The Chateau de Versailles dominates any visit to this town 20 km southwest of Paris, but there is far more to see than the palace. The estate covers over 800 hectares of gardens, two smaller palaces (Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon), Marie Antoinette’s hamlet, and the town of Versailles itself has several worthwhile museums, a historic market, and excellent restaurants. Most visitors spend 4 to 6 hours; a thorough exploration of the full estate can fill an entire day. For help planning when to visit, check our best time to visit Versailles guide.
Things to Do in Versailles: The Palace Interior
The Hall of Mirrors
The 73-meter-long gallery connecting the King’s and Queen’s Apartments is the palace’s most famous room. Seventeen arched mirrors face seventeen windows overlooking the gardens, with crystal chandeliers and painted ceiling panels by Charles Le Brun depicting the reign of Louis XIV. The Hall of Mirrors gets packed by 10:30 AM; the first 90 minutes after the 9:00 AM opening are the quietest. The Treaty of Versailles was signed here in 1919. Restoration work completed in 2007 restored the mirrors to their original brilliance. Entry is included in the Passport ticket (€21.50).
The King’s State Apartment
Seven linked rooms named after classical gods (Hercules, Venus, Diana, Mars, Mercury, Apollo) served as the public face of the monarchy. Each room features marble walls, gilded ceilings, and paintings commissioned from the best artists of 17th-century France. The Hercules Salon contains Veronese’s massive painting ‘The Meal at the House of Simon’ (originally painted for a Venetian convent in 1570). The Apollo Room, the throne room, has the most opulent ceiling and a silver throne replica. All rooms are on the standard visitor route. Budget roughly 45 minutes for this section.
The Royal Chapel
Completed in 1710, this two-story Gothic-influenced chapel was where Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette in 1770. The organ, built by Clicquot in 1711, is still used for concerts. The chapel is at the beginning of the visitor route; pause here before entering the State Apartments because the crowds thin out and the morning light through the tall windows is at its best. Free organ recitals occur on select Saturday afternoons; check the schedule at the information desk.
Things to Do in Versailles: Gardens and Park
The Formal Gardens (Andre Le Notre)
Andre Le Notre designed the gardens between 1661 and 1700, creating the defining example of the French formal garden style. Geometric parterres, 400 sculptures, 1,400 fountains, and a 1.6 km Grand Canal form the backbone of the design. The gardens are free on days without the Musical Fountains Show (typically weekdays except Tuesdays when the palace is closed). On Musical Fountains Show days, garden entry costs €10.50 and the fountains are choreographed to Baroque music. The Orangerie at the south end houses over 1,000 citrus trees in winter, some dating to the 17th century.
Grand Canal and Boating
The cross-shaped Grand Canal stretches 1.6 km from the palace terrace. From April to October, you can rent rowboats for €17 per hour (seats 4) from the Petit Venise landing stage at the east end. It is a 20-minute walk from the palace. Bicycles are permitted on the surrounding paths. The canal freezes occasionally in winter, but ice skating is not officially permitted. Pack a picnic and eat on the grass beside the canal; there are no food vendors along the water, so stock up at the Marché Notre-Dame in town before walking over.
The Estate of Trianon
Two smaller palaces sit northwest of the main chateau, included in the Passport ticket. The Grand Trianon, built in 1687 in pink marble, was Louis XIV’s private retreat from court ceremony. Napoleon later used it as a country residence. The Petit Trianon, given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI in 1774, is a neoclassical chateau where the queen escaped royal protocol. The Queen’s Hamlet behind it is a faux-rustic village with a working farm, mill, and dairy built between 1783 and 1787. Budget 2 hours minimum for all three; they are a 25-minute walk from the palace or accessible via the Little Train (€8.50 round trip).
Things to Do in Versailles: Town Attractions
Marché Notre-Dame
The covered market in the Notre-Dame neighborhood has been operating since the 17th century. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with a smaller session Tuesday and Friday afternoons. The best stalls include cheese from Beillevaire (try the Brie de Meaux, €4.50 for 200g), rotisserie chickens from the corner butcher, and fresh oysters from the fishmonger (€8 per dozen). This is the place to assemble a picnic for the palace gardens. The surrounding square has several cafes and bakeries; La Flottille near the Grand Canal end of the gardens is a 15-minute walk.
Lambinet Museum
Housed in an 18th-century mansion at 54 Boulevard de la Reine, the Lambinet Museum covers the history of Versailles beyond the palace. Collections include Revolutionary-era artifacts, 18th-century furniture, and paintings of the town before the Revolution. The apothecary room preserves a complete 18th-century pharmacy. Entry costs €6 (free on the first Sunday of the month). Closed Mondays. Budget one hour. It is a 10-minute walk from the palace gates and significantly less crowded than anything on the estate.
Salle du Jeu de Paume
The Royal Tennis Court (literally the ‘room of the palm game’) at 1 Rue du Jeu de Paume is where representatives of the Third Estate took the famous Tennis Court Oath on June 20, 1789, pledging not to disband until France had a constitution. The hall is free to enter and takes about 15 minutes. It is a five-minute walk from the palace. A simple room with a single painting and plaques explaining the event, but a significant historical stop for anyone interested in the French Revolution.
Potager du Roi (King’s Kitchen Garden)
Created between 1678 and 1683 to supply the court with fresh produce, the King’s Kitchen Garden at 10 Rue du Marechal Joffre still operates as a working garden and horticultural school. The 9-hectare walled garden grows over 400 varieties of fruit trees and seasonal vegetables. Entry costs €5 (free for under 12s). Open April through October, Tuesday to Sunday. It is a 15-minute walk from the palace. The garden shop sells produce, jams, and apple juice made on site. Guided tours run Saturday afternoons and cost €8.
Things to Do in Versailles: Nearby Day Trips
Paris by RER C
The RER C train connects Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station to central Paris in 35 minutes (stops at Champ de Mars/Eiffel Tower, Saint-Michel/Notre-Dame, and Invalides). Trains run every 15 minutes on weekdays. A one-way ticket from Paris costs €4.95. The last train back to Paris departs around midnight. This makes Versailles a practical base for exploring Paris without paying Paris hotel rates. The Versailles travel tips guide has detailed transport information.
Rambouillet Forest and Chateau
Twenty-five kilometers southwest of Versailles, the Rambouillet Forest covers 200 square kilometers of hiking and cycling trails. The Chateau de Rambouillet, a former presidential summer residence, sits at the edge of the forest. The Bergerie Nationale (National Sheepfold) on the grounds has been breeding Merino sheep since 1786. Entry to the chateau costs €9.50. Train from Versailles Chantiers to Rambouillet takes 20 minutes and costs €5.
For the full calendar of seasonal events including the Fountains Night Show and Christmas markets, see our Versailles events and festivals guide.
