Plan Your Visit to Versailles: Best Time & How to reach

Overview of Palace of Versailles

Spreading over a vast area of 800 hectares, the Palace of Versailles stands as a glorious symbol of the rich cultural history of France. Also known as Château de Versailles, this Palace formerly served as a hunting lodge as well as the royal residence of the French kings. It was built in the 17th century and is now an important national landmark, museum, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located at a short distance from Paris, the Palace of Versailles is best known for its splendid architecture, painted ceilings, the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, ornamental fountains, and well-manicured gardens. Every year, this grand Palace welcomes around 15 million visitors, making it one of the most visited tourist sites not just in France but in the whole world. If you are planning a trip to France, make sure to include this exquisite destination on your itinerary and experience the grandeur of French royalty up close.

Palace of Versailles Opening Times

The Palace: The Palace of Versailles timings are from 9 AM until 6.30 PM every day except Monday. Admission is given till 6 PM. Entry to the Palace is closed on all Mondays and May 1 (Labor Day).
The Gardens: The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles are open to the public daily from 8 AM to 8.30 PM. The latest entry to the Gardens is at 7 PM.
The Park: The Park of Palace of Versailles area is open to tourists daily from 7 AM to 8.30 PM, with the last admittance at 7.45 PM. Only two of Versailles Park's four entry gates (the Queen's Gate and Saint Anthony's Gate) are accessible by vehicle. Admission to the park for vehicles is permitted between 9 AM and 5.50 PM.
The Estate of Trianon: The Estate of Trianon is open from 12 PM until 6.30 PM every day except Monday. The last admission is at 6 PM besides Monday, this area of the Palace remains closed on May 1 as well.
The Gallery of Coaches: Visitor access to the Versailles Gallery of Coaches is free and opens only on Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 PM to 6.30 PM. Entry to the Gallery closes at 5.45 PM.
The Estate of Marly: The Estate of Marly is open daily from 7 AM until 7.30 PM, and this site's last admission is at 7.15 PM.
The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery: The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery is open to visitors every Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 PM to 6.30 PM. It is also open every day except Monday from May 14 to July 13.

Plan Your Visit to Palace of Versailles

How to reach

Rules of Visit to Versailles

Best Time to Visit Versailles

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

Access to The Palace of Versailles

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 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

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 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.

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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

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