Palace of Versailles

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Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France Website
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In short

About 20 km west of Paris, Versailles was the seat of the French court from 1682 until the Revolution, with the Hall of Mirrors, the Trianon and some 800 hectares of park. The Passport ticket, the only one with a timed palace slot, is €35 from April to October and €25 in winter. The palace opens 9 AM except Mondays. Give it a full day.

The Palace of Versailles is the former royal residence of the French kings, about 20 kilometres south-west of central Paris in the town of Versailles. Its State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the gardens by André Le Nôtre and the Trianon estate make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It suits first-time visitors to Paris who can give it a full day.

Louis XIII had a hunting lodge on the site. From the 1660s his son Louis XIV turned it into a vast palace, and on 6 May 1682 Versailles became the official seat of the court. It remained the centre of royal power until October 1789, when the royal family was forced to leave for Paris. After the Revolution the palace lost its role, and King Louis-Philippe saved it by turning much of it into a museum of French history, inaugurated on 10 June 1837. On 8 March 1979 the palace and park were among the first sites inscribed on the UNESCO list.

The Hall of Mirrors and its 357 mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is the room most people come for. Jules Hardouin-Mansart built it between 1678 and 1684 with the painter Charles Le Brun. It is about 73 metres long, with 17 arches holding 357 mirrors facing 17 windows over the gardens. The Treaty of Versailles was signed here on 28 June 1919. The King's and Queen's State Apartments, the Royal Chapel and the Royal Opera complete the main route.

Le Nôtre's gardens, the Grand Canal and Trianon

The estate covers about 800 hectares. Le Nôtre's formal gardens step down from the terraces in parterres and fountains to the Grand Canal, about 1.5 kilometres from the palace, where rowing boats can be hired. On Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days the gardens are charged, and summer evenings bring the Night Fountains shows. The Estate of Trianon lies about 2 kilometres into the park, with the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette's hamlet. The walk takes about 25 minutes.

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Château de Versailles

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Key information
🏛️Status: Palace and Park of Versailles, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979
👑History: Royal residence of Louis XIV from 1682 to the Revolution
🪞Icon: Hall of Mirrors with 357 mirrors
🌳Estate: About 800 hectares of gardens and park by André Le Nôtre
💰Currency: Euro (€ EUR)
🕕Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC+1; UTC+2 in summer)
🎧Audio guide: 1 language

Explore the area

View in a map
Trianon Palaces and the Queen's Hamlet 2 km in the park
Grand Canal 1.5 km
Royal Stables 300 m
Versailles Château Rive Gauche (RER C) 700 m
Paris 16 km
See all about this area
✦ This attraction is in high demand! Timed palace slots sell out: book ahead, especially weekends and Tuesdays
Highlights Include:
Palace
  • Hall of Mirrors
  • King's and Queen's State Apartments
  • Royal Chapel and Opera
Gardens
  • Le Nôtre's formal gardens
  • Musical Fountains shows
  • Grand Canal boating
Trianon
  • Grand Trianon
  • Petit Trianon
  • Queen's Hamlet
What They Offer
Passport ticket Whole estate with timed palace entry
Getting around Little train, bike and boat hire in the park
Audio guide Free app / audio guide
Visit duration A full day for the palace, gardens and Trianon
Timed entry required No

Accessibility

Lifts and accessible routes in the palace; the park has long gravel paths; electric vehicles can be hired. The palace has lifts and accessible routes.

Age limits

None.

What to pack

Timed ticket, comfortable shoes, water for the gardens

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes; comfortable shoes: the park paths are long and gravelled

Not allowed

Large bags and suitcases, food in the palace, touching furniture, drones

Amenities

Restaurants (including Ore by Alain Ducasse), cafés, cloakroom, restrooms, shops; electric vehicles for hire in the park; restaurants including Ore by Alain Ducasse; cafés and shops

Tips for visiting Palace of Versailles

  • Book a timed palace slot online in advance, especially in summer.
  • Visit the gardens and Trianon first, then the palace later in the afternoon.
  • Rent a bike or take the little train to cover the large park.
  • Check the Musical Fountains calendar, as garden entry is charged on show days.
  • Bring water and wear comfortable shoes for long walks.

Admission tickets

Prices and how to get tickets.

Book a timed slot online
Official entry ticket

Versailles: Passport Ticket

Official ticket for the whole estate with timed entry to the palace.

  • Palace (timed entry)
  • Trianon estate
  • Gardens and park
Ticket prices

Passport €35 (Apr–Oct) or €25 (Nov–Mar), the only ticket with a timed palace visit; late-afternoon Passport €28 from 4 PM (high season) or €18 from 3 PM (low season); Trianon €15 (2026). Gardens €15 on Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days in high season, free in low season. Free for under 18s and EEA residents under 26, who must still book a time slot online

Opening hours

Closed now · 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM · Last entry Palace: last admission 30 minutes before closing

All opening hours

Visitor policy

Check availability
Cancellation and prepayment
Tickets are generally non-refundable; check the museum's booking terms.
Children and admission
Under 18s and EU residents under 26 enter free.
Groups
Groups must book in advance with the museum.
Pets
Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Photography
Personal photography without flash is generally allowed in the permanent collection; some temporary exhibitions forbid it.
Bags
Large bags and suitcases must be left in the cloakroom or are refused; bags are checked at the entrance.
Smoking
Not permitted inside the museum.
Accepted payment
Online or at the ticket office by card. VISAMasterCardAMEX
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answers based on the Palace of Versailles's official information.

Booking

The Passport, covering the palace, the Trianon estate and the gardens, costs 35 euros from April to October and 25 euros from November to March in 2026. A Trianon ticket costs 15 euros, and palace entry uses timed slots.

Timing & weather

General