Palace of Versailles Tickets and Tours

Just 25 kilometres from Paris, Louis XIV ordered the renovation of an old hunting lodge which, over the years, became what we now know as the Palace of Versailles. The setting for many period films, this place is not the product of fiction, but of centuries of history in which Marie Antoinette stands out.

You've probably already made up your mind, but don't hesitate to buy your ticket to Versailles. It will give you access to a world where art, culture and nature go hand in hand. There are many secrets hidden among what were once the royal apartments and their immense gardens, but with a well-organised visit, you won't miss a thing.

The most flexible option

Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tickets

Discover Versailles at your own pace with skip-the-line entry and an audio guide

Explore the Palace of Versailles and its gardens at your own pace, with an audio guide included in several languages. Ideal for a relaxed visit at your own pace.

From £19 at Hellotickets

If you prefer to explore Versailles at your own pace and decide for yourself how much time to spend in each room or in the gardens, it's best to opt for these skip-the-line tickets to the Palace of Versailles. With these tickets, you can explore both the interior of the palace and its gardens (except on days when the fountain show is on), without worrying about long queues at the ticket office. In addition, the audio guide will accompany you through the most iconic spaces, such as the Hall of Mirrors and the Grand Apartments, explaining everything you need to know.

Access is guaranteed with your digital ticket, and if you are travelling with children under 18, their admission is free. It is a simple but comprehensive option for those looking for a free experience with no set timetable.

Recommended if... you want to discover Versailles at your own pace, without a group or guide, but with useful information provided by an audio guide.

The complete option

Versailles Palace Skip-the-line Guided Tour

Make the most of your visit to the Palace of Versailles with an expert guide.

Gain direct access to the palace and explore its most iconic rooms in the company of a professional guide.

From £56 at Hellotickets

For those who want to discover the secrets of Versailles with an expert, this guided tour of the Palace of Versailles is the perfect option. For 1.5 hours, you will explore its most famous rooms with a professional English-speaking guide, learning all about its history, architecture and interesting anecdotes about French royalty.

In addition to skip-the-line access, you will have free time at the end of the tour to visit the gardens on your own. The headphones provided ensure that you won't miss a word, even in the largest spaces.

Recommended if... you prefer a structured experience with in-depth explanations and direct access without waiting.

The premium option

Versailles Day Trip from Paris with Palace and Gardens Tickets

Don't worry about transportation and go straight to Versailles.

Includes priority access to the palace, audio guide tour, and round-trip bus transportation from Paris.

From £86 at Hellotickets

If you're looking for a convenient option from Paris that includes everything in one package, this package with tickets and transport to the Palace of Versailles is ideal. You'll depart by bus from the centre of Paris (several pick-up points to choose from), arrive with an assistant on board who will answer any questions you may have, and enter the palace directly with skip-the-line access.

Once inside, you will explore the most emblematic spaces with an audio guide in several languages, and then you will have free time to stroll through the gardens. This is a particularly practical option if you don't want to worry about getting around.

Recommended if... you are looking for a comfortable and complete experience, without having to organise transport or worry about queues.

General admission to Versailles starts at 19 However, if you are under 18, have an EU passport and are under 25, have purchased the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass, or are visiting on the first Sunday of any month between November and March, you're in luck because admission is free.

Please note that these tickets only include access to the Palace and the Gardens when the fountain show (Grandes Eaux Musicales) is not scheduled. You can also buy a full ticket to Versailles, the gardens and Marie Antoinette's estate from £28, which also includes an audio guide.

Buy your tickets in advance

My advice is not to wait to buy your tickets at the ticket office, as you may have to wait a long time. To avoid this, I recommend buying your tickets in advance and choosing the specific time slot you want to visit, as this will save you time.

Versailles is a huge and spectacular place, you don't want to waste time queuing!

Yes, a guided tour of Versailles is highly recommended. The palace and gardens are so vast that the best way to visit them is with a guided tour. This ensures that you see the main attractions and also understand each piece of art and history that surrounds you.

Although you can visit Versailles on your own, doing so with a guide is an investment in culture and also in your experience. I'm sure you've often come back from a visit without really knowing what you've seen. Believe me, you don't want to return to Paris with that feeling, but with the certainty of having explored every last corner of Versailles.

What's more, by buying your ticket and booking your tour in advance, you'll avoid queuing at the ticket office and can make the most of your visit from the moment you arrive.

The ticket offices are located to the left of the Courtyard of Honour, which welcomes visitors to Versailles. There you can buy general admission tickets. The wait is approximately 40 minutes and the price is around £27. If you want to avoid queues, I recommend buying them in advance. That way, you won't have to wait your turn at the ticket office and you'll save almost an extra hour in line.

