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THE 10 BEST Versailles Tours & Excursions

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Versailles Palace and Gardens Skip-the-Line Tour from Paris

2. Versailles Palace Live Tour with Gardens Access from Paris

3. Versailles Palace Classic Guided Tour

4. Versailles Domain Bike Tour with Palace and Trianon Estate Access

5. Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour by Train from Paris with Skip-the-Line

6. Versailles Domain Skip-the-Line Access and Guided Tour from Paris

7. Versailles Full-Day Saver Tour: Palace, Gardens, and Estate of Marie Antoinette

8. Versailles Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Guided Palace Tour

9. Paris: Priority Pass to Versailles Palace with Gardens & Estate

10. Full-Day Electric Bike Tour from Paris to Versailles

11. Versailles Guided Tour and Priority Access with Hotel Pickup

12. Versailles Timed Entrance Ticket and Giverny Small Group Day Trip from Paris

13. Versailles Palace Private Half Day Guided Tour including Hotel Pickup from Paris

14. Versailles Domain Day Bike Tour with Trianon Estate from Paris

15. Versailles Palace and Giverny Monet House Guided Visit with Lunch from Paris

16. Versailles Palace Skip the Line Small Group Guided Tour

17. Versailles Palace Entry Ticket

18. Small Group Paris to Versailles Day Trip with Garden Stroll

19. Versailles Palace Skip the line Guided Full Day or Half Day Tour

20. Versailles Royal Palace & Gardens Private Tour by Golf Cart

21. Versailles Domain Bike Tour with Palace Entry by Train from Paris

22. Versailles Palace & Marie-Antoinette's Estate Private Guided Tour with Lunch

23. Versailles Palace, Gardens and Trianon Estate Entry Ticket

24. Versailles Palace and Gardens Half Day Guided Tour from Paris

25. Giverny's Monet House & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris

26. Giverny Monet's House & Versailles Palace Private Day Trip from Paris

27. PREMIUM Versailles Golf Carts and Bikes Guided Tour with Lunch

28. Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Coach Transfer from Paris

29. Versailles Domain Half or Full Day Private Guided Tour from Paris

30. Priority Entrance Ticket to Versailles Palace, Gardens and Estate

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The Best Tours of the Palace of Versailles in 2024 and Why

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: September 29, 2023

Ahh, Versailles. Its magnificence is almost unrivaled, which is why it’s one of the most popular attractions near Paris. The question is merely whether you want to explore on your own or enjoy an unforgettable day thanks to a passionate guide. If the latter sounds ideal, check out some of the best tours of the Palace of Versailles.

Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to Versailles Palace? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Versailles for more planning resources, our top Versailles tours for a memorable trip, and if a Versailles tour is worth it.

Should You Take a Tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens?

The Palace of Versailles is a massive, opulent estate that will take your breath away. There’s so much to explore here but you’ll miss so much if you don’t have the help of a guide who knows about the rooms, art, and scandals here.

It’s located just outside of the city, so it takes extra planning and time to get here. You can leave the details to your guide and book an all-inclusive trip from Paris to Versailles with skip-the-line tickets for your guided tour of this incredible palace. Don’t trust us. Read our 5-star reviews!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Versailles tour is worth it .

Six of the Best Versailles Tours to Take and Why

Did you know that Versailles is a town and Versailles Palace is the attraction? Or that the palace grounds are 3.1 square miles with 2,300 rooms in the palace alone? If that sounds complicated, then trust a local guide to help you make the most of your day trip to Versailles and make it easy to see the highlights.

Our tours include skip-the-line tickets to the palace, but you can also decide if you want a guided tour of the gardens or the palace. And for extra convenience, our most popular Versailles tours leave from Paris, which means you don’t have to worry about how to get there on your own. Keep reading to choose which tour of Versailles is best for you.

• Versailles Bike Tours from Paris
• Skip the Line Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris
• Versailles Gardens Tour from Paris with Skip-the-Line Palace Access
• From Versailles: Skip the Line Royal Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour
• Private Golden Versailles Palace and Garden Tour
• Palace of Versailles and Eiffel Tower Full-Day Combo Tour

1. Versaille Bike Tour From Paris

The best tours remove all the complex logistics of getting into Europe’s mega-monuments or offer an experience that would only be possible with local knowledge and a guide’s expertise. The great tours do both! This is a great tour.

This is an exciting way to explore one of Paris’ most beautiful palaces. Join this unforgettable, guided bike tour of Versailles’ top sights! Cruise from an outdoor market to the Queen’s Hamlet, enjoy a picnic lunch on the Grand Canal, and visit the Grand Trianon.

Cap off your exploration with a visit inside the royal palace! Roundtrip trains from Paris, bicycle and helmet rentals, and entrance tickets are included, so all you need to do is enjoy the adventure!

• Friendly, local guide
• Bike rental with helmets
• Two-seater children’s trailers if needed
• Roundtrip train from Paris
• Visit Versailles’s outdoor market for Parisian picnic supplies (bring extra cash for purchases)
• Free time in Grand Trianon
• Tour inside the Hamlet
• Entry into the Chateau de Versailles to explore on your own

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Versailles Guide for more resources.

2. Skip the Line Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris

Round-trip Transportation from Paris

This tour takes all the hassle out of planning how to get to Versailles. Meet our local guide in the center of Paris and board the train towards the ideal stop for the Palace of Versailles. You’ll have round-trip tickets so you can return to Paris anytime after your tour ends.

Palace of Versailles

The lines at Versailles are notoriously long. Thankfully, you’ll have skip-the-line tickets that let you bypass the hoards of other tourists who will wait for hours just to get inside. Thanks to your headphones, you’ll be able to hear your guide as you navigate through the accessible areas of the palace. There are 2,300 rooms here, but you won’t have to wander through them all!

Gardens and Trianon Estate

Your guide will lead you through the ticket booth and into the famous gardens of Versailles. Hear a brief overview of how these gardens came to be and what to explore here. You’ll be free to wander the gardens on your own, and your tickets even include entry to the Petite and Trianon Estates, where King Louis XIV often used to escape his larger palace.

• 3 hours (plus travel time)
• Round-trip transportation from Paris (usually by train)
• Skip-the-line entry to Palace of Versailles
• Guided tour of the palace
• Entry to the gardens and Trianon Estate
• Free time to explore the gardens

3. Versailles Gardens Tour from Paris with Skip the Line Palace Access

When you’re staying in Paris, you don’t want to have to worry about how to get all the way out to Versailles to see the gardens. That’s why we’ve taken care of the round-trip transportation from central Paris on this tour. Just meet your guide and small group, hop aboard the train, get off at the ideal stop, then head to the palace.

This tour makes sure you get to explore the best of the Gardens of Versailles. If nature’s beauty is what really thrills you, then a guided tour of the perfectly planned gardens designed by then-famous André Le Nôtre. Your garden tickets also include access to the Petite and Trianon Estates, which are other popular spots to visit here.

After the guided garden tour, you’ll head to the ostentatious palace where your guide will share the most fascinating facts and stories about its creation and those who lived there. You’ll see long lines of people waiting to get in, but this tour includes skip-the-line tickets so you don’t waste any time getting in to explore on your own. Feel free to wander through the palace at your own pace.

• Round-trip transportation from Paris (usually train)
• Guided tour of the gardens
• Access to Trianon Estate

4. From Versailles: Skip the Line Royal Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour

So what’s different about this tour? Well, we don’t assume that everyone visiting Versailles is staying in Paris. If that’s you, then this tour is ideal for you. It starts right at the edge of the Palace of Versailles, so you can simply meet your guide and group and off you go!

This tour also includes skip-the-line tickets, which means you’ll bypass that super-long line of tourists. Follow your guide, who knows exactly which rooms are worth spending more (or less) time in to maximize your visit. You’ll have plenty of time in the jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors, of course.

