Day trip to Versailles Suggestion on Which timeslot to book?

Hi Jeff, book the first time available. Last trip we arrived before it opened and were among the first few people to enter. We went straight to the Hall of Mirrors and got some great photos. The palace and grounds get very crowded as the day goes on. Don’t miss Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet.

Thanks for the suggestion I was thinking either booking first time slot or perhaps later in the afternoon and enjoying the gardens first...

I agree that the first slot is the best. I hoofed it up to the Hall of Mirrors and I was the ONLY one there. Incredible.

Also, the Trianon palaces don't open until noon, so you can do the chateau as soon as it opens, then do the gardens, followed by the Trianon.

I was there on 6/11 and I would say as early as you can manage. I booked a 10:30am slot, since I had to pick up a rental car and drive out from Paris. The lines were not bad at all that time of day but the Palace was already very crowded. I cannot say if the crowd inside the Palace dissipates by late afternoon since we did the Palace first and then explored the gardens until we were ready to leave, but the lines to get into the Palace were 2-3x longer when we were walking out in the afternoon versus what they had been in the morning.

I booked the first slot based on everyone's suggestions. How early do you recommend getting to Versailles (9:00 ticket time) 8:30 to be safe?

Next question we are going to take the train from Charles de Gaulle - Etoile. Rome2Rio shows two routes RER L via La Défense and the C line with a transfer from Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel.

I am leaning towards taking the A line to La Défense then catching the RER L. Can I purchase one ticket at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile that will cover the RER L? I know i will need to purchase a zone 4 ticket but I dont think I exit the turn styles in La Défense

I think it is best to go on a fountain day; the gardens are not interesting when the fountains are not running IMHO

So I would book a palace entry for 1 and come in the morning for the fountains, get lunch and then do the palace. IMHO if you do the palace and the garden, the Trianon is overkill -- Just more gilded rooms like all the others. The Fountains run for about 90 minutes in the morning so find out what time, factor in time for lunch (there are easy restaurants just beyond the bottom gate of the gardens by the canal) and then book the palace entry (it is a long walk from the bottom of the garden to the entrance to the palace, so factor in a half hour for that in your planning.)

If you don't go on a fountain day, then get an early entry and do the Trianon and Hameau in the afternoon -- they don't open till then.