the official website, since each building has a different set of hours.
The Gallery of Battles
Best Time of Day to Visit Versailles
The best time of day to visit Versailles is first thing in the morning. The Palace opens at 9 am, so we recommend getting in line to enter the palace at 9 am, or even earlier. We got in line at 8:30 am and a small line had already formed. By 9 am, this line snaked across the large courtyard in front of the palace. If you want to tour the rooms of the palace with just a handful of people (like we did), plan on getting here early.
We have also visited Versailles midday on a different trip to Paris. The rooms become swamped with people and it’s a much different experience. It’s well worth waking up early to visit Versailles when it opens. Or, visit at the end of the day.
The line to enter Versailles at opening time
Versailles Tickets: Which One Should You Buy?
There are a confusing number of ticket options for Versailles. Hopefully, I can help clear up some of this confusion.
Any ticket that includes the Palace will be booked with a time slot. 9 am is the best time to enter, to avoid the worst of the crowds.
If you only plan to visit the gardens, this is free on the days when there are no Musical Gardens or Musical Fountain shows (get those dates here).
Here are the ticket options:
Passport: 35€ (peak season pricing). This gives you access to everything: timed entry to the Palace, the Estate of Trianon, the Gallery of Coaches, the Sculpture Gallery, and the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show.
Estate of Trianon Ticket: 15€. This ticket gives you access to the Estate of Trianon plus the Gallery of Coaches and Sculpture Gallery. It does not include the Palace.
Musical Fountains Show Ticket: 15€. This gives you access to the Gardens when the Musical Fountains Show is in session. It does not include the Palace.
Musical Gardens Ticket: 15€. This gives you access to the Gardens when the Musical Gardens Show is in session. It does not include the Palace.
Musical Gardens/Musical Fountain Show + Estate of Trianon: 20€. For visitors who wish to tour the Estate but not the Palace, or if all Palace tours are fully booked.
And that’s just a few of the options. You can also get tickets that add on a rowboat ride, a lunch, a bike ride, or an equestrian show. Unless you know 100% that you want to add on one of these options, I don’t think it’s worth adding on to your ticket. These can be purchased on the spot as you tour the Palace and Gardens.
Our Ticket Recommendations
- For most first-time visitors → Passport. This is our recommendation. Book the 9 am Palace entry and then visit the Gardens and, if you have enough time, the Trianon Estate.
- Only visiting the Palace and Gardens for a few hours → Passport. You may not use everything included with the ticket, but the Passport is still the standard ticket that gets you into the Palace.
- Visiting Versailles without the Palace → Estate of Trianon ticket or the Gardens + Trianon combination ticket.
- Only want to see the Gardens → The Gardens are free during low season and whenever the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show is not taking place. On show days, purchase the Gardens ticket.
- Want to save money and don’t mind visiting late → Discounted Late-Entry Passport. Just be aware that we strongly prefer the 9 am entry for the crowd-free experience.
Free Admission to Versailles
Admission to the Palace and Estate of Trianon is free for several groups, including all visitors under 18 and EEA nationals or residents under 26. However, even visitors who qualify for free admission must reserve a timed entry to the Palace.
During high season, free admission to the Palace and Trianon does not necessarily include the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show, so check the ticket requirements for your visit date.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Purchase your tickets on the official Versailles website as soon as you know your travel dates, particularly if you want the 9 am Palace entry. On our second visit, this early time slot made an enormous difference: we were able to walk through several rooms with few other visitors, including the Hall of Mirrors.
How to Plan a Versailles Day Trip from Paris: Detailed Itinerary
For the best use of your time, here is an itinerary for how to plan your day trip from Paris to Versailles. Purchase your ticket online in advance for a 9 am entry into the Palace.
8:20 am: Arrive in Versailles. If you plan to travel by train, plan on boarding the train no later than 7:50 am, arriving at the Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station by 8:20 am. This gives you 10 minutes to walk to the Palace to be in line by 8:30 am. You can get here later, if touring the rooms without a lot of other people is not a big deal for you.
9:00 am: Enter the Palace. Go straight to the Grands Appartements/Galerie des Glaces (State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors), to tour the state apartments and see the Hall of Mirrors. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to tour these rooms, up to an hour if it is very crowded.
