In a nutshell
- The Palace of Versailles is located just under 20 km southwest of Paris — and it’s one of the most spectacular day trips you can make from the city.
- But Versailles isn’t just a palace — it also offers a huge park, the estate of Marie Antoinette, a free Coach Gallery, and a lively market square.
- For your Versailles tickets, we recommend the Versailles combo ticket. For just 11 euros more than the basic ticket, it gives you access to all attractions for a full day — so you’re guaranteed not to miss a thing.
- The journey from Paris to Versailles takes about 20 minutes by train. The RER C is the best option. You can book your train ticket to Versailles online or buy it on-site.
Palace of Versailles: What Can You See?
First of all, Versailles isn’t just the famous palace near Paris — it’s a real French small town.
The palace and its surrounding grounds sit right in the middle of town and are, of course, the highlight for visitors. But there’s so much more to see!
Once you’re there, you won’t want to miss the most important highlights:
Palace of Versailles with the Hall of Mirrors
The palace with its royal apartments and the famous Hall of Mirrors is THE highlight. You can tour the so-called Grands Appartements and get a real sense of what life was like during the time of the Sun King.
Expansive Palace Gardens
The palace park at Versailles covers 815 hectares and features beautiful gardens, ponds, fountains, terraces, an orangery, and tree-lined paths.
Admission to the palace park is free for all visitors year-round.
For the formal gardens, you’ll need additional tickets between April and October — that’s when the Musical Fountain Show and the nighttime water displays take place.
You can find more details in the “Nighttime Water Displays” section below.
Marie Antoinette's Estate & Trianon Palaces
At the far end of the palace gardens, you’ll find the royal family’s pleasure palaces and the charming retreat of Queen Marie Antoinette. It’s a striking contrast to the grandeur of the main palace — and absolutely worth seeing.
Note: The Trianon Palaces don’t open until noon!
Coach Gallery
Across from the palace entrance you’ll find the Coach Gallery. Admission is free! It houses everyday carriages as well as enormous wedding coaches from Napoleon’s era. The gallery isn’t very well known, so it’s almost always wonderfully quiet.
Opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 12:30 to 4:45 PM.
Versailles Market Square
Just a few minutes’ walk from the palace is the market square. It features historic market halls with a fantastic selection of treats. Until around 1:00 PM you can pick up baguettes, salami, cheese, oysters, and strawberries for a midday snack.
You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and cafés around the market halls for a well-earned break.
Think ahead about how much time you have for Versailles and what you want to see. That way you can buy the right ticket in advance and save yourself a bit of time on-site.
Which Palace of Versailles Ticket Should You Buy?
It’s not as complicated as it looks. When it comes down to it, first-time visitors really only have two different ticket options — and honestly, only one of them makes sense.
Option 1 is a basic ticket that gives you access only to the palace and lets you walk through the free park grounds. For 21 euros.
Option 2 is a comprehensive combo ticket with access to the palace, the Trianon Palaces, Marie Antoinette’s estate, the gardens with the fountain shows in summer, and an audio guide. For 32 euros. That’s only 11 euros more.
No need to think too hard about that one, right?
Here’s a summary of all ticket options in table form:
| Price | Access to | Audio guide | Online tickets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palace of Versailles Ticket | from 21 € | Palace of Versailles & Gardens (Nov. – Mar.) | No | Buy now |
| Trianon & Marie Antoinette's Estate Ticket | from 12 € | Trianon Palaces & Marie Antoinette's Estate | No | Buy now |
| Versailles Combo Ticket | from 24 € | Palace of Versailles, Gardens incl. Fountain Show, Trianon Palaces & Marie Antoinette's Estate | Yes | Buy now |
Good to know: Prices are the same at the palace and when buying online. We therefore strongly recommend buying your Versailles tickets online in advance to skip the lines on-site.
Is There Free or Discounted Admission?
Children under 6 get in free. However, you’ll need to request a free entry ticket for the palace on the provider’s website in advance.
