Get More Out of Your Visit to Château de Versailles

When visiting Paris, one cannot forget about the famous, gilded jewel just outside of the city: the Château de Versailles.

Accessible via train (within easy walking distance of Versailles Château Rive Gauche station) this was once the country home of the French royal family until the French Revolution in 1789.

The Palace boast incredible architecture, over 350 rooms & apartments which housed royalty and courtiers from all over France, as well as some of the most ornate and luxe decor ever created. It’s also home to the Hall of Mirrors and the idyllic Versailles gardens.

If you’re looking to get outside of Paris for the day, this is definitely a must-see excursion.

Before heading out, you’ll want to take a look below for tips on making the trip effortless and stressfree.

How to Get More Out of Your Visit to Château de Versailles.

Purchase Advance Tickets

Basically, anything you want to do in Paris or it’s surrounding areas, you should book advanced tickets.

France is a very popular destination for tourist, getting advanced tickets will save you possible headache. The Versailles Passport with Time Entry is the best ticket during the weekends or peak season.

I was VERY lucky and arrived at the gates 9:00am when they opened. I was able to nab a ticket and audio guide in minutes which, according to a docent, is very unusual. Apparently it’s more common than not to stand in line for a long while just to get tickets.

Since I went during the off-season, on a Tuesday, I didn’t get to see the Fountains Show but I hear it’s pretty nice. If you’re interested in that, check out the dates here.

Go on a Tuesday

Oddly specific, I know, but there’s a reason.

First off, going during the week means you may encounter less crowds. Château de Versailles is one of the most crowded places I’ve been to in Paris, so there will still be crowds but not as bad as going during the weekend.

Second, the Palace is closed on Mondays which means if tour groups are doing a weekend getaway to Paris, Versailles will be super packed on Fridays. Best to avoid that day as well.

Third, Versailles has a massive outdoor market. More on that below.

Have Patience, Go Slow

Just like any other sight or museum, crowds mean you will run into stress and frustrations. There will be people trying to take photos while you’re waiting to see an artwork or reading signage. Someone will inevitably bump into but don’t worry, most will apologize, even if it’s in a foreign language.

Feel free to go slow! The Palace is large but it doesn’t actually take you long to get through all the rooms since the audio guide keeps you at a steady pace. I began the tour at 9:00 am and was finished between 11:30-12:00 pm.

Taking your time and really soak in the opulence and the mastery that went into the making of everything inside Château de Versailles. The decor is certainly lavish and by the end of the tour you can really understand why the last king and queen of France, Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette, were disliked by their people.

The Gardens & Park are Free

Like I said before, I went during the off season so I didn’t get to see the fountain show but I did roam around the Gardens which are open and free to the public (exempted days).

The gardens are expansive and offer you the chance to feel what it must have been like to wander around during the reign of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette.

If you wish to treat yourself to a royal snack, The Buvette du Dauphin is a great stop as well. Just know that it’s only open March to November. This is the only location inside the Gardens where you may have food and drink.

While The Buvette du Dauphin is a delightful cafe, you can also grab a hot cup of tea and a delicious French pastry from a local cafe in the park located behind the Gardens.

The park, which surrounds the canal, offers an opportunity to relax and people watch. Order take-away from one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy a romantic picnic. This is an excellent idea for budget travelers & families.

Visit the Notre Dame Open-air Market

This is something you definitely shouldn’t miss!

The Notre Dame open-air market is held every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 7:00 – 2:00pm. Located just outside Place du Marché Notre Dame, the daily indoor market, you will see row after row of white tents with the friendliest of merchants.

Besides the palace, this was my favorite thing in Versailles.

Here you can find local fruits, cheeses, fresh & dried meats, vegetables of every color, as well as beautiful homemade gifts and prepared food vendors.

I couldn’t get over how incredibly charming the experience was. Locals milling around, greeting each other, having a friendly argument over prices. You really feel more like a local and less of a tourist.

I loved how many of vendors would shout for the attention of customers, enticing them to taste samples. Honestly, you could have a whole meal from taste-testing.

More Than Just a Château

No matter the day, keeping the above tips in mind will help you have a perfect trip to Versailles.

Have any tips for visiting Château de Versailles or the town? Leave a comment below! 🙂

20 Comments

Summer Smith says:

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Going to France and planning a Versailles day trip so this was so helpful! We want to see the fountains and I heard they only ran on Wednesday…did you see them on Tuesday?

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- Andy says:
  
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  In the summertime the fountains run on the weekends and selected weekdays (including Tuesdays). I went in January so the fountains were not running at the time. I’d love to go back to see the show, I’ve heard they’re really lovely.
  
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Tara says:

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Versailles looks absolutely amazing. Thanks for the tip to go slow – I tend to rush through things due to crowds or wanting to see something else.

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- Andy says:
  
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  Same here! I’m constantly reminding myself there’s no need to rush.
  
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Jenn and Ed Coleman says:

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This is a great post to know the logistics of a Versailles visit. I went on part of a school field trip while I was an exchange student and came to the conclusion that Versailles is logistically impossible to visit from Paris (for all intents and purposes). After reading this piece, I realize that I was wrong. I just learned about the train service, but timed entry and Tuesday visits make trips seem very doable. Good piece.

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- Andy says:
  
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  Thanks so much for reading! I was so thankful for the train service and loved that it was easy to get to Versailles from Paris, and vise versa.
  
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Jerry and Fiona says:

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Visiting during non-peak times in crucial. It can be maddening to feel you are always walking through someones photo-shoot! Digital “film” means the next photo is just another click away, so we never feel bad for accidentally photo-bombing someones shot.
It is good to know the grounds are free, and that the complex is closed on Monday.

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- Andy says:
  
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  Very, very true! LOL Although then you have to deal with folks walking in & out of your photos so I guess it goes both way. 🙂
  
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Alicia says:

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Such great tips about when to go and passes with actual times. I would add, there is much less of a wait in February – Beginning is April. We have been in March and in the summer and the wait times have varied enormously.

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- Andy says:
  
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  I’d 100% agree with that. I’ve only been the one time and that was in Jan. Right after the holidays. It was still crowded so I can imagine what it’s like during peak season.
  
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Ayana says:

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I have to plan my visit to Versailles ! It’s a shame I now live in France but I haven’t got the chance to see this castle yet.

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- Andy says:
  
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  I definitely recommend going – I was surprised at how much I learned about Marie Antoinette & King Louis during the tour.
  
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Amy says:

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This is one place I still kick myself for not making happen while we were in Paris, but time simply didn’t allow. An easy set of tips to follow such as this make it much more efficient for those on a time crunch, and that much more enjoyable for those visiting for the first time. It is so spectacular….and huge!

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- Andy says:
  
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  Definitely go next time you’re in or near Paris! 🙂 I only had a few hours so I did this and the market before my train left for Belgium. If you plan it right and get there as soon as it opens, you’ll be able to fit it all into 3-5 hours.
  
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Becca Talbot says:

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Great guide Andy, some really helpful tips here. I haven’t been to Chateau de Versailles yet – but it’s definitely on the list, so these handy pointers will come in useful for when I do x

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- Andy says:
  
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  Thanks for reading! I hope you get to go soon! It’s touristy but definitely worth a visit.
  
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