The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence and one of the top tourist attractions of Paris and Ile-de-France. Consisting of an opulent château and expansive, breathtaking garden, it is a French brand, just like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum are. Hence, you are likely to brush shoulders with other travelers and visitors while touring the palace. Avoiding that is hardly an option, but you can organize a memorable tour with our Versailles Palace information.
So, read on and learn:
- What are opening times and how much tickets cost
- How much time to plan for a visit
- How long you may stand in the line
- And more
Versailles Palace General Info (Opening Hours and Prices)
| Versailles Palace Times of Operation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Open | Closed | ||
| Château | 9:00–17:30 from Tuesday to Sunday from November to March; 9:00–18:30 from Tuesday to Sunday between April and October | Monday | ||
| Park and Gardens | 8:00–18:00 daily from November to March; 8:00–20:30 daily from April to October (park opens at 7:00 during high season) | / | ||
| Trianon Estate | 12:00–17:30 from Tuesday to Sunday between November and March; 12:00–18:30 from Tuesday to Sunday between April and October | Monday | ||
| Gallery of Coaches | 12:30–17:30 from Tuesday to Sunday from November to March; 12:30–18:30 from Tuesday to Sunday from April to October | Monday | ||
| Château de Versailles Ticket Prices | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Full Price | Reduced Rates | Free | Notes | ||||
| Whole Estate (Timed Entry) | €20 (€27 on days when musical shows take place) | €10 (with timed entry) | People with disabilities and those accompanying them, visitors under 18, EU residents under 26 | |||||
| Palace | €18 | €13 on site | ||||||
| Park and Gardens | Free | Free | Entry to gardens isn't free on musical shows days, weekends, and occasional Tuesdays and Fridays from April to October. | |||||
| Trianon Estate | €12 | €6 on site | ||||||
| Gallery of Coaches | Free | Free | ||||||
| Musical Gardens | €8.5 | €7.5 | On Musical Gardens and Musical Fountain Show days, access is free for children up to 5 years of age. Rates are available only on presales. | |||||
| Musical Fountains Show | €9.5 | €8 | ||||||
Extra Château de Versailles Info (Duration, Sights, etc.)
Visited by travelers and locals, the Palace of Versailles tends to be a beehive of activity more often than not. And, to properly arrange your royal residence tour, you need to obtain the Versailles Palace information, such as:
- How long you may have to wait in line to enter
- How much time to plan for a visit and
- Where to find top sights and attractions
What Are Queuing Times to Enter the Royal Palace?
Visitors that haven't bought tickets online or don't have a pass need to wait in two lines. One is for purchasing a ticket, and the other for entering the estate. In general, the former is shorter than the latter, but it moves slowly.
So, you'll need to wait at least in one line unless you're very lucky.
The worst-case scenario would be to arrive during peak hours (roughly from 11:00 to 15:00) during the high season without a secured ticket. If so, you may need to wait over an hour, even two, to enter the palace. That said, purchasing a ticket or pass in advance could considerably shorten your queuing and extend a Versailles tour.
But, if you arrive early (or late) during the day and have a ticket purchased online, your waiting times should be short, or you might not wait at all.
Average Versailles Palace and Gardens Visiting Times
| Royal Estate of Versailles Average Visiting Times | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour | Palace | Park and Gardens | Grand Trianon | Petit Trianon | Gallery of Coaches | |||||
| Ultra-quick | 45 minutes to 1 hour | 1 hour | 20 minutes | 15 to 20 minutes | 15 minutes | |||||
| Quick | 1 to 1:30 hours | 1 to 1:30 hours | 30 to 45 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes | 20 minutes | |||||
| Normal | 1:45 to 2:30 hours | 2 to 3 hours | 45 minutes to 1:15 hours | 45 minutes to 1 hour | 30 minutes | |||||
Top Attractions of the Grand Estate
| Versailles Château Highlights | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | Top Attractions | |
| Royal Palace | Marble Courtyard, Hall of Mirrors, Abundance Salon, Mars Salon, Salon of War, Salon of Peace, Queen's Bedchamber, Marble Staircase, King's Bedchamber, Chapel Royal, Battle Gallery | |
| Park and Garden | Water Parterre, Latona Basin, Grand Canal, Dragon Basin, Neptun Basin, Orangery, Ballroom Grove, Collonade Grove, Queen's Hamlet | |
| Grand Trianon | Peristyle, Mirror Room, Bedchamber of the Queen of the Belgians, Garden Room | |
| Petit Trianon | French Pavillion, Rock Pavillion | |
