As a tour guide in Paris, one of my favorite places to visit is the Palace of Versailles.
I love it so much that I wanted to write this post about how to visit the historic site.
In this post, I provide details on how to get tickets plus opportunities to save money on admission, and several opportunities to get Versailles tickets for free!
- Intro
- Free Admission
- Tickets & Deals
- Things to See
- Day Trips from Paris
- Things to See and Do
- Guide to Paris
INTRODUCTION TO VERSAILLES
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most spectacular landmarks in France, if not the world.
There's so much to see at this Palace, we've created this guide to help you plan your visit to this historic site.
In addition to tours of the main palace, there are the magnificent gardens of Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette's Estate, the Trianon palaces, the Queen's Hamlet, the Royal Chapel, the Royal Opera, the State Apartments, and more.
On select days, you can see the musical garden and fountain show in which the water performs a dance of sorts, synchronized to Baroque music. (See below for musical garden and fountain days for 2025).
For an in-depth look at what to expect of the sites at Versailles, see our post, Things to See and Do at Versailles.
No matter what you want to see while you’re here, chances are there’s a ticket that includes access to most locations of interest.
There is also a guided tour of Versailles and a self-guided tour available which provide a closer look at Versailles.
If you have a set budget, there are also several deals on tickets to the Versailles Palace and other activities which I will cover in our deals section.
VERSAILLES FREE ENTRY OPTIONS
If you're interested in getting Versailles tickets free, there are a few opportunities to visit the palace without paying anything for admission.
Free Sundays
From November to March, you can visit the Palace of Versailles on the first Sunday of every month for free.
This is a great way to save a few euros on tickets, but you should expect large crowds due to the generous offer.
International Visitors
If you're under the age of 18 and visiting from another country, you should be able to get into the palace for free using valid ID.
EU Visitors
European Union residents under the age of 26 are also welcome to visit for free, provided they bring their ID with them.
Special Needs Visitors
Disabled people and their aids accompanying them will be welcomed to visit for free, provided they have identification certifying their disability.
Visit the Palace Gardens for Free
Admission to the Palace Gardens and the Park with the Grand Canal, is free on most days, with the exception of dates with planned musical fountain shows. (See dates below).
Palace of Versailles Free Areas
The following areas of the palace are always free to visitors and do not require a ticket during daytime hours.
- The Coach Gallery
- The Estate of Marly
- The Royal Tennis Court
In addition to these opportunities, it should also be noted that all children under 10 are eligible to take the official tour of the palace for free as long as their parents also have a ticket.
Furthermore, children under 5 are always welcome in the gardens without a ticket.
It should also be noted that audio guides are free to borrow for all visitors over the age of 8.
TICKETS TO PALACE OF VERSAILLES
There are several different types of Versailles tickets, each of which gives you access to varying parts of the estate.
Some options include not just the Palace but admission to the gardens, the Marie Antoinette Estate, the Trianon Palaces, the Fountain Show, and more.
Though you can purchase tickets in person at the ticket office, it is often cheaper and much easier (no lines!) to buy them online in advance.
When you purchase admission before arrival, you can avoid the ticket queue, essentially making them skip-the-line Versailles tickets.
Each of the tickets you can purchase ahead of time comes with an audio guide.
Note that Versailles is closed on Mondays and you can find more details about availability below in our Versailles Hours section.
Palace of Versailles Entrance Ticket
- Audio guide for Palace of Versailles.
- Versailles Gardens.
- Temporary Exhibitions.
- Gallery of Coaches.
- Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery.
- Musical Fountains Show not included.
- From €19.50 per person
Passport Ticket
- Palace of Versailles audio guide.
- Versailles Gardens.
- Temporary Exhibitions.
- Gallery of Coaches.
- Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery.
- Musical Gardens of Versailles.
- Musical Fountains Show.
- Available for 1 or 2 days at a time.
- 1 Day: €28.50 per person
Palace, Gardens, Audio Guide & Fountain Show
- Includes entrance to the Palace of Versailles, the gardens, an audio guide and the musical fountain show.
- Does not include a ticket to Marie Antoinette Estate or Trianons.
- €30 per person
Marie Antoinette’s Estate and The Trianon Palaces
- An excellent addition to the basic ticket which provides access to additional sites in the area.
- Includes admission to the gardens and temporary exhibitions held in Grand Trianon.
- Does not include admission to the Palace of Versailles, the fountain show, or the garden show.
- €12 per person
Musical Gardens Ticket
- Only covers access to the Versailles Gardens.
- Does not include admission to the Palace or Trianon Palaces.
