History, gossip, scandal, power, glamour, revolution – The opulent Palace of Versailles (or Château de Versailles in French) has seen it all. And that’s the reason, visiting Versailles from Paris on a day trip is an absolute must on your Paris itinerary. It is just so intriguing!
Situated 10 miles outside of Paris lies this extravagant château which remains a testament to centuries of French history. Versailles was the former residence of French monarchs and the cultural center of Europe till the French Revolution. This 17th-century palace was also the residence of the last King and Queen of France, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.
Palace of Versailles has several rooms spread over 63,154m² and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. And quite obviously, this ornate palace and its expansive gardens are considered stars in the political and cultural map of France.
Tips to Visiting Versailles from Paris on a day trip
To ensure your day trip to Versailles is enriching and you get to experience it in its full glory, a good amount of planning is required. Hence before we dive into things to do in Versailles Palace, let us consider some important pointers to enable your planning.
Tip #1: Consider site and local holidays while planning a day trip to Versailles from Paris
It is important to check which days the Versailles Palace is open to the public for visiting, which of the attractions are available for exploring on that day of the week and which ones would you like to explore in the first place.
Let’s take a deep dive:
Monday – Palace of Versailles is closed.
Tuesday – Louvre museum in Paris is closed and hence visitors prefer to visit Versailles resulting in more crowds on Tuesdays.
Weekends – usually crowded.
That leaves you with Wednesday to Friday for a less-crowdy Versailles experience. On top of all these, there are public holidays that need to be considered.
Tip #2: Book your tickets online before visiting Versailles from Paris
Palace of Versailles tickets are available for online booking. These are timed-entry tickets and allows you to skip the line.
Even if the option of booking tickets from the office counter is there, I think this option should be exercised with caution in the post-pandemic world. Why not make things way easier by planning the trip and booking the tickets online.
Moreover, Versailles Palace is well-known for long queues. Prior booked tickets will ensure to skip the line and save time.
Pro Tip: With a payment of an extra 5 Euros, you can collect a Versailles stamped gilded coin that will serve as a memento of your Versailles visit. This is subject to the offer available on tickets.
Tip #3: Choose the right Ticket option
Palace of Versailles provides several options to visit various parts of the Palace, Gardens, Trianon along with options for opting for musical fountain shows or any special exhibition.
Tickets for Versailles Palace can be purchased directly from their official website.
Passport Ticket – All in one ticket. Palace (with audio guide) + Gardens + Estate of Trianon
Prices vary on Musical fountain days.
Palace Ticket – Palace (with audio guide) )+ Access to garden on days when there are no Fountain shows or Musical gardens
The Estate of Trianon – To be purchased separately unless you are going for the Passport Ticket.
Musical Fountains Show – Separate ticket for Access to the Gardens and Fountains display Musical Gardens ticket – Separate ticket for Access to the Gardens
Tip #4: And also leverage the audio guide
I would recommend using the audio guide to make the visit more meaningful. This pre-recorded commentary on exhibits provides more context to the visit. If you are visiting Versailles from Paris, make sure to have an immaculate plan in place for a great experience.
Tip #5: Install the Palace of Versailles App on your cell phone
Install the Palace of Versailles app on your cell phone. This app is completely free of charge and comes with an interactive map.
Tip #6: Arrive early
A Paris to Versailles day trip will need you to be an early-riser and arrive early at the Versailles Palace.
Versailles Palace is infamous for long queues and large crowds. Even if you pre-book the tickets online and skip the line, the palace becomes crowded as the day progresses.
The palace opens at 9:30 AM and that’s the time you should attempt to enter the Palace.
Tip# 7: Arrive late if…
Sounds contradicting? Not exactly!
If you intend to watch the Fountains night show and the Royal Serenade, chances are you will need to stay back till 11 PM. In that case, you can start your day late and arrive at Versailles Palace in the late afternoon.
The advantage of that is the day-trippers will mostly be leaving and you can explore the palace at peace.
While 11 PM seems a bit late to return to Paris, it is very much common. I recollect leaving Disneyland Paris after the nightly fireworks and reached Paris after midnight. It is fine as long as you are safe and enjoying the trip.
