Ultimate Guide To Visiting The Palace Of Versailles: Everything You Need To Know

The Palace of Versailles is the best day trip for historical and cultural significance, as well as aesthetic appreciation you can take from Paris. From the stunning gold interiors and exquisite artwork to the lush estate gardens, Versailles will not disappoint. Here are my top tips for visiting: 

History

Before your visit I definitely recommend having a basic knowledge of why the palace was created and who resided there.

The palace, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was originally built for royalty. French Kings and Queens resided here from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. The most notable of these were King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.

The site where the magnificent chateau lies today was originally used as a medieval hunting lodge. It wasn’t until the reign of King Louis XIV that this lodge was turned into a palace fit for a King and his Queen. The process took several building campaigns, spanning a few decades in total. The palace contains several symmetrical apartments that were for public and private use, by the King and Queen. There is a distinct Baroque style present amongst the architectural features and the grandeur of the interior will have you in awe for hours.

When his grandson King Louis XVI was on the throne, he and wife, Marie Antoinette resided here. It was during the time of Louis XVI’s reign that the French people were struggling immensely. They were dealing with food shortages and the ridiculously high price of staples such as bread. This led to riots and these demonstrations became linked with those seeking political reform and the end of the monarchy system of ‘governance’ in France. The King and Queen were pressured by the masses and agitated mobs to return back to Paris with them and meet their demands. After this they never returned to Versailles.

Today the Palace sees over 5 million visitors per year and is one of the most spectacular royal residences from the late 17th century that you can tour inside.

When to visit

The Palace can be visited at any time of the year but it is best in Spring or Summer (April-August). By visiting in warmer seasons you can get the full experience of the estate gardens.

Time

First things first… you will need ALL day. Set aside an entire day for this visit. The main palace is not the only attraction here, and we spent 1-2 hours alone just in here. There are two smaller palaces, and of course, the gardens. The entire estate covers more than 800 hectares, so you will definitely be able to keep yourself busy all day, exploring everything Versailles has to offer.

Opening hours

The Palace is open every day (except Monday) from 9am. In Summer season the palace closes at 6.30pm and 5.30pm in Winter. Last entry is always 30 minutes before closing time. Detailed opening hours can be found here. There is a tab on the left of the web page that allows you to switch between Summer and Winter times quite easily.

The Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, Queen’s Hamlet and Coach Gallery open around 12-12.30pm daily. The gardens are open every day and access to these is free (except on days that have fountain and musical shows). This usually occurs throughout the summer season. Click here to find details of Musical and Fountain show dates and times.

Tickets

I will say… deciphering the ticket website is a little confusing, and it took me a while to make sense of it.

I strongly advise that everyone goes for the skip the line ticket. This is such a popular tourist attraction and the line was already reaaaally long when we arrived around 9 am.

This is called “Passport With Timed Entry”. It gives you access to the entire estate (including the smaller palaces). Time slots offered are on the hour (See Below). You only need to enter the Main Palace within 30 minutes of the time listed on your ticket. The rest of the attractions can be visited at any time during the day with one of these tickets.

These tickets cost between 20 and 27 EUROS (depending on whether the Fountains or Musical Gardens show is included). This happens automatically during High season. Purchase your tickets here!

Getting there

RER

The best and most efficient way to reach Versailles is by using the Regional Train from Paris (RER Line C, coloured YELLOW on most transport maps of Paris). These trains usually run every 15 minutes and depart from stations in Central Paris. The journey takes around 40 minutes one way from St Michel-Notre Dame and a return ticket costs around 7 EUROS. You will need to purchase a ticket to Versailles- River Gauche (there are a few different Versailles stations listed on the ticket machine and some are not even remotely close to the palace).

When you arrive at the station it is an easy 950 metre walk to the Palace Entrance. It is a very straightforward process as you only need to walk down two streets. When you are leaving the station turn right (refer to the map above).

Other options:

SNCF trains

These leave from Montparnasse and arrive at a different station: Versailles- Chantiers (at the bottom of the map above). This is further on foot to the palace (just under 2 kilometres) and upon a little research I think the timetable seems a bit more limited if you are wanting to arrive early and leave in the evening. I found it hard to get accurate information on this, so I would definitely go with the RER.