With this tour, your guide will escort you through the ticket checkpoint to head out to the gardens. You’ll get an overview of what to see and how to see it all, from the fountains to the Trianon Estate. And yes, your tickets do include entry at both Petite and Trianon, so be sure to head over there on your own.

5. Private Golden Versailles Palace and Garden Tour

A private tour of Versailles is the way to go. Start in central Paris where your private guide will escort you onto the right train and off at the exactly right stop at Versailles. It’s about 40 minutes outside of the city, so leaving the details to your guide makes this day stress-free.

The crowds at Versailles are notorious, but booking this private tour ensures two things: you’ll skip past the lines and enter quickly, and you’ll be able to interact closely with your private guide despite the crowds. They’ll know just where to take you to find a quieter space to talk about what you’re seeing. And if you want more time in a certain area, like the Hall of Mirrors, just let them know!

The beauty of the gardens at Versailles almost rivals the beauty within the palace. These impeccable gardens are still well-maintained and worth exploring. Your private guide will talk about the incredible undertaking of planning and constructing these gardens. And you’re free to explore them and the Trianon Estate with your entry ticket here.

• Skip-the-line entry to the Palace of Versailles
• Entry to the gardens

6. Palace of Versailles and Eiffel Tower Full-Day Combo Tour

Roundtrip Train Journey

Versailles is located just outside the city, but you don’t want to miss it on your trip to Paris. On our day tour with the Palace of Versailles and Eiffel Tower , go on a roundtrip train journey to see the palace with countryside views along the way. With all the logistics taken care of, all you have to do is enjoy a day of French opulence. 

Palace of Versailles, Gardens of Versailles, and Trianon Estate

Get straight in with skip-the-line tickets and explore areas like the famed Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the magnificent Gardens of Versailles, and Trianon Estate.

Seine River Cruise and Eiffel Tower

Back in the city, see more of Paris’ majesty from the river Seine as you cruise past the Louvre, Notre Dame, and other top sights. And the cherry on the cake: visit the iconic Eiffel Tower. Skip the line, get priority access to the elevator, and enjoy the incredible views from high up on the second floor. Is there a better way to see Paris?

Highlights:

• 8-hour tour
• Skip-the-line guided tour of the Palace of Versailles
• Round-trip transportation by train from Paris to Versailles
• 1-hour guided riverboat cruise on the Seine
• Skip-the-line elevator tickets to the Eiffel Tower second floor

Where To Stay in Paris

With a city as magnificent as Paris, it can be hard to find the perfect hotel at the perfect price. Explore the best hotels and places to stay in these incredible neighborhoods in Paris.

About Brie Greenhalgh

Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.

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9 Best Versailles Tours from Paris for a Journey into French History

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Wandering the regal halls of the Palace of Versailles is often cited as one of the best things to do in Paris , keeping history lovers, art buffs and sightseeing enthusiasts entertained.

From the extravagant Hall of Mirrors to the Queen’s Hamlet and elaborate palatial gardens, the royal residence is one of the most beloved jewels of Paris , allowing a peek behind the curtain into the privileges, and responsibilities of the kings and queens of France.

Uncover the essence of Versailles with our top 3 picks, including the most highly-rated excursion, a delightful bike tour option, and the ultimate private exploration. Or scroll down to see our entire list of the best Versailles tours from Paris .

Want to dive straight in? Browse our catalog now!

• Versailles tours from Paris

1 – Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Transfers

Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5 ( 2564 reviews )

“Everything and everyone was on Time!!! It was exactly as you described in the Page. I highly recommend your services!” Karla, Headout

Encouraging your education and enjoyment of the “City of Lights,” this Versailles tour from Paris transports you on a journey back to the 17th century when the now UNESCO-listed landmark was erected.

You’ll discover the grand Baroque interior of the palace, including its Hall of Mirrors, which was designed to showcase the strength and power of King Louis XIV — also referred to as Louis the Great.

As well as this opulent room, you’ll also explore some of the 60,000 artworks covering the history of France and the surrounding palatial gardens, which serve as a creative masterpiece, brought to life by the respected landscape architect, André Le Nôtre.

This Versailles tour from Paris perfectly combines everything you need for your experience into one neat package. The transportation is arranged efficiently and the guides are both friendly and expertly educated on the former royal residence.

Read more: Versailles Palace Tickets Price

2 – Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Guided Palace Tour

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 570 reviews )

“This was my favorite experience during my entire trip to Paris! Clara was the most wonderful tour guide…she made everything interesting and fun! I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone and everyone!” Jason, Viator

If you wish to experience the area surrounding Paris up close, you may instead consider choosing this cycling experience, operated by Boutique Bike Tours .

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city center behind, you’ll enjoy a high-speed train journey to the historic town of Versailles where you’ll mount a bicycle to explore the area, including its esteemed farmers market filled with residents showcasing a vibrant display of locally-grown produce.

Alongside the main palace, you’ll also visit the Queen’s Hamlet — built for Marie Antoinette in the second half of the 18th century — before ending your experience with a gourmet picnic overlooking the magnificent site.

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While you may not be able to count on the weather for this tour, you can certainly count on the attention of the fantastic group of guides who run this experience.

You’ll discover local cuisine, which can be devoured while gazing upon one of the most spectacular architectural landmarks of the 17th century, discover the sheer magnitude of the palace and enjoy a leisurely cycle, all while accompanied by a welcoming and fun local.

Read more: Versailles Tours – Which One is Best?

3 – Private Half-Day Trip with Macarons

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 57 reviews )

“Our Viator tour with Claudio was excellent. We learned so much and he really brought the chateau experience to life!” Natasha, Viator

Enjoy the ultimate French experience with this excursion that combines the artistic and historic wonders of the Palace of Versailles with the luxury of delicate macarons, which you can feast on decadently throughout the rest of the day.

Provided by Paris to Versailles Private Tours , this trip is ideal for those who wish to enjoy a more personalized experience than can be attained on a group tour. With a private guide, you’ll enjoy chatting one-on-one about the various points of interest you see, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions along the way.

You can tailor this experience to the topics that fascinate you most and after your exploration, you’re bound to enjoy the sweet taste of a pastel-colored macaron.

You’ll benefit from convenient touches on this private tour, including a hotel pickup service, which enables you to relax, put your feet up and enjoy the experience. The guides are attentive to your needs and you’ll feel as though you’ve made a friend as you discuss the most notable events in French history together.

4 – Palace & Gardens: Small-group Guided Tour + Roundtrip

Rating: ⭐️ 4.7/5 ( 62 reviews )

“Driver was wonderful… informative, engaging, and funny. Transportation was so comfortable. Small group size was ideal. The whole day was amazing! Couldn’t have asked for more.” Britt, Tiqets

Those looking for a more intimate experience can select one of several small-group Versailles tours from Paris. This one, in particular, operated by Paris TRIP , takes care of all transportation, enabling you to simply enjoy sightseeing without worrying over organization details.

You’ll gain priority entrance to the Palace of Versailles and enjoy a guided tour , hosted by a qualified expert. Wander in the footsteps of royalty as you discover the history of several monarchs, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, both of whom were beheaded during the French Revolution.

Gain a broad overview of life at the palace as you wander through state apartments, chapels, gardens and grand halls, all while listening to an entertaining commentary.

From royalty to architectural styles, you’ll gain a wide array of knowledge surrounding French history by embarking on this Palace of Versailles tour from Paris. If you wish to experience the site at its most serene, choose the early morning tour to beat the crowds.

5 – Versailles Palace and Trianon Guided Day Tour

Rating: ⭐️ 4/5 ( 161 reviews )

“This was the most incredible tour I have ever been on. Our guide Claire was funny, informative and an absolute delight to spend the day with. I have wanted to go to Versailles for years and she absolutely made in a memorable experience.” Shelley, Viator

One of the best Versailles tours from Paris is hosted by Paris City Vision and covers numerous landmarks, arming travelers with a plethora of insider knowledge on the French monarchy.

