Is it better to visit Versailles in the morning or afternoon?
We suggest arriving right at opening time—if not a little before. If you did not pre-purchase Versailles admissions or a tour, avoid touring the palace in the late morning and afternoon, when crowds are at their peak.
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Peak times and seasonHere are some handy tips to avoid long wait times. As a rule of thumb, it is not recommended that you visit Versailles between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. without a skip-the-line ticket. Naturally, the off season (November to March) is generally when wait times are the shortest.
Consider spending the whole day in Versailles, but if you don't have enough time - coming between 9-10 AM or between 4:30- 5:30 PM would be the best way to avoid the peak hours.
As a rule of thumb, it is not recommended that you visit Versailles between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. without a skip-the-line ticket. Naturally, the off season (November to March) is generally when wait times are the shortest. Also be sure to avoid “deal days” like the Journées du Patrimoine or July 14th.
Access to the Versailles Palace and gardensTo start your visit, you will pass two entry points: one before you purchase tickets and another when you go through security. The wait time for each of these is one hour, according to testimonials. In other words, you must wait in line twice for one visit.
Within half a day, you will have the opportunity of discovering all the richness of the castle, visiting the Hall of Mirrors and the royal apartments inside, but also the famous French style gardens. We propose two visits each day, departure from Paris center. The ideal formula to discover Versailles in half a day !
Water displays of the Musical Fountains Showon Tuesdays and some public holidays (Friday April 7th, Monday April 10th, Monday May 8th, Monday May 29th and Friday July 14th 2023) : from 10am to 6.45pm*, 5 minutes every 15 minutes.
You can skip the line for the audio guide at the palace by downloading the free app that houses all of the Versailles related audio guides in 11 different languages. To tour the inside of the palace thoroughly, it takes around 2-3 hours. Allow longer if you want to explore the gardens.
If you have not planned anything ahead, it helps to arrive as early as possible to tour the palace. We suggest arriving right at opening time—if not a little before. If you did not pre-purchase Versailles admissions or a tour, avoid touring the palace in the late morning and afternoon, when crowds are at their peak.
Yes, even if you have a free ticket you must book a time-stamped ticket. To do this, book the slot of your choice online and select the free ticket option.
While the Palace of Versailles is open to the public, it is still a Royal Palace and visitors are expected to dress accordingly. This means no sandals, shorts, sleeveless shirts, or hats.
Avoid visiting on weekends and TuesdaysTuesday is especially busy because other museums, like the world famous Louvre, is closed on Tuesdays, so visitors will flock to Versailles instead.
The Palace of Versailles is the least crowded on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the week, and Sundays during weekends. The Palace is open on all days of the week except for Mondays. We would recommend avoiding booking tickets for Tuesday, because this is the most busy day for the Palace.
A visit to the Palace of VersaillesThere are also dress codes that must be followed. No jeans, no sneakers, and no hats. If you are visiting in the summer, be prepared for some hot weather. Bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and clothes that you can layer.
A one-way trip between Paris and Versailles by Uber or taxi will typically cost you a minimum of around 40€ - 50€, assuming no major traffic jams and depending on your specific Paris location.
You can even stay at the Palace of Versailles when you book a room or suite in the magnificent 5-star Airelles Château de Versailles Le Grand Contrôle luxury resort located in a fully renovated historic building on the Estate's grounds.
Visit Versailles and Le Louvre in one day. Our package is all inclusive: it is a combination between our Private Louvre tour & our Versailles half day Unmissables.