Château de Versailles
A trip from Paris to the famous Château de Versailles and the adjoining gardens is a great way to spend a day
The Château de Versailles is a rather famous tourist attraction. It symbolised the monarchy of Louis XIV between 1682 and 1789. It was the centre of power during those years thanks to Louis XIV arranging to have the government and all seats of power housed there. Forcing the regional powers to spend a portion of their time at the palace prevented regional forces from gathering too much power.
It has, as many French landmarks have, been redesigned by the resident monarch a number of times. The first design was by Philibert Le Roy which were followed by four major renovations and extensions to the palace. One of the more significant improvements and extensions was the addition of the King's and Queen's apartments.
The Château de Versailles is now open to the public most days of the week. Modern restrooms have been installed and there are free audio guides available in ten major languages. For those who would like to purchase some knick knacks for family and friends there are a variety of souvenir shops and curio stores. They even have a resident photographer who will gladly take your picture, for a fee.
For those that prefer to ride than to walk around a tourist attraction as large as this, there is an electric vehicle hire available which you can take around the gardens and through the Trianon, the Queen's Hamlet, the Grand Canal and the entire estate. There's a mini train that will take you to the estate of Marie Antoinette the Grand Trianon and little Venice.
It is worth noting that it is best to visit the Château de Versailles on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. This is because Tuesdays are busiest as most other French museums are closed.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month from November to March. Otherwise admission charges apply. See the official website for details.Château de Versailles Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Phone: 01 30 83 78 00
Official Website: Château de Versailles
Château de Versailles Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
Wow this is such a magical place! Definitely worth the visit. It is just 40-45 mins from Paris by public transport. We visited in December so it wasn’t that crowded, however the gardens weren’t in bloom😢 so if you are going for the gardens I would suggest spring or summer. Aside from that we spent 6 hours exploring the chateau!
Nikolina Karalieva - 3 weeks ago
The Palace of Versailles is an impressive and memorable place to visit, especially if you enjoy history, architecture, and grand interiors. The palace rooms are beautifully detailed, with ornate ceilings, chandeliers, artwork, and lavish décor that really show the scale of French royal life. The Hall of Mirrors was definitely a highlight, and it was amazing to walk through such a famous space and see the gardens stretching out from the windows.
That said, the visit can be quite tiring, especially with kids. The palace itself gets crowded, and there is a lot of walking from room to room. The outdoor garden and park area is enormous, and while it is beautiful, going all the way down and then having to come back up felt like too much effort for us. In the scorching heat, it honestly did not feel worth it, and the kids were completely exhausted by the time we were done.
Overall, Versailles is absolutely worth seeing at least once, especially for the palace interiors and the historical experience. However, I would plan the outdoor portion carefully depending on the weather. We personally would not do the huge park area again unless the weather was much cooler and everyone had more energy.
Nitin Gupta - 2 months ago
Absolutely breathtaking an unforgettable experience you must see when visiting Paris
The Palace of Versailles is truly one of the most beautiful and impressive places I have ever visited. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the history, grandeur, and elegance surrounding you. The palace itself is stunning beyond words every room is filled with intricate details, gold accents, artwork, and craftsmanship that show just how extraordinary this place is.
The Hall of Mirrors is absolutely jaw dropping and even more impressive in person than in photos. Walking through the palace feels like stepping back in time and imagining how royalty once lived. Every hallway, ceiling, and room tells a story, and you could easily spend hours just taking it all in.
The gardens are massive and beautifully maintained, with fountains, sculptures, and perfectly designed pathways. They are just as impressive as the palace itself and worth taking your time to explore. It’s peaceful, breathtaking, and feels endless.
Important tip: Buy your tickets online directly from the official website before you go. This saves a lot of time, helps you avoid long lines, and makes the experience much smoother.
If you are visiting Paris, this is an absolute must see. It’s not just a tourist attraction it’s a once in a lifetime experience. Truly magical, unforgettable, and 100% worth it.
B V - 2 months ago
★★★☆☆
Versailles is worth visiting once, but I wouldn’t go back. Buy tickets online well in advance, especially if you want the full Palace, Trianon, and Gardens ticket. I booked the day before and only a 4:30 p.m. palace entry was available, though the line was much shorter than earlier in the day. I also recommend downloading the official app beforehand—the audio guide is good enough that I didn’t feel a guided tour was necessary.
The gardens were beautiful, green, and much cooler than the palace, and I especially enjoyed the Queen’s Hamlet. The palace itself was the biggest letdown. The crowds around the Hall of Mirrors and the King’s and Queen’s apartments were so packed that it was hard to appreciate the rooms or take photos. Surprisingly, my favorite rooms were the quieter ones added after Napoleon, which many visitors seemed to skip. Overall, I’m glad I visited, but I enjoyed the gardens much more than the palace.
Jaye Aster Broder - a month ago
What an amazing place. So ornate, so much gold. We had tickets for the first entry of the morning, still busy, but no coach tours until later in the morning. Make sure you buy tickets for the tour of the King’s private apartments. A very informative tour by guides who tell you all about the things that went on behind closed doors. Everywhere is so ornate and opulent.
LOLLYB - 3 months ago
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Directions
| RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| RER-C | Versailles - Rive Gauche | 10 minutes |
How to get to Château de Versailles by RER
By RER: Take the RER-C Train to Versailles - Rive Gauche. Exit the station and go right (north) up Av de General du Gaulle the left on Avenue de Paris to the entrance of Château-de-Versailles.
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Photo Gallery
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Beautiful view of the Grand Canal at the Château de Versailles cc licensed photo by HarshLight -
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Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Jose Losada Foto - cc license via Flickr -
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