Alongside popular features of the Palace of Versailles, such as the Hall of Mirrors, you’ll also have the opportunity to discover the Gallery of Battles, which depicts almost 1,500 years of the country’s military victories, including the Battle of Tolbiac and the Battle of Wagram.

Stroll through the tranquil gardens at your leisure before reassembling with your group to explore the Trianon estate , which served as a refuge for the kings and queens of France away from their royal duties, as well as the Queen’s Hamlet where you’ll dive into the history of Marie Antoinette.

The perfect option for those who wish to combine a guided experience with independent exploration. The palace complex is enormous and those who choose a tour that lasts all day, like this one, should have a moderate level of fitness to enjoy the experience fully.

6 – Versailles Palace & Giverny Monet House Guided Visit with Lunch

Rating: ⭐️ 4/5 ( 1715 reviews )

“The gardens at Monet’s house were stunning. The place for lunch was charming and the lunch and wine were great! (…) Versailles was spectacular. It was a very fun day!” Carol, Viator

Those whose interests lie in the artistic endeavors of France can combine the Palace of Versailles’ colossal collection of paintings with the garden that served as a source of inspiration for the 19th-century impressionist mastermind, Claude Monet.

You’ll visit the home of the esteemed painter and the peaceful haven he created in his own backyard, which art lovers may recognize from the artists’ “Nymphéas” series.

After wandering these famed gardens, you’ll travel to the Palace of Versailles where you’ll gain an insight into the extravagant lifestyle of France’s elite through history, learning plenty of fascinating tidbits of information along the way from your Paris City Vision guide.

Those who are short on time to experience Paris can enjoy this fast-paced tour that covers several of the area’s most significant historic landmarks. You’ll pack plenty of sightseeing and information into just one day, ensuring you leave Paris as an expert on its art scene.

7 – Palace and Gardens Tour by Train with Skip-the-Line

Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5 ( 216 reviews )

“Amazing experience! Our tour guide was great and went at a great pace! We were able to fully enjoy our tour and take pictures.” Angela, Viator

If you’re seeking flexibility, one of the best options for exploring the Palace of Versailles is this tour from Memories France , which operates several times per day, ensuring every traveler can experience this lavish landmark.

You’ll enjoy skip-the-line access to the palace, enabling you to spend your precious vacation time exploring instead of queueing, and discovering the rooms that, while luxurious, contributed to Marie Antoinette’s hatred of Versailles.

Those who wish to delve further into the history of the site can upgrade to explore the Trianon, where the Austrian princess-turned-French queen found respite from the routines and expectations of the main palace.

Travelers rave over how well-organized and paced this tour of the Palace of Versailles is. From traveling to the site via train to ambling through some of the palace’s impressive rooms, you’ll always be expertly guided by a lively and passionate individual keen to show you their city.

Read More: Versailles Palace Last Minute Tickets

8 – Morning tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens

Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5 ( 14 reviews )

“Katherine our tour guide was absolutely phenomenal! She was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about everything having to do with Versailles. The bus ride was quick and comfortable, and we found it was just the right amount of time to explore Versailles – highly recommend!” Musement

The early hours of the morning are undoubtedly the best time to explore the Palace of Versailles before an influx of tourists swarms upon the landmark.

With fewer crowds than at other times of day, you’ll be able to take in the details of the paintings that line the walls, the gilded walls of the state apartments and the glistening chandeliers located in the Hall of Mirrors.

This Paris City Vision tour also gives you ample opportunity to stroll through the palace gardens, admiring countless statues, fountains and floral displays.

This excursion is well-planned to ensure you spend the perfect amount of time exploring the Palace of Versailles without tiring. Discovering the palace so early in the day leaves you the afternoon free to embark on a tour of the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, allowing you to optimize your time in the French capital.

9 – Helicopter Flight over Paris & the Château de Versailles

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 5 reviews )

There are several bucket list moments to experience in Paris. However, there is no adventure more memorable than gliding over the city’s skyline in a helicopter , discovering its many arrondissements from above with Helipass .

Alongside the city center, you’ll also gain a birds-eye view over the Palace of Versailles before landing next to the exquisite landmark where you can admire its architectural details in all their glory.

Then, climb back on board and enjoy an engaging flight back to Paris, passing over the ornate fountains of the Trocadéro and the Montparnasse Tower, which stands alone more than 200 meters above the city streets.

This excursion can only be described as remarkable and is without a doubt one of the best Versailles tours from Paris. Whether you wish to surprise a loved one with a once-in-a-lifetime experience or simply enjoy a view of Paris that other tourists aren’t privy to, you’ll find yourself boasting about your trip as soon as your feet touch down back in Paris.

How to book Versaille tours from Paris?

There are an abundance of companies offering Versailles tours from Paris across several travel websites. However, by using the Tourscanner search engine, you can view all of your options in one place, compare prices and deals, and even choose combination experiences, such as a Paris & Versailles Bundle .

You’ll also be able to read reviews from real travelers, ensuring that you select the tour best suited to your needs.

• compare Versailles tours from Paris

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Welcome to the Palace

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interactive map of the palace of versailles

Where are the entrances? Where can I buy tickets? Where is the Hall of Mirrors? How do I get to Marie-Antoinette’s Estate? Where are the toilets? etc.

This interactive map will accompany you throughout your visit to the Palace and the Estate . With over 500 points of interest, " Bienvenue" also lets you explore the estate at your own pace and increase your knowledge of Versailles.

start the visit

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• Gardens Explore
• Park Explore
• Trianon Palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s Estate Explore
• Exterior view
• Garden level
• First floor

Here are a few tips for preparing your visit to the Palace. If you already have your ticket, go directly to Palace Entrance A. From April to October, due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking .

The Palace is open every day, except Mondays, from 9 am to 6.30 pm during the high season (April to October) and from 9 am to 5.30 pm during the low season (November to March).

Where can I buy a ticket? Which one should I choose?

Where are the entrances to the palace, where are the toilets located, how do i get to the gardens, where is the hall of mirrors, where to book a guided tour.

• How do I get to Marie-Antoinette's Estate?

On the garden level, the Royal Courtyard gives access to the different tour itineraries. We indicate the essential practical points before the start of the tour. Caution, the Palace gets very crowded during the high season. We recommend coming at 9.00 am to visit the Palace when it opens or plan your visit for late afternoon. We advise you to buy online. Due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking.

Where does the tour begin?

Where can i find a map and audioguides, where are the toilets.

Continue your visit on the 1st floor with the King and Queen's Grand Apartments and the world-famous Hall of Mirrors. On certain days you can also visit the Gallery of Battles. Caution, the Palace gets very crowded during the summer. We advise you to buy online. Due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking.

We recommend coming at 9.00 am to visit the Palace when it opens or plan your visit for late afternoon.

Where does the visit to the 1st floor begin?

• Where is the King's Chamber?
• Where is the Queen's Chamber?

The Mesdames’ Apartments, Daughters Of Louis Xv

The Mesdames' apartments are symmetrical to the apartments of the Dauphin and Dauphine. Like them, they were turned into museum rooms by Louis-Philippe and recently restored to their state of princely apartments. Mesdames, as the six daughters of Louis XV were referred to, settled there in 1752, but only two of them, Adelaide and Victoire, lived there until the Revolution.

The Empire Rooms

As a contemporary of Napoleon I, King Louis-Philippe was eager to obtain the support of former members of the Empire and the favour of Bonapartist opinion. At Versailles, he gathered most of the large paintings commissioned by Napoleon in the ground floor of the Palace’s South Wing, under the Gallery of Great Battles.

