The palace of versailles is the most popular day trip from Paris by a wide margin — 8M annual visitors, and easily the most ambitious one-day undertaking in your trip. With 2,300 rooms across 67,000m² of palace floor and 800 hectares of formal gardens, doing it well takes planning that most tourists skip. This guide covers the four-ticket strategy (Palace, Trianon, Gardens, Passport), how to skip the 60-90 minute summer queue, which days to absolutely avoid (Tuesday closed), the Musical Fountains schedule for 2026, and the proper-eating-and-rest plan that turns a brutal 8-hour day into the highlight of a Paris trip.
Versailles is not simply a building to walk through; it is the political and aesthetic statement of an entire absolute monarchy, and you feel that the moment the gilded gate comes into view from the cobbled Place d’Armes. To do the day justice you need a strategy. Below we walk through the transit options, the ticket maze, the inside-the-palace highlights worth slowing down for, the gardens, the Trianon estate, season-by-season advice, the Musical Fountains schedule, eating logistics, kid considerations, and the practical small things (water, batteries, bathrooms) that separate a memorable trip from a miserable one. Treat it as a checklist before you go — Versailles rewards preparation more than almost any other Paris attraction.
The Palace of Versailles at a Glance
Before we dive into logistics, here is the at-a-glance snapshot every first-time visitor should commit to memory. These are the numbers and rules that shape every decision you will make about your visit.
- 8M visitors per year — the busiest single historic monument in France.
- 2,300 rooms across the main palace, only a fraction of which are open to the public.
- 67,000m² of palace floor space — one of the largest royal residences ever built.
- 800 hectares of formal gardens, parkland, woodland, and the Trianon estate.
- Built 1623-1715 across 92 years, beginning as Louis XIII’s modest hunting lodge.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
- Louis XIV moved the royal court here in 1682, centralising French political life.
- The French Revolution ended royal occupation in October 1789.
- Tuesday closed all year — the single most important date in your planning.
- € varies by ticket type: €21 palace-only up to €32-€34 Passport in 2026.
- 1 hour from central Paris by RER C, the most-used route.
- Musical Fountains Show runs weekends + select Tuesdays, April to October.
How to Get to Versailles from Paris
Versailles sits 17 km south-west of central Paris in the suburb that bears its name. Getting there is genuinely easy — four reliable options, each with a different price/comfort trade-off — but the choice of station and line affects how far you walk on the other end. Plan this before you leave the hotel.
RER C from Paris
The default and cheapest option. The RER C runs every 15 minutes from central stations including Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel, and Pont de l’Alma. The line splits at the western end of Paris, so confirm your train terminates at Versailles Château Rive Gauche — this is the closest station, a 10-minute walk straight up Avenue de Paris to the palace gate. Journey time is 35-45 minutes; the fare is €4 each way and is included if you have a Navigo Easy loaded for Zone 4 or buy a dedicated “RER C to Versailles” single ticket. Keep the ticket; you scan it again to exit at Versailles.
SNCF Transilien Lines N and U
Two mainline alternatives leave Paris from Gare Montparnasse (Line N to Versailles Chantiers) and Gare Saint-Lazare (Line U to Versailles Rive Droite). Journey time is 30-40 minutes and the fare is also €4 each way. Both stations are slightly further on foot from the palace than Rive Gauche (15-20 minutes), so most casual visitors prefer the RER. Choose Transilien if you are coming from the Left Bank south or the Saint-Lazare area and want fewer stops.
Driving from Paris
Versailles is 17 km via the A13 motorway, around 30-40 minutes off-peak and easily 60-90 minutes in morning or evening traffic. On-site parking costs €4.50 per hour or €19.50 daily. We do not recommend driving: parking fills early on weekends, central Paris drivers tend to find the A13 stressful, and the train delivers you closer to the gate. Reserve driving for a multi-day family trip where you continue to Normandy or the Loire afterwards.
