How to visit palace of Versailles? What is the best time to visit? What is the cost to visit Palace of Versailles? What spots should you visit?
This week, I’m taking you to visit Palace of Versailles and its magnificent grounds! The perfect setting for a day trip from Paris, the palace will transport you back in time to the history of France… The visit will then continue with a bucolic stroll through the grounds and the Domaine de Trianon.
Are you ready for a day in Versailles? Let’s go and visit Palace of Versailles!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO VISIT PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Tips to visit Palace of Versailles
Opening hours: the palace is open every day except Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last admission: 5:00 p.m.). Please note that the Trianon estate is only open from noon.
The park and gardens are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day and are free of charge.
Can you visit Palace of Versailles without ticket? No, it is not possible! Only the park is free.
Best time to visit Palace of Versailles
If you’re looking for the lowest crowds, I recommend you to visit Palace of Versailles in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Be sure to be there for the opening and don’t go on the weekends!
May and September are the best months to visit Palace of Versailles, with a beautiful weather and a nice garden experience. Most activities take place from June to September, but the Palace is crowded in Summer!
There are less people during the winter but the gardens are obviously less beautiful as they are resting!
Cost to visit Palace of Versailles
Admission: €25 (free for visitors under 26) for the entire estate, €21 for the palace alone, or €15 for the Trianon estate alone.
We recommend purchasing your tickets online to avoid waiting at the entrance! On busy days, the wait can easily reach two hours. European visitors under 26 do not need a ticket, proof of age is sufficient.
More information on the website of the Palace of Versailles.
Order your ticket for Versailles!
Visit palace of Versailles from Paris
The Palace of Versailles is located 40 minutes southwest of Paris by car.
Versailles is also accessible by public transportation via the RER C and the Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, located 10 minutes from the palace. Allow 40 minutes from the center of Paris.
Where to stay to visit Palace of Versailles
Here are some accommodation suggestions to visit Palace of Versailles
3 recommended accommodations to visit Palace of Versailles
SWEET HOME VERSAILLES
- Refined and cozy apartment
- Well equipped
- From 120€
HÔTEL DU JEU DE PAUME
- 2 min from the palace
- Modern hotel
- From 100€
LOUIS HÔTEL VERSAILLES CHÂTEAU
- 5 min from the castle
- Luxurious setting
- From 200€
And if you’re visiting Versailles for a day trip from Paris, here are several accommodation suggestions!
HÔTEL OFF PARIS SEINE
- Sleeping on the Seine
- With a pool
- From 150€
HÔTEL DES ARTS MONTMARTRE
- Rated 9,6 out of 10
- Calm setting, with a view
- From 180€
HÔTEL JOSÉPHINE BONAPARTE
- In Paris city center
- In a former monastery
- From 300€
How much time to visit Palaces of Versailles?
A day in Versailles is ideal to enjoy it to the fullest! Start with a tour of the palace, which takes about 1.5 hours. The tour time may vary, depending on the number of rooms open. It is best to visit the palace as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds, especially outside of winter.
The park is huge and deserves at least two hours. Note that it is possible to rent an electric cart.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the palace to the Trianon estate. Allow three hours to visit the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet.
You can also bring a picnic to make the most of your day at the palace!
VISIT PALACE OF VERSAILLES: THE CASTLE
Start your day in Versailles with a visit to the palace. The ultimate symbol of the French monarchy and jewel of our country’s history, the Palace of Versailles fascinates people all over the world. If you have any doubts, just look at the queue that starts forming at 9 a.m. in front of the gates!
The tour itinerary may vary depending on the renovation of the rooms. However, you will be able to admire the grand apartments, the Gallery of Battles, and the apartments of the ladies-in-waiting.
The Grand appartments
The Grand Apartments of Versailles immerse us in the splendor and power of the court during the reign of Louis XIV. Nothing was too beautiful to make the Sun King shine: architecture, furnishings, decorations… Everything is immense, rich, and dazzling.
You will first catch a glimpse of the private chapel, currently undergoing renovation, before discovering the state apartments. This is where court life took place with its daily ceremonies. In the king’s bedroom, for example, you could witness Louis XIV’s rising and retiring! Colorful and adorned with magnificent fabrics, these rooms are among my favorites in the palace.
The Hall of mirrors
A few rooms further on, you will finally discover the jewel of Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors! Facing the gardens, it dominates the park of Versailles and its Grand Canal, which can be seen in the distance, from its length of 73 meters. On the other side of the windows, the 357 mirrors of the gallery reflect the outside light, illuminating the room.