Tip #8: Skip the Musical Fountain show if you have experienced one before
If you have experienced Musical Fountain shows before, then the Versailles version might be a repeat. Although the fountains are spread out over a huge space with the palace as their backdrop and a grand canal in the forefront.
Versailles Palace is more than the musical fountain shows and those days are usually crowded. Skip it if you may.
Tip #9: Explore the Gardens and the Estate of Trianon
The best part of the Palace of Versailles is that the palace is not the sole star. The Palace Gardens and the Estate of Trianon are equally impressive and must be explored on a day trip to Versailles from Paris.
Just ensure that you are getting the right ticket options.
Tip #10: Do not carry an umbrella or stroller
Strollers for small children or umbrellas are not allowed inside the Palace premises. You have to leave them at the left luggage section.
Tip #11: Visit the gift shop(s)
There are several gift shops in Versailles palace that have a range of souvenirs on offer. You can find them outside the palace next to the ticket barriers, within the Garden and Palace.
When we visited Versailles Palace, there was an option to add a coin from Versailles Palace at an extra price of 5 Euros. We picked that up from one of the gift shops as a souvenir from Versailles.
Things To Do in Palace of Versailles
1. Marvel at the Hall of Mirrors
Amongst the several rooms in Versailles Palace, Hall of Mirrors is the most well-known. It has witnessed several notable historical moments like the signing of Treaty of Versailles , one of the most important peace treaties that marked the end of World War I.
This Baroque-style gallery can safely be termed as the jewel in the crown of the Palace of Versailles. The mirrors, crystal chandeliers, gilded statues, magnificent flooring, and ceiling paintings give this hall the most exquisite and luxurious look.
The Hall has 17 windows on one wall in the direction of the park and the opposite wall is adorned by 357 mirrors reflecting the exteriors of the Palace. The beauty is further enhanced with the light and candlelight in the evenings. This expensive mirror installation enhancing the overall scene was an obvious luxury statement by the then King of France, Louis XIV.
Bear in mind, Versailles palace is one of the most frequented palaces of Europe and the crowd is synonymous with it. Even If you book your tickets beforehand or go for a guided tour, chances are you will still be flanked by visitors around you.
I’ll go to the extent of saying that it is better to get postcards of Hall Of Mirrors because no matter what angle you try to click your best photo, it will always have some tourists in it on your background.
An early visit is highly recommended to experience the Hall of Mirrors in its full glory and with a lesser crowd.
2. Admire the ornately designed King’s Bed Chamber
King Louis XIV King’s Chamber
As you tour the Palace, several rooms will catch your attention. These rooms have the dominant color of red and golden with illustrious paintings adorning the walls and the ceilings.
One such notable room is the Kin’s Bed chamber in the King’s apartment.
King Louis IV ensured that ‘going to bed’ and ‘getting up’ were rituals that needed a lot of styles. The bed chamber in the King’s apartment is opulently designed in golden brocade material and the walls are tastefully covered by beautiful paintings.
3. Stroll in the Palace Gardens
If Versailles Palace is considered a shining jewel in France’s royal history, then the Palace Gardens are what make it more gorgeous. The best view of the garden is from a level above the ground that reveals the manicured design.
The massive and impeccably planned gardens, witness to many historical events are studded with an array of beautiful fountains. The Apollo fountain and Latona’s fountain are what will simply make you awestruck.
Look at the pathway just beyond the garden. Can you feel some royal galloping towards the palace? The gardens will certainly transcend you to the bygone days.
4. Do not miss Estate of Trianon
The Estate of Trianon consists of Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet.
The sights at the estate of Trianon are included in the Versailles “passport” ticket option, €18 for adults.
While a 35-40 minute walk will take you to the Estate of Trianon, you can do yourself a favor by opting for the shuttle service that can take you to the estate from the main palace.
The Grand Trianon is a smaller but feminine and more intimate version of the Versailles palace. It is rightly called, “A little palace in pink marble and porphyry”. It is surrounded by the most unique garden and each room in The Grand Trianon has a garden view.