9:45 am: Appartements de la Dauphine. This is the second group of rooms you can tour at the palace. Here you will see Marie-Antoinette’s private chambers as well as the apartments of other nobility.
10:15 am: The Gardens of Versailles. Exit the Palace into the gardens. If you need a coffee or snack, you’ll pass the Laduree café on the way out of the Palace. Then spend the next hour or two exploring the gardens. You can walk, hire a golf cart, or use the Little Train to get around. If you are here when the Musical Fountains Show is in session, it’s worth seeing Latona’s Pool come alive with the music in the background.
11:45 am: Lunch. Have picnic in the Park or eat at La Flotille.
12:45 pm: Visit the Estate of Trianon.
2:45 pm: Exit Versailles. The fastest way to exit Versailles from the Estate of Trianon is to take the Little Train to the Palace (or a golf cart, if you rented one). Once you exit the property, you have the option to visit the Gallery of Coaches or the Sculpture Gallery (if they are open today), before heading back to Paris.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: To keep your visit to half a day, visit the Palace and Gardens and skip the Estate of Trianon. If you have limited time in Paris (3 days or less), I think your afternoon is better spent in Paris than visiting the Estate of Trianon.
The Hall of Mirrors
How to Get to Versailles from Paris
Versailles is about 20 km (12 miles) southwest of central Paris and is easy to reach by train. For most visitors, taking the train is the easiest and most economical way to get to Versailles. This is how we traveled here on our first visit.
There are three train stations in Versailles that are within walking distance of the palace. Which one is best depends on where you are staying in Paris.
By Train
RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche
Versailles Château–Rive Gauche is the closest train station to the Palace of Versailles, about a 10-minute walk from the entrance. For many visitors staying in central Paris, this is the most convenient option.
Take the RER C in the direction of Versailles Château–Rive Gauche and get off at the final stop. From the station, it is an easy, well-marked walk to the palace.
If you are staying near the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Michel, or another RER C station, this will generally be your best option.
Train from Gare Montparnasse
From Gare Montparnasse, take a Transilien train to Versailles Chantiers. From here, it is about an 18-minute walk to the palace.
This can be the better option if you are staying near Montparnasse or elsewhere on the Left Bank and can easily reach this station.
Train from Gare Saint-Lazare
Trains from Gare Saint-Lazare travel to Versailles Rive Droite. From the station, it is about a 17-minute walk to the Palace of Versailles.
This can be a convenient choice if you are staying near the Opéra, Madeleine, or Gare Saint-Lazare area.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Before your visit, use Google Maps or the Île-de-France Mobilités app to determine which of these three routes is fastest from your hotel. Don’t automatically route yourself to the RER C if another train station is more convenient.
How Much Does the Train to Versailles Cost?
A Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 per trip and is valid throughout the Île-de-France region, excluding airport trips. This means you no longer need to purchase a special origin-to-destination train ticket to travel between Paris and Versailles.
Tickets can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass or purchased and stored on a compatible smartphone.
You will need a ticket for the trip to Versailles and another for the return to Paris, unless your transportation pass already covers the journey.
IMPORTANT: There are several stations in Versailles. If you take the RER C, make sure your destination is Versailles Château–Rive Gauche, not another station with “Versailles” in its name.
By Car
You can also drive to Versailles, but we don’t recommend renting a car solely for this day trip. Taking the train from Paris is generally easier than dealing with Paris traffic and parking.
If Versailles is part of a larger road trip through France, parking is available near the palace and at several locations around the estate.
How to Get Around the Palace of Versailles & the Gardens
The cheapest but slowest way to get around the palace and the gardens is on foot.
But don’t underestimate the size of this estate. The gardens of Versailles are massive.
To walk from the palace to the Estate of Trianon, you are looking at a 30-minute walk one-way (2 km/1.25 miles).
Tim and I easily walked 5 miles, touring the palace, strolling the gardens, visiting the Trianon Estate, and then walking to the Gallery of Coaches and Sculpture Gallery.
Fortunately, there are ways to save your steps:
Your first option is to rent a bike and cycle from place to place (definitely worth it to get out to the Estate of Trianon). Bicycles can be rented in Little Venice, near the Grand Canal.
