What do I need to know before visiting the Palace of Versailles?

A time ticket must be purchased in advance. Security lines can be long too. We have heard reports of well over an hour at peak times. Your visit to the palace interior takes around an hour and a half and you could easily spend another 2 hours exploring the gardens and summer palaces.



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To tour the inside of the palace thoroughly, it takes around 2-3 hours. Allow longer if you want to explore the gardens.

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If you do not plan on renting a golf cart or bike and want to explore the gardens or other areas of the Versailles estate, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers will be the best choice as there are some areas where you have to walk on dirt and/or rock pebbles.

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Unaccompanied visit of the Palace: Visitors to the Palace must book in advance and select a specific time slot. We highly recommend that visitors pre-book their tickets online.

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A visit to the Palace of Versailles There 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.

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Handbags and bags No bag larger than a handbag can be accepted on the site of Château de Versailles.

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food and drinks are not allowed inside the museum; picnics are not allowed in the gardens. However, it is possible to have a picnic in the park.

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What do people wear to Versailles? While there might not be an official dress code at the Palace of Versailles anymore, it is still worth making sure that you fit in properly. That's why it's worth staying modest and avoiding any short skirts or shorts, as well as any casual wear such as tracksuits or hoodies.

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Visit during the week So aim to visit between Wednesday and Friday. The result? Less waiting and a smoother visit around the palace.

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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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How Long is the Line at Versailles? The ticket office line at Versailles can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Afterward, you will need to again wait in line at the main palace entrance, followed by the security check, which can collectively take another 1-3 hours.

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Works on display in the permanent exhibition spaces may be photographed or filmed for private purposes, thus excluding all professional, collective or commercial uses which require the prior written permission of the President of the Establishment.

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No, a national identity card/passport, or a digital copy of it, is sufficient. Are the Palace Gardens open on Mondays? Yes, although the Palace and Trianon's Estate are closed, the Palace Gardens and the Park are open and admission is free.

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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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There are several toilets and free changing tables for babies at your disposal all over the Estate. In the Palace, there are toilets and changing tables before the ticket checks in the South Ministers' Wing and after the ticket checks in the basement of the Dufour Pavilion (Entrance A).

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We left the Palace Grounds through a garden exit. If I remember right it was near the Neptune Fountain. We ate lunch in Versailles and then returned via the same gate with no problems. It was a musical gardens day so we re-entered with our Garden Tickets.

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Instead, opt for dark skinny jeans, plain shirts without logos, and leather shoes. Use tote bags or earth-toned simplistic bags if you really want to dress in France to fit in with the locals. Basically: Avoid casual wear, use earth tones, and please don't wear open-toed shoes.

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