If you only want to buy a ticket to the Trianon Estate to visit the accommodation that Louis XIV built and which Marie Antoinette later enjoyed so much, you will need to go to the ticket counters at the small palace.

Once you have purchased your ticket at any of the ticket offices, you will need to go to Entrance A and wait for approximately one hour, as there are usually large crowds. If you want to avoid this wait, be sure to book a ticket with priority access (through Gate B), where the queue always moves faster (around 20 minutes' wait).

Yes, the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass include tickets to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. These passes are a great option if you want to skip the queues and secure your entry to most of Paris' tourist attractions.

Both options are a great idea, not only for visiting the Palace of Versailles without long waits, but also for visiting other museums in the French capital, such as the Louvre.

Paris Pass

The Paris Pass starts at around £77 (depending on the number of days you want) and, in addition to admission to museums and iconic Parisian landmarks, also includes a transport card so you can get around the city freely.

Paris Museum Pass

The Paris Museum Pass, starting at around £78, is the perfect card if you are passionate about museums and have a few on your list of things to do in Paris. Most Parisian museums have a specific queue for holders of this tourist pass, which is much faster than the general queue.

Versailles is a must-see if you're travelling to the French capital, so there are many connections that make it easy to get there from Paris. The fastest and cheapest option is undoubtedly the regional train (RER), which takes around half an hour and costs approximately £4 each way, although you have other options, such as private transport or car.

The latter two options are more exclusive, as you don't have to worry about timetables and you are dropped off directly at the entrance to Versailles, with no stops in between. However, they are slightly more expensive.

Tickets with transfers to Versailles from Paris

If you are sightseeing in Paris and want to forget about finding transport to Versailles, the most convenient option is to take one of the organised excursions from Paris to Versailles. As it is a very popular monument, all kinds of tours are organised to get there, some of which include a guided tour of the Palace and Gardens for around £80. This is definitely a highly recommended option.

Before arriving at Versailles, it is important to check the opening hours, as they vary depending on the time of year, and not all areas are open at the same times or every day.

• From 1 April to 31 October, the Palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. and the Gardens are open every day from 8 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
• From 1 November to 31 March, the Palace is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and the Gardens are open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I also recommend noting down the times when, during the spring and summer weekends, there is a beautiful show at the fountains in the Gardens, where lights, water and music will set the pace for your visit. You can check the times and days when the show takes place on the official website.

There is never enough time to see all of Versailles, but I recommend that you set aside at least a full day. When planning your trip to Versailles, keep in mind that if you have not purchased your tickets in advance or booked a tour, you will need about two hours to queue at the ticket office and gain access. Once you're inside, I recommend spending the rest of the morning at the Palace and, after lunch, strolling through the Gardens until it's time to return to Paris.

You will also need to factor in the time it takes to get there and back, which is approximately 40 minutes each way. Although it may seem like a long time to spend a whole day of your trip to Paris just at Versailles, I assure you that it will not be enough and you will want to come back a second time to see everything else there is to see.

The list of wonders you will find during your trip to Versailles is endless. The luxury, culture, nature and history hidden within the Palace and Gardens will leave you speechless. What should you not miss during your visit?

Without a doubt, touring the royal apartments of the Palace of Versailles will give you an idea of the luxury and wealth enjoyed by the French court during the time of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, but you must also visit the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the document that ended the First World War.

The palace is clearly a huge museum inside, but you'll see that the art continues when you step outside to stroll through the gardens, not only because of the vegetation, but also because of the sculptures and fountains.

I'm not going to lie to you, the day can be long for the youngest members of the family, although both the Palace and the Gardens are suitable for all ages, even if you are visiting Versailles with children.

If I may make a recommendation, organise your visit well so that the Palace tour is not too long, as it can be boring for children, and spend more time enjoying the Gardens, where they can run and play.

You probably already have most of your visit planned, but here are a few tips to make your visit to Versailles even better:

• It is best to buy your tickets in advance and choose the "skip the line" option, as there are long queues both at the ticket office and at the entrance.
• Bring your own food, as there are not many places to eat in Versailles, although if you prefer, here are some recommendations for eating in Versailles that I can recommend.
• Remember to check the opening hours of the Palace of Versailles and also those of the shows in the Gardens, as they vary depending on the day and time of year.
• You'll be doing a lot of walking, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes; you'll be glad you did at the end of the day.
• Versailles is a place steeped in history, so I recommend visiting with a specialist guide so you can not only see but also learn.

Have you got your ticket for Versailles yet? A world of kings, history and art is waiting for you there. Are you going to miss it?