The Hall of Mirrors immediately strikes visitors with its dazzling luxury, its abundance of huge chandeliers, and its rich marble and gilded candlesticks. It’s easy to imagine the receptions held here during the time of the Sun King…
However, today there are a few signs of the passage of time. The crowds of visitors, which are growing ever larger, and the years that have gone by have somewhat tarnished the splendor of these rooms, which are being renovated little by little. Our heritage requires constant care and total respect!
The gallery of battles
Commissioned by Louis Philippe in the 19th century, the Battle Gallery at Versailles is reminiscent of the huge rooms of the Louvre. It celebrates the history of France through the great battles won by its sovereigns and military leaders over the centuries. It’s a chance to dive back into our history lessons!
The ladies’ appartments
On the ground floor of the palace, you can also explore the apartments of the Ladies. The daughters of Louis XV, they lived in this double apartment, which is slightly different in style from the rest of the palace. These pretty rooms with their soft tones are much more feminine than those upstairs and are decorated with the utmost refinement.
VISIT PALACE OF VERSAILLES: A STROLL IN THE PARK
After this historical visit, let’s continue our day in Versailles by exploring the park!
You may have caught a glimpse of its magnificent view from the Hall of Mirrors: it was designed by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV’s gardener, who also designed the gardens at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte! The park of Versailles consists of the gardens, the Grand Canal, and the woods that surround it.
The gardens are harmoniously laid out over several levels, combining various geometric shapes, paths, fountains, and groves. The first level, overlooking the Grand Canal, features the magnificent Latona fountain and parterre. The other fountains have equally evocative names: the Bath of the Nymphs, the Fountain of Dawn, the Fountain of the Golden Children, the Fountain of Apollo, and more.
At the bottom, the Grand Canal stretches for almost two kilometers, making it ideal for a wide range of activities! Visitors can enjoy rowing, cycling, walking and running, which are also popular with the locals. The woods surrounding the canal are also very pleasant, as only the footsteps of runners and the lapping of oars on the water break the spring silence.
I also really like the Orangerie next to the palace, which is at its most beautiful when the orange trees are in bloom. Unfortunately, you have to wait until the end of spring for this, as the fountains are only turned on late in the season.
Nevertheless, spring remains one of the best seasons to discover the park of Versailles for me! With the trees budding and the birds singing at the top of their voices, the park offers the perfect setting for a springtime stroll… It’s a real change of scenery just a few miles from Paris! And the palace is also much less crowded at this time of year.
VISIT PALACE OF VERSAILLES: THE TRIANON ESTATE
To end this day in Versailles on a high note, I’ll now take you to the Trianon estate, which consists of the Grand and Petit Trianon, as well as the bucolic Queen’s Hamlet. I’ll take you to discover them on an exotic stroll through woods, small pavilions, and a farmhouse.
Grand and Petit Trianon
Clad in pink marble, the Grand Trianon is a small palace built by Louis XIV to house his love affairs with Madame de Montespan! Like the Palace of Versailles, it consists of a palace with several wings and gardens overlooking the Grand Canal. The interior is just as luxurious but more intimate than the palace.
A few steps away is the Petit Trianon, built a few decades later than its older counterpart, at the end of Louis XV’s reign. It was the refuge of Marie-Antoinette, who loved to hide there far from the pomp and circumstance of the court. You can visit the interior, as well as the graphic and floral French garden.
All around, the huge English gardens are also extremely charming. Undulating and dotted with a belvedere, a grotto, and a rock, they invite you to take a peaceful stroll in the greenery.
The queen’s hamlet
The Queen’s Hamlet is my favorite part of Versailles! It is a true haven of peace, consisting of several buildings delicately arranged around a lake, like apeasant village.
The small ochre-colored cottages were both pleasure houses for the Queen and agricultural shelters. There is the Queen’s house, the boudoir, the mill, the dairy, and more. It is an intimate place where Marie-Antoinette liked to recharge her batteries.
You can also explore the small farm away from the houses. Today, it is home to many animals thanks to the Fondation Assistance des Animaux.
If you would like to discover other castles in the Île-de-France region, you can read my articles on the Vaux Le Vicomte Castle, the Château de Chantilly, and the Fontainebleau castle, all of which are truly magnificent!
VISIT PALACE OF VERSAILLES: WHAT TO DO AROUND
– Villa Savoye (25 minutes away): Built by Le Corbusier, this modernist villa from 1931 is an architectural and cultural masterpiece located in Poissy.
– Paris (40 minutes away): Find all my articles on Paris:
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
The 9 Best Photo Spots in Paris
11 Most Unique Museums in Paris
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