Visiting the Palace of Versailles
No matter how long you plan to stay in Paris, I think it's worth at least a half day to Versailles, but if you can spare it, I'd do it over two days.
BEFORE YOU GO
Buy your tickets to Versailles before you go. The lines can be quite long, and you can get them online and have the QR code on your phone for them to scan at the gate. It's only a few more Euro to get the two day pass. That way you can spend the night in Versailles and not feel rushed getting around the gardens.
Note: If you decide to get the two-day pass and spend the night in Versailles, my recommendation would be to spend one day at the Palace and main gardens, and dedicate an entire day to the Trianons and the Hamlet.
If you have children under the age 18, they can go for free. But keep in mind, it will not be free for them to walk through the gardens if it is one of the days of their music and fountain shows. It will cost 8 Euro for your kids to be able to walk through the gardens. The fountains turn on twice a day and there is a fountain show at night (another reason to make it a two day trip.)
Get your tickets here: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
GETTING TO VERSAILLES
Travelling to Versailles from Paris is pretty easy. For less than 5 Euro you can take the RER C from as far as Gare Du Nord (north of Paris) or even from the Eiffel Tower. (I don't recommend doing the Eiffel and Versailles on the same day though.)
The last time I went to Versailles, the RER C was shut down so we grabbed an Uber from Gare du Nord and it was 37 Euro for 4 of us. Not too bad and it's a beautiful drive.
ARRIVING IN VERSAILLES
If you take the RER C, you'll arrive at the train station Rive Gauche. This is the station closest to the palace. Hopefully you have arrived in the morning if you plan to spend just one day in Versailles. Do yourself a favor and get your return ticket now (if you didn't buy round trip tickets). At the end of the day this line will get quite long.
It's a short walk from the train station to the entrance of the palace. The entrance is very grand and beautiful. It's also where the longest lines are. Most people tend to visit the Château of Versailles by first waiting in the courtyard to go through security, then the line to get into the Palace, and then after the Palace, walking down through the gardens over to the Grand Trianon, then the Petit Trianon, and then Marie Antoinette's Hamlet (if they can last that long.)
I like to go in the opposite order here's why
THE SECOND ENTRANCE - The Grand Trianon
What isn't clear from the maps and when you arrive, is that there is actually a second entrance into the gardens and the palace. Each time I've been, there there is no line for security, no line for tickets, and I can just walk right in. It also has a parking lot if you want to drive up to it, or have your Uber driver drop you off. Or if you want, it's about a 20 minute walk through Versailles to come up to other entrance. It's a beautiful walk full of architecture, and the walk through the gardens is just lovely. We had a picnic on some benches before we got to the entrance.
The advantages to going in the second entrance is you get to see what is in my opinion the most beautiful part while you are still fresh and haven't walked every where. You'll avoid long lines while standing in the rain or hot sun. The disadvantages are that it's tricky to get there, (getting an Uber would be easiest) and you won't see the palace first.
Note: If you have just visited the LDS Paris Temple (which is across the street from the Versailles Gardens) you'll actually be closer to the second entrance.
MARIE ANTOINETTE'S HAMLET
This is my most favorite part. It feels like I've stepped back into time, mainly because it is the least crowded, especially in the morning. It has a working farm, a garden, a pond with ducks, and a water mill. You can get some beautiful pictures here.
GRAND TRIANON and PETITE TRIANON
This also is usually less crowded and has some beautiful gardens and waterfalls you can walk through. Let yourself get lost in the maze of trails and discover the hidden gems throughout. Look for the "Sortie" signs that will lead you back towards the Grand Trianon entrance.
GARDENS AND FOUNTAINS
Probably the most famous of all are the gardens and fountains next to the Grand Canal. Here you'll also find places to eat and more importantly restrooms! You'll want to budget quite a bit of time to stroll through this area to look at the different statues, fountains, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. You'll also notice it starting to get more crowded.
THE PALACE
I actually don't really enjoy the palace. It is incredibly crowded every single time I've gone. I mean like wall-to-wall people inching their way past each room. I've gone just as it has opened and just as it was closing and the crowds don't feel any different.
The Hall of Mirrors is that iconic room where you'll want to take some pictures, but keep in mind it will always be full of people doing the same. You'll also want to be sure to see the King's Chambers and the Chapel. It's kind of hard to miss them though if you go with the flow of the crowds of people.
GENERAL ADVICE
Bring lots of water. You're actually not going to be in much shade until you get to the Grand Trianon and beyond.
Keep note of where the restrooms are. Use them before you think you need them.
Food isn't as expensive as you might think. I get ham and cheese sandwiches and a drink for 5 Euro.
Wear good walking shoes. Even if you decide to rent a golf cart or take the trolley down to the Grand Trianon, you'll still be doing lots of walking. The carts aren't allowed everywhere. (We walked 15 miles the last time we went to Versailles.)