Discounted tickets for 10 euros are available only at the palace for children between 7 and 17. The same applies to students under 25 with a European national ID or passport.
Visitors with a disability pass and their companion receive free admission. You can go directly to the palace entrance. Free admission does not apply to the gardens on days with musical fountain shows!
Buying Versailles Tickets On-Site
If you’d rather buy your tickets directly at the palace, you’ll need to go through the security check first, then head to the ticket booth, and then proceed to the entrance with your ticket. The ticket booth is on the left side of the building.
For 5 euros you can also rent an audio guide on-site, available in 13 languages.
Our tip: If you want to go inside the main palace and you’re not traveling alone, split up. One person goes to buy tickets while the other gets in line at the entrance.
Our Ticket Recommendation: Versailles Combo Ticket
Our top pick for visiting Versailles is without a doubt the Versailles combo ticket. It’s always worth it!
Why? Because it has so many great advantages:
- No waiting in line at the ticket counter on-site
- You can choose your palace entry time directly online (we recommend 1:30 PM)
- Access to all attractions at Versailles
- Access to temporary exhibitions when available
- Optional access to the fountain shows
- You can stay all day
Important: You’ll need a photo ID to visit Versailles with the combo ticket.
Book the Versailles combo ticket online
Versailles Audio Guide & App
Because Versailles is so large and so steeped in history, an audio guide is seriously worth it.
The audio guide is already included in the Versailles combo ticket. Alternatively, you can rent one of the following audio guides on-site:
- Audio guide Palace of Versailles + Trianon: €8
- Audio guide Palace of Versailles: €5
- Audio guide Trianon: €5
Or keep it simple and download the free Versailles app for Apple or for Android. There are even additional app features for kids. If you’re heading to Paris with children, be sure to also read our experiences on a city trip to Paris with kids.
Palace of Versailles Visit & Tour
To help you plan your Versailles visit even better, here are the most important facts:
Palace of Versailles Opening Hours
Palace: Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (April through October until 6:30 PM)
Gardens: Daily, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (April through October until 8:30 PM)
Trianon: Tuesday through Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM (April through October until 6:30 PM)
Last admission is half an hour before closing in each case.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Versailles?
We recommend visiting Versailles on a weekday. It’s much less crowded than on weekends. And the school groups that often show up tend to clear out by midday.
How Much Time Should You Plan for the Palace of Versailles?
To explore the inside of the palace and take a quick stroll through the gardens, half a day is enough. Including travel time there and back, you should count on about four to five hours.
If you opt for the combo ticket and want to explore the palace, gardens, and Trianon in more depth, you should set aside about seven to eight hours for Versailles (including travel time).
How Long Are the Wait Times at Versailles?
You can expect wait times at various points during your visit to Versailles. However, these vary a lot depending on the month and the day.
The bag check at the entrance to the palace courtyard moves fairly quickly. The line at the ticket counter moves more slowly — but you can skip it entirely with an online ticket.
The longest wait times occur on weekends and public holidays at the palace entrance. On a busy day, you could be looking at waits of one to three hours.
That’s why we’ll say it again: visit Versailles on a weekday and book your tickets online in advance. That’s really all you can do for a smooth visit.
Read more about the most beautiful castles & palaces in Europe!
Versailles Attractions on the Map
To give you a feel for the layout of Versailles in advance, we’ve marked all the highlights on a map:
Versailles Guided Tours
If you’d rather not explore Versailles on your own, you can also book a guided tour of Versailles. You’ll see and learn everything that matters, and can look around on your own afterward.
These are the tours we recommend:
Skip-the-line palace tour with gardens: A 90-minute guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, the gardens, Marie Antoinette’s estate, and the Trianon Palaces.
Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Tour: A 90-minute guided tour of the Palace of Versailles without the gardens, Marie Antoinette’s estate, and the Trianon Palaces.
Versailles Fountain and Music Shows
Versailles hosts three fountain and music shows, which typically run from April through October:
- Les Grandes Eaux Musicales (Musical Fountain Show): This is the main event. If you want the postcard-perfect experience, this is the one to see. Water shoots everywhere, the fountains go all out, and Baroque music plays from hidden speakers tucked into the hedgerows. Usually on weekends, morning and afternoon, for 1.5 hours.
