Updated: 03/14/19 | March 14th, 2019
The Palace of Versailles. A decadent symbol of royal power and influence that, to this day, still wows visitors. It’s one of the most-visited attractions in Paris. The Palace offers an incredible insight into French history, illuminating the lavish and ostentatious lives the former monarchs used to live.
Over 10 million people visit this extravagant palace each year. After the Eiffel Tower, it’s the most popular attraction in the country. It is the symbol of France and this detailed visitor’s guide will help you avoid the crowds, learn what to see, do, and how to maximize your visit!
It’s one of my favorite spots in Paris so I want to make sure you have the best time and avoid all those tour groups who clutter the palace!
Table of Contents
History of The Palace of Versailles
Located just 20km from Paris, The Palace of Versailles, which was once just a hunting lodge, was the primary residence of the Kings of France for over 100 years until the French Revolution.
The tiny hunting lodge was initially transformed into a proper chateau by Louis XIII, who bought up the surrounding land to extend his park and gardens. However, it was Louis XIV, aka the Sun King who turned this into lavish country estate as a way to escape Paris and diminish the influential grip of the French nobility. He moved the court to Versailles, which forced the nobility to spend more time away from their homes, thereby lessening their ability to establish regional power that could challenge him. (Plus, partying nobles are less likely to revolt against you!)
The first major construction was started in 1661 and took almost twenty years to complete. The expansive construction and intricate interior designs were expanded upon over subsequent decades (the gardens alone took over 40 years to complete!).
How to Visit the Palace of Versailles: My Experience
To help you get the most out of your visit to the Palace of Versailles, here’s a video of my experience in which I walk you through the rooms of the palace!
The palace is located at Place d’Armes, Versailles. It is open Tu–Su (9am–5:30pm) with the last entry at 5pm. It’s closed Monday. “The Passport” ticket gives you admission to all the palace tours (grounds, Trianon Palaces, and Marie Antoinette’s estate), the Musical Fountain Show, the Musical Gardens, and the exhibitions and costs 27 EUR (one day) or 30 EUR (two days).
Lines are incredibly long, so pre-purchase tickets in advance online. Keep in mind a museum pass will NOT let you skip the security line (everyone must wait in the security, though pass holders may have access to a shorter security line).
There are several different areas of the palace and grounds you’ll want to visit during your trip:
- The Gardens – the gardens of the palace are gorgeous and cover a huge tract of land. There are also plenty of sculptures and fountains to admire as well.
- The Main Palace – This is where you’ll spend most of your time (plan for at least 2-3 hours) as there are over 2,300 rooms in the palace itself. Some of the more famous rooms are the Hall of Mirrors, Marie-Antoinette’s bedrooms, and the King’s Apartments and Royal Bedchamber.
- Trianon Estate – These buildings are much less crowded than the main palace though equally as stunning. If you have an entire day, be sure to spend time exploring the Grand and Petit Trianon.
- The Queen’s Hamlet –This rustic getaway was built for Marie Antoinette in 1783 as a place where she could escape palace life and enjoy some private time with her closest friends.
Travel Tips for the Palace of Versailles
Since this is one of the most popular tourist sites in the country, you’ll need some tips to help you make the most of your visit. These tips will help you save money, beat the crowds, and have a memorable visit:
- Get there early – Around 10 million people visit the palace every year (an average of over 27,000 people per day). Expect lots of tour buses and queues. These buses come early so you need to get there before them right when the palace opens.
- Get there late – If you can’t get there early, get there at the end of the day when the crowds have died down and the tour groups have left. Just never go mid-day!
- Avoid the weekends – It’s so busy that the palace is too crowded to even enjoy.
- Save money – Admission to The Gardens is free during the low season (November-March) and on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the high season.
- Don’t eat at the palace – There are some restaurants in the palace — and they are very expensive. Eat elsewhere to save your money. If you plan to sit down and eat at the Palace, expect to pay at least 20 EUR.
- Don’t follow the crowd – Most people see the Palace first then the gardens then Marie-Antoinette’s Estate. Go in reverse order to avoid the biggest crowds.
- Get a guide – If you really want to take a deep dive into the palace, take a guided tour. Guided tours will cover specific areas of the palace, many of which are off-limits otherwise. The Private Apartments of the King’s was a 90-minute tour is an additional 10 EUR. It covers a lot of rooms not seen by the public. I highly recommend it.
- Buy a Paris Museum Pass – While it won’t let you skip the security line, it will give you priority access once you’re inside.
- Download an audio guide – You can get a free audio guides at the palace, or download their free app. I’d suggest you get Rick Steve’s audio guide instead, as it is free and has a lot more detail (and more corny jokes!).
