This post provides information about visiting Versailles.
We include how to get tickets plus opportunities to save money on admission, and what is included for free.
With experience providing tours to more than 1 million travelers, you can trust that we'll cover all the details needed to plan your trip ahead of time and make sure everything goes smoothly!
INTRODUCTION TO VERSAILLES
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most spectacular landmarks in France, if not the world.
There's so much to see at this Palace, we've created this guide to help you plan your visit to this historic site.
In addition to tours of the main palace, there are the magnificent gardens of Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette's Estate, the Trianon palaces, the Queen's Hamlet, the Royal Chapel, the Royal Opera, the State Apartments, and more.
On select days, you can see the musical garden and fountain show in which the water performs a dance of sorts, synchronized to Baroque music. (See below for musical garden and fountain days for 2023).
For an in-depth look at what to expect of the sites at Versailles, see our post, Things to See and Do at Versailles.
No matter what you want to see while you’re here, chances are there’s a ticket that includes access to most locations of interest.
There is also a guided tour of Versailles and a self-guided tour available which provide a closer look at Versailles.
If you have a set budget, there are also several deals on tickets to the Versailles Palace and other activities which we will cover in our discounts section.
TICKETS TO PALACE OF VERSAILLES
There are several different types of Versailles tickets, each of which gives you access to varying parts of the estate.
Some options include not just the Palace but admission to the gardens, the Marie Antoinette Estate, the Trianon Palaces, the Fountain Show, and more.
Though you can purchase tickets in person at the ticket office, it is often cheaper and much easier (no lines!) to buy them online in advance.
When you purchase admission before arrival, you can avoid the ticket queue, essentially making them skip-the-line Versailles tickets.
Each of the tickets you can purchase ahead of time comes with an audio guide.
Note that Versailles is closed on Mondays and you can find more details about availability below in our Versailles Hours section.
Palace of Versailles Entrance Ticket
- Audio guide for Palace of Versailles.
- Versailles Gardens.
- Temporary Exhibitions.
- Gallery of Coaches.
- Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery.
- Musical Fountains Show not included.
- From €19.50 per person
- Palace of Versailles audio guide.
- Versailles Gardens.
- Temporary Exhibitions.
- Gallery of Coaches.
- Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery.
- Musical Gardens of Versailles.
- Musical Fountains Show.
- Available for 1 or 2 days at a time.
- 1 Day: €28.50 per person
Palace, Gardens, Audio Guide & Fountain Show
- Includes entrance to the Palace of Versailles, the gardens, an audio guide and the musical fountain show.
- Does not include a ticket to Marie Antoinette Estate or Trianons.
- €30 per person
- Not currently available as of December 2023.
Marie Antoinette’s Estate and The Trianon Palaces
- An excellent addition to the basic ticket which provides access to additional sites in the area.
- Includes admission to the gardens and temporary exhibitions held in Grand Trianon.
- Does not include admission to the Palace of Versailles, the fountain show, or the garden show.
- €12 per person
Musical Gardens Ticket
- Only covers access to the Versailles Gardens.
- Does not include admission to the Palace or Trianon Palaces.
- €10 per person
- Dates for 2023:
- April 4th - 28th
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- May 3rd - June 30th
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- July 4th - October 31st
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- April 4th - 28th
Musical Fountains Show Ticket
- Only covers access to the Musical Fountains Show
- Does not include admission to the Palace, Trianon Palaces, or the rest of the Versailles Gardens.
- €10.50 per person
- Dates for 2023:
- Saturday and Sunday
- April 1st - October 29th
- Tuesday
- May 2nd - June 27th
- Additional dates:
- April 7th
- April 10th
- May 8th
- May 18th
- May 29th
- July 14th
- August 15th
- Saturday and Sunday
In addition to these options, there are also several tickets that include a skip-the-line guided tour of the Palace, admission to the fountain show, and even breakfast inside the palace!
Here are a few of the best 3rd party tours of Versailles Palace:
- Includes transportation to Versailles via train.
- See the palace after everyone else has left.
- Includes access to the Versailles Gardens.
- See the King’s Apartment, War Room, Peace Room and Hall of Mirrors.
- €139/Adults | €129/Children
Skip-the-Line Access Louvre & Versailles Day Trip
- Includes admission & tour of the Louvre.
- Includes admission & tour of Versailles Palace.
- See the Mona Lisa, Venus di Milo, Winged Victory, and more.
- Discover the Royal Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens, and more.
- €139/Adults | €135/Students | €129/Children
- Not currently available as of September 2023.
For more details about these options, please check our section on guided tours of Versailles.
Please note that while many of the 3rd party tour operators also cover entrance fees to the Palace, some do not.
Make sure you know if you need to purchase a ticket separately before taking a tour.
Versailles Hours
There are actually different opening hours for the various different areas of this estate, and we will break down the differences below.
Palace of Versailles Hours
- 9:00 am - 18:30 (6:30 pm)
- Closed on Monday
- Last admission at 18:00 (6 pm)
- Ticket office closes at 17:45 (5:45 pm)
Estate of Trianon Hours
- 12:00 pm - 18:30 (6:30 pm)
- Closed on Monday
- Last admission at 18:00 (6 pm)
- Ticket office closes at 17:50 (5:50 pm)
Gardens of Versailles Hours
- 8:00 am - 20:30 (8:30 pm)
- Open daily
- Last admission at 19:00 (7 pm)
Versailles Park Hours
- 7:00 am - 20:30 (8:30 pm)
- Open daily
- Last admission at 19:45 (7:45 pm)
DEALS AND DISCOUNTS
This section will cover the best ways to save money on admission to the Palace of Versailles, including tourist passes, combo packages, and more.