- Les Jardins Musicaux (Musical Gardens): Perfect if you’d rather avoid the big weekend crowds. You stroll through the gardens, listen to music, and can explore the “Bosquets” — the hidden garden rooms behind the hedges. Usually on weekdays.
- Les Grandes Eaux Nocturnes (Nighttime Water Displays): This is Versailles in full spectacle mode. On Saturday nights, the garden transforms into a massive light show. The fountains are lit up in color, there are laser effects, and the evening ends with fireworks launched over the canal.
Note: You need additional tickets for the shows! Normally, access to the Versailles park is free. But as soon as the music starts or the water begins to flow, tickets are checked at the garden entrance.
You can get tickets through the official Versailles website. Ticket prices range from 12 to 38 euros.
Getting There: From Paris to Versailles
The easiest way to get from Paris to Versailles is by train. The best connection is the commuter train RER C. It runs approximately every 20 to 30 minutes and costs about 5 euros per trip.
RER C stops in Paris include:
- Gare d’Austerlitz
- Saint-Michel
- Musée d’Orsay
- Invalides
- Pont de l’Alma
- Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
- Javel
The final stop is Versailles Château – Rive Gauche station. The Palace of Versailles is almost always displayed on departure boards in Paris.
From Versailles Château – Rive Gauche station, you only need to walk about 200 meters to the right and you’ll reach the palace.
There are other train connections from Paris to Versailles, but they drop you off at different stations where it’s not as easy to find the palace. So make sure to take the RER C.
You can buy your ticket either on-site or online.
On-site, we recommend buying two tickets right away in Paris — one for the trip there and one for the return. The tickets are valid for the Paris–Versailles route in either direction.
Online, you can book tickets through HelpTourists, which lets you skip the wait at the ticket counter and any uncertainty about which ticket to choose.
Important: The HelpTourists ticket is a paper ticket that will be mailed to you. So make sure to book it with enough time to spare.
Day Trip from Paris to Versailles: Our Itinerary
Because Versailles is truly extensive, we’d like to help with your planning by sharing a full-day itinerary. Here’s how we’d do it:
We’d choose a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday for our Versailles visit.
In advance, we’d book the Versailles combo ticket online, including access to the palace, the Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s estate, and the gardens.
At 11:15 AM we’d board the RER C to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche at Musée d’Orsay. We’d have also booked the train tickets in advance online through HelpTourists.
Just after noon we’d arrive in Versailles, exit the station, turn right, and head straight to the market square.
At a bakery we’d pick up a “Jambon Beurre” (ham baguette) for later — or eat it right then — and take a quick stroll around the market square before heading to the palace.
This is also the perfect moment for a quick stop at the Coach Gallery across the way.
Around 1:30 PM the palace entrance tends to be pretty manageable. So we’d take the opportunity and head into the palace for a walk through the royal apartments and the Hall of Mirrors.
By around 3:30 PM the tour would be done and it’d be time to head into the gardens. We’d either eat the Jambon Beurre with a stunning backdrop, or pop into one of the restaurants or cafés by the palace if the baguette was already gone.
After that we’d visit the Trianon Palaces and the Domaine Marie Antoinette, then make our way back through the garden toward the palace around 6:00 PM.
At around 7:00 PM we’d depart from Versailles station back to Paris. We’d already have the return ticket booked online.
Hotels Near the Palace of Versailles
If you’d rather stay in Versailles than in Paris, there are also some lovely hotels in town:
Hôtel d’Angleterre: A colorful hotel just a few minutes’ walk from the palace and the train station, from 120 euros per night.
Hôtel Je De Paume: A cozy hotel with a garden, about 500 meters from the palace, from 130 euros per night.
Hôtel Le Versailles: An elegant 4-star hotel directly across from the palace, from 170 euros per night.
Find more hotels in Paris here:
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the Palace of Versailles
Are there bag checks at Versailles?