Main Entrance (Honour Gate )

Due to the anti-terrorist security plan, visitors with large baggage items are not admitted on the domain (exceeding 55x35x20 cm)

The Honour gate is the main entrance gate to the Estate. It separates the Honour courtyard  from the Place d'Armes and is surrounded north-side by sculptures of the Victory of France over the Empire, by Gaspard Marsy, and south-side by sculptures of the Victory of France over Spain, by François Girardon.

This gate is open daily from 7:00AM to 7:30PM (from April to October). Last admission: 7PM

This gate is open daily from 8:00AM to 6:00PM (from November to March). Last admission: 5:30PM

Entrance A - Entrance For Individual Visitors

Due to the anti-terrorist security plan, visitors with large baggage items are not admitted on the domain (exceeding 55x35x20 cm).

This entrance provides access to all unaccompanied routes including temporary exhibitions.

To enter the Palace, you must have a ticket with a reserved time slot. Buy your ticket online . Due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking.

If you are eligible for free admission, you must have booked a free time slot on the online ticketing service.

Entrance B - Group Entrance

Groups with reservations should head directly to entrance B, at the top right of the Cour d'Honneur. It provides access to all unaccompanied routes.

Entrance H - Chapel Courtyard Access

Entrance H will be the entrance for the European Heritage Days.

Access To The Gardens Accès Jardins - Cour Des Princes

To access the garden, head to the left at the top of the Courtyard of Honour. Access is through the courtyard of the Princes, at the left-side of the entrance A.

Main Ticket Office - South Ministers' Wing

Located in the South Ministers' Wing (to the left of the Honour Courtyard), the main ticket office sells tickets for unaccompanied visits to the Estate: 'Passeport', Palace tickets and 'Paris Museum Pass'.

From April to October, due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking .

Guided Tours And Subscriptions

Located in the North Ministers' wing, this facility offers tickets for guided tours and the annual "1 year in Versailles " pass. It is also the start point for guided tours.

Information Point-Pavillon Gabriel

Having crossed the Royal Courtyard and before you begin your visit, you can pick up information, maps and leaflets at the audioguide kiosk.

Toilets-South Ministers’ Wing

Free toilets are located just beyond the Information desk.

Toilets-Pavillon Dufour

The toilets are accessible in the basement of the Dufour Pavilion after entrance A.

Shop Of The Chapel

In this shop you can purchase a range of themed products, books, guides, postcards, etc.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm

Grand Café D’Orléans

The Grand Café d'Orléans serves eat-in and takeaway food in a restaurant with a contemporary décor that covers over 700 m². It also offers group menus (60 pers. max). It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm (10am to 5pm November to March). It is accessible from the Princes Courtyard.

Reservations: +33 (0)1 39 50 29 79

Angelina Tea Room And Restaurant

The Angelina restaurant and tea room offers sweet and savoury fare in a refined and elegant setting, to eat in. There is also a shop and groups are catered for (60 pers. max).

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday:

• from 10am to 5:30pm (November to March)
• from 10am to 6:30pm (April to October)

It is accessible from the Royal Courtyard or at the end of the tour of the Grand Apartments.

Reservations: +33 (0)1 39 20 08 32

Honour Courtyard

The Honour courtyard is located between the Place d'Armes and the Cour Royale. From this courtyard, you can access the Ministers' wings and the entrances to the Palace and Gardens.

Royal Courtyard

The Royal Courtyard is located behind the Royal Gate and is only accessible with a ticket. It gives access to the different visitor routes around the Palace.

Marble Courtyard

The Marble Courtyard is the original courtyard of the palace, built by Louis XIII in 1623. Its black and white tiles come from the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Apartment Of The Dauphin And The Dauphine

Currently closed

These apartments were always reserved to the leading members of the royal family. Their current decoration corresponds to the period in which they was occupied by Louis XV's son and his second wife, Maria Josepha of Saxony.

The Appartments Of Louis Xv’S Daughters

The Louis XV’s daughters apartments are symmetrical to the apartments of the Dauphin and Dauphine. Like them, they were turned into museum rooms by Louis-Philippe and recently restored to their state of princely apartments. Mesdames, as the six daughters of Louis XV were referred to, settled there in 1752, but only two of them, Adelaide and Victoire, lived there until the Revolution.

See the rooms

Grand Apartments (Hall Of Mirrors, King’S Chamber)

Visitors arrive at the Grand Apartments through the Gallery of the History of the Palace or the sculpture gallery. By taking this tour, visitors can explore the apartments of the King and Queen of France.

Gallery Of Battles

On the mobile app, listen to the audio commentaries of the paintings at the bottom of this screen.

Much larger than the Hall of Mirrors, the Gallery of Battles was the first ensemble chosen by Louis-Philippe for his Museum of the History of France. It presents an important series of historical paintings dedicated "to all the glories of France" and thus constitutes a "national record".

Gallery Of The History Of The Palace

With the main Palace, the Trianon palaces, the gardens and the park, Versailles is a site whose topography and history are rich. Located at the beginning of the Grand Apartments tour, the Gallery of the History of the Palace is an essential introduction to the visit. Under the Ancien Régime, these rooms were the apartments of the royal princes, before Louis-Philippe transformed them to present a brief history of France through works ranging from the Baptism of Clovis to Louis XVI giving La Pérouse his instructions .

Upper Stone Gallery

Following the Gallery of the History of the Palace, this gallery connects to the second part of the tour: the Grand Apartments. Known as the Upper sculpture gallery due to its contents, it contains sculptures by Grand Condé, Turenne and Le Bossuet.

Royal Chapel

The construction of the Royal Chapel lasted between 1689 and 1710. Every day, usually in the morning at 10am, the court would assemble for the King's mass. Every Thursday, an orchestra gives audiences the chance to discover the full range of the European repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Royal Chapel is accessible as part of a guided tour.

The construction of the Royal Chapel lasted between 1689 and 1710. Every day, usually in the morning at 10am, the court would assemble for the King's mass. Every Thursday, an orchestra gives audiences the chance to discover selections the European repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Royal Chapel is accessible as part of a guided tour.

Access Grand Apartments (Hall Of Mirrors, King’S Chamber) - Gl

Access To The Gardens - Cour Des Princes

Toilets-pavillon gabriel.

Toilets are located next to the Gabriel staircase in the basement. These toilets are not accessible to the disabled.

Information Desk - South Ministers’ Wing

The information desk dispenses all information relating to visits, along with maps and leaflets. Guided tours can also be booked here.

Marble Courtyard Shop

This large souvenir shop offers a range of products: books, guides, postcards, gifts, etc. It can be found after the tour of the State Apartments, at the foot of the Queen's staircase, or straight after the Royal Courtyard.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5:45pm. From November to March, the shop closes at 4:45pm.

Ladurée is a Parisian patisserie founded in 1862, and visitors are invited to explore their retail outlet. The company offers its fine delicatessen range, not forgetting their famous macaroons. The shop is open every day from 9.30am to 6.30pm in high season (April to October) and from 9.30am to 5pm during low season (November to March). It is accessible from the Royal Courtyard or at the end of the tour of the Grand Apartments, at the foot of the Queen's Staircase.

Built by architect Frédéric Nepveu in the nineteenth century, the Gallery of Battles was the first room commissioned by King Louis-Philippe for his museum of French history. The gallery was designed to represent his desire for national reconciliation, and presents a major series of historic paintings dedicated "to all the glories of France".

Librairie Des Princes

The Librairie des Princes bookshop offers a range of products over 200 m²: books, children's books, postcards, table decoration etc. The bookshop is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.30am to 6.15pm during high season (April to October) and from 9.30am to 5.15pm during low season (November to March). Although it is not part of the visitor route, it can be accessed from Cour d'Honneur.

The library also presents the cabinet of the King's medals, where are sold medals from the Arthus-Bertrand Versailles collection.

