Palace of Versailles Day Trip From Paris

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A guide to visiting the most famous and lavish palace in Europe. Located a short Metro ride from central Paris.



The Palace of Versailles served as the main royal residence for the French monarch for about 100 years starting in the late 17th century. Louis XIV, the sun king, was the first royal resident. He turned a quiet hunting lodge into the palace we see today. The UNESCO World Heritage site is located about 12 miles southwest of Paris.

The Palace of Versailles courtyard Paris France

The site is home to more than just the famous palace. The surrounding gardens are world-famous. Additionally, Marie Antonette's estate, the Grand Trianon, sits on the outskirts of the 1700-acre garden.

Train From Paris to Versailles

The easiest way of getting from Paris to Versailles is to ride the Paris Metro Train. The distance from Paris to Versailles is only 12 miles (19km).

The palace is reachable by subway. The journey from central Paris should take about 30 minutes to the Gare de Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station. From there it’s a 12-minute walk to the palace entrance. Note that many of the local signs simply call the palace: “Chateau”

The Palace of Versailles The Royal Fence Paris France

Palace of Versailles Tickets

The Versailles ticket price starts at €21. Buying a Versailles skip the line ticket at the official site can secure you a timeslot for your visit and save you time.

It’s best to buy your tickets in advance online to avoid waiting in line. We did not do that and ended up waiting about an hour to get inside. The line forms in the palace courtyard in front of a giant golden gate. There are far worse places to be caught in a long line. I didn’t mind having the extra time to admire the exterior beauty of the palace. There is no shade, so a hot day could be unpleasant.

Tickets Start at €21 for the palace and €32 for the palace and gardens. Discounts are available for those under 18 (or under 26 and living in the European Union). Visit the official website to pick your ticket type and entrance time.

Alternatively, a day tour from our partners Viator or Get Your Guide can take away the stress of navigating to the palace and securing tickets.



What To See at Versailles

There are numerous buildings and gardens to explore across the massive site. Make sure to get a Palace of Versailles Map as soon as you arrive.

  • If you want to plan the best day in Versailles, start with this Palace of Versailles Map: Link

Upon entering the complex, take a moment to peer into The Royal Chapel. The ceiling is painted with scenes representing the holy trinity. A beautiful pipe organ and altar are also visible. Entering the chapel was not allowed.

The Palace of Versailles Paris France Royal Chapel interior

Once inside we took a self-guided tour. Directional arrows help you keep your sense of direction and ease the flow of traffic through the palace. The palace contains 700 lavishly decorated rooms. 

The most famous of rooms, the Hall of Mirrors, is 235 feet long and lined with 17 giant mirrors. Painted on the ceiling are thirty individual scenes depicting the king’s early reign. Crystal candelabras that were created for the marriage of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are on display.

The Palace of Versailles - Hall of Mirrors Paris France

We spent about two hours walking through the palace. Every room is more beautiful than the last. It is a true display of the wealth of the monarchy.

We exited and began a long walk through the gardens. We walked down a slight incline toward the Apollo Fountain. For lunch, we had a sandwich from La Petite Venise, a small cafe located near the fountain.



The Palace of Versailles Paris France garden fountain

We followed the Fountains of Versailles pools straight, the sharply right to The Grand Trianon and le Petit Trianon. Both buildings were built by Louis XVI so that he could have a private home and garden for himself and his queen, Marie Antoinette. The interiors are decorated in the unique style of the queen's tastes. Famously Antoinette refused to allow anyone to visit the private residence without her express permission.

The Palace of Versailles - Petit Trianon interior paris france

Behind le Petit Trianon we took a short loop walk along a man-made canal and passed the stone gazebo Temple de l’Amour. It’s hard to put into words the scale and beauty of the gardens that surrounded us.

The Palace of Versailles Petit Trianon Paris France Temple de l'amour

From there we walked back across the gardens ending at the Neptune Fountain. There is so much to see in the gardens. Around every corner is another giant fountain, pool, or sculpture. You could spend days here exploring every nook.

The Palace of Versailles Neptune Fountain Paris France

From the Neptune fountain, we exited the gardens through a gate to the street Rue de la Paroisse. We returned to the train station on foot and headed back to central Paris, returning just in time to find a place for dinner.

Plan How Long to Visit the Palace of Versailles

If you’re travelling from Paris to Versailles it is best to set aside a full day in Versailles.

We spent a full day exploring the palace and the gardens from Paris. It is advisable to set aside at least 8 hours. Plan for lots of walking and exploring, the castle grounds are magnificent and expansive.

For more Paris, please visit our list of the best spots for photography in Paris.


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