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Palace of Versailles: the route inside, the tickets, and how long to allow
Three visits in one day: the palace, the gardens and the Estate of Trianon. Every palace ticket has a time on it, and that time gets you into the security queue, not past it.
Visitor information checked 19 October 2026 · prices and hours change
The video gives you the verdict and the viewpoints in under five minutes. This page has the numbers that change — prices, hours, rules — and the map pins.
Worth it? Yes, if you give it the day it needs. Book the Passport, go Wednesday to Friday, and do the palace first, the gardens second and the Trianon after noon.
Only half a day? Do the palace route and the first stretch of the gardens, and save the Trianon for another trip rather than rushing all three.
Five mistakes people make here
- Coming on a MondayThe palace and the Trianon are closed every Monday (and on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May). The park stays open.
- Treating the time slot as skip-the-lineOnly the palace visit needs a timed slot, and online tickets don't include priority admission, so on busy days you still queue for security.
- Turning up with only a Paris Museum PassPass holders must still book a free Passport ticket with a time slot. Free-admission visitors book a free slot too.
- Leaving the Trianon until lastThe Trianon opens at noon, and the Queen's Hamlet is about 30 minutes on foot from the palace (about 20 by the little train or an electric cart). Plan the way back.
- Bringing a suitcase or large bagLarge bags and suitcases are prohibited. Umbrellas, pushchairs and food aren't allowed in the rooms; no selfie sticks or tripods.
Opening hours
| Part of the estate | April–October | November–March |
|---|---|---|
| Palace (Tue–Sun) | 9:00am–6:30pm, last admission 5:45pm | 9:00am–5:30pm, last admission 4:45pm |
| Estate of Trianon (Tue–Sun) | 12:00–6:30pm, last admission 5:45pm | 12:00–5:30pm, last admission 4:45pm |
| Gardens (daily) | 7:00am–8:30pm | 8:00am–6:00pm |
| Park (daily) | 7:00am–8:30pm | 8:00am–6:00pm |
Busiest: Tuesdays and weekends, says the château, which recommends arriving at 9am. The palace's own route page also suggests after 3pm. The Gallery of Coaches (free) opens weekend afternoons, 12:30–6:30pm.
Prices
| Ticket | Apr–Oct | Nov–Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Passport — palace (timed), Trianon, gardens, exhibitions | €35 | €25 |
| Late Passport (later palace entry) | €28 | €18 |
| Estate of Trianon only (from noon) | €15 | €15 |
| Gardens on Musical Gardens / Fountains Show days | €15 | Free |
| Guided tour (on top of a palace ticket) | €10 | €10 |
EEA nationals and residents get €3 off most tickets with proof. Free for under-18s, EEA residents under 26, and disabled visitors with one companion; everyone still books a slot. The first Sunday of each month from December to March is free for everyone (palace slot still required). Tickets are non-refundable. The château's ticketing page gives the late-Passport start as both 3pm and 4pm — check when you book.
The palace's own route (about 1½ hours)
- Security at the main gate, then Entrance A (buy a ticket first at the South Ministers' Wing if you need one).
- Up five steps to the Marble Courtyard, the oldest part, built for Louis XIII.
- Gallery of the History of the Palace on the ground floor: collect the audio guide here.
- King's State Apartments: the Hercules Room, then the planet rooms, Venus to Mercury, ending in the Apollo Room, the throne room. Look up for the hooks that held the canopy.
- Hall of Mirrors: 73 metres, 357 mirrors facing the windows, which look straight down the gardens to the Grand Canal. The War Room and Peace Room sit at either end.
- The Queen's side and the Gallery of Great Battles, then out through the basement shop, lockers and toilets.
The château lists the Queen's Apartments and the Gallery of Great Battles as temporarily closed for works; check before you go. Guided visits include rooms closed to self-guided visitors.
Gardens and the Trianon
From April to October most days have music in the gardens: Musical Gardens Tuesday to Friday, the Musical Fountains Show at weekends. Those days the gardens need a ticket (the Passport includes one entry). From November to March the gardens are free.
The Trianon is the afternoon: the Grand Trianon, then the Petit Trianon, the English garden and the Temple of Love, and the Queen's Hamlet, eleven houses round a lake. The château suggests a full afternoon. No picnics in the gardens; there are picnic areas in the park.
Practical details
Find it — map pins
- Palace of VersaillesEntrance A, Place d'Armes
- ⭐ Latona FountainThe first view down the gardens to the Grand Canal
- Grand TrianonOpens at noon
- Petit TrianonOpens at noon
- Queen's HamletAbout 30 min on foot from the palace
- Versailles Château Rive Gauche (RER C)About 10 min walk
What to take
Large bags and suitcases aren't allowed in, and the estate is a long day on foot.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The links below are paid links: if you buy through one, WanderSmart Guide may earn a commission. We only list kit that answers a rule or a problem on this page, and we never quote prices — Amazon's change constantly.
- Foldable backpack paid linkSmall enough to be let in, and it packs away once you're inside.
- Travel power bank paid linkThe audio guide is also in the château's app, and a full day drains a phone.
The rest of the kit
- Sun hat paid link
- Rain poncho paid link
- Sunscreen paid link
- Headphones paid link
- Earbuds paid link
- Budget earbuds paid link
- Budget headphones paid link
- Universal travel adapter paid link
- Wireless charging station paid link
- Carry-on bag paid link
- Suitcase paid link
Nearby
Walking times are our estimates.
- Gallery of Coaches, Great StablesAcross the square · free, weekend afternoons
- King's Kitchen Garden (Potager du Roi)About 10 min · check its own hours
- Grand Canal and the parkFree · bike hire in season
- Eiffel Tower — our guideBack in Paris on the RER C
Book direct
- Versailles tickets — official
- Tickets and prices
- Opening hours and getting there
- Musical Fountains Show and Musical Gardens
- Free admission and first Sundays
- Accessibility
We link to official booking pages, never resellers.