Before you go

Your trip to Versalhes.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Versalhes – Ilha de França Destination Versalhes and the surroundings of Paris about 20 km from Paris

How to get there

Aéroport de Paris-Orly (ORY) Orly · 22 km
Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) Roissy-en-France · 50 km
Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Paris, the RER C goes to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about a 10-minute walk from the palace, in roughly 40 minutes. Transilien trains depart from Saint-Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite and from Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers. From Orly airport it's about 20 km. Confirm before buying.

How many days

One full day, leaving early from Paris, is enough for the palace, the gardens and the Trianon. With two days you can see the gardens on a Grandes Eaux Musicales day, visit the Trianon at leisure, the Grande Écurie and the Potager du Roi. The palace is closed on Mondays.

When to go

From April to October, when the fountains operate on Grandes Eaux Musicales weekends and the days are long; July and August are the busiest months. From November to March there are shorter queues, but it gets dark early and the gardens are without fountains. Avoid Mondays, when the palace is closed, and prefer weekdays.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The train takes care of getting there from Paris and everything is within walking distance of the station. Inside the estate, the little train and rental bikes help cover the distances between the palace, the Grand Canal and the Trianon.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Versalhes

Morning
Palace and Galerie des Glaces
Catch the RER C early in Paris and enter the Château de Versailles at the first available time slot. Walk through the Grands Appartements, the Galerie des Glaces, the king's chamber and the Royal Chapel before the groups arrive.
Afternoon
Le Nôtre gardens
Have lunch in the gardens or return to town. Descend via the Parterre de Latone and the Tapis Vert to the Bassin d'Apollon. On a Grandes Eaux Musicales day, follow the fountain schedule and visit the Bassin de Neptune.
Late afternoon
Trianon and Hameau de la Reine
Cross the park to the Domaine de Trianon. See the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and finish at the Hameau de la Reine, Maria Antonieta's village around the lake.
Evening
Dinner and return to Paris
Return on foot or by the little train to the center and dine in the Notre-Dame neighborhood, near the market, before the return train. On Saturdays from June to September, those who prefer can stay for the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes.

2 days in Versalhes

Day 1

Morning
Palace at leisure
Enter the palace at the first time slot. Besides the Galerie des Glaces and the Grands Appartements, allow time for the king's chamber, the Royal Chapel and the historical rooms on the ground floor.
Afternoon
Gardens and Grand Canal
Spend the afternoon in the gardens: bosquets, the Orangerie and the fountains of Latone, Apollon and Neptune. Rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal in season.
Late afternoon
Notre-Dame quarter
Leave the estate and walk to the Marché Notre-Dame and the Église Notre-Dame, the former parish church of the royal family.
Evening
Night in Versailles
Dine near the place du Marché. If you stay overnight in town, enjoy the center without the daytime tour groups.

Day 2

Morning
Grande Écurie or Potager du Roi
On Sundays, attend the Matinale des Écuyers at the Grande Écurie. On another day, visit the Potager du Roi and stop by the Cathédrale Saint-Louis.
Afternoon
Domaine de Trianon
Arrive at midday, when the Trianon opens, and tour the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and Maria Antonieta's English gardens.
Late afternoon
Hameau de la Reine
Finish the visit at the Hameau de la Reine, with the mill, the fishing tower and the farm around the lake.
Evening
Show or return to Paris
On seasonal Saturdays, see the Académie équestre show in the late afternoon or the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes. On other days, take the train back to Paris.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Which train station is closest to the palace?

Versailles Château Rive Gauche, the terminus of the RER C, about a 10-minute walk. Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite are about 20 minutes on foot. When you see the word gare on signs, read it as station.

What is the best weekday to visit?

From Wednesday to Friday. Monday the palace is closed, Tuesday tends to be busy because several Paris museums are closed, and weekends are crowded, although they are the days when the fountains run.

Where to eat in Versailles?

There are cafés and restaurants inside the estate, but the town has more options, especially around the Marché Notre-Dame. Lunch is usually served from 12:00 to 14:00, and dinner from around 19:30.

What is the climate like?

Similar to Paris. European summer, from June to August, has long, warm days; winter, from December to February, is cold with short days. You walk a lot outdoors in the gardens, so bring a jacket or raincoat outside of summer.

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