- €10 per person
- Dates for 2025:
- April 2nd - May 3rd
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- May 10th - June 28th
- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- July 2nd - October 31st
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- April 2nd - May 3rd
Musical Fountains Show Ticket
- Only covers access to the Musical Fountains Show
- Does not include admission to the Palace, Trianon Palaces, or the rest of the Versailles Gardens.
- €10.50 per person
- Dates for 2025:
- Saturday and Sunday
- March 30th - October 27th
- Tuesday
- May 7th - June 25th
- Saturday and Sunday
Versailles Hours
There are actually different opening hours for the various different areas of this estate, and I will break down the differences below.
Palace of Versailles Hours
- 9:00 am - 18:30 (6:30 pm)
- Closed on Monday
- Last admission at 18:00 (6 pm)
- Ticket office closes at 17:45 (5:45 pm)
Estate of Trianon Hours
- 12:00 pm - 18:30 (6:30 pm)
- Closed on Monday
- Last admission at 18:00 (6 pm)
- Ticket office closes at 17:50 (5:50 pm)
Gardens of Versailles Hours
- 8:00 am - 20:30 (8:30 pm)
- Open daily
- Last admission at 19:00 (7 pm)
Versailles Park Hours
- 7:00 am - 20:30 (8:30 pm)
- Open daily
- Last admission at 19:45 (7:45 pm)
Reduced Rates
Certain visitors are eligible for concessionary rates at the Palace of Versailles, the Trianon Estate, and Marie Antoinette’s Estate.
This concession is available for subscribers or ticket holders of the Arras Musée des Beaux-Arts, SoFNAM members, visitors with large family reduction cards, and anyone paying with a Chèques-Vacances.
The reduced rates are as follows:
- Palace of Versailles: €14.50 (€5 off)
- Palace of Trianon & Marie Antoinette’s Estate: €8 (€4 off)
Deal and Promo Sites
Check promo sites such as Groupon to see if they are currently offering any deals on either admission to the Palace of Versailles or day trips which include the attraction.
In addition to any concessions they may offer, these sites also frequently offer promo codes for an extra 10% - 20% off or more on local activities.
Before you make any purchases, check both the top and bottom of the page for any banners which may include promos you can use to save even more money!
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN VERSAILLES
There are a lot of interesting things to see and do at the Palace of Versailles and its surrounding estate. Here are some of the more interesting attractions:
- Versailles Palace
- Versailles Gardens
- Trianon Palaces
- Musical Gardens
- Musical Fountain Show
- Versailles Bike Tour
- Versailles Segway Tour
- Gallery of Coaches
- Equestrian Academy
- Versailles Hall of Mirrors
- And more!
For even more noteworthy sites and sounds, make sure to check our post covering things to do in Versailles.
There are several day trips available at and around Versailles that provide a compelling look at the historic location.
Some guided outings include transportation to and from the palace, so you don’t have to worry about paying for train or bus tickets.
Other guided excursions include additional activities such as breakfast or lunch at the palace, a look at some of the secret rooms of Versailles, bike rides, segway rides, and even an after-hours experience!
One of the best options is listed in our Versailles Palace tickets section above: Closing Time at Versailles.
Each of these outings includes transportation to and from Versailles Palace.
If you’re curious about some of these opportunities, please check this list of guided tours of Versailles for more details.
Directions to Versailles
If you choose to travel to the Château de Versailles on your own and not with a tour, it is easy to do.
From Paris, take the RER C line to the "Versailles Château Rive Gauche" stop, the closest of the three train stations near Versailles.
From the station, it is a 12-minute walk to the entrance to Versailles. (See this Google Map link for exact directions).
Find out more from our post, How to Get from Paris to Versailles by Train.
Musical Fountain dates
In 2025, the Musical Fountain Show takes place:
- Every Saturday and Sunday from March 30th to October 27th.
- Every Tuesday from May 7th - June 25th
- Plus: Friday March 29, Easter Monday April 1, Wednesday May 8 and Thursday May 9, Monday May 20, and Thursday August 15.
- Note that the Gardens close early at 5:30 p.m. on days of Night Fountains Shows from June to September..
Reddit Recommendations
If you're wondering whether it's worth it to visit just for the free Palace Gardens and other areas of the grounds, here's a reddit post from someone who did just that, along with their thoughts on the experience!
In addition to that post, I also found this one covering how to get tickets for free Sundays at the Palace of Versailles.
As they note, these tickets sell out fast and you'll need to plan months in advance if you want to take advantage of this deal.
