Is Versailles Worth Visiting on Your Trip to France?

I’ve been to the Palace of Versailles four times now, twice to visit the interiors and twice to stroll the gardens.

While it can be busy as heck, even well into the off-season, you can’t deny the appeal of a place so lavish.

Even if you don’t have any interest in the French monarchy, it’s quite an experience to get insight into the excesses that led to the French Revolution. 

You likely know where this one is going already, but if you’ve never been to Versailles, there is a lot to sway your opinion on whether you should plan some time here. 

I’ll start with the Palace of Versailles, as that’s likely what gets you all there, with some bonus tips on things to do in Versailles outside of the royal stuff.

Is the Palace of Versailles worth visiting?

The Palace of Versailles is worth visiting if you appreciate history, architecture, and opulence. That last bit doesn’t have to mean that you’re some fancy person. All I mean is that this is an attraction big on grandeur.

It makes sense. Versailles wasn’t just a royal residence but a political tool used by Louis XIV to control the French nobility. It had to be over the top as a show of the king’s absolute power.

Today, it’s an enduring symbol of the extravagance that led to the French Revolution.

By the way, it’s super nice that the French are like, “Nah, we don’t need royals (maybe even billionaires) running the show.”

Let’s get into the details as to why Versailles should stay on your list of must-sees, especially if you’re already in Paris.

Versailles is an easy day trip from Paris.

You have a few options for getting to Versailles from central Paris, and you can expect the journey to take about 40 minutes. The easiest is the RER C line to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. From there, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the palace. 

You can also arrive on an SNCF train if you don’t mind a longer walk. SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse arrive at Versailles Chantiers. Trains from Gare Saint-Lazare arrive at Versailles Rive Droite. Both are about a 25-minute walk to the palace.

We’d travel to Versailles from Saint-Germain-en-Laye. There are bus lines that get us from our town to Versailles, but we always just took a Bolt or Uber rideshare for efficiency’s sake.

It was always quite affordable, even when we weren’t in a group, and just a 20-minute ride from our suburb.

The Palace of Versailles has historical significance.

The Palace of Versailles began as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII in 1623. His son, Louis XIV, transformed it into a royal residence in the late 17th century with the intent of making it the envy of all of France. 

Under his rule, Versailles became a symbol of absolute monarchy, designed to showcase his power and control over the nobility.

The palace expanded during this time, too, with the addition of the Hall of Mirrors that continues to impress and arouse duck lips out of visitors to this day.

Louis XV and Louis XVI continued to reside at Versailles until the events of the French Revolution ended that party. (Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, another famous inhabitant of Versailles, died by the guillotine in 1793.)

While that was the end of kings named Louis at Versailles, it isn’t the end of Versailles’ historical intrigue.

After the revolution, the palace was restored under Napoleon and subsequent French leaders. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, was signed in the Hall of Mirrors.

Today, Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France’s most visited attractions. I’m sure a good portion of them are here because they want to see how the royals lived, if only for a day.

This one is a must for architecture lovers.

The palace’s history is deeply connected to its architecture. The château is an example of Baroque architecture with gilded interiors and ornate ceilings in every room.

Walking through a castle like this gives visitors a sense of the lifestyle of the rich and famous, in this case, the French monarchy.

Every corner was designed to impress and demonstrate the power of the monarchy. While it can feel a little ridiculous as you move from room to room, it’s hard to deny that the palace must have done exactly that.

It was SO over-the-top, in fact, that it sparked a revolution.

The palace is also home to thousands of paintings, sculptures, and tapestries showing off France’s artistic achievements. You’ll see historical events, royal portraits of people who looked a little too much alike, and mythological scenes throughout. 

You can get some hot content in the Hall of Mirrors.

This is one of the most famous rooms in the world. Apart from being where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the 240-foot-long hall is a visual feast. There are over 350 mirrors here that reflect sunlight (if you’re lucky) from the garden windows. 

That’s why it’s where you’ll likely feel most annoyed on your tour of Versailles. The hall is beautiful, but you won’t have it to yourself. Try to avoid getting smacked by selfie sticks as you marvel at your surroundings.

You can visit Versailles for free.

If you don’t want to brave the crowds inside the palace, you can visit the gardens for free most days. The gardens are a public park, and they’re perfect for lounging, long strolls, and picnic lunches.