TOURIST PASSES
If you’re looking for a good way to save money on tickets to the Palace of Versailles, there are currently 3 tourist passes that offer free admission to this attraction in addition to many other activities and tours.
Depending on how you use these passes, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices for all attractions visited.
If you’re curious about some of the additional attractions included with these passes, here is a short list of some notable examples:
- The Louvre
- Arc De Triomphe
- The Orsay Museum
- Hop on Hop off Bus Tour
- Seine River Cruise
- Musée Picasso
- Opera Garnier Tour
- Paris Aquarium
- Montparnasse Tower
- Grevin Wax Museum
- and more!
For more information about these discount services, please read our post covering Paris tourist passes.
COMBO PACKAGES
If you’re looking for an alternative to tourist passes, these packages combine admission to the Palace of Versailles with a few additional attractions, activities, or tours.
Although you won’t save as much money with this option, combo deals at least offer you the chance for a discount without the need to plan out dozens of activities.
The Louvre & Versailles w/ Private Transport
- Includes skip-the-line admission to the Louvre.
- Covers a full Versailles trip w/ Gardens and Music Show.
- Provides private round-trip transportation to and from Versailles.
- Expert guides will offer useful information about both locations.
- From €210 per person
Monet’s Giverny & Versailles Palace Trip
- Includes admission to the Palace of Versailles and gardens.
- Includes entrance ticket to Monet’s house and gardens.
- Covers round-trip transportation to and from each site.
- The tour guide will provide headsets to make sure you can hear them.
- From €139 per person
Versailles Guided Bike & Palace Tour
- Includes admission to the Palace of Versailles.
- Includes entrance to Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon.
- Includes entrance to Marie Antoinette’s Estate.
- Provides garden tickets on fountain days.
- Bike rental and tour guide included.
- Round trip train transport provided.
- €109 per person
Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe & River Cruise
- Includes 2nd-floor access to Eiffel Tower.
- Covers admission for all four locations.
- The audio guide is provided at Versailles and on the cruise.
- €89.90 per person
- Not currently available as of December 2022.
Free Sundays at the Palace
On the first Sunday of every month from November to March, the Palace of Versailles offers free admission to all visitors.
This is a great way to save a few euros on tickets, but you should expect large crowds.
Always Free Areas of the Grounds
Admission to the Palace Gardens and the Park with the Grand Canal, is free on most days, with the exception of dates with planned musical fountain shows. (See dates below).
Children under 5 years old always get free admission to the gardens!
Here are a few other locations in the area and services that are free to access:
- The Coach Gallery
- The Estate of Marly
- The Royal Tennis Court
- Tours are free for kids under 10
- Audio guides are free to loan for anyone over the age of 8.
Concessions
The Palace of Versailles and the Estate of Trianon offer free admission for the following groups of people:
- International visitors under the age of 18 (with ID)
- European Union residents under the age of 26 (with ID)
- Disabled people and the aids accompanying them (with proof of disability)
Reduced Rates
Certain visitors are eligible for discounted rates at the Palace of Versailles, the Trianon Estate, and Marie Antoinette’s Estate.
This discount is available for subscribers or ticket holders of the Arras Musée des Beaux-Arts, SoFNAM members, visitors with large family reduction cards, and anyone paying with a Chèques-Vacances.
The reduced rates are as follows:
- Palace of Versailles: €14.50 (€5 off)
- Palace of Trianon & Marie Antoinette’s Estate: €8 (€4 off)
Discount and Coupon Sites
Check discount sites such as Groupon to see if they are currently offering any deals on either admission to the Palace of Versailles or day trips which include the attraction.
In addition to any discounts they may offer, these sites also frequently offer coupon codes for an extra 10% - 20% off or more on local activities.
Before you make any purchases, check both the top and bottom of the page for any banners which may include coupons you can use to save even more money!
Things to See in Versailles
There are a lot of interesting things to see and do at the Palace of Versailles and its surrounding estate. Here are some of the more interesting attractions:
- Versailles Palace
- Versailles Gardens
- Trianon Palaces
- Musical Gardens
- Musical Fountain Show
- Versailles Bike Tour
- Versailles Segway Tour
- Gallery of Coaches
- Equestrian Academy
- Versailles Hall of Mirrors
- And more!
For even more noteworthy sites and sounds, make sure to check our post covering things to do in Versailles.
There are several day trips available at and around Versailles that provide a compelling look at the historic location.
Some guided outings include transportation to and from the palace, so you don’t have to worry about paying for train or bus tickets.
Other guided excursions include additional activities such as breakfast or lunch at the palace, a look at some of the secret rooms of Versailles, bike rides, segway rides, and even an after-hours experience!
One of the best options is listed in our Versailles Palace tickets section above: Closing Time at Versailles.
Each of these outings includes transportation to and from Versailles Palace.
If you’re curious about some of these opportunities, please check this list of guided tours of Versailles for more details.
Directions to Versailles
If you choose to travel to the Château de Versailles on your own and not with a tour, it is easy to do.
From Paris, take the RER C line to the "Versailles Château Rive Gauche" stop, the closest of the three train stations near Versailles.
From the station, it is a 12-minute walk to the entrance to Versailles. (See this Google Map link for exact directions).
Find out more from our post, How to Get from Paris to Versailles by Train.
Musical Fountain dates
In 2023, the Musical Fountain Show takes place:
- Every Saturday and Sunday from April 1 to October 29.
- Every Tuesday from May 2-June 27.
- Plus: Friday April 7, Monday April 10, Monday May 8, Thursday May 18, Monday May 29, Friday July 14, and Tuesday August 15.
- Note that the Gardens close early at 5:30 p.m. on days of Night Fountains Shows from June to September as well as Friday, July 14, Tuesday, August 15, and Saturday, September 23.