I hope you choose Versailles as part of your itinerary to your next Paris trip. It's one of my favorite places and worth the time and effort.
BEFORE YOU GO
Buy your tickets to Versailles before you go. The lines can be quite long, and you can get them online and have the QR code on your phone for them to scan at the gate. It's only a few more Euro to get the two day pass. That way you can spend the night in Versailles and not feel rushed getting around the gardens.
Note: If you decide to get the two-day pass and spend the night in Versailles, my recommendation would be to spend one day at the Palace and main gardens, and dedicate an entire day to the Trianons and the Hamlet.
If you have children under the age 18, they can go for free. But keep in mind, it will not be free for them to walk through the gardens if it is one of the days of their music and fountain shows. It will cost 8 Euro for your kids to be able to walk through the gardens. The fountains turn on twice a day and there is a fountain show at night (another reason to make it a two day trip.)
Get your tickets here: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
GETTING TO VERSAILLES
Travelling to Versailles from Paris is pretty easy. For less than 5 Euro you can take the RER C from as far as Gare Du Nord (north of Paris) or even from the Eiffel Tower. (I don't recommend doing the Eiffel and Versailles on the same day though.)
The last time I went to Versailles, the RER C was shut down so we grabbed an Uber from Gare du Nord and it was 37 Euro for 4 of us. Not too bad and it's a beautiful drive.
ARRIVING IN VERSAILLES
If you take the RER C, you'll arrive at the train station Rive Gauche. This is the station closest to the palace. Hopefully you have arrived in the morning if you plan to spend just one day in Versailles. Do yourself a favor and get your return ticket now (if you didn't buy round trip tickets). At the end of the day this line will get quite long.
It's a short walk from the train station to the entrance of the palace. The entrance is very grand and beautiful. It's also where the longest lines are. Most people tend to visit the Château of Versailles by first waiting in the courtyard to go through security, then the line to get into the Palace, and then after the Palace, walking down through the gardens over to the Grand Trianon, then the Petit Trianon, and then Marie Antoinette's Hamlet (if they can last that long.)
I like to go in the opposite order here's why
THE SECOND ENTRANCE - The Grand Trianon
What isn't clear from the maps and when you arrive, is that there is actually a second entrance into the gardens and the palace. Each time I've been, there there is no line for security, no line for tickets, and I can just walk right in. It also has a parking lot if you want to drive up to it, or have your Uber driver drop you off. Or if you want, it's about a 20 minute walk through Versailles to come up to other entrance. It's a beautiful walk full of architecture, and the walk through the gardens is just lovely. We had a picnic on some benches before we got to the entrance.
The advantages to going in the second entrance is you get to see what is in my opinion the most beautiful part while you are still fresh and haven't walked every where. You'll avoid long lines while standing in the rain or hot sun. The disadvantages are that it's tricky to get there, (getting an Uber would be easiest) and you won't see the palace first.
Note: If you have just visited the LDS Paris Temple (which is across the street from the Versailles Gardens) you'll actually be closer to the second entrance.
MARIE ANTOINETTE'S HAMLET
This is my most favorite part. It feels like I've stepped back into time, mainly because it is the least crowded, especially in the morning. It has a working farm, a garden, a pond with ducks, and a water mill. You can get some beautiful pictures here.
GRAND TRIANON and PETITE TRIANON
This also is usually less crowded and has some beautiful gardens and waterfalls you can walk through. Let yourself get lost in the maze of trails and discover the hidden gems throughout. Look for the "Sortie" signs that will lead you back towards the Grand Trianon entrance.
GARDENS AND FOUNTAINS
Probably the most famous of all are the gardens and fountains next to the Grand Canal. Here you'll also find places to eat and more importantly restrooms! You'll want to budget quite a bit of time to stroll through this area to look at the different statues, fountains, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. You'll also notice it starting to get more crowded.
THE PALACE
I actually don't really enjoy the palace. It is incredibly crowded every single time I've gone. I mean like wall-to-wall people inching their way past each room. I've gone just as it has opened and just as it was closing and the crowds don't feel any different.
The Hall of Mirrors is that iconic room where you'll want to take some pictures, but keep in mind it will always be full of people doing the same. You'll also want to be sure to see the King's Chambers and the Chapel. It's kind of hard to miss them though if you go with the flow of the crowds of people.
GENERAL ADVICE
Bring lots of water. You're actually not going to be in much shade until you get to the Grand Trianon and beyond.
Keep note of where the restrooms are. Use them before you think you need them.
Food isn't as expensive as you might think. I get ham and cheese sandwiches and a drink for 5 Euro.
Wear good walking shoes. Even if you decide to rent a golf cart or take the trolley down to the Grand Trianon, you'll still be doing lots of walking. The carts aren't allowed everywhere. (We walked 15 miles the last time we went to Versailles.)
I hope you choose Versailles as part of your itinerary to your next Paris trip. It's one of my favorite places and worth the time and effort.
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