Palace of Versailles: tickets, opening hours and what to see in the halls and park
The Palace of Versailles is closed on Mondays and only admits visitors by timed entry slots. Below is verified practical information: what to see in the halls and the park, how much a ticket costs in 2026, and how to avoid standing in line for half a day.
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Palace of Versailles: key visit information
💡 In short:
- The palace and the Trianon are open every day except Monday, and entry is by fixed time slot.
- The Passport gives you a palace time slot and opens up the entire estate.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the palace's official website.
At Versailles you are not looking at a single museum with halls, but an entire palace and park estate. Allow half a day for the palace, and set aside the same amount of time for the gardens and the Trianon. The logic of the visit is simple: arrive at opening time, tour the palace by time slot, and only then head out to the park.
In winter the gardens are free, while in summer you pay for them on fountain show days. Morning slots get booked up in advance, so in high season a Tuesday will suit you better than a Saturday.
History of Versailles
It all started with hunting. Louis XIII often spent time in the forests around the village of Versailles, and in 1623 he ordered a small hunting lodge built there. This modest house was a long way from being a royal residence (as of 09/2026, official website).
© ToucanWings · CC BY-SAPhoto: ToucanWings, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe real history of Versailles began under Louis XIV. In 1661 the Sun King launched a reconstruction project to outdo the chateau of his minister Nicolas Fouquet near Paris. The gardens were entrusted to André Le Nôtre, already known for Vaux-le-Vicomte, and marshland was drained for the park. By 1682 the court had moved to Versailles, and the village became the center of the kingdom.
To the forty-year-old king, the palace felt cramped. The architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart added two long wings, raised the floors, and placed the royal bedroom on the second floor. He closed off the famous Hall of Mirrors with the War and Peace Salons. After this reconstruction the building became grand, and the palace and park finally balanced each other.
The construction bills survive to this day. The palace was built as a demonstration of the monarch's power, and you will feel that scale already in the first enfilade.
State apartments and the Hall of Mirrors
The Hall of Mirrors is considered the palace's main room. Seventeen large mirrors stand opposite seventeen windows, with a row of gilded chandeliers and stucco work running between them. In 1919 it was here that the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which defined the postwar map of Europe.
© Myrabella · CC BY-SAPhoto: Myrabella, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsYou look at each room as a separate stage set. The ceilings and walls are covered with wood carving, marble, frescoes, and sculptures. The palace has a chapel in white-and-gold baroque style and an opera house with an oval auditorium.
In the queen's apartments every inch is covered in gilding. The center of the palace was not a throne room but the royal bedroom: the most important decisions were made there. Take a morning slot and go straight to the gallery, while there are still few people in front of the mirrors.
Park, fountains, and the Grand Canal
The park of Versailles stretches over hundreds of hectares. Along the Grand Canal there are neatly trimmed trees, and at sunset the sun reflects in the water. You walk through the gardens for half a day and do not notice how the time has flown.
© Basile Morin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsIn the park, the fountains are the main draw. They do not run every day: in high season they are turned on to music on Musical Gardens and Grandes Eaux show days (as of 09/2026, official website). On those days garden entry is paid; the rest of the time you can walk around for free. On summer Saturday evenings there are light shows with fireworks here.
Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon
On the other side of the palace stand the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon. The word "Trianon" once meant a small villa for relaxation. Louis XIV built the Grand Trianon from pink marble as a single-story pavilion in the Italian style, to escape palace ceremony.
© Antony-22 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Antony-22, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe Petit Trianon was built in 1762-1768 on the orders of Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later the pavilion became a favorite place of Marie Antoinette, who was also seeking seclusion. You go here after the palace, and both pavilions open at noon, so do not leave them for early morning.
The Queen's Hamlet at Versailles
Behind the Petit Trianon you will find a real village. Marie Antoinette set up the Queen's Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine) by a pond, with a dairy farm, a mill, and thatched cottages. This is not a stage set but a working farm, where the queen played at simple life. The hamlet is included in the Passport ticket and opens at noon.
© Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia · CC BYPhoto: Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsTickets and opening hours
The palace opens at nine in the morning, the Trianon at noon, and last entry is about an hour before closing (as of 09/2026, official website).
Ticket | High season, April 1 - October 31 | Low season, November 1 - March 31 |
|---|---|---|
Passport, regular price | 35 € | 25 € |
Passport for EEA citizens and residents | 32 € | 22 € |
Gardens | paid on show days | free |
Check prices on the official ticket page (as of 09/2026, official website).
Both the Passport and the palace-only ticket come with a fixed entry time. The Passport includes the palace, the Trianon, the Queen's Hamlet, the park, and temporary exhibitions. EEA citizens and residents get a three-euro discount with proof of status. Buy your tickets online so you don't have to wait at the ticket office.
© iMahesh · CC BY-SAPhoto: iMahesh, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe ticket search form below makes it easy to see available entry times and prices.
Tours and tickets in Versailles
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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How to get there from Paris
The easiest way is to take the RER C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. From the station you walk through the center of Versailles straight to the main entrance (as of 09/2026, directions map).
© Remontees · CC BY-SAPhoto: Remontees, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThere are other options too. Trains from Montparnasse and Saint-Lazare stations arrive at Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite stations, and a bus runs from Pont de Sèvres metro station to Place d'Armes. By car, take the A13 motorway; parking is available at Place d'Armes.
For train schedules and tickets to Versailles, check Trip.com: Paris - Versailles train tickets.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
What days is the Palace of Versailles closed?
The palace and the Trianon are closed on Mondays. On other days, entry is by fixed time slot, which you select when buying your ticket. The park and gardens are open daily, but on fountain show days garden entry is paid. Check the official website before your visit for holiday exceptions.
How much does a ticket to Versailles cost in 2026?
A passport costs €35 in high season and €25 in low season (as of 09/2026, official website). For EEA citizens and residents, the price is three euros lower. In summer, the gardens are paid only on fountain show days (as of 09/2026, official website).
How to get to Versailles from Paris?
The easiest route takes you to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station on RER line C. From the station, you walk to the palace through the city center. There are also trains from Montparnasse and Saint-Lazare stations and a bus from Pont de Sèvres metro station.
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?
Yes, book your palace entry time slot in advance. In high season, convenient morning slots go first. Buying online on the official website saves you time at the ticket office.
How much time should I allow for Versailles?
The palace rooms take about half a day, and you should set aside about the same for the park with fountains and the Trianon. In a full day, you can comfortably see the palace, the gardens, and the Queen's Hamlet. Arrive at opening time; by lunchtime the Hall of Mirrors is already crowded.
Palace of Versailles on video and on the map
An aerial overview helps you understand the layout of the ensemble before your trip. The video below shows Versailles in high season, when the fountains are running.
The map shows the palace's location in the city. The palace stands in the western part of Versailles, with the main entrance on Place d'Armes, so from the station you walk straight to it.
Palace of Versailles in France
Places on the map
- Palace of Versailles Palace and park ensemble, Hall of Mirrors, Grand and Petit Trianon
In short: what to book
If you are visiting Versailles for the first time, get the Passport with a morning time slot. In high season, check the fountain schedule in advance so you can catch the Grand Water Show.
- You only need the palace: book a nine a.m. slot and allow half a day for the state rooms.
- You are going for the whole day: the Passport plus a walk to the Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet.
- You want a guided tour: Versailles tours on GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.