Louis Xiv Rooms ?

Louis XIV Rooms give visitors a vast panorama of the 17th century featuring the King, his family, the court and the major political, military and artistic events that marked his reign.

Information Point- Dufour’S Pavillion

The information desk dispenses all information relating to visits, along with maps and leaflets.

Changing Table-Pavillon Dufour

A baby-changing table is located in the basement near the toilets.

Dufour Pavillion Shop

Located in the basement of the Palace, this large souvenir shop offers a range of products: books, guides, postcards, gifts, etc.

The shop is accessible in the basement after the entrance A or at the exit of the visit.

The shop is open every day from 10.15am to 6pm during high season (April to October) and from 9.30am to 5.15pm during low season (November to March).

Access Dufour Pavillion Shop

This large souvenir shop offers a range of products: books, guides, postcards, gifts, etc.

The shop is open every day from 10.15am to 6pm during high season (April to October) and from 9.30am to 6pm during low season (November to March).

Access Ore - Ducasse Au Château De Versailles

During the day, the restaurant ore is open to the public. An exceptional setting and view to take a break or to eat during the Palace's opening hours. A French inspired menu with classics of our cuisine, alongside light and quick snacks, desserts and gourmet pastries. Children are welcome here with their very own Prince & Princess menu.

You can access the restaurant ore - Ducasse from the vestibule of the Dufour Pavilion, accessible by the door on the left side of the entrance A.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10AM to 6:30Pm in high season (April to October) and 10AM to 5:30PM in low season (November to March). Access to the restaurant through the courtyard of Princes independantly of the tour of the Palace.

Reservation: +33 (0)1 30 84 12 96 – [email protected] Groups and events: +33 (0)1 30 84 12 98 – [email protected]

Chapel Gate

The gate of the Chapel is closed.

Located in Léon Gambetta place, the Chapel Gate gives access, on foot, to the Palace (entrances A and B). It is accessible by skirting the Palace on the right, rue Robert de Cotte.

It is advised for groups to enter through the Chapel Gate that is much less used than the Honour Gate. In addition, it will give you direct access to entrance B, where you must present your scheduled booking (self-guided tour). However, the access through the Honour Gate is recommended for people with disabilities.

Open every day except Monday, from 9am to 5.30pm.

Audioguide - Dufour's Pavillon

The audioguide desk is located in the entrance hall of the Pavillon Dufour: every day when the château is open and 30 minutes before the last admission, i.e. 5.30pm in high season and 4.30pm in low season.

The audioguides are returned at the end of the tour, on the ground floor of the Dufour Pavilion.

For the permanent tour, the audio guide is available in 13 languages: French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Arabic. A children's version is also available in French.

Audioguide - Dufour's Pavilion

Ore - Ducasse Au Château De Versailles

Acces To Dufour Pavilion's Auditorium

Installed on the 2nd floor of the Dufour Pavilion, this 148-seat auditorium is used as a reception area for conferences and seminars organized at the palace.

The access to the auditorium is the same one that of the restaurant ORE - Ducasse: from the vestibule of the Dufour Pavilion, accessible by the door on the left side of the entrance A.

Automatic Deposits

Some automatic deposits (school children only) are available in different information points, and allow you to leave items that do not exceed the limited format (46x43x26 cm maximum).

Parking-Place D'armes (Cars And Coaches)

At the Place d'Armes, parking is offered for cars, minibuses and coaches (charge payable).

Coach parking is only available at the Place d'Armes or at the crossroads of the Grand and Petit Trianon in the park.

Parking is free for disabled visitors on presentation of a valid permit.

Start Of The Tour

Visit the Apartments of the Daughters of Louis XV (entrance 1) before discovering the Grands Appartements (entrance 2).

Drinking Fountain

Open access drinking water supply point.

To access to the Palace, buy a Palace or "Passport" ticket (full access to the Versailles Estate). Buy your ticket online . Due to the high number of visitors, admission to the palace can only be guaranteed through online booking. To buy your ticket on site, go to the Ticket Office on the left, in the South Ministers Wing, then go to Entrance A with your ticket. Visitors eligible for free admission are nonetheless required to book a free of charge time slot on the online ticket office to access the Palace.

If you would like to book a guided tour, buy on line and go to the dedicated area in the North Ministers Wing to the right of the Honour Courtyard.

 From April to October, access to the gardens is subject to a fee from Tuesday to Sunday (days of the Fountain Shows and Musical Gardens). In this case, buy a Passport ticket online (access to the entire estate) or a Grandes Eaux / Jardins Musicaux ticket (at the entrance of the gardens or preferably online ). Buy your tickets on line .

Entrance A is reserved to individual visitors with tickets. Visitors eligible for free admission are required to book a free of charge time slot on the online ticket office to access the Palace.

Entrance B is reserved to groups that have booked their visit.

If you have booked a guided tour, the meeting place is at the North Ministers Wing to the right in the Cour d'Honneur.

For access to the toilets, cross the courtyard and enter the Gabriel Pavilion. The toilets are on your right in the basement by the Gabriel Stairs. Other  toilets, accessible for disabled visitors, are available at the end of the Gallery of Palace History. Caution, there are no toilets on the first floor of the Palace.

Toilets-North Wing

Toilets are available by taking the lift at the end of the Gallery of Palace History.

When you arrive at the Palace, you can go directly to the gardens by going to the top left-hand side of the Cour d'Honneur, then entering the Courtyard of the Princes (left-side of the entrance A).

From 29 March to 31 October, access to the gardens is subject to a fee from Tuesday to Sunday (days of the Fountain Shows and Musical Gardens). In this case, buy a Passport ticket (preferably online) or if you only visit the gardens a Grandes Eaux / Jardins Musicaux ticket (at the entrance of the gardens).

After coming in through Entrance A, your tour begins in the Royal Courtyard.

Enter the Cour de Marbre to visit the Apartments of the Daughters of Louis XV. Next, head for the Pavillon Gabriel to visit the Grands Appartements.

The Marble Courtyard

The Marble Courtyard is the original courtyard of the palace, built by Louis XIII in 1623. Its black and white tiles come from the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Audioguides are located in the Gabriel pavilion.

For a map, go to the Information Centre located on the ground garden at the Dufour pavilion (after entry A).

The Hall of Mirrors is located on the first floor of the Palace and is part of the self-guided tour of the Grand Apartments. After entering, cross the Royal Courtyard and follow the signs to the Grand Apartments.

Access Grand Apartments (Hall Of Mirrors, King’S Chamber) - Gv

After taking the stairs at the end of the Gallery of History, your visit continues through the Galerie de Pierre Haute or the Louis XIV rooms.

Questel Staircase

The Questel staircase gives access to the first floor from the Gallery of the History of the Palace.

The Louis Xiv's Childhood

After 23 years of marriage to Anne of Austria, Louis XIII finally gained his much-longed-for heir in Louis XIV, who was acclaimed as 'Louis-Dieudonné', or 'Louis, the gift from God'. The portraits in this room depict him as a child, heir to the throne of France, who became king at a very young age.

Early Military Campaigns

Louis XIV was a warrior king for whom victory was a means of cementing his authority. After his marriage to Maria Theresa, daughter of the King of Spain, Louis XIV claimed certain Spanish territories in Flanders, thus triggering what is known as the War of Devolution.

The Académie Royale De Peinture Et De Sculpture

The king called upon the artists of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture to illustrate the glory of his kingdom and its ruler. The academy, which was established in 1648 and overhauled in 1660, was a centre of training in and development of aesthetic principles. To be admitted to it, prospective members had to present a 'reception piece', i.e. a work on a given subject.

