👑 Île-de-France, France

Things to do in Versailles

The Sun King’s vast palace and its endless gardens

The Palace of Versailles is the over-the-top royal château of Louis XIV — the Hall of Mirrors, gilded State Apartments and formal gardens stretching to the horizon. It’s an easy half- to full-day from Paris and one of France’s most visited sights. Book ahead; the entry queues are legendary.

Time needed

Half to a full day

Best time

Spring and autumn; visit at opening to beat the crowds

Region

Île-de-France, France

Plan a free Versailles trip

Don’t miss

The Hall of Mirrors

The 73-metre Hall of Mirrors, lined with arches that reflect the garden light, is the palace’s showpiece. Go at opening or buy a skip-the-line/guided ticket — the midday queues are brutal.

Check availability on GetYourGuide

Top things to do in Versailles

  • The State Apartments and the dazzling Hall of Mirrors.Find tours
  • The formal gardens, the Grand Canal and the musical fountain shows.Find tours
  • Marie-Antoinette’s estate and the rustic Queen’s Hamlet.Find tours
  • Rent a bike or rowing boat on the Grand Canal in summer.

Book Versailles tours & tickets

Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours and the big-ticket experiences — compare and book ahead so they don’t sell out.

See all Versailles experiences on GetYourGuide

Where to stay near Versailles

Compare Versailles hotels & stays

Find the right area, filter by price and reviews

How to get to Versailles

From Paris it’s ~40 minutes on the RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, then a short walk. A skip-the-line or guided ticket saves the long entry queue.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn; visit at opening to beat the crowds. The fountain shows run on select days (spring–autumn) — check the schedule if you want to catch them.

Versailles tips

  • Book a timed/skip-the-line ticket online — unbooked queues can run for hours.
  • Tuesdays and weekends are busiest; aim for a weekday at opening.
  • The estate is huge — the gardens and Trianon are a long walk, so allow more time than you’d think.

Fit Versailles into a real trip — free

Wavvia builds a day-by-day plan around Versailles and Paris — tuned to your dates, pace and how you travel, with real places and safety built in.

Plan my trip — free

Opening hours, prices, transport and entry rules change — always verify before you go. Some links are affiliate links; Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.