Yes, there are bag checks at Versailles — though they’re not as strict as at many other major attractions. Pocket knives and anything that could be considered a weapon are prohibited and will be confiscated right at the entrance to the courtyard.
Are there restrooms at Versailles?
Yes, Versailles has visitor restrooms throughout the estate. You’ll find them here:
- 3 in the palace – in the Gabriel Wing and the Dufour Pavilion.
- 4 in the palace gardens – in the Bosquet de la Girandole, the Bosquet du Dauphin, the Restaurant La Flottille, and the Restaurant La Petite Venise.
- 2 at the Trianon palaces – on the square in front of the Grand Trianon and in the Petit Trianon.
Are there restaurants inside Versailles?
Yes — there are several restaurants and cafés on the estate. These five are especially worth a visit:
- Le Dauphin: A snack bar near the Dauphin Grove serving sandwiches, fresh salads, pancakes, and ice cream.
- La Flottille: A brasserie across from the canal in the Parc de Versailles, serving French cuisine.
- La Petite Venise: A small restaurant between the Grand Canal and the Apollo Fountain, offering Italian food at affordable prices.
- Creperie la Place: Sweet and savory crêpes near the Palace Chapel.
- Café Angélina: Coffee, tea, sweets, and snacks near the Trianon palaces.
And a fun bonus: the famous French macaron shop Ladurée also has a location right inside the palace!
Are you allowed to bring drinks and snacks into Versailles?
Food and drinks are allowed in small quantities at Versailles. A small quantity means whatever can reasonably be considered personal consumption — a bottle of water, a sandwich, and a piece of fruit per person, for example, are perfectly fine.
There are also plenty of options to eat and drink on-site if you’d rather travel light.
Is Versailles accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?
Yes, the Palace of Versailles and its gardens are largely accessible. Only a few areas have limited access due to the historical architecture.
Can I bring a stroller or baby carrier into the palace?
Strollers are not allowed inside Versailles. This is due to safety regulations designed to ensure smooth evacuation in case of emergencies.
Baby carriers and other soft carrying aids without rigid frames are, however, permitted and can be brought into the palace.
Are there lockers at Versailles?
Yes. There are free lockers available for luggage that doesn’t exceed the dimensions 46 x 43 x 26 cm.
What's not allowed inside the Palace of Versailles?
Not allowed at the Palace of Versailles:
- Pocket knives and other knives
- Tripods
- Nail files
- Scissors
- Hairspray or deodorant sprays
- Large bags and suitcases (a day backpack or handbag are fine)
- Strollers and framed child carrier backpacks
Will an international disability ID card be accepted at Versailles?
Most international disability passes are accepted at the Palace of Versailles. To be on the safe side, it’s worth bringing along a translation or summary of your pass, especially if it’s not in French or English.
Where can you park at the Palace of Versailles?
If you’re traveling to Versailles by car, you can park around the palace and also in the palace park.
Here are three options and their prices:
- Parking place d’Armes: 1h: €4.80 – 2h: €9.60 – 3h: €14.40 – each additional quarter hour €0.60
- Parking Sceaux: 1h30: €1.80 – 4h: €9 – 8h: €18.60 – 24h: €25.20
- Parking Saint-Cloud: 30min: €1.40 – 2h: €4.50 – 24h: €24 – each additional quarter hour €0.50
Here you’ll find a detailed overview of all parking lots at Versailles.
What makes the Palace of Versailles so special?
Versailles is simply breathtaking. Totally.
The Sun King, Louis XIV, wanted to build a magnificent fairy-tale palace and vast estate for the ages — and he absolutely pulled it off.
Versailles is a total work of art: a combination of palaces with countless rooms, gardens full of flowers and fountains, a palace chapel, statues, paintings, and grandeur everywhere you look.
Seeing all of this and getting a glimpse of how the French nobility lived is a genuinely special experience.
Whether the Sun King himself would have been thrilled about ordinary visitors wandering through his palace is another question entirely — but we’re very glad we got to!