Guided day tour with bus transport
For first-time visitors who want zero logistics, a guided day tour with bus transfer from a central Paris meeting point costs €100-180 per person via Get Your Guide, Take Walks, or similar operators. The fare includes skip-the-line entry, a 2-hour palace tour with a guide, audio guides for the State Apartments, and free time in the gardens afterwards. Especially worth it if your Paris time is tight or you do not want to wrangle the ticket maze yourself. Compare options on our best Paris tours roundup.
Best station: Versailles Château Rive Gauche
Of the three Versailles stations, Château Rive Gauche is by far the closest to the palace — a flat 10-minute walk along Avenue de Rockefeller and into the Place d’Armes. Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite each add an extra 10-15 minutes on foot through the town. Rive Gauche also has the most ticket machines and the clearest signage in English, which matters when you are rushing back at 7pm with tired children.
The Four Ticket Types Explained (2026 Prices)
Versailles uses a deliberately confusing ticket system because the estate is technically three separate sites: the main palace, the Trianon estate, and the gardens. Each can be visited alone, or you can bundle them into a single Passport. Below are the 2026 prices and what each ticket actually includes, in plain English. Read this section twice if it is your first visit.
| Ticket | 2026 price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | €32 | Palace + Trianon + Hamlet + free gardens |
| Passport with Musical Fountains | €34 | Above + Grandes Eaux days |
| Palace only | €21 | Palace + Hall of Mirrors + State Apartments |
| Trianon only | €13 | Grand Trianon + Petit Trianon + Hamlet |
| Gardens (free days) | Free | Gardens when Musical Fountains is off |
| Gardens (Musical Fountains) | €10.50 | Fountains run with music |
Passport Ticket (€32)
The single best value for first-time visitors. The Passport bundles palace entry, the Trianon estate, Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet, and the gardens (when free). Add €10 on Musical Fountains days for the Grandes Eaux Musicales, or buy the “Passport with Garden Show” combo at €34. The Passport gives you everything in one ticket and one timed entry slot — this is what we recommend in 90% of cases.
Palace Only (€21)
Just the main palace: Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments, Royal Chapel, and the Battle Gallery. The right choice if you are returning for a second visit, are short on time and skipping the Trianon, or are arriving late afternoon (after 3pm) and only want the headline interior. You can still walk the gardens for free afterwards on non-Musical Fountain days.
Trianon Only (€13)
Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet. Excellent as a second visit, or for travellers who have already done the main palace and want the quieter, more intimate side of the estate. Many seasoned Paris residents say the Trianon, not the palace, is their favourite part of Versailles.
Gardens and Musical Fountains
Gardens are free to walk except on Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days (€10.50 supplement). Open year-round 8am to 6:30pm in winter and 8am to 8:30pm in summer. On free days, walk in via the gate next to the palace entrance.
Free admission and discounts
Free entry for: under-18s worldwide, EU residents aged 18-25, disabled visitors and one accompanying companion, teachers presenting ID, and everyone on the first Sunday of November through March. The Paris Museum Pass also includes Palace + Trianon (but not Musical Fountains) and currently runs €70 for 2-day, €85 for 4-day, €105 for 6-day — excellent value if you are doing three or more major Paris museums.
Where to buy your ticket
Always book direct on chateauversailles.fr, the official site. Tickets are typically €5 cheaper than third-party resellers, and the official platform is the only place to reserve your mandatory timed entry slot (introduced in 2017 to manage crowds). Print or screenshot the ticket; phone signal at the gate is patchy on busy weekends.
Skip-the-Line Strategies
On a peak summer weekend the walk-up queue at the palace can stretch 60-90 minutes. None of that is necessary if you plan ahead. Below is the queue-busting playbook, in priority order.
- Pre-buy a timed entry online — the single most important step. The 9am, 9:30am, and 10am slots fill first, so book at least 7 days ahead in summer.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your slot, not later. Security takes 5-10 minutes; latecomers get pushed to the next slot if at all.