I also know that there are trains arriving at Versailles- Rive Droite Station (top of the map above) but once again this is around 1.6 kilometres on foot to the palace and these trains leave from Gare de La Defense (which in my opinion is just a bit too far out of the way from where most people are staying in central Paris when they visit).

Day tour with provided transport

I would advise against this as you would be more limited in how you can spend your day. Versailles is a very easy day trip to do independently and the RER trains to and from Paris are regular, and not complicated to navigate. The last thing you want is to not fully enjoy the day because you are rushing back to make it to the bus, before it leaves you behind.

Things to see and do

Main Palace

Each room or area is unique and marvellous in it’s own way, and had differing purposes. Don’t miss the Hall of Mirrors, stunning ceiling artwork, the King’s bedroom and the Chapel.

Gardens

These are just magnificent. They are are specifically designed to show great symmetry and geometric patterns. There are so many areas of gardens throughout the estate that you could spend a whole day on the these alone. In the summertime, outdoor concerts are held and spending time strolling through the trees and perfectly manicured lush green grass will certainly not disappoint.

Grand Trianon

This is a unique architectural structure with colonnades opening out to a courtyard on one side and elaborate French gardens on the other. The King would often use this as a private residence and hold council in there. With pink marble panels as part of its elegant facade, it is definitely worth a visit.

Petit Trianon

Marie Antoinette received this as a gift from husband King Louis XVI and it gave her space away from life in the Royal Court. It is super cute and compared to the main palace it is as the name suggests…petit.

Queen’s Hamlet

This belonged to Marie Antoinette (Queen of France in the late 18th Century and King Louis XVI’s wife). I have heard different accounts as to why she had this little farm built. Some say it was to show her children what a regular, ordinary life was like (for peasants and lower class people at the time). This was obviously very different to the royal life they led inside the palace. Others say it was so her and her ‘ladies-in-waiting’ could dress in elaborate costumes and pretend to be milkmaids and shepherdesses. According to some, she was a little ‘out there’ and had a bit of wild side.

Regardless of the reason it was built, it such a wonderful experience to have during your visit to Versailles. I described it as almost like ‘walking through a Disney village similar to Belle’s provincial town in Beauty and the Beast’. It was so cute and quaint…definitely a must while exploring the estate.

Coach’s Gallery

This is where you will find an impressive display of ceremonial Horse Drawn Carriages that each depict an aspect of French History in their design. Varying in colour, shapes and size they are regal to say the very least…definitely fit for a King and Queen.

Food

If you are on a tight budget or just want to save time throughout the day, pack your own food and eat by the lake (which is beautiful on a sunny day). You could even splurge on an ice cream from the kiosk to treat yourself.

If you would like to sit down and eat a cafe or restaurant meal, or even just stop for a cup of tea, there are several options for this, ranging in price.

ORE: This does breakfast, snacks, pastries and classic French cuisine. It is open Tuesdays-Sundays from 9:30 am to 5:30 or 6:30pm depending on the season. We actually grabbed a cup of tea and a pastry here for breakfast before starting in the Main Palace at 10am 🙂 Budget= $$$

CAFE DE’ORLEANS: This was slightly better priced than a sit down restaurant but not by much. It offers pre packaged Sandwiches, snacks and takeaway drinks. The entrance to this is directly opposite from ORE. Budget= $$

LA FLOTILLE: This has two options: A sit down restaurant (Budget= $$$) or a takeaway menu to eat by the Lake (Budget= $$). It offers french cuisine, sandwiches, salads and crepes etc.

There are also a couple of little takeaway kiosks around the Lake (Grand Canal)–very close to La Flotille where you can grab an ice cream or range of bottled beverages.

For more options check out Versailles’ Dining facilities HERE.

Other useful tips:

Go early

This is for two reasons:

1) To avoid the masses (as best as possible) when exploring the interior of the palace. Some sections of walkway get crowded because of the large amount of people in these small spaces. This can make it harder to fully appreciate and get the full experience of each room you go into. The later into the day, the worse this becomes.

2) To see everything on offer in one day (The Main Palace, Smaller Palaces, Farm and the Gallery of Stage Coaches). If you want to tick off everything  (without literally running between things) you need to be there around opening and be prepared to be there until closing. It might be a big or slightly tiring day but it is so worth it, trust me!

