The Palace of Versailles is a marvel of architecture and artwork. Containing 2,300 rooms, a chapel, an opera house, and more, it’s a sight to see. Luckily, it’s possible to take a day trip to the Palace of Versailles from Paris since it’s less than 15 miles from the city. Here’s what to know before you go.
Like our day trip to Champagne from Paris, we opted to handle our day trip ourselves. While we accomplished the adventure without hiccups (unlike going to Champagne!), now I’d still recommend a guided tour like this one. Taking a guided tour removes the pressure — and stress — of handling a day trip yourself. So it’s well worth the money!
Regardless of whether you tackle your day trip to the Palace of Versailles by yourself or with a guide, there are a few things to know beforehand.
A Day Trip to the Palace of Versailles from Paris
Getting to the Palace of Versailles from Paris
Located less than 15 miles outside of Paris, getting to the Palace of Versailles takes about an hour on the train or in a car. The train is easy to navigate and convenient, depending on your starting point in Paris.
That’s what we did, then followed the throngs of tourists walking to the Palace, which is a short walk from the train station. But taking a guided tour that includes transportation from Paris, like this one, would have been much less stressful.
Be Prepared to Wait — Possibly for Hours!
But getting to the Palace is only half the battle. Getting inside is another story! We bought our tickets the day before and still waited in line outside the Palace for hours. And in the rain, no less!
So this is definitely a situation where those “skip the line” tickets are well worth it.
Inside the Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest royal palaces in the world. With 2,300 rooms, a chapel, an opera house, and more, give yourself an entire day to explore it. (And don’t miss the gardens, either! More on those below.) The most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. And it’s more impressive than I imagined in person!
(Fun fact: part of the Paris Opera House was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.)
One thing worth noting is the crowds. The Palace of Versailles is the one of the most visited attractions in the world, with 15 million people visiting it a year. The Palace may be huge, but with thousands of people touring it each day, it felt cramped and crowded. My claustrophobia got the best of me, so we ended up skipping many portions (sadly, including the opera house) to explore the gardens instead.
The Palace Gardens
There were so many people in the palace that its 67,000 square meters somehow managed to be reduced to be crowded. But once we made it to the gardens, I was able to breathe and take in the Palace. The gardens were designed to extend “as far as the eye can see,” which became a literal definition: they expand beyond sight. It’s incredible!
We walked around the meticulously manicured gardens and ornate fountains, which meant we only covered a fraction of the landscape. A much more convenient way to experience them is by golf cart, like on this private tour.
The Gardens Are Free
The gardens are impressive, and romantic in an Alice in Wonderland sort of way. At one point, it eerily felt like we had been transported far away from Paris to a wilderness in the middle of nowhere. Which was probably the point!
It’s worth noting that the gardens and park are free to the public on days without fountain shows. Check online for more.
Eating at the Palace of Versailles
If you’re spending an entire day exploring the Palace of Versailles, you’re going to need some food! There are several restaurants on the grounds, from casual to elegant. We had lunch at Restaurant Angelina. It was the perfect escape from the crowds, and not to mention the food was fantastic.
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I will admit that our day trip to the Palace of Versailles from Paris was one of my least favorite days in France. It was stressful — we definitely should have taken a guided tour! And I learned how much I hate crowds during the tour. While I will never go back, I do think the Palace is worth experiencing. Just make sure you’re mentally prepared!
Related :: 6 days of beauty in Paris, a day trip to Chamapgne from Paris, and incredible facts about the opera house in Paris.
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