Travelers flock to Versailles every day to see the opulence of this once royal residence. It’s a very easy day trip from Paris and therefore draws big crowds regularly. Because it is so popular there are a few things that will make it easier and more enjoyable so here are our tips for visiting Versailles!
1. Skip the Palace!
Our first tip, if we’re being completely honest based on our experience, would be to skip the Palace of Versailles. We say that for a few reasons:
- The Palace is what all the extremely long lines are for, therefore, if you’re going in it means you will be waiting for a long time. If you’re going to the Gardens or the Park you bypass those lines.
- A ticket to the Palace is a bit pricey so if you’re trying to stick to a budget skipping the Palace can be a way to still experience Versailles without the hefty ticket price. Visiting the Gardens and the Park is free so you can cut out anywhere from 18-30 Euros (depending on the ticket) per person by skipping the Palace tour.
- Inside, at least when we visited, was so incredibly crowded that we were just constantly bumping into people in all directions. The narrow pathway through the rooms moved like one big crowd. So just be prepared because most of those people waiting outside are going inside with you.
- It’s not to say that the inside was not beautiful because it was and it provides you with the history behind Versailles. But it was so crowded it was hard to truly enjoy it without wanting to just get to the exit and leave.
Expectations 
Reality
2. If you are going to visit the Palace, buy a TIMED ticket!
Our biggest recommendation if you do want to visit the Palace of Versailles is to buy a timed ticket. Once inside the security checkpoint you will see two lines. The longer, insanely long line is for people who have un-timed tickets meaning they have already purchased a ticket, however, they have to wait in that line to be let in. The other, shorter and much faster line on the left is for people who have timed tickets meaning they have already purchased a ticket with a specific time. That timed ticket guarantees you entrance within 30 minutes of your chosen time. Just a reminder that both of those lines are for people who have already bought tickets not even people who want to buy tickets the day of.
- The biggest secret is that the general (un-timed) passport ticket which gives you access to everything (the Palace and all the other buildings) is the SAME PRICE as the timed passport ticket. For the same price you can skip that crazy line and get in within 30 minutes.
- Because so many people visit Versailles every day we would highly recommend as soon as you’re deciding to visit and tour the Palace to buy a ticket online. It will make your life so much easier during your visit. We were able to bring up our tickets on our phone so it’s easy and so much quicker than trying to buy them and then wait in line the day of!
3. Take the train from Paris- it’s very easy!
There’s no need to rent a car because taking the train from Paris to Versailles is extremely easy! There are three different train stations all no more than a 30 minute walk from Versailles. Therefore regardless of where you are staying in Paris you can easily take the train. Make sure you look at the trains going back so you know your options ahead of time that way you won’t feel rushed at the end of the day.
Read our full post on Versailles here!
4. Bring lunch (or snacks)
The one thing we wish we brought with us on our day trip to Versailles was lunch or at least some snacks to hold us over for the day. We got there probably about 9:30 am and stayed until about 5 pm so it was a full day meaning we definitely got hungry. Not to mention we walked a lot because the Gardens and Park are so big so we definitely worked up an appetite.
However, we had read before going that there is no food allowed in the Palace. Because we had tickets to go in we didn’t bring any food for fear of having to throw it away at the entrance or not being able to bring our bag in at all. There was a security checkpoint at the entrance to the Palace where we put our bag through, however, no one mentioned food or water nor did we see anything being asked to throw anything away. Had we known it would not be an issue, we definitely would have at least brought snacks to have throughout the day.
- A few hours into our visit we got hungry and bought pre-made sandwiches from a food stand in the Gardens selling sandwiches, fries and other snacks. It was honestly very mediocre and required waiting in yet another line. The sandwiches were also not the cheapest option for lunch, especially compared to bringing our own food. So we would recommend not buying food within Versailles and packing something. It will most likely be better and save you some money!
If you are not planning on going inside the Palace then we would definitely recommend packing a lunch. There are plenty of great picnic spots in the Park where you will see other people doing the same thing!
5. Wear sneakers
The grounds of Versailles are extremely extensive and we thought the best part of the day was wandering around the Gardens and the Park. Doing so meant we walked at least 30,000 steps by the time we left. Many of the pathways are loose gravel or dirt which means sandals will leave your feet awfully dirty therefore we would recommend sneakers or other close-toe shoes. They will leave your feet much cleaner and will also make the significant amount of walking easier on your feet!
Travel Truth: We had also read prior to arriving that there was a dress code within the Palace. We both wore shorts and sneakers and had no issue getting in nor did we feel like we were the most casually dressed. Wear what you’re comfortable in as you will be moving around a lot!
6. Spend at least a couple hours enjoying the Gardens and Park!
By far the highlight of our day trip to Versailles was visiting the Gardens and the Park. The intricate garden arrangements, precise pathways and designs were extremely impressive. As well the enormity of both the Gardens and the Park is remarkable and truly its hard to capture in pictures just how expansive they really are. We would recommend to spend at least a couple hours enjoying these parts of Versailles. You can find so many areas where you will see almost no other people and get a sense for the tranquility of the estate.
Do you have any other tips for visiting Versailles?
