Many questions about visiting Versailles

Here is the website where you can read FAQ and plan your visit buy tickets etc,
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit

The crowds will be huge so I would be there two minutes after the doors open. The crowds and lines along with the heat will only increase during the day. Visiting the gardens and the other outlying buildings will be more pleasant later in the day. It will take ten to fifteen minutes depending on the train station used to get to the palace.

The palace is not air conditioned and will be crowded and hot..

Arrive at 830 and get in the line for Security.. ( since you will have a ticket or the Paris Museum pass already ) .. it opens at 9.. this way you are first wave in.. and may actually enjoy the experience.. ( note I love Versailles and have visited it many many times over the decades.. but last 5 years or so have really started to suck.. they do no admission control .. you are literally elbow to elbow now with people and the heat and crowds can be very unpleasant )

The gardens and other buildings are never over crowded .. so you can enjoy them at your leisure rest of the day.. dont skip visiting marie Antionettes Hamlet.. and when you visit the Grand Trianon go behind it into its gardens.. the view of the canal of the palace is striking.

The fountains are a bit of a pain in the butt.. you have to pay attention to the schedule they give you .. the fountains do not all work at once.. and they only work for about 10 -20 minutes before they are off.. and so you have to rotate around to see all of them.. they dont play all the time.. every hour or two. .( think it was two cant remember. I avoid fountain days.. have only done it once)

You might consider the King’s apartment tour for an additional 7 euro pp. We bought our tickets online a day or two in advance (we visited in late August). Dedicated entry time and a comfortable waiting room until your group is called. All seamless, much easier we thought. At the tour end, you are deposited in or near the Hall of Mirrors and rejoin the scrum. Well worth it we thought. We have visited Versailles several times, and this was the best visit. The fountains were never a priority for us, we spent several hours walking the vast grounds, almost the whole day I’d guess. Safe travels.

For my last visits I have gotten in line by 08:10, I was 3rd & 5th in line. Once inside I headed straight to the Hall of Mirrors, there are signs posted in French, but you will understand it. Took great pictures of the Hall with only security personnel around, then headed back towards the entrance/beginning and began my walk through. I'll be doing the same next year with my friends.
Enjoy your trip.

I avoid fountain days as well. Did it once and it was awful (for us). They play blaringly loud Classical music on a very bad sound system and the gardens are wayyy more crowded. I love Versailles but not on fountain days.

Renting bikes by the Grand Canal is the best, and fun, way to visit the Hamlet, the Petit Trianon and the Grand Trianon imo.

Thanks everyone for your valuable advises,
will consult with DW and see if we can adjust our plan and go on Wednesday or Thursday instead.

Much appreciated.
Thx again.
Louie

louie .. just be aware that in july even wed and thurs will be crowded and busy so do arrive BEFORE opening.. or purchase the Kings Apartment tour that gets you a timed entry.. they sell out fast so look for your dates to come available and snap them up as soon as listed

Thanks Pat,
Yes we realized that July is definitely not the perfect time, it is the only time that school is off....
On the same issue, is there anywhere other than Versailles that we could consider?

We already have all the major points covered within the city. Even the Monet's garden outside of Paris.
Thx.

Louie

Pat is right and her advice is good. I think Wed/Thurs are your best bets for July. Better than other days, and much better than a fountain day.

I love Versailles but my other favorite is Vaux le Vicomte. It’s in RS Paris guide along w instructions how to get there. It’s easy and much less crowded than Versailles.

Hi Susan,
Vaux le Vicomte sounds perfect, and there's even a direct shuttle bus (Paris Vision) to get there and back.
going to do a bit of research now.
There's a Paris Vision shuttle to Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau, 9 hours, total. Is it too much to do in one day in relax pace?

Much thanks.

Louie

I love Vaux and I really enjoyed Fontainebleau (all places more enjoyable if you know its history) but I wouldn’t want to do both in one day. I like to go slowly and absorb it all. I would not pay the cost for Paris Vision or want to be on their timetable. Vaux is easy by RER then a taxi. The chateau, the grounds, the café there and the gift shop are all so fun, I vote for going on your own, taking your time, and really enjoy it.

thanks. I think Vaux it is. Probably on a weekday.

louie, you’ll really enjoy it, it’s wonderful.
If you ever come back and have a chance to go to Versailles, not in summer, you’ll love it. Versailles in the summer is a challenge. Picture Disneyland on the most crowded day of the year.

This thread has such useful info! I'm glad the OP posted it..... I will be printing this info for our September visit. Thanks for everyone's advice!

My husband and I will be going in October. WE have never been trying to figure out how to plan a day there

dog, RS Paris guide explains it all very well.

I just got a copy of RS Paris 2018. So many helpful tips. I just hope that by the time we get there (July) all the strikes are over. We're there 20 years ago and missed the Louvre due to strike, almost missed our return flight due to transit strike as well.

:-)

Has anyone visited Versaille in May? Or the Louve when open late until 9:45 pm?

Demi, I’ve been to the Louvre many times on a late night... it’s the best time to go imo. Getting there around 6:00 is ideal for me.

Versailles is wonderful in May. Will be lots of people but much better than in summer.

Thank you Susan 😀

Have fun Demi!