Option #2 is to rent an electric golf cart and use this to get around the gardens. You’ll get to see a lot without expending a lot of energy. However, it is pricey, costing just over €42 per hour, although there is a discount for disabled people. These golf carts can be rented in the gardens, right next to the palace. Get pricing here.
Electric Golf Carts
And finally, you can take the Little Train. This is a much cheaper option (€9 full rate, €5 for a single journey) which connects the palace with the Trianon Estate and gardens. You don’t have the freedom and flexibility as you do with the golf cart, but it is a great way to get out to the Estate of Trianon. Learn more here.
The Little Train
How to Avoid the Lines at Versailles
Tickets can be purchased on site at Versailles, at the Palace ticket office in the South Ministers’ Wing. Lines to purchase tickets can be very long, up to 1 to 2 hours. On busy days, tickets can sell out, so you risk not being able to enter the palace if you wait to purchase your tickets on site at Versailles.
The best way to skip this ticket line is to book your entry ticket online in advance on the official website. This allows you to skip the ticket line. You will book your ticket for a time slot to enter the palace. 9 am is opening time and the best time to visit the palace with the smallest number of people.
However, you will still have to wait in a security line. This wait can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 30 minutes, depending on the time of year (July and August tend to be the busiest months to visit Versailles, followed by weekends and holidays).
If you are unable to purchase a ticket online in advance, your next best option is to join a guided tour. This guided tour includes your transportation to and from Paris.
Is a Guided Tour of Versailles Worth It?
For most visitors, you do not need a guided tour to visit Versailles. Visiting Versailles on your own is easy if you follow our tips and buy your tickets online in advance.
A guided tour can be worth it if you want more historical context, prefer to have transportation and ticketing arranged for you, or are visiting during a busy time when independent Palace tickets are sold out. A good guide can also help make sense of the enormous palace and explain the significance of rooms and details you might otherwise walk past.
This highly rated tour includes your transportation from Paris, with the option to add on the Trianon Estate. You tour the palace with an audio guide.
Tour the palace and gardens with an experienced guide and enter the palace through a separate entrance. This tour does not include transportation from Paris.
This small group tour includes your transportation from Paris to Versailles by train and detailed tour of the palace with a guide.
Finally, this full day tour includes a visit to Versailles and Monet’s Giverny estate.
Versailles Tours
Helpful Tips for Visiting Versailles
Purchase your ticket online in advance. This will save you a long wait in line at the ticket office at the palace.
The Palace of Versailles frequently hosts special events and temporary exhibitions. Before your visit, check the official website for upcoming events.
Double check hours of operation before you go. Some events, such as the Musical Fountains Show, are not in session every day. It’s also a good idea to check updated conditions (during our visit, the Musical Fountains Show was in session, but operating at a reduced schedule because of drought conditions).
Tuesdays and weekends are the busiest days of the week to visit Versailles. And remember, it is closed on Monday!
What is the Palace of Versailles?
What began in 1623 as a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII grew into the palace we see today between 1661 and 1715, when Louis XIV expanded it into an extravagant royal residence. In 1682, he moved the seat of the French government here from the Louvre, and for just over a century, French kings ruled from Versailles until the French Revolution in 1789.
The palace’s history extends beyond France’s own story. In 1783, the Peace of Paris was signed here, formally ending the American Revolutionary War. In the 19th century, it saw renewed use as a royal residence under Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis XVIII, Louis-Philippe, and Napoleon III.
Today, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe and the world, drawing about 15 million visitors a year. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to visit Versailles?
A visit to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles takes 2 to 3 hours, just to see the highlights. With more time, visit the Trianon Estate, cycle through the park, and visit the Gallery of Coaches and the Sculpture Gallery. Most people visit Versailles in a half day from Paris but with so much to see and do, it’s easy to spend a full day here.
Can you just walk around Versailles?
The gardens of the Palace of Versailles are free to visit on days when the Musical Gardens and Musical Fountains Show are not in session. When the Musical Gardens and Fountain Shows are in session, you will need a paid ticket to enter the gardens. The only way to visit the interior of the Palace of Versailles is with a timed entry ticket.
Is Versailles worth it?
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world to visit. Once home to the kings and queens of France, a few very important historical events occurred here, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War. Versailles is one of the best day trips from Paris and one of the top tourist attractions in the world.
