Do you have a few more days in Paris and are you looking for a new place to explore? What about a Versailles day trip?
The Palace of Versailles is one of the world’s most famous palaces and its proximity to Paris makes it a wonderful choice for a day trip from the French capital.
This palace was the centre of France’s main political power and Europe’s most important. It is worth seeing for its endless art, extravagant interior, stunning decorations, and beautiful green landscapes.
Also, see Top Things to Do In Paris
Continue reading to learn how to make a Versailles day trip out of Paris.
How to get from Paris to Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Paris. Train is the best way to reach Versailles from Paris. The Paris to Versailles train costs about €7 for a round trip – it’s the cheapest way to get to Versailles compared to the bus, Uber or private car.
From Paris to Versailles, there are three trains:
- RER C train which starts from various Métro stations in the center of Paris and runs alongside the Seine River
- L train line L starts at Saint Lazare, in the middle-north part of Paris
- Start of the N train line in the south at Montparnasse
The first option is the most popular route as the RER line C from Paris will take you to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche train station, which is only a 10 minutes’ walk to the Palace. It will take between 1 and 90 minutes to reach Versailles.
Taking the train line L is convenient if you’re in the Montmarte area. To reach Chateau Versailles Vieille droite train station, it will take about 45 minutes.
If you’re in the south of Paris, then train line N may be the most convenient option. It will take approximately 50 minutes for you to reach Chateau rive Gauche railway station.
The train is only worth taking if you’re planning on staying the full day as it takes longer than hopping into an Uber or taking a private car.
You can also see A Guide to the Metro in Paris
What are you supposed to see at the Palace of Versailles?
Your breath will be taken away. Versailles really is extravagant, but it wasn’t always this way. It was built as a hunting lodge by King Louise XIII during the 1620s. It is now a World Heritage Site and has been listed for 40 years. This site is one of the most important achievements in French 17th-century art.
The palace has 700 rooms, spread over two floors and surrounded by almost 2,000 acres of garden. It’s also one of the most visited museums in the world, so don’t expect to be the only one wandering around.
On a tour of the palace, you’ll get to walk through many of the furnished rooms and get a view into the world of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in the years leading up to the French Revolution.
Here are a few things you’ll see inside the palace on your Versailles day trip:
- The Hall of Mirrors
- Royal Opera
- The Gallery of Great Battles
- The King’s state apartment
- The Royal Chapel
- Historical galleries
- The congress chambers
The Gardens of Versailles boasts 200,000 trees, 50 fountains, and a 5.57km canal. While walking through the gardens you’ll come across many fountains, statues and beautifully ornate paths.
You can also visit the estate at Trianon which was designed as an intimate retreat for the kings.
- The Grand Trianon
- Petit Trianon
- English Gardens
- The Queen’s Theatre
- The French Gardens of the Petit Trianon
- The Queen’s Hamlet
Take a private tour to Versailles starting from Paris
A private Versailles day trip is the best way for you to see the Palace of Versailles as it is such a popular place. Flora, a local tour guide, offers great recommendations. tours in ParisThis includes both a half-day and full-day Paris Day Trip to Versailles.
The half day option includes a visit to the chateau, including the Chapel, the King’s and Queen’s apartments and the Hall or Mirrors. The tour starts in Paris at 9:30am and makes sure that you’re back in time for lunch at around 1pm.
If you have time for the full day Versailles tour, then you’ll also get to visit the small Palace of Marie Antoinette in the afternoon, including her beautiful gardens and hamlets. With a private driver, you’ll get to see more places inside the expansive Palace gardens.
Enjoy exclusive access to the private apartments belonging to the King of Versailles
When visiting the Palace of Versailles with Flora as your guide you’ll get to visit Louis XIV personal rooms. You will have access to his offices, cabinets, dining rooms and libraries. The entire experience is wonderful and well-worth the effort!
These rooms are closed to the public. They can only be viewed by licensed tour guides. They are reserved only for those who book in advance.
Information and tickets for Versailles
The Palace and Trianon estate are open daily, except Mondays. The Palace opens at 9:00 am, while the estate of Trianon opens at 12:00 noon.
A standard Palace entrance ticket costs €18 and a ticket to access the estate of Trianon is €12.
The Gardens are free and open to the public every day except for musical fountain display days. During summer months, the Musical Fountains Show is held every Saturday. The Fountains Night Show takes place every Saturday.
Ticket prices for the fountains shows range from €8.50 to €45 – find more information here.
Paris day trip to Versailles is the perfect addition for your Paris itinerary. These posts will give you more ideas for things to do in Paris.
Travel Dudes
You’re likely to have had similar experiences while traveling. If you are in a particular place, a fellow traveler or a local will tip you off about a secret beach, bar, and accommodation. We always get something new from locals or travelers when we travel. This was the inspiration behind Travel Dudes.