The Arts At The Start Of His Reign

Ever since 'La Fronde' (the French civil wars between 1640 and 1650 sparked by a double revolt by parliament and the princes who opposed Louis XIV and his family), Louis XIV mistrusted Paris. He therefore set up and oversaw the court at Versailles, where spectacular parties were organised and to which the great artists of the day were invited.  In this way, Louis XIV contributed to the advancement of the arts.

The Exercise Of Power

Louis XIV was an absolute monarch. He governed alone and relied on counsellors and ministers, whose role was to carry out royal wishes.

Versailles And Europe

Louis XIV turned France into the leading power in Europe and the world. He expanded the kingdom and furthered the reputation of the country beyond its borders.

At The Turn Of The Reign (The 1690S)

In France, the crown passes from father to son according to primogeniture. Of Louis XIV's six children, only his firstborn survived to adulthood. He was given the title of dauphin. However, the succession to the throne was not completely assured…

The King At War

Louis XIV has been portrayed many times as a war commander. These portraits create an image of him as a great and conquering king, and symbolise the military might of France.

Royal Residences

In 1682, Versailles became the seat of government. As an absolute monarch, Louis XIV increased the number of royal residences as a way of extending his power. His successors and the royal family liked to spend time in these places, far from the Palace, often, simply, to get away from life at court.

The Hall of Mirrors is halfway through the Grand Apartments tour in the central section of the Palace.

Hall Of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors replaced a large terrace overlooking the garden that was considered too exposed to inclement weather. Its seventeen arches decorated with mirrors face seventeen arched windows, creating a commingling of the interior and exterior. The Hall of Mirrors was  a place for both social events and demonstrating the political might of Louis XIV.

Where is the King's Chamber?

This room adjoining the Hall of Mirrors is in the central section of the Palace. The Chamber can be visited halfway through the self-guided tour of the Grand Apartments.

The King's Chamber

Room currently not open to visitors

This room was used several times a day: for the King's getting-up and going-to-bed ceremonies; for his private meals, i.e. when he would eat alone; and for receiving certain courtiers and ambassadors. The room was therefore subject to strict etiquette. Only Louis XIV ever slept there.

Where is the Queen's Chamber?

This room is in the central section of the Palace. It is located at the end of the Grand Apartments tour, after the Hall of Mirrors and the King's Chamber.

Queen's Chamber

The Queen's Bedchamber is located opposite the Apollo Room. It is where the queen slept, hosted her private audiences and went through the public going-to-bed ceremony. Contrary to the King's Bedchamber, this room was occupied by the various queens up to 1789.

There are no toilets on the 1st floor of the Palace. Take either the Queen's Stairway at the end of the Grand Apartments tour to the garden level and the Royal Courtyard or the Princes' Stairway to the exit and the groundfloor of the Dufour Pavilion

The Queen’S Staircase

Built in 1680, this staircase soon became the busiest in the Palace, as it led to the King and Queen's apartments. It now gives access to the Royal Courtyard before finishing the tour of the Grand Apartments.

Princes’ Staircase

This staircase links the first floor to the garden level of the Midi Wing and to the ground floor of the Dufour Pavilion . Its décor is largely from the 17th century.

Toilets are available in the basement of the Dufour pavilion after entrance A.

After this, for access to the toilets, cross the courtyard and enter the Gabriel Pavilion. The toilets are on your right in the basement by the Gabriel Stairs. Other accessible toilets are available at the end of the Gallery of Palace History. Caution, there are no toilets on the first floor of the Palace.

The reservation desk for guided tours is located in the South Ministers' Wing.

You can also book a guided tour on the online ticket office: https://billetterie.chateauversailles.fr

How do I get there from the Palace?

It is possible to reach the Estate of Trianon from the city of Versailles or from the Palace and its gardens.

From the Palace, there are three ways to reach the Trianon Palaces and Marie-Antoinette's Estate:

• By foot through the gardens (around 30 minutes)  
• With the Little Train: from the Palace stop (North Terrace in the Gardens) to the Grand Trianon stop (around 20 minutes / Admission price : 8.50 €, reduced admission : 6.50 € and to only come back to the Palace : 4.60 €)   
• From the Water parterre by renting electric vehicles (34 € per hour)

Important information: access to the Petit Trianon and to the Queen's Hamlet is through the Grand Trianon only.

Access to the gardens is free of charge, except for Fountain Show and Musical Gardens days from April to October. However, the Passport ticket entitles you to visit the Palace, the Trianon palaces and the Marie-Antoinette's Estate as well as giving you access to the gardens, including Fountain Show and Musical Garden days.

See the dates for Fountains shows, Musical Garden and Fountains Night Show.

Mini Train - Grand Trianon Stop

The little train, leaving from the Grand Trianon, serves the Petit Trianon, then the Palace. Return ticket to the Palace *: €5 * Visitors can get off at each stop and get back on the next train.

It is possible to pay by credit card directly to the drivers.

Opening hours: open every day except Mondays

• January: 11:10am to 5:10pm ( January 1st : 12am to 5pm )
• February: 11:10am to 5:10pm.
• March: 11:10am to 5:10pm
• April to August : 11:10am to 6:10pm (in July and August: 10am to 6.10pm)
• September: 11:10am at 6:10pm
• October: 11:10am to 6:10pm
• November: 11:10am to 5:10pm.
• December: 11:10am to 5:10pm. ( December 25th : 12am to 5pm )

Mini Train - Petit Trianon Stop

The little train, leaving from the Petit Trianon, serves the Palace. Return ticket to the Château: €5

Mini-Train - Grand Canal Stop

The little train, leaving from the Grand Canal, serves the Grand Trianon then the Petit Trianon and the Palace.

Ticket "Retour Château" (Back to the Palace) * : €5 * Visitors can get off at each stop and get back on the next train.

• April to August : 11:10am to 6:10pm

Electric Vehicle Hire - Petite Venise

The electric vehicles with audioguides will help you to discover the park of Versailles at your own pace. Rental is available every day.

April to October, daily from 10am to 6.45pm (last departure at 5.45pm). From March to November, daily from 10am to 5pm (last departure at 4pm).

For the months of February and March, every day from 10am to 5.30pm (last departure at 4.30pm).

Early closure on Fountain shows. Closed in January

In February & March, daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (last departure at 4:30pm)

• 42 € per vehicle per hour,
• 10,50 € per additional 15 minutes.
• Discount for disabled people (-40%) and Subscribers (-30%).

Telephone: +33 (0)1 39 66 97 66 6 have been adapted for wheelchair users.

Mini-Train - Palace Station

The little train, leaving from the Château, serves the Grand Canal, then the Grand Trianon and finally the Petit Trianon, before returning to the Château. From April to October, it is accessible with a Passport, Grandes Eaux Musicales or Jardins Musicaux ticket.

Return ticket* :

• Full price: €9
• Reduced price: €7
• Return to the Château: €5

* Visitors can disembark at each stop and board another mini-train later.

Opening hours : open every day except Mondays

• January: 11:10am to 5:10pm ( January 1st : 12am to 5pm ) .

The Grand Trianon Entrance

The entrance to the Grand Trianon is on the left as you face the building. Open from midday to 6.30pm during high season (April to October) and from midday to 5.30pm during low season (November to March). Gardens open until 7.30pm during high season and until 6pm during low season.

Ticket Office - Grand Trianon

The ticket office is located inside the Grand Trianon, through the archway. 

Petit Trianon Entrance (Via The Swiss Guard House)

For guided tours only (for other visits, access through the Grand Trianon)

The entrance is on the left of the Petit Trianon gate. Open from midday to 6.30pm during high season (April to October) and from midday to 5.30pm during low season (November to March). Gardens open until 7.30pm during high season and until 6pm during low season.

Ticket Office - Petit Trianon

The ticket office is located beyond the information desk and the courtyard.

