Overview
Versailles centres on a royal château with the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Apartments. The Chapel Royal and Coach Gallery add to its palace sights.
Architecture · History · Day Trips
Did you know?
- Louis XIV built the palace as a statement of royal power away from Paris.
- The royal château contains the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Apartments.
- The palace grounds can be explored by rented bike or electric golf cart.
Why go?
Versailles is the pinnacle of French royal excess, built by Louis XIV as a power statement away from Paris. The Château de Versailles holds 2,300 rooms, the iconic Hall of Mirrors, and sprawling gardens with fountains that still operate on schedule. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited palaces in Europe, offering a direct window into the world of the Sun King, Marie Antoinette, and centuries of French monarchy.
Get in
Take the Transilien train from Paris Montigny (Line N) to Versailles Chantiers, or the RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. Train tickets cost around €10-15 one-way. The Palace can also be reached by bus from various points in Paris. Booking tickets directly on the Château de Versailles website allows you to skip queues and secure a timed entry slot.
Get around
Versailles is easily walkable, and once inside the palace grounds you can rent bikes or battery-powered golf carts. A mini-train tour (€15-20) gives an efficient overview of the expansive estate. A good bus network runs throughout the city. Within the gardens, distances are large—budget 30+ minutes walking between major sites like the Grand Trianon and the main palace.
When to go
Summer brings Musical Fountain Shows (Jardins musicaux) and Grandes eaux musicales on select weekends, but also large crowds. Spring and autumn offer milder weather and fewer visitors. The Palace is open Tuesday through Sunday, 09:00-17:30 (Nov-Mar) and 09:00-18:30 (Apr-Oct). Closed January 1, May 1, and December 25. Book early for weekends and French holiday periods.
Where to stay
The Ibis Chateau de Versailles Hotel (€85-120) sits in the town center with 85 air-conditioned rooms, three adapted for disabled guests, plus free Wi-Fi and parking. The luxury Pullman Versailles Chateau offers a pool, Mediterranean restaurant, and fitness center. Budget travelers can try Huttopia Versailles, a forest campsite near the RER station with cottage and tent rentals, a swimming pool, and paid WiFi. Many chain hotels also line the roads leading into the city.
Food and drink
Inside the Palace grounds, the Ore restaurant (Alain Ducasse) and Angelina offer formal dining, while the Grand Café d'Orléans provides cheaper ground-floor options. La Flottille and La Petite Venezia in the gardens serve informal meals near the canal. In town, Monument Café features all-you-can-eat buffets with tech-enhanced ambiance, and Le Resto du Roy offers French bistro classics. The Place du Marché Notre Dame runs outdoor markets on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings with fresh produce, cheeses, and local specialties. Bakeries throughout town serve quick lunch items.
Things to do
The Château de Versailles itself includes the Hall of Mirrors, Royal Apartments, Chapel Royal, and Coach Gallery (free entry). The Gardens feature the Bassin d'Apollon and Bassin de Neptune fountains, Grand Trianon, Hameau de la Reine (the Queen's hamlet), and Temple of Love. Mini-train rides (€15-20) efficiently cover the estate, while one-hour golf cart rentals cost around €30. Guided tours from Paris companies like Guidatours allow bypass of entrance lines. The Royal Tennis Court (Salle du Jeu de Paume) marks the site of the Tennis Court Oath. The Musée Lambinet displays 18th-century revolutionary-period artifacts.
Safety
Versailles is generally a safe city for tourists. Standard precautions apply: be aware of pickpockets in crowded tourist areas around the Palace and gardens. Keep valuables secure and watch belongings on public transport. The city is quiet at night with a small bar concentration near Place du Marché, but normal urban safety awareness suffices.
Connectivity
WiFi is available at hotels like Ibis (free) and Huttopia Versailles (small fee). Mobile coverage from French carriers (Orange, SFR, Bouygues) is excellent throughout the city. SIM cards and eSIM options are widely available from tobacconists and phone shops. Power plugs use French type C/E sockets at 230V—standard European adapters work.
Budget
A day visit to Versailles from Paris costs roughly €30-50 per person: train return €10-15, Palace tickets €18-27, food €15-25. Budget travelers can save on meals with bakery sandwiches (€3-5) and picnics from the market. Sleeping at Huttopia (tents from €30/night) or budget hotels (€55-85) keeps accommodation costs reasonable. Two-day passes (€25-30) offer better value if staying overnight.
Day trips
Giverny, 75 km northwest, is the home and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, open April-November. The site of the guillotine executions during the French Revolution (where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded) is a quick train ride away, now marked by a fountain and obelisk. Saint-Cloud, Rueil-Malmaison, and Rambouillet offer other royal history destinations for those with more time.
Go next
Paris is a 30-40 minute train ride away, making Versailles an easy day trip from the capital. For history lovers, the train ride to the Revolutionary guillotine site takes under an hour. Giverny (Monet's gardens) requires about 1.5 hours by train. Other royal sites like Saint-Cloud, Rueil-Malmaison, and Rambouillet are within the Île-de-France region and accessible by train or car. Direct trains also connect to Chartres (famous cathedral) and Disneyland Paris.
Guide text adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to start
Sleep
Chambres de la Marina Hôtel indépendant
Privative parking, confort, high-end bedding, space, nice decoration, tidy, user-friendly.
Price when recorded: €130 for 2 nights min
Sleep
Hotel Bleu France Eragny
Two star hotel. 42 comfortable rooms with restaurant.
Price when recorded: €55-71
Sleep
Hotel La Chaumière Logis de France
Two star hotel with restaurant.
Price when recorded: €61-65
Sleep
Hotel Les Jardins d'Epône
Includes a beautiful hotel restaurant.
Price when recorded: €59-61
Sleep
Hotel Mercure Versailles Parly 2
Sleep
Huttopia Versailles
A nice place to stay, in the forest and very close to the RER (train) station. This campsite has a swimming-pool. Many accommodations to rent (cottages, ridge tents.). Wi-Fi for a small fee.
Sleep
Ibis Chateau de Versailles Hotel
Central hotel with 85 air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, parking, and 3 adapted rooms.
Price when recorded: €85-120
Eat
Angelina Restaurant (Château de Versailles)
Restaurant near the Battles Gallery on the 1st floor.
Price when recorded: €30-60
Before you go
Culture
Versailles is deeply tied to French royal history. Dress modestly for the Palace—avoid shorts and tank tops. Religious sites like Cathédrale Saint-Louis require respectful attire.
Money
France uses the euro (€). Banks and ATMs are available throughout the city. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants, hotels, and shops. Tipping is not obligatory but rounding up or 5-10% for good service is appreciated.
Safety
Versailles is generally safe. Standard precautions against pickpocketing apply in tourist areas. The city is quieter than Paris but normal urban awareness is advised.
Transport
RER C and Transilien Line N connect Versailles to Paris. The Château Rive Gauche station is closest to the Palace. Trains run frequently, about every 15-30 minutes.
Weather
Best seasons are spring and autumn for mild weather. Summer brings fountain shows but also crowds and heat. Winters are cold but the Palace is less busy.