- Enter for free – Free admission is available to anyone under 18 as well as EU residents under 26. Additionally, persons with disabilities (and one person accompanying them) will also qualify for free admission — just be sure to bring proper ID if you qualify.
How to Get to the Palace from Paris:
There are three ways to get to the palace but the RER option is by far the easiest:
- RER Line C to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche, followed by a 10-minute walk to the Palace.
- SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers, followed by a 15-20 minute walk to the Palace.
- SNCF train from Gare Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite, followed by a 15-20 minute walk to the Palace.
F.A.Q. About The Palace of Versailles
Is the Palace of Versailles open every day?
The Palace of Versaille is open every day except Monday. Hours of operation are 9am-5:30pm, with the last admission at 5pm. The gardens and park are open 7 days a week from 8am-6pm, while the Trianon Estate is open every day except for Mondays from 12pm-5:30pm, with the last admission at 5pm. (Hours are slightly extended during the busier summer months).
How much are tickets?
Tickets are 27 EU per person. This is for “The Passport” ticket, which will give you access to the palace tours (for the grounds, Trianon Palaces, and Marie Antoinette’s estate), as well as access to the Musical Fountain Show, the Musical Gardens, and any ongoing exhibitions. It’s the best value ticket, especially if you want to see everything.
If you think a single day isn’t long enough, you can purchase a two-day “Passport” ticket for 30 EUR per person.
Where is the Palace of Versailles located?
The Palace of Versailles is located at Place d’Armes, Versailles. It’s about an hour from Paris by car or by train.
When is the best time to visit the Palace of Versailles?
The summer will offer you the best weather, though you’ll also face bigger crowds. Consider visiting in the shoulder season (late spring/early fall) as you’ll get decent weather with significantly fewer crowds.
Is the Palace of Versailles worth visiting?
Definitely! While it will require some planning, it is definitely worth a visit. You’ll learn a lot about French history and see one of the most incredible buildings in the world. No visit to Paris would be complete without seeing the Palace of Versailles with your own eyes!
The Palace of Versailles is one of my favorite things to visit in Paris. I’ve been about five times now. Though thanks to an increasing number of tour groups, it’s a lot more crowded than it used to be, there are still ways to enjoy it and take in the opulence, history, and beauty of the palace and surrounding gardens. This place is truly gigantic and should not be rushed. Be sure to visit the secondary palaces too as they are just as beautiful and have a lot fewer crowds! Don’t miss this place!
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For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and purchase the book!
Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory out there. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. Some of my favorite places to stay in Paris are:
If you’re looking for more places to stay, here for my favorite hostels in Paris. If you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of the city!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Looking for more information on visiting Paris?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Paris with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!
Don Nadeau
On Twitter, you mentioned that you were nervous about what people would think of this first video, but no worries. Both it and your comments are well done and helpful.
Outdoors several times, wind seemed to be hitting your mike. Whatever happened, this is the one thing I’d correct next time.
Backpacking, you look so clean and well-groomed. Not in the Charles Manson mode I sometimes fall into on longer trips!
Andy
Nice one Matt, a great debut!
Rachel
I’m glad you added video! I enjoyed it, but was surprised at how crowded it was. Hope you’re feeling better after that cold!
Benny
As an extremely critical videoblogger, I give your first edited video two thumbs up 🙂 (It’s way better than my first attempt was) You’ll play around with the editing later; what’s important is you’re an excellent and interesting host and gave us some fascinating facts as well as some lovely scenery! If this is you sick (which I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t written it), then I can’t wait to see you host videos in full health! I’m sure lots of people will be very interested to see this!! Great work Matt 🙂
BTW, how did you manage to get your tomatina video to get thousands of hits in such a short time??
Great to hear a voice and see the guy behind to blog finally 😀
Brendan
I worked with adobe premiere and final cut pro all last semester. would end up using movie maker alot because it would render faster on my laptop. If you have some questions I can try to help
NomadicMatt
Benny,
thanks for the words of encouragement. With the La Tomatina video, I stumbled it and it comes up as #1 for the search “la tomatina 2009”
Emily
Very cool! I love the idea of a video tour….much more exciting than a few photos. It’s also neat that you explained a lot of history. Wish I could hear you over the crowd a little better, but I love where you’re going with this!
I was in Paris for a few days last summer and was debating whether to take the trip out to Versailles, but I’m so glad I did. While they were doing renovations on some of the areas, the ornate and over-the-top opulence blew me away. There was so much history there, and the place was just sprawling. Definitely worth seeing at least once in your lifetime!
NomadicMatt
This is a must see! You’re right!
T-roy
Great start and look forward to more videos! Only suggestion I would add is to make an opening title screen shot at the beginning (to give your videos a uniqueness and branding mark) and to add music when your not talking. Like some French music while your were walking around or panning, giving it a more “French” feel vibe. Keep it up Matt!