Head on to Petit Trianon from the Grand Trianon and you will find an understated version of the palace which is tastefully but sparsely decorated.
Your next stop would be Queen’s hamlet where Marie Antoinette spent a considerable amount of time to get the taste of the village atmosphere amidst royalty.
Exploring the Estate of Trianon after the Palace of Versailles and the Palace gardens is quite tiring. Hence, try to take mini breaks in between to space it out.
Best Time to visit Versailles Palace
Versailles is beautiful throughout the year. But since the palace is the owner of the most beautiful gardens, you might want to visit during the bloom season and that’s spring and autumn.
Getting to Palace of Versailles from Paris
The easiest, fastest and cheapest way to visiting Versailles from Paris is via train and these are the options below.
1. RER (Line C)
RER (Line C) is a direct train from Paris to Château de Versailles and departs from central Paris metro stations. It is a 1-hour train ride from Paris to Versailles. After reaching Château de Versailles station, a 15-min walk will take you to the Palace of Versailles.
RER stands for Réseau Express Régional and is the train network that serves Paris and its suburbs.
We had opted for RER C because we wanted to save effort on walking to the palace. The Palace and garden tour itself has a lot of walking involved
2. SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse station
SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse station is a super-fast train that will take you to Versailles Chantiers station in 20 minutes. Follow it up with a 20 – 25 minute walk to the Palace.
About SNCF: As per Wikipedia, “The SNCF, the national state-owned railway company, operates most of the passenger and freight services on the national network managed by its subsidiary SNCF Réseau. France currently operates the second-largest European railway network, with a total of 29,901 kilometers of railway.”
3. SNCF train from Gare Saint Lazare station
SNCF train from Gare Saint Lazare station is the other option from Paris to the Versailles Rive Droite station. This is a 35-minute ride including a change in Montparnasse station, followed by a 25-min walk from Versailles Rive Droite station to Versailles Palace.
This would be the last train option you would like to exercise on a day trip. Change in between and then long walks!
Pro-Tip
- RER tickets are part of the Paris Visite Travel pass if you have chosen Zone 1 to 5 category while buying the pass. Zone 1 to 5 category covers public transport systems within and outside Paris (like Versailles or Disneyland)
- Check out the train schedule from the SNCF website if opting for SNCF trains.
- Guided tours of Palace of Versailles are great options if you do not want to navigate Paris’s transportation system and want everything else in the trip to be taken care of
Where to eat in while visiting Versailles from Paris
Versailles Palace has a couple of dining options within its premises. Bear in mind, you can not enter Palace
Grand Café D’Orleans – Café serving sandwiches and desserts
Ore – Quintessential French cuisine with a modern twist
La Petit Venise – Serves Italian cuisine
Restaurant Angelina – Tea room serving gourmet savories
La Flottille – Traditional French cuisine
and some more!
The savories on offer at Angelina 
Hot Chocolate at Angelina
When we visited the Versailles, we got tired after the palace tour and wanted to settle down for a quick snack before hitting the gorgeous gardens. Towards the exit on the first floor is the beautiful Angelina Tea room. Their sinful hot chocolate and gourmet pastries are going to uplift your energy levels in no time like they did for us! The gorgeous décor of the tearoom is the perfect fit for the in-palace dining experience.
There are several restaurants outside the palace as well. Just let Google suggest you the best options. We have fond memories of a delectable ratatouille in one of those restaurants as we settled down for a late afternoon lunch.
Virtual tour of Palace of Versailles
Google provides a Virtual tour of the Palace of Versailles and it is no less than jaw-dropping!
Yes, of course, a virtual tour can not replace the in-person experience. But this can orient you with the Palace along with some great information.
A perfect stay-at-home experience while you plan for a future trip.
Closing thoughts on Visiting Versailles Palace from Paris
Visiting Versailles from Paris was always on my Paris Bucket List and personally I love visiting palaces which just have so much of history attached to it.
Have you been to Palace of Versailles before? Let me know how you liked it in the comment section below.