Note: The exception here is during special events like the Musical Gardens Show. Tickets for those aren’t as pricey as they are for the palace and other royal estates on the grounds.

For free admission to the palace, visit on the first Sunday of the month from November through March. I haven’t done this, but I imagine it gets VERY crowded.

Visitors under 18 (or under 26 if you’re a resident of the European Union) are always free. You’ll still want an online time slot for those age groups, though.

The gardens at Versailles are lovely.

Along those lines, the gardens at Versailles are fantastic. Spanning nearly 2,000 acres, these meticulously designed gardens feature fountains, sculptures, and geometrically arranged flower beds designed by André Le Nôtre.

Fun fact: Le Nôtre was known for being down-to-earth, despite hanging out with royals in some of the most striking gardens in the Paris region. He even designed the gardens where we lived in Saint-Germain-en-Laye!

READ MORE: Love a good garden? Plan a trip to Giverny while you’re in France.

Sometimes, the gardens are even musical.

The fountains at the Gardens of Versailles aren’t always on, but it’s worth timing your visit to see one of their water shows. They set them to classical music to help you imagine what it might have been like to be invited to that scene by a Louis.

Shows usually run on weekends and select days and evenings in the warmer months, so check the schedule before you go. You’ll need a ticket for both the daytime and evening shows, but those are easy to book online. Don’t show up expecting entry. They sell out!

Due to water restrictions, they’re not all on at the same time, so you’ll need to be flexible with your visit. Take a look at what we saw on our visit:

When we were there, the big fountains, like the Neptune Fountain, were on a timer all day for five-minute intervals of fun. Smaller fountains around the garden operated for a short period in the morning or afternoon, but not both.

The gardens are huge, but strolling from fountain to fountain is part of the magic. It was easily our favorite visit to Versailles.

The Grand Trianon is a quiet escape.

There is so much more to the estate than the Palace of Versailles itself. The Grand Trianon is an upgrade on your ticket, but it’s worth spending time here to lose some of the crowds.

This retreat was built by Louis XIV in 1687 as an escape from the formalities of court life. 

What that actually means is that he used the estate to spend time with his mistress. Apparently, etiquette at the palace was a little too rigid, and he yearned for privacy to get naughty. 

I love this spot. It feels very French inside, but also a little bit Italian with a mix of architectural styles that isn’t obvious in the big house. My favorite parts are the pink marble columns that lead out to the gardens.

You can get to know Marie Antoinette.

Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the Revolution, was one of Versailles’ most famous residents. She arrived there in 1770 as the wife of Louis XVI and quickly became known for her extravagant lifestyle. 

Fun fact: While she loved the finer things, she probably never said, “Let them eat cake.” The quote was attributed to her to portray her as out of touch with the French people, especially during food shortages and other economic struggles that led to the revolution.

You can see a glimpse inside her private life at the Petit Trianon, a smaller palace given to her by Louis XVI in 1774. I saw it as a place of refuge for her, but my mom wasn’t impressed. She assumed she was stuck there because her husband was stepping out.

You can visit and make your own conclusions.

Beyond the Petit Trianon, she also created the Hameau de la Reine, or the Queen’s Hamlet, with cottages, a dairy, and a working farm.

It was like something out of a storybook where she could play-act living the simple life. Was she the original Paris Hilton?

You can spend a full day here if you’d like.

You don’t need more than a few hours if you’re just here for the palace, but I’d set aside at least a morning (or afternoon if you’re starting late) to see the estate in full. I already mentioned the two additional estates you can access on upgraded tickets. 

The gardens deserve at least another hour, especially if you want to have a picnic while you’re here. There are a few options for food and drink on the grounds, too. 

There’s the overpriced Angelina for sweet treats and La Flotille and La Petite Venise, both near the Grand Canal. We’ve patronized all three, although we stuck to coffee and tea at La Flotille. (It gets quite busy at lunchtime!)

If you’re here at high season, expect snack carts and things set up around the grounds for ice cream and beverages.

I’m not done yet. You can visit the Royal Stables, rent a boat on the Grand Canal, and see the Versailles Orangerie, home to the estate’s tropical citrus trees and warm-weather plants.

Versailles is a year-round destination.

While the fountains are only turned on for the warmer months, the blustery winter months could mean fewer crowds on the grounds.