Audio guides

I normally LOVE using audio guides so I can get a sense of what I am looking at and why it is so special and significant. I found that the audio guide for the main palace was not as informative as I would have expected, but I’m still glad I had it. I was also fortunate enough to be travelling with my French friend who could tell me about her national history including Napoleon and the Royals over time, which was relevant to what we were seeing in the palace.

In the smaller palaces (Grand and Petit Trianon) there is an app you can download using the wifi network which gives you an audio guide. You just use your own headphones. I think this is an interesting idea but we did not realise it was an option until we were almost finished on our walk through.

Maps

When you arrive and collect your audio guide inside, don’t forget to grab a map. It has all the major sites and different gardens marked.

Seeing EVERYthing

As I mentioned above, a few of the attractions only open later in the day so you need to be strategic with your timing if you want to see everything that’s on offer in one day. I recommend:

1) Start with the Main Palace and enter between 9 and 10am. Return the audio guides and head outside 🙂

2) Gardens and staircases directly at the back of the main Palace and then walk down to the lake. This could be a good time to stop for lunch.

3) Head over to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon.

4) Make your way out to the Queens Hamlet.

5) Walk back towards the Main Palace and grab an ice cream at the kiosk next to the lake. Good opportunity for a bit of afternoon tea and to rest the legs for a bit.

6) Go inside the Coach’s Gallery. The Gallery is located directly across the road from the entrance gates to the Main Palace. If you come out of the palace, towards the road… it will be on your left. This closes at 5.30pm (Winter) and 6.30pm (Summer). Last entry is 45 minutes before closing time. We only just made it in time because we spent a while at the Queen’s Hamlet and soaking up the sun by the pond with an ice cream in our hands #noregrets 🙂

7) Walk back to the train station and head back to Central Paris.

I believe this is the most logical approach, as you are basically walking in a loop, and ensures you don’t miss out on anything. I believe, if done in the correct order, seeing ALL the sites is definitely achievable in one day.

Getting around the estate

To get around the vast gardens most people explore on foot, which is what I recommend.

I did see a little a “mini train” that could get you from the Main Palace to the Grand and Petit Trianon. I do not think this goes to the Queens Hamlet but it can help reduce walking distance by at least getting you as far as the Trianon palaces. You do need to pay for this though (between $4 and $8 Euro for a return trip).

There is also the option to hire a golf cart and save yourself from walking as much. These were expensive and even if you paid for an hour or two (which I thought was still pretty pricey), I don’t think you would make it out to the Trianon Palaces or Queens Hamlet and back. If you did, you would be racing back and that would draw away from the beautiful experience in the estate gardens. The only way I think this option would be justified is if you had a group of 4 adults all chipping in ( maybe slightly older, you could potentially have your parents with you) and they might not be up to walking 10+ kilometres in a day.

I definitely would advise against this if you are on a backpacking budget. Also, walking is a great cardio workout for the day and such a great way to explore and immerse yourself in the estate. The best thing about going on foot is that you are on your OWN time schedule (not rushing to make train intervals or get a hired vehicle back before they start overcharging you).

Comfortable walking shoes

This is a MUST! We managed to rack up about 25,000 steps (roughly 15 kilometres) throughout the day and were definitely glad we wore solid and supportive trainers. You don’t want to become limited because you are wearing flimsy shoes that will not support your feet, or give you blisters.

Take a good camera if you can

There are so many great treasures to capture with incredible detail and wonderful colours. I found that my iPhone got some great shots of the interior but I definitely liked having my DSLR for the estate gardens and Queen’s Hamlet. Don’t stress if a DSLR camera doesn’t fit into your budget though. Smartphones have come a long way with photographic capabilities and you will still get some lovely shots 🙂

Take a small bag

You will want to make sure you won’t bump into people or have something large sticking off your back, especially in a place where there are valuable things on the wall. A big backpack is only going to get in the way and slow you down for the day. As long as you can fit a bottle of water and valuables, you’re good to go 🙂

Have you ever visited ? What was your favourite site in the estate ? Do you have any other day trip recommendations from Paris? Drop me a comment below!