What is the best day of the week to visit Versailles?
Wednesday and Thursday are generally the best days to visit Versailles if you want to avoid the largest crowds. The Palace is closed on Monday, and Versailles specifically notes that Tuesdays and weekends tend to be especially busy. Regardless of the day you choose, we think the most important thing you can do is book the 9 am Palace entry. The difference between our crowded mid-morning visit and our 9 am visit was enormous.
Can you bring food into Versailles?
You can bring food to Versailles, but food and drinks are not permitted inside the Palace or Trianon museums. If you want to have a picnic, the best place is the Park, where picnicking is permitted in areas such as the Saint Antoine Plain. There is also one designated picnic area within the formal Gardens, at the Marmousets Hall near the Water Walk. A transparent water bottle no larger than 50 cl is permitted inside the Palace.
Is the Paris Museum Pass valid at Versailles?
Yes. The Paris Museum Pass includes admission to the Palace of Versailles and the Estate of Trianon, but you still need to reserve a free timed-entry Passport ticket online before visiting the Palace. The Museum Pass does not include admission to the Gardens on Musical Fountains Show or Musical Gardens days, when a separate garden ticket is required.
Plan Your Trip to Paris
- Planning your full Paris itinerary? → Our 2 Days in Paris Itinerary and 3 Days in Paris guides cover how to fit Versailles in alongside the city’s other highlights.
- Deciding where to stay? → Our Where to Stay in Paris guide covers the best neighborhoods for first-time visitors, including which ones make it easiest to reach the RER C line for Versailles.
- Want to see more of Paris’s top sights? → Our How to Visit the Eiffel Tower and How to Visit the Louvre guides cover skip-the-line strategies for two more must-sees.
- Want a relaxed evening after a full day at Versailles? → Our Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris guide covers where to unwind back in the city.
- New to planning a France trip? → Our France Travel Guide and Paris Travel Guide cover the essentials for first-time visitors.
If you have any questions about how to plan a day trip to Versailles from Paris, or if you want to share any tips to help future readers, let us know in the comment section below.
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What should you eat while in Paris? Since French culture is deeply intertwined with food, the answer to this question is just as important as what you should see and do while visiting Paris. Dining on escargot and freshly baked bread, planning a picnic lunch in front of the Eiffel Tower, and dining at a […]
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There are few landmarks in the world that evoke the same sense of awe, wonder, and romance as the Eiffel Tower. For many travelers, a trip to Paris would feel incomplete without seeing it, and it easily ranks among the best things to do in Paris. But visiting the Eiffel Tower takes more planning than […]
Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris: Where to Dine with a View
Imagine watching the sun set over the city of Paris, with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand, from the vantage point of a rooftop bar. Paris, a city well known for its cuisine, famous landmarks, and culture, also offers quite a few elevated bars and restaurants where you can have a drink or […]
How to Visit the Louvre Quickly & Efficiently: A Self-Guided Masterpieces Route
The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world and one of the top things to do in Paris. Planning a visit can sound complicated. With its massive size, long list of art exhibits, and tales of long lines, you may be wondering how to visit the Louvre and actually enjoy your time there, […]
The Perfect 10 Day London Paris Itinerary
A visit to London and Paris is a classic European trip. Climb the Eiffel Tower, stroll up the Champs-Elysees, visit the world-class museums of the Louvre and the British Museum, and even take a day trip to Stonehenge. On this London Paris itinerary, visit two of Europe’s grandest cities and make some lifelong memories. For […]
30 Popular Tourist Attractions in Europe & How to Visit Them
What’s on your European bucket list? From world class museums and ancient archaeological sites to stunning natural wonders, Europe boasts a diverse array of attractions that attract millions of visitors every year. The Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, and the Acropolis top the list for many first time visitors to Europe, but you can also explore […]
We Visited Paris at Easter: Here’s What to Expect
Easter in Paris…sounds nice, doesn’t it? Spring flowers, mild temperatures, the view from the Eiffel Tower without a coat on. Sure, that sounds nice, but it’s not always the reality. We found that out firsthand. We spent three days in Paris over Easter weekend in 2018, arriving on Good Friday and staying through Sunday before […]
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