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With 15 million visitors per year, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular tourist sites in Paris, if not the world. Although it began its life as a simple hunting lodge, it over the years, it became the residence of the French Royal family and the location of the French government.
The luxurious Palace was an expression of French art and culture- though the public would more famously consider it an expression of wealth and greed during the French Revolution.
Modern restoration efforts have restored the Palace and its Gardens to its former glory, and visitors flock to see the famous home of Kings Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette.
It can be fairly crowded, so make sure to plan ahead to ensure the best possible experience!
How to get to Versailles
The Place of Versailles is about an hour by train away from central Paris. Make sure you plan ahead to arrive with plenty of time.
By Train:
There are three train stations in the Versailles area, though the Versailles Château Rive Gauche station is the most conveniently located, only a ten minute walk away from the Palace entrances. Comparatively, Versailles-Rive Droite Station and Versailles-Chantiers Station are about a twenty minute walk. Due to poor planning, we arrived into Versailles-Chantiers Station and ended up sprinting to make the entry window on our timed ticket entry.
Definitely make sure to check the train times the night before to ensure a smooth arrival.
It is important to note that the standard T+ metro tickets from Paris cannot be used for these trains. Ask me how I know.
By Bus:
If you’d like the opportunity to use a T+ ticket, bus is the way to go! Bus 171 on the RAPT bus line takes about 30 minutes to run between the Pont de Sèvres and the Palace of Versailles- though of course you’ll have to make your way to the Pont de Sèvres station first.
The bus stop in Versailles has one of the closest drop off points- only a seven minute walk to the entrance.
By Car:
If public transportation is not your speed, there are several paid parking lots in the area. For visitors with disabilities, parking is free upon presentation of a disability card or European disabled parking permits.
By Tour:
If all else fails, tours like this one will pick you up from Paris and drop you off in the city after a guided tour of the Palace.
Ticket options
There are several ticket options available to visitors. The most comprehensive ticket is the “Passport” option, which allows entry to the Palace of Versailles, the estate of Trianon, and the gardens.
Individual tickets for both the estate and the Palace of Versailles are also available, though it should be noted that the park and gardens are free, except during the days of the Fountain Shows and Musical numbers (Tue-Sun from April to October).
In addition to these entry tickets, guided tours are also available. These tours provide a more nuanced understanding of the palace, and often allow entry into rooms otherwise closed to the public.
Free admission is available for EU residents under 26 and non EU residents under 18, so definitely look into these options when traveling with kids or on a college break!
All tickets must be booked in advance to guarantee access to the Palace- though I’ve learned that it’s really the best way to see Paris in a timely manner. Audioguides should also be booked in advance online.
The Palace of Versailles opens every day but Monday, when it is closed.
The Experience at Versailles
Despite being a few minutes late for our timed entry, we still found ourselves waiting on line for a fairly robust security check- it felt like going through an airport.
Once past security, those who pre-booked an audio guide can pick them up at the desk just inside the security check point.
To my amusement, the gift shop was pretty much front and center the moment we got into the Palace proper- along with bathrooms which were more immediately relevant.
We’d only booked a “Palace of Versailles” ticket, with no audio guide or even a guided tour- we were on our own to wander through the building at our own pace.
The Palace of Versailles has a pretty straightforward route through the building. It’s difficult to get lost, but make sure to take your time- you don’t want to skip anything by mistake!
The Marble and Royal Courtyard were beautiful up close and I loved exploring all of the different apartments available for viewing. I can’t quite wrap my head around anyone living in such luxury!
The Hall of Mirrors is, of course, an iconic room in Versailles. The design has been replicated in palaces all over the world, including the Linderhof Castle, which I had visited just a few weeks prior!
The Royal Chapel was another highlight for me- the details are just incredible.
If you’re lucky, there will be a special exhibit set up during your visit. We were lucky enough to see “Louis XV, Passions of a King”, in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the King’s crowning.
You can experience a virtual tour of the exhibit here.
Our trip was so incredible foggy that we could barely see the Gardens! A pretty unique experience in and of itself, however I did want an actual view of the landscaping. We made a couple attempts to explore the area and the fog cleared up through out the day, though it never quite lifted entirely.
Versailles really does live up the hype- it’s impressed countless people over the years with its decadence and it’s easy to see how!
The Palace of Versailles is fairly easy to get to, but we did have a bit of a panic trying to buy tickets the night before. To fully streamline your trip and maximize your time in the area, consider these tours:
No matter what option you choose, you’re sure to have an excellent time!
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