- Paris Museum Pass holders still need a separate timed entry reservation via chateauversailles.fr. The pass is the ticket; the reservation is the slot. People miss this and queue unnecessarily.
- Guided tour with skip-the-line entry — tour groups have dedicated entrance lanes. €100-180 per person, includes round-trip bus from Paris, audio guide, 2-hour palace tour and free time in the gardens.
- Avoid Tuesday — the palace is closed entirely.
- Avoid weekends, school holidays, and bank holidays — the site can hit 30,000 visitors and the Hall of Mirrors becomes uncomfortable.
- Best day to go: Wednesday, immediately after Tuesday closure, when crowds are thinnest.
- Best time: 9:30am opening or after 3pm when most coach-tour groups have left.
- Worst time: 11am to 2pm when every tour bus from Paris has unloaded.
What to See Inside the Palace: Top 12 Highlights
The palace contains over 2,300 rooms, but the visitor route covers roughly 60 of the most spectacular. Below are the twelve set pieces worth slowing down for — in roughly the order you will encounter them on the standard route from the Hercules Salon onwards.
Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces)
The single most famous room in the palace and arguably the most famous room in any palace anywhere. 73 metres long, lined with 357 mirrors arranged to face 17 enormous arched windows over the gardens. Designed in 1684 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and decorated by Charles Le Brun with ceiling paintings celebrating the first eighteen years of Louis XIV’s reign. The hall was where the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, with Germany formally accepting defeat in the First World War. Stand in the middle and look towards the gardens; that is the view that ended a war.
King’s State Apartments
A suite of seven ceremonial rooms, each dedicated to a Roman god and corresponding planet: Hercules, Abundance, Venus, Diana, Mars, Mercury, Apollo. These were the formal reception rooms where the king received ambassadors and conducted public court life. The Apollo Salon (see below) doubled as the throne room. Look up — every ceiling is a baroque opera in plaster and paint.
Queen’s State Apartments
The mirror suite on the south wing belonged to the queen. Marie-Antoinette redecorated extensively in the 1770s and 1780s; the rooms still bear her gilded acanthus, pale silks, and the bed where she slept and where 19 royal children were born in public, in front of the court (a tradition she famously hated).
Royal Chapel
Completed in 1710, the Royal Chapel is a baroque-rococo masterpiece in two storeys: the king sat in the upper royal gallery, courtiers below. The acoustics remain excellent and classical concerts are still held here several times a year. Even if you cannot attend a concert, pause for five minutes; the chapel is the quietest, most contemplative space in the palace.
Royal Opera (Opéra Royal)
Inaugurated in 1770 for the wedding of the future Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, the Royal Opera is one of the most beautiful 18th-century theatres in Europe. All wood and gilt and faux marble, with seats for 700. Performances run in season; tickets sell out months ahead.
King’s Bedchamber
The literal centre of the palace: Louis XIV positioned his bed on the east-west axis aligned with the rising sun. The morning levée ritual happened here — dozens of courtiers competing for the honour of handing him a shirt or a slipper. The bed is reproduction; the choreography of absolute monarchy is real enough.
Apollo Salon
The throne room. Louis XIV chose Apollo, the sun god, as his personal emblem (hence Le Roi Soleil, the Sun King). The original silver throne was melted down to pay for war in 1689; the room remains, with its sun-god ceiling and the very spot the monarch stood to receive ambassadors.
Battles Gallery
A 19th-century addition under Louis-Philippe, the Galerie des Batailles is 120 metres of enormous military paintings — battles from Clovis at Tolbiac in 496 to Wagram in 1809. Slightly bombastic but a good break from the rococo overload.
Diana’s Salon
Originally Louis XIV’s billiard room. He was apparently very good and liked an audience.
Coronation Room
Dominated by Jacques-Louis David’s monumental Coronation of Napoleon (a copy by the artist himself; the original is at the Louvre — see our Louvre Museum guide). A reminder that Versailles outlived the monarchy as a national museum from 1837 onwards.
