Ah, Versailles. Now there’s a place that knows how to flaunt its grandeur. It’s no wonder it’s a top spot near Paris. The real question is: do you want to wander through its opulence solo, or do you want to soak it all in with a passionate guide who can really bring the history to life? If you’re leaning towards the latter (and trust me, you should), then check out some of the best tours of the Palace of Versailles. You won’t regret it.
Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to Versailles Palace? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Versailles for more planning resources, our top Versailles tours for a memorable trip, and if a Versailles tour is worth it.
Did you know that Versailles isn’t just a palace, but a whole town? And that the palace grounds stretch over 3.1 square miles, boasting 2,300 rooms? If that sounds overwhelming, don’t sweat it—let a local guide show you the ropes and help you make the most of your day trip.
Our tours come with skip-the-line tickets, so you can dive straight into the magic. Plus, you can choose whether to explore the stunning gardens or the opulent palace itself. And the best part? Our most popular tours leave right from Paris, so you can kick back and leave the logistics to us. Keep reading to find the perfect Versailles tour for you.
During peak season, up to 27,000 visitors a day attempt to visit the palace, resulting in tremendously long lines. If you have limited time and want to see the very best the palace has to offer at a great value, then this tour is for you. It starts right at the edge of the Palace of Versailles, so you can simply meet your guide and group and off you go!
This tour also includes skip-the-line tickets, which means you’ll bypass that super-long line of tourists. Follow your expert guide, who knows exactly which rooms are worth spending more (or less) time in to maximize your visit. You’ll have plenty of time in the jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors, of course.
Gardens of Versailles
If you would like to extend your stay, you’ll have the option to purchase entry to the magnificent gardens on site. This gives you the opportunity to spend as much time as you like in the meticulously landscaped grounds featuring beautiful fountains, statues, and geometric flower beds.
Highlights
2 Hours
Skip-the-Line entry to Palace of Versailles
Guided tour
Option to purchase Gardens of Versailles entry on site
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Versailles Guide for more resources.
2. Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris
Round-trip Transportation from Paris
This tour takes all the hassle out of planning how to get to Versailles. Meet our local guide in the center of Paris and board the train towards the ideal stop for the Palace of Versailles. You’ll have round-trip tickets so you can return to Paris anytime after your tour ends.
Palace of Versailles
The lines at Versailles are notoriously long. Thankfully, you’ll have skip-the-line tickets that let you bypass the hoards of other tourists who will wait for hours just to get inside. Thanks to your headphones, you’ll be able to hear your guide as you navigate through the accessible areas of the palace. There are 2,300 rooms here, but you won’t have to wander through them all!
Gardens and Trianon Estate
Your guide will lead you through the ticket booth and into the famous gardens of Versailles. Hear a brief overview of how these gardens came to be and what to explore here. You’ll be free to wander the gardens on your own, and your tickets even include entry to the Petite and Trianon Estates, where King Louis XIV often used to escape his larger palace.
Highlights
3 hours (plus travel time)
Round-trip transportation by train from Paris to Versailles
Skip-the-line entrance to the Palace of Versailles
Guided tour of the palace
Introduction to the gardens
Optional free time to explore the gardens and Trianon Estate
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Versailles Guide for more resources.
3. Versailles Bike Tour From Paris
The best tours remove all the complex logistics of getting into Europe’s mega-monuments or offer an experience that would only be possible with local knowledge and a guide’s expertise. The great tours do both! This is a great tour.
This is an exciting way to explore one of Paris’ most beautiful palaces. Join this unforgettable, guided bike tour of Versailles’ top sights! Cruise from an outdoor market to the Queen’s Hamlet, enjoy a picnic lunch on the Grand Canal, and visit the Grand Trianon.
Cap off your exploration with a visit inside the royal palace! Roundtrip trains from Paris, bicycle and helmet rentals, and entrance tickets are included, so all you need to do is enjoy the adventure!
Highlights
Friendly, local guide
Bike rental with helmets
Two-seater children’s trailers if needed
Roundtrip train from Paris
Visit Versailles’s outdoor market for Parisian picnic supplies (bring extra cash for purchases)
Free time in Grand Trianon
Tour inside the Hamlet
Entry into the Chateau de Versailles to explore on your own
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Versailles Guide for more resources.
4. Versailles Gardens Tour from Paris with Skip the Line Palace Access
Round-trip Transportation from Paris
When you’re staying in Paris, you don’t want to have to worry about how to get all the way out to Versailles to see the gardens. That’s why we’ve taken care of the round-trip transportation from central Paris on this tour. Just meet your guide and small group, hop aboard the train, get off at the ideal stop, then head to the palace.
Gardens and Trianon Estate
This tour makes sure you get to explore the best of the Gardens of Versailles. If nature’s beauty is what really thrills you, then a guided tour of the perfectly planned gardens designed by then-famous André Le Nôtre. Your garden tickets also include access to the Petite and Trianon Estates, which are other popular spots to visit here.
Palace of Versailles
After the guided garden tour, you’ll head to the ostentatious palace where your guide will share the most fascinating facts and stories about its creation and those who lived there. You’ll see long lines of people waiting to get in, but this tour includes skip-the-line tickets so you don’t waste any time getting in to explore on your own. Feel free to wander through the palace at your own pace.
Highlights
3 hours (plus travel time)
Round-trip transportation from Paris (usually train)
5. Private Golden Versailles Palace and Garden Tour
Round-trip Transportation from Paris
A private tour of Versailles is the way to go. Start in central Paris where your private guide will escort you onto the right train and off at the exactly right stop at Versailles. It’s about 40 minutes outside of the city, so leaving the details to your guide makes this day stress-free.
Palace of Versailles
The crowds at Versailles are notorious, but booking this private tour ensures two things: you’ll skip past the lines and enter quickly, and you’ll be able to interact closely with your private guide despite the crowds. They’ll know just where to take you to find a quieter space to talk about what you’re seeing. And if you want more time in a certain area, like the Hall of Mirrors, just let them know!
Gardens and Trianon Estate
The beauty of the gardens at Versailles almost rivals the beauty within the palace. These impeccable gardens are still well-maintained and worth exploring. Your private guide will talk about the incredible undertaking of planning and constructing these gardens. And you’re free to explore them and the Trianon Estate with your entry ticket here.
Highlights
3 hours (plus travel time)
Round-trip transportation from Paris (usually by train)
6. Monet’s House and Palace of Versailles Day Trip
Roundtrip Train Journey
Ready to dive into the tranquil realm of Impressionist genius Claude Monet and explore the stunning Palace of Versailles, but don’t have the time to sort out transport, tours, and tickets? We’ve got you covered. Our day trip from Paris is designed for you, complete with skip-the-line access, so you can soak up the grandeur without the hassle. Plus, our expert guides will spice up your experience with captivating tales from history. Just sit back and let us take care of everything!
Highlights:
10-hour tour
Entrance tickets and reservation fees for the Château de Versailles and Gardens
Entrance fee to Monet’s house and gardens
Headsets, when required, to better hear your guide
Should You Take a Tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens?
The Palace of Versailles is a jaw-dropping masterpiece of extravagance that’ll leave you in awe. There’s a world to discover within its walls, but trust me—you’ll miss out on the juicy stories, stunning art, and scandalous history without a knowledgeable guide by your side.
It’s a bit of a trek from Paris, so you’ll want to plan ahead. Why hassle with the details when you can book an all-inclusive trip that skips the lines and gets you straight into the heart of this incredible palace? Don’t just take my word for it—check out our 5-star reviews and see what everyone’s raving about!
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Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.
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