NomadicMatt
Thanks for the suggestions!
ian
Sound! Sound! Viewers will usually forgive video, but you can never underestimate good sound. I’d say grab a wireless mic or at least a basic shotgun, and immediately amp up the quality 150%… keep the clips coming…
NomadicMatt
Yeah it was a windy day. I was hoping my program would edit that but I couldn’t figure it out! A mic is in order though
Rob
I thought you presented well and the video editing was good, I like how each section was labelled.
To improve I suggest music over the quiet bits, a mic to eliminate background noise and maybe a tripod so the camera doesn’t move when it’s just you presenting and to assist scanning horizontally.
Heather
Hi Matt
Really professional if that’s the first one – don’t they take so long to edit & get up? Like your style as a travel presenter – it’s so much better when people talk to camera, makes it more personal. I always fluff my lines and have to do several takes. Hope you don’t mind a few suggestions as I’ve been experimenting too, and you can find quite a few posts that I wrote about the things I learned from my first few attempts – you can see my video articles here. There’s one about tips on doing short videos and also about optimising your Youtube channel.
– Agree with other commenters about music – you can get it free at http://www.musicalley.com/
– Make sure you add your blog address at beginning, end and possibly middle and possibly mention in the spoken intro & close
– You need to keep the video short – around 3 mins is good if possible, you can cover the same content, just tighten up the editing and keep the spoken bits shorter & snappy. No-one has the patience on the internet for long videos. The length is one of the first things I glance at when I press play.
– Use a small clip-on mic to get better sound when you’re talking to camera, to get over the wind and background noise – they’re really cheap
– Ref Windows Moviemaker – it that is the free one that comes on the laptop, I quickly found it was very basic – it doesn’t have enough channels so you can’t overlay cutaway shots which is rather limiting. I bought The entry level Sony Vegas, which is fine but not exactly a pleasure to use. I’d find a friend who does a lot of video and buy whatever they have so they can teach you. The gold standard is Final Cut Pro (massively expensive) and anyone seriously into video is on Apple Mac so better start saving up – I’ve heard that i-movie that comes on Macs is fine too.
Looking forward to seeing loads more in the future
Dave
Wow, Heather has some great tips!
Kudos for putting yourself in front of the camera too.
The silences definitely need to be avoided – it’d almost be better to keep the ambient sound of tourist chatter, but music would be ideal. I know that can be hard because you have limited options due to copyrighting.
Definitely want to keep the videos shorter as Heather suggests. The length is always the first thing I look at / think about when considering whether to watch a video or listen to a podcast…and to be honest, I actually stopped halfway through to leave you my feedback. 🙂
NomadicMatt
Heather had great feedback and future videos will be less than 3 minutes!
NomadicMatt
You are right about length. It wasn’t until I was halfway through that I realized I was rambling. Hence why the dialogue in the send half is shorter. Future videos will be around 2-3 minutes long.
And the Mac is the best for video but, I’m a PC guy. I’m not sure I want to make the switch!
Erica
I like your first video, Matt. Like Kirsty said, you’ve got a nice presence on the video. You’d probably make a great host for a travel show! Looking forward to see more vids.
Dave and Deb
Congrats on posting your first video. In no time you will be a pro and become the number one video travel blogger out here on the internet:) Everyone already posted great advice so I have nothing to add but words of encouragement. Keep it up!
RennyBA
To be the first travel video, this is brilliant Matt! I like it, first of all because of the personal touch from you, but also because you alter between your comment and nice view of the scenery. Your informations is substantial and just about the right portion. The picture quality is great too – one see all the needed details.
I use WMM too. I’m not sure I can teach you anything new, but by all means; send me your questions.
Btw: It’s not always grey days in Oslo, Norway. I had a globetrotter from Singapore visiting this week and it was a nice and sunny weather – just check my last post! 😆
Jessie
great job, matt – i enjoyed it! i would echo other comments about the wind, miking you, music, and definitely your website.
you could also do a really funny series of videos on people/crowds. it was funny how in one room, the lady was backing into you to get her photo of her husband. i’d watch those! 🙂
can’t wait for your next video – congrats!
my husband uses Sony Vegas Pro for videos.
Renee King
Not bad for a first video, Matt! I recently purchased a great camcorder and I can’t wait to use it. Previously, I was at the mercy of a torture device called a mini dv camcorder….yeah, it was cruel and unusual. Now that I have decided to join the 21st century, I am looking forward to uploading videos to youtube with minimal embarrassment! Thanks for the nudge. Also, I would like to add your site to my blogroll, if you don’t mind. Good stuff!
Pan
The last time I visited Versailles the fountains were only turned on a Wednesday due to water restrictions. Maybe that’s changed now but worth checking before you go!