Electric Vehicle Hire - South Terrace

Best Palace of Versailles Tours

• See & Do
• Palace of Versailles
• Versailles Palace Tours from Paris

The 10 Best Versailles Palace Tours from Paris for 2024

Are you planning to visit the Palace of Versailles from Paris?   If so, you may be wondering:  what is the easiest, most stress-free way to get to Versailles, and how can you get the most out of your experience - especially if you want to avoid wasting time in the notoriously long lines at the Chateau's entrance?

Most Popular Paris Day Trips to Palace of Versailles

These top-rated day trips from Paris to Versailles fill up fast, so book early to get the dates you want:

Popular Versailles day trips with transportation from Paris:

• Palace of Versailles & Gardens - Audio tour; choose a full-day or half-day trip
• Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour & Gardens  - Optional garden tour
• Versailles Bike Tour with Palace & Queen's Farm Entrance  - Highly-rated
• Giverny & Versailles Guided Day Trip - See 2 iconic attractions in one day

Traveling to Versailles on your own?  Book a ticket with a reserved time slot for fast entry:

• Versailles Palace & Gardens Full Access Ticket - Includes entire Estate, including 3 palaces, the gardens (including Musical Gardens or Fountain show from April-October), & Marie-Antoinette's Hameau (farm and village)

Fortunately, you can choose from many excellent guided Palace of Versailles tours from Paris that allow you to go through a special priority fast-track entrance gate for use only by group tours.  Some of them also include transportation on comfortable air-conditioned coaches.   For others, you'll meet your guide in Paris and go to Versailles together on the train. 

However, sorting through all the tour choices and options can be challenging, especially if you're planning your first or even your second visit. 

To make choosing the best tour for you easy, we've compiled a list of the 10 best Versailles Palace tours from Paris in 4 different categories:

• Versailles Tours with Included Bus or Train Transport
• Guided Tours of Versailles - You take the train to Versailles on your own
• Guided Bike Tours of Versailles & Its Estate - You meet your group in Paris and travel together to/from Versailles on the train
• Guided Combo Tours of Versailles Plus Giverny or Fontainbleau with transport included

Top photo: A guided tour in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication.  When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you.  Learn more

Best Guided Tours of the Palace of Versailles with Transportation from Paris

These guided tours of Versailles departing from Paris eliminate all the guesswork and stress of getting there and back on your own. Plus, you get fast entry through the dedicated tour-only gate. 

These tours are perfect for when you want maximum convenience plus the knowledge and insights of an expert guide.

1.  From Paris: Full Day Guided Tour of Versailles with Lunch & Transportation

The highly-rated Full-Day Guided Tour of Versailles starts with a comfortable trip by air-conditioned coach from Paris. 

Your expert guide will whisk you through a special entrance  and take you on a tour of the most spectacular Palace rooms, such as the magnificent Hall of Mirrors. You'll get to enjoy entertaining stories about the history of Versailles and life at the Royal Palace as you explore the Sun King's home.

After your Palace tour, you'll have free time to stroll through the beautiful formal Palace Gardens, where you'll have lunch at around noon. 

During the afternoon, your guide will show you Versailles' other most important sights: the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and Marie Antoinette's Estate including her charming Hamlet before your relaxing return to Paris by bus.

2.  Skip-the-Line Versailles Palace Guided Tour by Train from Paris

You'll meet your guide for the Skip-the-Line Versailles Palace Tour by Train in central Paris and travel together to the famous Chateau. 

After passing quickly through the priority entrance reserved for tour groups, your 3-hour journey through the opulent Palace begins.  

Your knowledgeable guide will keep you informed and entertained as you visit the Royal Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and other opulent rooms, as well as the spectacular gardens.  Depending on the day of the week, you'll see the enchanting Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains show. 

After your tour, you can head straight back to Paris on the train if your schedule is tight.  But if you have enough time for a longer visit, you can linger in the gardens, walk around the Grand Canal, and perhaps even enjoy a delicious French dinner in a nearby bistro before taking the train to Paris.

3.  Versailles Palace & Gardens: Ticket, Audio Guide, & Bus from Paris

If you want the convenience of bus transportation to and from Paris but prefer audio guides or exploring independently rather than taking a guided tour, then the Versailles Palace & Gardens: Ticket, Audio Guide, & Bus from Paris may be an excellent choice for you. 

You can choose a half-day (with morning or afternoon arrival) or a full day at the Chateau.  For the half-day afternoon tour, your ticket will give you access to the Palace and Gardens, where you can experience a Musical Fountains show or Musical Gardens on days when they take place.  When you choose the full-day excursion, you will also get access to the Grand and Petit Trianons, as well as to Marie Antoinette's Estate.  All options include an audio guide.

A host will accompany you on the air-conditioned bus from Paris and make sure you get through the skip-the-line entry to the Palace.  From there, you can spend your time discovering all the exciting wonders of this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site.

More about Visiting the Palace of Versailles

• Top Things to See & Do at the Palace of Versailles - Plus visitor tips
• Best Ways to Get from Paris to Versailles Palace
• Best Hotels & Apartments near the Palace of Versailles

4.  From Paris: Day Trip to Giverny & Versailles

To visit both Claude Monet's home and gardens at Giverny as well as the Palace of Versailles in one day from Paris, this small group Giverny & Versailles Guided Day Trip makes that easy to do, thanks to the included transportation on a comfortable air-conditioned coach.

You'll tour Giverny at your own pace with a self-guided audio app.  After a quick lunch break, you'll head to Versailles where you'll have a guided tour of the Palace's most famous rooms, and then explore the beautiful gardens on your own.

The Giverny portion of the tour includes a ticket to Monet's house and gardens.  At Versailles, your ticket also admits you to the Palace and Gardens. 

Best Skip-the-Line Guided Tours of the Palace of Versailles

For these tours, you'll take the train on your own from Paris to Versailles, and then meet your guide after you exit the station.  Together, you'll walk to the Chateau and because you're with a guide, you get the benefit of entering quickly through the guided tour-only gate. 

5.  Versailles Palace: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour 

The Versailles Palace: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour is perfect if you want to explore the spectacular Palace with an expert and learn a bit about Louis XIV (the "Sun King"), Marie Antoinette, and the leading members of the French monarchy who once lived here. 

After you meet your guide and go into the Palace through the priority entrance, your guide will introduce you to this architectural masterpiece.  Then, as you explore the most important rooms, such as the elaborate King's and Queen's Royal Apartments and the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, your guide will point out treasures you might not see on your own. 

When you book:  You can choose to do this tour with a group or as a private experience.

After your tour, you can continue exploring the Palace on your own, but please note: this tour does not include access to the Gardens.  If you want to also tour the sumptuous Gardens, with or without a guide, during the period when the Musical Garden and Musical Fountains shows take place, you'll need a ticket - so check out the following option below!

6. Versailles Palace & Gardens: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Like the previous tour, the Versailles Palace & Gardens Skip-the-Line Guided Tour includes fast entry to the Palace through the priority gate used by tour guides.  You also get a fascinating guided tour of the Palace's most important rooms and can choose between a group and a private experience.

But here's the difference:  This offer also includes a ticket to the statue-filled Royal Gardens (on days when they're not free) where you can see beautiful flowers and ornate fountains.  Your ticket to the Gardens also includes Musical Fountains or Musical Gardens, depending on the day.

When you book your ticket, you can include a guided tour of the Gardens - or choose just to get an entry ticket and explore on your own.

When Can You Enter Versailles' Royal Gardens for Free? 

Currently, free entry days include Wednesdays during September and October, and every day from November through March. 

What happens on the other days?   Musical Fountains shows take place on Saturdays and Sundays from late May through October and on Bastille Day (July 14).  Musical Gardens take place on Tuesdays through Fridays during July and August, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during September and October.

When you choose a tour ticket that includes admission to the Gardens on a day when Musical Fountains or Musical Gardens take place, you get to experience these special events.

