Visiting Versailles: hours, visiting hours…
The Versailles Palace includes an immense 2,644 acre garden and a number of buildings, including the palace itself, the queen’s hamlet, and the Petit Trianon, to name a few. Together, these sites make up a museum among the most visited landmarks in France, an exceptional showcase for French culture and history. Here is some essential information so you can enjoy the Palace of Versailles under the right conditions.
Palace of Versailles, hours of operation and peak hours
Looking to visit the palace, commissioned by Louis XIV to be a symbol of the Sun King’s omnipotence? Be sure to consult the following hours to ensure a successful visit at any time of the year.
Palace of Versailles hours
For the palace, there are daylong operating hours: enter the most beautiful rooms from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Trianon estate is open from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Versailles gardens have extended hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Be sure to double-check before your visit, as palace hours are sometimes subject to modification.
Peak times and season
Here 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. Also be sure to avoid “deal days” like the Journées du Patrimoine or July 14th. At any rate, despite any precautions, you are sure to encounter a number of other tourists.
With more than 7 million visitors each year, the Palace of Versailles is a major destination. It attracts visitors from France and the four corners of the globe.
Getting the most out of your time at the Palace of Versailles
It can be limiting to write a to-do list of things to see at the Palace of Versailles. Unfortunately, one day is simply not enough, which is why you may want to first visit the most remarkable areas in the palace. Here are five things you must see at Versailles, for their beauty, history, or simply the pleasure of experiencing such an emblematic space: - the king’s bedchamber, a collection of rooms named “the king’s apartments” in the center of the palace,
- The Hall of Mirrors
- The Royal Opera
- The Queen’s Hamlet, Marie-Antoinette’s nature retreat
- The Neptune Fountain in the center of the garden.
To get the most out of your time at the Palace of Versailles, you must prepare. It’s not so much about studying the map intensively before you visit, but rather getting the most out of the time you’ll spend there. By reserving your entry ticket and keeping in mind the things you’d most like to see, you can gain time and have more to say about your trip ! Here is the best of Versailles tickets by Paris City Vision.
Access to the Versailles Palace and gardens
Tickets may be purchased every day except Monday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. The entire estate can be accessed during this time, except the Trianon area and the gallery of coaches, which can only be visited in the afternoon. To 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.
That’s why we recommend you always purchase an entry ticket in advance. Not only does this allow you to avoid long waits, but also to use most of your time on the best part of the visit.
The gardens at Versailles have convenient extended hours and are free to enter year-round. Closure may occur in case of high wind alert. Similarly to the palace, entry must be paid on days when the Musical Gardens and Musical Fountains Show are being held. During these events, the fountains come alive during a specially orchestrated concert. Spend time in the gardens in early morning during the summer and wander through the lines of shrubbery as you enjoy the coolness and quiet of the grounds.
