Day Trips

A Day Trip to Versailles from Paris: The Complete Guide

The Château de Versailles is the grandest day trip from Paris: the Sun King's palace, the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, and formal gardens that run to the horizon. It's also huge and popular — so a little planning turns a stressful, crowded visit into a wonderful one.

Versailles at a glance

Distance from Paris	~20 km · 30–45 min by car
Time needed	Half a day minimum · a full day for the gardens & Trianon
Best ticket	"Passport" (Palace + Trianon + gardens), timed entry
Quietest time	At opening or after 14:00 · avoid Tue (many Paris museums shut, crowds shift here)
Closed	Mondays

The Palace & the Hall of Mirrors

Go straight for the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors — 73 metres of mirrors and chandeliers where the Treaty of Versailles was signed. Arrive at opening or in the early afternoon; late morning is the worst crush. A timed "Passport" ticket booked online lets you skip the main ticket line (you still pass security).

The Gardens & the Musical Fountains

The gardens are free to wander on ordinary days, but on Musical Fountains / Musical Gardens days (spring–autumn, usually weekends) the fountains play to Baroque music and a separate ticket applies — check the calendar, it's the magical version. Walk the central axis to the Grand Canal, rent a rowing boat, or hire a bike to cover the vast grounds.

💡 Tip: Do the Palace first thing, then the gardens and Trianon after — the estate is enormous and the palace queues balloon by late morning.

The Trianon & Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet

A 20-minute walk (or little train ride) across the park brings you to the Grand and Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet — Marie-Antoinette's storybook farm village. It's the quiet, romantic, far less crowded side of Versailles and well worth the extra time.

Getting to Versailles

By train it's the RER C to "Versailles Château Rive Gauche", then a 10-minute walk — fine, but with changes and crowds. A private transfer takes you door-to-gate in 30–45 minutes, waits or returns when you're done, and is far easier with family, older travellers, or after a long day on your feet. For a richer visit, a private day tour with your driver can combine Versailles with a Paris highlight.

FAQ

How far is Versailles from Paris? About 20 km — 30–45 minutes by car depending on traffic.

How long do I need? Half a day for the palace; a full day to add the gardens and the Trianon comfortably.

Which ticket should I buy? The "Passport" covers the Palace, the Trianon estate and the gardens (with the fountains show on show days) — the best value for a full visit.

When is Versailles closed? Mondays. It's also very busy on Tuesdays, when many Paris museums close.

More ways we can help

Private guided tours of Paris. Prefer to sightsee with your own driver? We offer half-day (4h), full-day (8h) and evening private tours — the icons at your own pace, hotel pick-up included. See our Paris tours.

Book a private driver by the hour. For a custom itinerary, shopping or business, hire a driver by the hour: just tell us your plan via our contact form and we'll arrange it.

Airport & Disneyland transfers. Fixed prices, free child seats, meet & greet. Book your transfer.