Crusades Galleries
A series of 19th-century historical rooms recreating an idealised view of the medieval crusades. Skippable if pressed; worth a slow walk-through if you have the time and like neo-Gothic.
Hercules Salon
The transition room you enter through after the Royal Chapel. Look up: François Lemoyne’s 480m² ceiling fresco The Apotheosis of Hercules, completed in 1736, was the largest in France at the time. Lemoyne killed himself shortly after finishing it.
The Gardens of Versailles
The gardens are not a polite afterthought to the palace; they are arguably the more important achievement. 800 hectares of geometry and stagecraft, designed between 1661 and 1690 by André Le Nôtre under the direct supervision of Louis XIV. They invented the French formal garden style that would echo across Europe for two centuries.
Layout follows strict symmetry along the east-west axis. Parterres — geometric flower beds — fan out from the palace terrace, descending in stages towards the Grand Canal. Bosquets (themed groves) line the secondary axes, each one a distinct outdoor room with its own sculpture programme. The fountains were originally hydraulically impossible; Louis built the Machine de Marly on the Seine to pump water uphill, and it is still arguably the most ambitious water-engineering project of the 17th century.
Grand Canal
1.6 km long, 62 metres wide, cruciform in plan. Louis XIV hosted naval reenactments here with miniature frigates crewed by sailors loaned from the French navy. You can rent a 4-person rowing boat from April to October for around €18 an hour — one of the most enjoyable things to do on the estate, especially in late afternoon.
Apollo Fountain and Latona Fountain
The Apollo Fountain at the head of the Grand Canal depicts the sun god rising in his chariot from the water — another Louis-XIV-as-Apollo monument. The Latona Fountain higher up, dramatically terraced, shows the myth of Latona transforming peasants into frogs. Both are stops on the Musical Fountains route.
Bosquets (groves)
Over 30 themed garden rooms tucked into the woodland on either side of the central axis. The Salle de Bal (Ballroom Grove) is a sunken amphitheatre with cascading water steps. The Bosquet des Trois Fontaines is a three-tier basin restored in 2004. Half are open at any one time; check the daily map at the entrance.
Orangerie
Built into the south-facing slope under the palace, the 18th-century Orangerie shelters more than 1,000 citrus and palm trees through winter. From May to October they are wheeled out in tubs onto the lower parterre. The Orangerie itself is one of the most elegant pieces of architecture on the estate — long, low, and serene.
Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens
On Grandes Eaux Musicales days, all 30+ fountains run on a choreographed schedule with baroque music piped through speakers across the gardens — Saturdays, Sundays, and select Tuesdays from April to October. Fountains fire 11am-noon and 3:30-5pm, with a finale at the Neptune Basin. Jardins Musicaux days use music throughout the grounds when the fountains are off. €10.50 supplement, or included with the Passport with Garden Show.
Garden hours and getting around
Open 8am-6:30pm winter, 8am-8:30pm summer. The estate is far too big to walk in a single day, so consider bike rental (around €8 an hour, kids’ sizes available) for the trip out to the Trianon, or the Petit Train shuttle (€8 round trip, runs every 20 minutes). Comfortable shoes mandatory either way.
The Trianon Estate: Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, Hameau
The Trianon estate sits 2 km north-west of the main palace, separated by woodland and the Grand Canal. It was the royal family’s private retreat from the suffocating court life of the main palace, and it is the part of Versailles most casual visitors skip entirely. They are wrong to. Walking the Trianon at 4pm with the crowds gone is the experience that turns Versailles from a sight into a memory. Reach it on foot (30 minutes), by rented bike (15 minutes), or via the Petit Train (€8 round-trip, every 20 minutes from the palace terrace).
Grand Trianon
Built in 1687 for Louis XIV as a private retreat from his own court, the Grand Trianon is a single-storey palace clad in pink Languedoc marble with a peristyle of paired columns. Smaller than the main palace, far more intimate, with apartments later used by Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle. The gardens here are looser and more romantic than the main parterres.