Note: The palace itself is busy no matter when you visit.

We visited in late winter and early spring, and while it does get lovelier as things start to bloom, there is something to be said about being here on a gloomy day.

The events that ended the royal reign here are anything but chipper, so gray skies only make trips more atmospheric.

This is truly one of the best palaces in France.

At the very least, it’s the most well-known. Popularity doesn’t take anything away from the site, though. The sheer scale of this place, its historical significance, and its influence on palace designs across Europe shouldn’t be ignored.

Schloss Herrenchiemsee in Germany, built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, is a near replica of Versailles with its own Hall of Mirrors. Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace mimics Versailles’ gardens and fountains. 

While I’m certainly not big on monarchies, especially in modern times, you can’t deny the influence of this place over the centuries.

READ MORE: Want to see more French palaces? Check out this guide to Fontainebleau, another personal favorite.

More Things to Do in Versailles

The palace likely brought you here, but the town of Versailles is worth exploring if you want to spend some bonus time here. A highlight for us was our visit to La Salle du Jeu de Paume.

This is where the Tennis Court Oath, a crucial moment in French history, was taken in 1789. Tours are available in French, but you can DIY this one for free.

I’d just read a little history about it before you go, as the signage inside is all in French. Hours are quite limited for this one, so check the schedule online before showing up.

Here are a few more things you can do while you’re here:

• Visit the Church of Notre-Dame, the Sun King’s parish church, built in the 17th century.
• See the Carrés Saint Louis, a series of small 18th-century houses built under the reign of Louis XIV as market stalls.
• Admire the architecture of Hôtel de Ville, the city’s town hall.
• Explore the Lambinet Museum, a private mansion from the 18th century that offers a history of Versailles.
• Get some treats at the Halles Notre-Dame, the indoor market, and Carrés Notre-Dame, the outdoor market.
• Lounge in Parc Balbi, a public garden that isn’t at the palace.
• Do some shopping on Rue de la Paroisse and Rue Hoche, the main hubs for boutiques in Versailles

Tips for Visiting Versailles

I’ve peppered some tips throughout, but here is a rundown of what to know before your visit now that I’ve talked you into it:

• Arrive early. Versailles gets extremely crowded as the day goes on. While there isn’t a slow time here, arriving with the first group helps beat some of that rush.
• Buy tickets in advance. You can’t arrive in Versailles without a ticket. There’s no line to wait in for the chance, and tickets do sell out.
• Consider the Passport ticket. You won’t get to see the Trianon estates otherwise, and you already know how much I liked those.
• Use an audio guide. If it’s your first time here, use the official Palace of Versailles app for audio tours and an interactive map of the entire estate.
• Visit on a weekday. The palace is closed on Mondays, but the grounds are a little less thick with tourists outside of weekend days.
• Don’t skip the gardens. They’re not as fun when it’s raining — we’ve still done it, though! — but they’re absolutely lovely.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The estate is massive, and you’ll likely be walking a lot if you plan a side trip to the Trianon estates.
• Ride the little train. If you don’t want to walk miles on your visit, there is a train that can get you around the estate. A single journey starts at €5.
• Pack a picnic. French sandwiches at any boulangerie in Paris are more delicious and cheaper than anything you’ll find inside.
• Book a tour. If all of this sounds ridiculous and overwhelming, there are so many tours available for a new perspective on the place and ease of movement.

Some even come with transportation from Paris. Browse some highly-rated guided tour options below:

Where to Stay in Versailles

We’ve only visited Versailles on day trips from our apartment in the Paris region, but you can stay overnight closer to the palace if you’d like.

Use the map below for your options:

Versailles isn’t overrated.

Yes, it’s super crowded. Yes, that can be annoying, especially in the hot months when you’re shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists who forget to pack deodorant. I maintain that Versailles is still worth the trip.

Much like the Eiffel Tower, an attraction I’m still not jaded by after seeing it over 20 times, Versailles is a symbol of France.

This place is so visited for a reason, and it feels excessive by design. I mean that literally. If you lingered on the historical bits in this guide, you know it was built to be a show-off. It does that well, even today. I highly recommend the visit.

Planning more travel in France? Check these out next:

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• Plan a Charming Weekend in Nice, France

I’m not done yet! Here are a few more guides for France:

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• See the Holiday Markets of Colmar
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