Palace of Versailles 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.
Palace of Versailles Day Trip From Paris: (Jump To)
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 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”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
