Day tour of Versailles from Paris

Most tours there are only 1/2 days so too rushed to really enjoy entire estate . Most of us just take train and go there ourselves ( train is less that 8 euros return per person ) -

To skip lines and get a nice behind the scenes tour ( smaller groups that get to go into areas of Chateau closed to general public ) look directly on the Versailles official website .

Do not arrive without tickets in hand unless you like waiting in long lines .

Get timed entry tickets and just do it on your own. It is easy to manage.

Like Pat, my husband and I just took a train to the nearest stop and walked from there. We had the Paris Museum Pass (because we love museums) so we skipped the ticket-buying line but I've heard there's no skipping the security line (maybe there's a different security line for those with a tour booked with the palace?). In late April we toured the gardens in the morning, visited the Grand Trianon when it opened at noon, ate lunch at the Petit Trianon, and toured the palace at around 3 pm when the security line was pretty short.

Most tours...only 1/2 days so too rushed to really enjoy...just take train and go...( train is less that 8 euros return per person ) -To skip lines and get a nice behind the scenes tour...look directly on the Versailles official website. Do not arrive without tickets in hand unless you like waiting in long lines.

Listen to Pat -- she speaks pearls of wisdom.

Or take a guided tour of the chateau and then visit the gardens on your own. Best of both worlds and you can linger in the gardens if you wish, or head back to Paris when you are ready. Your daughter might enjoy a boat ride on the Grand Canal and will most likely enjoy the Trianons and Hamlet. Or rent bikes to tour the gardens.

We are going in MAy. I bought a Versailles Palace skip the lIne small group tour. We meet up with the guide in PAris, take the train together, skip the line, take a tour of the palace and then are let go with with a return train ticket in hand. I thought this was the best case scenario, a half day tour and then we can explore the rest of the grounds on our own at our leisure. I am not sure the rules of stating who I booked through, if that is ok I will.

I have done the tour with Fat Tire several times where you take the train together out to Versailles, get fitted with a bike, go to a market to buy your picnic, ride all around the gardens with stops, then have a picnic. Finally you turn in your bike and tour the Chateau and you are on your own to take the train back at your leisure. I love the bike ride and picnic in the gardens. I have also been without a tour on multiple occasions and every time the time spent in the gardens, the hameau and the trianons is my favorite part of the visit.

We took the Private Apartments of the King’s tour at Versailles and absolutely loved it. They’re currently offering a similar tour, see here.

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