Best Guided Bike Tours of Versailles

Versailles's mostly flat terrain and expansive grounds makes this the perfect location for bike tours. 

7.  Versailles Bike Tour with Palace & Queen's Farm Entrance

On the Versailles Bike Tour with Palace & Queen's Farm Entrance,  you'll meet up with your guide and the rest of your tour group in Paris and take the train together to Versailles. 

Once there, you'll visit the traditional farmers' market to pick up cheese, fruits, and charcuterie for a picnic lunch later in the day by the Grand Canal.

After a quick stop to pick up your bike (plus rain ponchos, just in case!), you're off to cycle around the Chateau's landscaped parklands and sumptuous gardens.   With over 2,000 acres, the place is enormous - so you'll appreciate having both a guide and a bike! 

Your guide will also take you to see the smaller palaces of the Grand and Petit Trianons as well as Marie-Antoinette's Hameau, her rustic village, and her farm.  Meanwhile, your guide will share lots of information about the incredible places you're seeing as well as the colorful French kings and queens who once lived there.

Finally, you'll visit the Palace of Versailles with the skip-the-line entry ticket included as part of your tour.  This portion of the trip is on your own, so you can use the included audio guide and explore the Hall of Mirrors and other opulent rooms at your own pace before heading back to Paris on the train.

8.  Paris: Versailles Sunset Bike Tour with Fireworks Show (& After-Hours Palace Entrance!)

The seasonal (late spring through early fall) Paris: Versailles Sunset Bike Tour with Fireworks Show  gives you three phenomenal experiences:

1. The spectacular evening Fountains Show in Versailles' Royal Gardens

2. Exclusive after-hours admission to the Palace where you'll see costumed performers and musicians as they sing, dance, and play musical instruments as you explore the Royal Chambers and other famous rooms without encountering crowds of other visitors.

3.  An unforgettable fireworks display over the Grand Canal.

In addition, you'll have plenty of time to ride your bike around the Estate with your guide and see the famous gardens, the Petit Trianon and Grand Trianon, and Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet.  You'll even enjoy a picnic dinner.

Similar to the previous daytime tour by bike, you'll meet your guide in central Paris and go together to Versailles on the train.  Once you reach Versailles and pick up your bike, you'll head to the market square to pick up food for a picnic dinner.

Once you reach the Palace grounds, you'll explore the estate, with stops at Marie-Antoinette's Hameau, the Petit and Grand Trianons, and finally the Grand Canal, where you'll enjoy your picnic dinner. 

Finally, you'll get after-hours entrance to the Palace and Gardens, where the magical evening entertainment unfolds.

After the fireworks, you'll return to Paris by train where your tour ends.

Want to bike from Paris to Versailles?  Find out how

Best Combo Tours of Versailles + Giverny or Fontainbleau

When your schedule allows time for only one day trip from Paris, these guided tours from Paris let you experience Versailles and Giverny or Versailles and Fontainbleau in a single day. 

9. Versailles & Giverny Day Tour with Lunch at Moulin de Fourges

Giverny & Versailles Day Tour with Lunch - Medium (14 or less) group tour in a minibus. 

When you arrive at Giverny, you'll explore Impressionist artist Claude Monet's home, gardens, and the ponds where water lilies inspired his most famous paintings.

After enjoying a delicious 3-course lunch with wine at Moulin de Fourges, a restaurant in a delightful old mill house by a scenic river about 5 miles from Giverny, you'll head to Versailles, where an art historian will lead you on a guided tour of the most famous rooms including the Hall of Mirrors.  Headsets will be provided to enable you to hear the guide. 

This tour also includes access to Versailles' magnificent gardens,  which means you'll get to see the Fountain Show or Musical Gardens on the days when they're available.

Please note: the private option mentioned in the "Includes" section of online description appears to not be available at the current time.

10.  Versailles Palace & Château de Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau, like Versailles, is a magnificent palace which grew from a modest medieval hunting lodge.  The Palace overlooks a large lake and spectacular gardens including the largest formal garden in Europe.  It has served as a residence for numerous French rulers including 34 kings and two emperors from the 12th through the 19th century. 

The best way to see both Versailles and Fontainebleau in a single day is to sign up for a Chateau de Fontainbleau & Chateau de Versailles Private Tour.

Your driver/guide will pick you up at your hotel, will first take you to the Chateau de Fontainebleau for a private tour of the magnificent palace, where you'll also see Napoleon's Throne.  

More Articles about Visiting the Palace of Versailles

• Where to Stay near the Palace of Versailles
• Paris Museum Pass - How much money and time can you save with it?
• Skip the Line Tickets - Where to get them
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De : 129,00  € TTC

Adulte: Prix : 149 € TTC

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Guided tours upon request

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The tours upon request explained below give you :

 A  time slot for direct access to the Palace,

 Speaking rights for your guide.

Consult the every ticket in one look.

See conditions for free admission

Please don't forget to check our pratical guide about Speaking zones for self-guided groups. 

+33 (0)1 30 83 04 05 or [email protected] 

Conditions of sales

Self-guided tours of the State Apartments

• With your own guide (including speaking rights)
• Access to the main circuits: the State Apartments, the Dauphin’s Apartment, Louis XV’s Daughters’ Apartments, the Palace Police Room, the Captain of the Guard’s Apartment, the Hall of Mirrors, the Gallery of Coaches, the Gallery of Sculptures and Casts, and the exhibitions
• During public opening hours

View the general conditions of sale .

Bookings at: +33 (0)1 30 83 04 05, on site or on the online ticket office.

All groups of 5 or more (except for school groups and special audiences) must be equipped with audiophones , whether inside the palace or in the grounds. If you don't have your own equipment, you can hire it on site, by phone or by selecting the Audiophone product in the online ticket office.

€21 per person 30 people maximum

Passport Add-on

In addition to the Self-Guided tours of the State Apartments  ticket, this offer will give you access to:

• The Estate of Trianon: Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet
• The Gardens, including on Musical Fountains Show and Musical Garden days

Information on prices and bookings on site or by phone at: +33 (0)1 30 83 04 05 .

All groups (except for school groups and special audiences) must be equipped with audiophones , whether inside the palace or in the grounds. If you don't have your own equipment, you can hire it on site, by phone or by selecting the Audiophone product in the online ticket office.

30 people maximum

Self-guided tours of the Private Apartments

• With your own guide, specially trained for these tours
• Visit the Private Apartments of Louis XV – Louis XVI, the Royal Opera House and the Royal Chapel (not open to the public on unaccompanied tours)
• Admission to the main circuits: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's daughters Apartments, the Coach Gallery and exhibitions

Access new guidelines for reception of groups

See the terms and conditions of sale  and the practical guide for self-guided tours .

Booking by email  [email protected] .

600 € for groups of 8 to 25 people

300 € for groups of 7 people or less

Guided tours

• Led by a tour guide from the Palace of Versailles
• Tours of different parts of the Palace depending on the theme, such as the State Apartments or the Hall of Mirrors, and areas not open to the public on unaccompanied tours.
• After the tour, visitors have access to all the sites of the Estate.

Book online

Consult the practical guide for guided tours .

Tour : 1h30 600 € per group 25 people maximum per group

Private Tours

• Customized tours of areas that are not open to the public on unaccompanied tours
• After the tour, visitors have access to all the areas of the Estate + the Fountain Shows depending on the day of their visit.

Tour : 1h30

1000 € per group

25 people maximum

Prestige Tours

• An exceptional visit with a tour guide from the Palace of Versailles
• Access to the main areas of the Palace : the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors ...
• Outside of public opening times

Reservation request by e-mail at:  [email protected]

Price on request

The Palace offers a whole set of services on site

Palace of Versailles e-shop

Souvenirs from Versailles delivered directly at home