How long to tour Trianon at Versailles? (Paris Museum Pass-related Versailles questions)

Hi cjgwmn,

I hate, myself, reading all the details about tickets and such and am terrible about timing logistics (I use a lot of brain power refining my daily itineraries since I'm so bad with time), so I'll leave that to you and anyone else who loves that and is willing to answer.

I will tell you that I just read the Versailles section in the RS Paris Guidebook and he says to plan for 1.5 hours for EACH (Palace, Trianon and Gardens). So you're looking at 4.5 hours total just for the touring. The RS guidebook also has suggestions about the order depending on when you are wanting to arrive and the crowds.

Edit: you are correct, if you arrive at Versailles later, then RS does recommend the Trianon first.

And just so you know....the 4-day pass is actually for 96 hours. SO...if your first museum entry is at say noon on Day 1 your pass will actually last until 11:59 on Day 5.

The last time I went to Versailles you didn't need timed entries to the Trianon so I don't have information on that. I'd try to get there as early as you can from your Paris accommodations. I'm an early bird so I'd try to be on the train to Versailles by 8A. Stop at the McDonald's across from the train station for a cup of coffee if you have extra time and they will give you a number code to access the bathrooms there.

You don't say when you are going but to me the Palace gets very hot - too many people, no air flow - so I want to be out of there by late morning, then maybe a bite for lunch and on to the Trianon and gardens. ALSO, make sure you are pickpocket proof in the Palace. When I was there on a RS tour, we had a local guide and had the whisper sets. I saw the local guide be stopped by the security guard in one of the smaller rooms, talk for a moment then move away. She then said thru the earpieces for us to be wary as the guard thought there were pickpockets working the room and to protect belongings. I'd solve this by having anything of value in a moneybelt which is not accessed in public. -->safety lecture over, lolol!!

Until March 31st, the Estate of Trianon is open from 12.00pm – 5.30pm. But starting April 1st, the Estate of Trianon opens 10.00 am – 6.30pm. Only the palace entry needs a time indicated, but the Trianon does not. Maybe you can start at the Gardens at 8 (if you add €10 for it), Trianon at 10, and then the Palace for the rest of the day until 6.30 pm? Some suggest to take the little train, instead of walking back to the palace.

The Paris Museum Pass does not grant admission to the Gardens on Musical Fountains show and Musical Gardens (during the High Season which starts March 29 to October 31 this year), so you might only need to add The Musical Gardens ticket at €10 for the full price and only if you wish, in addition to booking a free timed entry "Palace Ticket" and "Estate of Trianon Ticket" online. 

The Trianon won't require a timed entry and has never been crowded when we are there. I think it is not a must do.

If you are there on a fountain day (I think the garden is only worth a visit when the fountains are running) then be aware that the fountains only run for about 90 minutes in the morning and again a couple of hours in the afternoon. I would not book the Chateau at 10 if you want to see the gardens, but do them mid morning and then the chateau mid day -- have lunch and then do the Trianon and come back when the fountains are running in the afternoon. You can enter the gardens twice on a fountain day with your garden ticket if you use two different entrances e.g. we entered to the right of the chateau and exited at the base of the gardens, then re-entered at the garden entrance. There are restaurants and such just outside the garden near the canal.