Petit Trianon
A 1768 neoclassical pavilion built by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour, later given to Marie-Antoinette by Louis XVI as a personal retreat. She rebuilt the interior and gardens entirely to her taste; entering today, you are walking through the most private spaces of the doomed queen.
Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine)
Built in 1783, the Hameau is a mock peasant village with thatched cottages, a working farm, a mill, a dairy, and an ornamental lake. Marie-Antoinette and her ladies-in-waiting played at pastoral life here, milking cows that had been cleaned first by servants. It is arguably the most quintessentially French aristocratic conceit ever constructed — and also genuinely charming, especially in spring when the farm is in full operation.
Belvédère Pavilion and English Garden
Around the Hameau winds one of France’s first English-style gardens, all winding paths, irregular lakes, and faux-romantic ruins. At its heart sits the octagonal Belvédère Pavilion (1770s), a small neoclassical folly with views over the water.
Marie-Antoinette’s Theatre and Temple of Love
The Theatre (1779) is a tiny private playhouse where the queen and her intimates staged amateur performances. Recently restored, occasionally open for special tours. The Temple of Love (1778) sits on a small island in the Petit Trianon gardens — a circular rococo folly with a marble Cupid at its centre. Both are the kind of detail you only encounter if you make the trek out to the Trianon.
Best Time of Year to Visit Versailles
Versailles is open year-round (except Tuesdays and a couple of national holidays), and each season offers a genuinely different experience. Below is the month-by-month verdict.
April-May (best months overall)
The gardens are in peak flower, tulips first then early roses, with parterres at their most photogenic. Crowds are moderate; the Musical Fountains season opens in early April. May is arguably the single best month to visit, before school holidays inflate the crowds. Pair with Paris summer activities for an early-season weekend.
June (warm and busy)
Long daylight, gardens at peak, Musical Fountains in full swing. Also the start of high tourist season; expect 15,000+ on a fountains weekend. Book your timed entry at least two weeks ahead.
July-August (avoid if possible)
Peak crowds — daily visitor counts regularly exceed 15,000 and can push 30,000 on a bank-holiday weekend. The palace has no air conditioning in the main galleries; the Hall of Mirrors in July is genuinely unpleasant. If you must visit in summer, book the 9am slot and be out by noon.
September (the sleeper pick)
Post-summer crowds drop sharply, gardens are still vibrant, Musical Fountains run through to late October. September weekday mornings rival May for the best experience.
October (foliage and last fountains)
Autumn colour comes to the parkland, and the final Musical Fountains weekends close out the season around 25 October. Cooler air, smaller crowds, lower hotel prices in town. An underrated month.
November-March (off-season serenity)
Lowest crowds of the year. The gardens are free, fountains are off, and trees stand bare against the parterres — austere but beautiful, especially under snow. The palace itself feels cosy and quiet. Best months for repeat visitors and photographers. See our Paris winter activities guide for what else to pair it with.
The worst single day to visit is a summer Wednesday following a closed Tuesday with a bank holiday and weekend overlap; the best is an October Wednesday, especially mid-morning.
Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens Calendar 2026
The Musical Fountains are the show piece of the Versailles calendar — the gardens come alive in a way they cannot when the basins are still. Below is the 2026 schedule, distilled.
| Event | Dates 2026 | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandes Eaux Musicales | 4 April – 25 October | 11am-noon, 3:30-5pm | €10.50 supplement |
| Jardins Musicaux | Same days, music only | 10am-7pm | Included with Passport |
| Grandes Eaux Nocturnes | Select Saturdays Jul-Sep | 8:30-11pm + fireworks | €30+ separate |
Grandes Eaux Musicales (Musical Fountains)
Runs from 4 April to 25 October 2026, on Saturdays, Sundays, and select Tuesdays. All 30+ fountains run on a choreographed schedule with baroque music piped through the gardens, 11am to noon and again 3:30 to 5pm. The afternoon session is generally less crowded and the light is better for photographs. €10.50 supplement on top of garden entry, or buy the Passport with Garden Show (€34) for the whole estate.
