Where is Versailles?

Versailles is a beautiful town in the Île de France region of France. Located to the west of France, Versailles has a population of around 85,000 residents. The Palace itself was once home to between 1000 to 3000 people.

Things to do at Versailles Palace

There is perhaps no palace in the world that is quite as famous as that of Versailles, a French château just a short RER train ride from Paris. Best known for its status as a seat of royalty, over-the-top opulence, and of course, where the Sun King Louis XIV himself lived in the lap of luxury, Versailles started out life as a hunting lodge in the 17th-century. If you are looking for tickets you can find them here.

Château of Versailles

Of course, when it comes to visiting Versailles (be it as a day trip from Paris or a weekend escape from the city to explore the rest of the town), the main attraction of the city is the ornately decorated Versailles Palace.

Gardens of Versailles

The Le Notre designed gardens are worthy of a visit in themselves and if you venture to the Palace of Versailles on a Monday, they remain open to the public (despite the rest of the buildings being closed).

Grand Trianon

If you thought that the Palace at Versailles was stiflingly busy today, this is nothing in comparison to how it was during the reign of the French monarchy. After all, the main château of Versailles was conceived by the Sun King as a place where nobles would have to venture to with the specific goal of seeing the king.

Petit Trianon

While the King had the ‘Grand Trianon’ where he and his mistress of the time would retreat to, the Queen of the time would escape to the rather deceptively named ‘Petit Trianon’. Yes, admittedly it might be smaller than the nearby ‘Grand Trianon,’ but it’s still a mansion-sized palatial French château by any standards!

Hameau de la Reine

Somehow, many visitors manage to miss out on a trip into the ‘Hameau de la Reine‘ (Queen’s Hamlet) and the farm where Marie Antoinette would go with her ladies to play ‘dress up’ with her ladies in waiting. The elaborate buildings were extensively restored in the 1930s, and then again in the 1990s.

Practical tips and tricks for first-time visitors to Versailles

Pickpockets frequent the site due to the number of tourists and packed nature of the palace- watch your belongings at all times. This is true of both the palace itself, the town of Versailles, and of the RER train en route to the château.

Best time to visit Versailles Palace and Gardens

The Castle and grounds are closed on Mondays. Versailles busy times tend to be during peak season (i.e. during the summer months), during school holidays, and even on weekends during warm weather.

How much time do you need to visit Versailles?

Truth be told, one of the most important questions to consider before planning your day trip to Versailles is how long do you need to visit Versailles? After all, you’ll need to allocate time to visit the Château, accompanying buildings, and estate.

How to visit Versailles as a day trip from Paris (and plan your excursion in advance)

Although the castle is around 15 miles away from Paris, it is easily accessible by the RER line A from Invalides (there is also a metro station here). The journey takes about 50 minutes. Once in Versailles, there are clear directions pointing towards the palace (or you could simply follow the crowds)!

Thanks for reading.