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 – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 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
The palace is stunning. A must visit if you have time in Paris. The palace offers so many portraits, chandeliers, lights and marvelous rooms all decorated and well kept. The highlight of the palace is the long courtyard of chandeliers and mirrors all glistening. There are so many spots to click photos, the place gets really crowded, come early in the morning to visit this best leisurely manner. Go for it 👍🏻🤩
Sujay Sreekumar - 2 weeks ago
One of the most beautiful palaces in Europe. The 400 year history is being celebrated this year 2025. The history is beautifully displayed in many of the state apartments which are open to the general public. I highly recommend the King’s Private Chambers tour which takes you to other areas. If your guide can sneak you into the Theatre, it is amazing. You should pre buy a times ticket as it gets very busy. I bought a years pass for two as we are going 3 times during our stay and it makes better financial sense.
G Mac - in the last week
It was an unforgettable experience. The way the property has been restored and maintained is truly remarkable. It felt like stepping back in time. Everything was preserved so beautifully, and I really appreciated the attention to detail in keeping it all original. It was stunning. The sculptures and busts looked even more impressive in person, and I’d love to visit again. I highly recommend it.
Dimitris Gkiokai - a week ago
Lots of people. I cannot imagine what summer must be like. Would recommend having a guide and group tour to avoid lines and learn more. They have audio guides if you come on your own. With the gardens you could spend all day but our tour was 2.5 hours.
Marie L - a week ago
Come during the off season and get there early had the 10:00am slot , a little busy but there were some areas that were still quiet. Was there all day till around 5:30pm, I suggest bringing lunch the cafe is nice but isn’t great. Also have comfortable walking shoes!
Kenny Williams - a week ago
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 -
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Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr
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