Grandes Eaux Nocturnes (Night Fountains Show)
On select Saturday evenings from July through September the estate stages a night fountains spectacle with illuminated basins, music, and a fireworks display at 11pm over the Grand Canal. Tickets €30 and up, sold separately, and they sell out months ahead. Worth the planning; truly memorable.
Jardins Musicaux and free garden days
Jardins Musicaux days use music piped throughout the grounds even when the fountains themselves are off — a calmer experience. On non-Musical Fountains days (Monday to Friday outside the fountain calendar), the gardens are free to enter and quieter. The gardens are closed to general access on Sundays unless the Musical Fountains are running.
Eating at Versailles and Bringing a Picnic
On-site food at Versailles is functional but mostly overpriced. The single best strategy is to bring a picnic; the second-best is to walk into Versailles town. Here is the playbook.
Bring a picnic (recommended)
Picnics are free, allowed across the gardens, and far cheaper than any on-site option. Pack water (at least 1.5L per person in summer), sandwiches, fruit, and a light blanket if you have one. Benches and shaded lawn space are plentiful, especially around the Grand Canal. A good Parisian boulangerie sandwich plus a pastry will run you €8 and beat any restaurant on the estate.
Café Orées and La Petite Venise
At the Apollo Fountain end of the Grand Canal sit two restaurants in an 18th-century pavilion: Café Orées (Alain Ducasse) and La Petite Venise. Mains €25-40; the setting alone justifies the splurge if you are doing the full Passport day. Reservations advised, especially on Musical Fountains weekends.
Angelina Versailles
A branch of the famous Rue de Rivoli salon, tucked into the palace courtyard. Their legendary hot chocolate (L’Africain) is reason enough; lunch is salads, sandwiches, and Mont-Blanc pastries at €15-20. Always a queue, but it moves quickly.
Pavillon Dufour café and town options
The Pavillon Dufour café at the palace entrance does quick espressos and pastries for €5-8 — fine for a morning fuel-up. For lunch, walk 5 minutes to Rue du Maréchal Foch in Versailles town for cheaper bistros, brasseries, falafel, and proper sit-down lunches at half the price of on-site spots. Skip La Veranda and similar overpriced courtyard restaurants.
Versailles with Kids
Versailles can be magic for children or a tantrum incubator, depending on the plan. The palace interior is demanding for young kids — long galleries, fragile objects, a slow shuffling crowd — but the gardens and Trianon are kid-perfect. Here is how to play the day for families.
- The Petit Train tour (around €8 round trip) is genuine kid-magic — an open-sided shuttle between the palace, Grand Trianon, and Hamlet.
- Bike rental in the gardens (around €8 an hour) with kids’ sizes available; the long flat avenues are ideal for first-bike adventures.
- Rowing boats on the Grand Canal April-October (around €18 an hour, 4 person); a slam-dunk activity for a sunny afternoon.
- Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet farm animals: chickens, goats, donkeys, sheep. Almost universally a hit with under-10s.
- The palace itself is tough for under-6s; 6+ generally tolerates a 2-hour visit if you keep moving and skip the Crusades galleries.
- Always bring a picnic; the gardens are kid-perfect for unwinding after the palace.
- WCs are concentrated at the palace courtyard and near the Grand Canal — plan a midpoint stop.
For a fuller breakdown of family-friendly logistics across the city, see our Paris with kids guide, which slots Versailles into a wider weekend plan.
Practical Tips and Logistics
Versailles is the longest, most physically demanding day trip in a Paris itinerary — 10,000+ steps is normal, 15,000 not unusual. Pack accordingly.
- Bring water (1.5L per person in summer), snacks, and comfortable walking shoes — flat soles, broken in.
- No air conditioning in the main palace; July and August are genuinely sweaty inside the Hall of Mirrors.
