Plan Your Visit to Palace of Versailles

How to reach
Rules of Visit to Versailles
Best Time to Visit Versailles
How to reach
  • By RER: Take RER line C and get off at Versailles Château - Rive Gauche train station, which is only a 10-minute walk away from the Palace.
  • By SNCF train: You may also opt for SNCF trains that run from Gare Montparnasse and arrive at the Versailles Chantiers train station (18 minutes walk away). SNCF train from Gare Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite train station (17 minutes walk away) is also a good option.
  • By Bus: Board RATP bus line 171 from Pont de Sèvres (terminus of Paris metro line 9) and enjoy a 30-minute ride to the Palace of Versailles.


Also Read: History of Palace Of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

Located just a few miles away from Paris, is the beautiful village of Versailles. It is home to the great Palace of Versailles, a symbol of luxury and splendour. It is an iconic place that carries the rich historical, artistic, cultural, and political significance of France. Receiving an annual footfall of around 15 million visitors, it is one of the most famous attractions in the world. Immerse yourself in the glory of the Palace walls that occupy over 1000 hectares of land. This marvellous destination was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1979.  


This Palace in France witness the extravagant Palace that once echoed the harpsichord sonatas by Mozart on your visit to Versailles. It is also home to a plethora of wonders like the Museum of History of France, the Hall of Mirrors, The Estate of Trianon, The Royal Chapel, The Royal Opera, and the famous Garden of Versailles. While exploring the boundaries of the Palace, you would be transported to a different realm altogether. If you plan your visit to Versailles, make sure to keep an eye out for the mesmerising shows held in the Royal Opera House or the Royal Chapel as well.

Palace of Versailles Opening Times

Opening Times of the Palace of Versailles

Different sections of the Palace have different timings of entry by rule, so it is important to be thoroughly informed about it -


  • The Palace - The Palace of Versailles opens its gates from 9 in the morning till 6:30 in the evening except on Mondays and Labour Day.
  • The Garden of the Palace of Versailles - This well-maintained garden opens its gates from 8 AM to 8:30 PM, but the last time to enter is 7 PM.
  • The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery - It remains open from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM on weekends except from May 14th to July 13th when it is only accessible to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday.
  • The Park - You can plan your visit to Versailles just to explore this grand Gardens of the Palace of Versailles. It is open to tourists from 7 AM to 8:30 PM and the last time to enter is 7:45 PM. There are four gates among which only Queen’s Gate and Saint Anthony’s Gate allow vehicle entry from 9 PM to 5:50 PM.
  • The Gallery of Coaches - Versailles Gallery of Coaches opens at 12:30 PM and the closing time is 6:30 PM, with 5:45 PM being the last time of entry. It is accessible to visitors only on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • The Estate of Trianon - Except Mondays and Labor Day, this place is open to visitors from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Make sure to enter the premises by 6 PM as it is the last time of admission.
  • The Estate of Marly - This place is open every day from 7 AM till 7:30 PM and the last time for admission is 7:15 PM.

Access to The Palace of Versailles

The Palace
The Palace
  • Visitors enter the Palace of Versailles via the Main Courtyard.
  • If you arrive without a ticket and are not qualified for free admission, go to the ticket office first. Then to Palace entrance A, which is reserved for individuals.
  • If you have booked your ticket online and have brought a printout of the same, directly proceed to Palace entrance A with your ID card or entry ticket.
  • If you are on a group tour, go to entrance B, which is called Pavillion Gabriel.
  • If you only want to see the Estate of Trianon, go straight to the Grand or Petit Trianon entry gates.
  • If you have booked a guided tour to the Palace of Versailles online, enter the Palace via the North Ministers’ Wing, which is located on the right side of the Main Courtyard.
  • The palace entrance is wheelchair-accessible. There is a pedestrian path that connects the Main Gate to the Royal Gate and subsequently to Entry A.

Must Visit: Opera House of Palace of Versailles

 The Estate of Trianon
The Estate of Trianon
  • The Trianon Estate is a 30-minute walk from the Palace. You can also use an electric car, which would take you 20 minutes to reach the Estate.
  • If you are visiting the Versailles Estate of Trianon from the city side, you can park nearby and enter through any of the four park gates. While the Main Gate and Queen's Gate remain open until 8.30 PM, the Sailor's Gate and Saint Anthony's Gate close at 6.30 PM.
  • To bring a vehicle to the premises, you will have to pay the parking fees and can enter the area via the Queen’s Gate or the Saint Anthony’s Gate. Vehicles are permitted to enter through the Queen's Gate between 9 AM and 4.50 PM. The Saint Anthony's Gate is only open on weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM.
  • While the Estate of Trianon's gate is wheelchair accessible, disabled tourists can only access the Petit Trianon's garden level.
The Park
The Park
  • You can access the Palace of Versailles Park any day of the week from three entrances to the city- the Queen’s Gate, the Saint Anthony's Gate, and the Sailors’ Gate.
  • The Queen’s gate is the north-eastern entrance to the park located on Boulevard de la Reine. It is open for pedestrians and those on bicycles from 7 AM to 8.30 PM, and for vehicles, it remains open from 9 AM to 4.50 PM.
  • The Saint Anthony Gate is the northern entrance of the park and is located near the Estate of Marie-Antoinette. It is open for pedestrians and bicycles from 6 AM to 7.30 PM. This gate also admits vehicles during the weekends and holidays from 9 AM to 5.50 PM.
  • The Sailors’ Gate is the southern entrance to the park, where only pedestrians and bikes are allowed between 9.30 AM to 6 PM.


You can Also Checkout: Palace Of Versailles Apartments

The Gardens
The Gardens
  • The Versailles gardens are only accessible by foot, the little train service, or a rented electric vehicle provided on-site. Other modes of transportation, including bicycles, are not permitted in the gardens.
  • From the Palace, you can enter the Gardens via the Princes’ Courtyard.
  • From the Park, you can enter the Gardens through the Main Gate, the Neptune Gate, or the Little Venice Gate. While the Neptune Gate is located on the northern side of the Gardens, the Little Venice and Menagerie Gates are on its western side.


You can Also Checkout: Palace Of Versailles Apartments

Shows
Shows
  • Take Palace Entrance B to see the shows at the Palace of Versailles, the Royal Serenada, the Royal Chapel, or the Royal Opera House.
  • If you have not booked the show tickets in advance, then also you need to use entrance B and get them on the spot.

Must Visit: Hall Of Mirrors of Palace of Versailles

Shows & The Coach Gallery
Shows & The Coach Gallery
  • One of the best things to do in Versailles Palace is enjoy the several shows that take place on-site. To see the performances, you can either book a ticket online or get one from the ticket office located at Entrance B.
  • The Coach Gallery is another fascinating attraction of the Versailles Palace. It can be found on the ground floor of the Great Stables and is accessible free of cost. However, it remains open only on Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 PM to 5.30 PM.


Also Checkout: Versailles Cafes

Palace of Versailles Tickets Options

FAQs of Versailles

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    The Versailles Palace is a huge estate offering a large number of attractions. To explore its main Palace, the park, gardens, and other areas, you will need at least four hours.

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