- Bags larger than 55x35x20cm are not permitted in the palace; free coat check at the entrance.
- Strollers are allowed in the palace but tough in crowded galleries; consider a baby carrier instead.
- The main palace is wheelchair accessible via lifts; audio descriptive tours available for visually impaired visitors.
- Audio guide costs €5 at the door, but the free official Palace of Versailles app does the same job offline and includes maps. Download before you leave Paris.
- Bring a portable phone charger — a full day at Versailles destroys batteries between maps, photos, and offline tickets.
- WCs are limited and queues build at peak hours. The main facilities are at the palace courtyard entrance, Pavillon Dufour, and the Grand Canal end of the gardens.
- Time needed: 6-8 hours for a full Passport day, 3-4 hours for palace-only.
- Photography is allowed without flash inside the palace; allowed freely everywhere outside.
- Pickpockets work the palace queues and crowded Hall of Mirrors. Front pockets, day-pack zips closed, no bag dangling behind you.
Versailles pairs well as the headline of a longer day trips from Paris itinerary — if you have a week in the city, slot it in mid-week alongside Giverny, Chartres, or Champagne. For context within Paris itself, see our parent Paris attractions guide and the cluster of other must-see landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie, the Catacombs, the Panthéon, and Disneyland Paris.
FAQ
How much do Palace of Versailles tickets cost in 2026?
Palace only is €21, Trianon only is €13, and the full Passport is €32 (or €34 with the Musical Fountains supplement). Gardens are free except on Musical Fountains days, when entry is €10.50. Always book direct on chateauversailles.fr to avoid third-party markups, and reserve your timed entry slot at the same time.
Is Versailles worth a day trip from Paris?
Yes, comfortably so — for almost any first-time visitor with at least 3 full days in the city. Versailles is the political and aesthetic high point of the Bourbon monarchy, and nothing else in Paris matches the scale of its gardens or the spectacle of the Hall of Mirrors. The only reason to skip it is a very short trip (under 3 nights) where you would rather concentrate on central Paris attractions.
How long does it take to visit Versailles?
A proper visit takes 6 to 8 hours door-to-door: 2 hours in the palace, 2 hours in the gardens, 1-2 hours at the Trianon, plus eating and travel. A palace-only flying visit can be done in 3 to 4 hours including the round-trip RER. Most people regret rushing it.
When are the Versailles fountains running?
The Grandes Eaux Musicales run from 4 April to 25 October 2026, on Saturdays, Sundays, and select Tuesdays, in two daily sessions: 11am-noon and 3:30-5pm. The Grandes Eaux Nocturnes (night fountains with fireworks) run on select Saturday evenings from July through September.
Is Versailles free for anyone?
Yes — under-18s worldwide, EU residents aged 18-25, disabled visitors and one companion, teachers presenting ID, and everyone on the first Sunday of November through March. Gardens are free year-round on non-Musical-Fountains days. Bring identification to claim any age-based or status-based free entry.
What day is Versailles closed?
Tuesday, every week of the year. The palace also closes on 1 May. The gardens remain open on Tuesdays in non-Musical Fountains season, but the palace itself is closed entirely. This is the single most important rule of planning a Versailles visit; ignore it and you will arrive to locked gates.
Can you visit Versailles with a Paris Museum Pass?
Yes. The Paris Museum Pass includes the Palace and the Trianon estate (but not the Musical Fountains supplement). You still need to reserve a separate timed entry slot via chateauversailles.fr — the pass is the ticket, but the timed slot is separate. Many pass holders miss this and end up queuing unnecessarily.
Is the Versailles Hall of Mirrors crowded?
Yes, almost always. Between 11am and 2pm in summer it can be uncomfortably packed and difficult to take photos. The trick is timing: arrive at the 9am or 9:30am opening slot, head straight up the staircase to the State Apartments, and you can reach the Hall of Mirrors when it is half-empty. The second-best window is after 3pm when the morning tour groups have left.