We will be visiting Versailles on a Saturday at the end of April. We're going on Saturday so we can see the fountain shows, and we plan to stay all day. I'm confused with the massive amount of advice about the best time to go. If both RS and the Versailles website tell people to come early or late, doesn't that result in increased crowds at those times? And if there are timed entries, why does it matter? After all, it's not as if I expect to see the Hall of Mirrors all by myself.
Posted by
Mayberry on the Willamette
321 posts
We went early....to the gardens. When we walked in about 10:30 am the line was very long. I bet over an hour. We walked into the gardens & Trianon. Toured them, then went to the palace about 2:00 pm. No line. I had to fumble to pull up my ticket for the scanner it was so fast. We probably finished about 4:00 pm. We were wiped out by then. The gardens are yuge. I think we used the petite train to get back to Trianon.
One couple's experience
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4117 posts
If both RS and the Versailles website tell people to come early or
late, doesn't that result in increased crowds at those times?
Most people don't plan ahead, leaving us planners free to roam with smaller crowds. I'd personally like to thank the many who don't plan in advance.
Posted by
Ohio
2133 posts
Hi Michele, we followed Rick’s advice and took the first early morning train from Paris. We got coffee (both Starbucks & McDonalds are across the street from the train station), and were among the first few in line at the palace when the gates opened. We went directly to the Hall of Mirrors and had it to ourselves for about 10 minutes. Very cool. Get there early. Get a Paris Museum Pass.
Posted by
San Francisco
184 posts
Maybe we just hit a bad day, but the fountains were completely underwhelming to me.
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2324 posts
Many people on vacation don’t like to wake up early. They don’t plan in advance and show up at 10:30 with hundreds of others who didn’t bother to buy their tickets online, so there are long lines.
Alternatively, you can buy your ticket in advance, get up early, waltz thru Versailles before 10 am and experience the Hall of Mirrors with 100 other people instead of 1,000. Then you wander thru the gardens, where the crowds are not nearly as noticeable.
The timed entries control how many people enter at one time, but they do not usher you thru. You wander at your own pace. So the later you arrive, the greater the odds that more people are already inside the palace.
Posted by
Southeast US
3857 posts
A friend and I, too, had a 9 am (first of day) entrance time. We arrived at 8:40 am and jumped in the short queue for entry. We were two of the first people in the palace. As noted above, proceeding directly to the hall of mirrors allows you to see it in peace for a few minutes before others arrive.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
3858 posts
It is amazing how many people won’t get up early while on a sightseeing vacation. I can understand if you are at a resort and attending evening shows and drinking. We have friends we don’t travel with for this reason. Get the early timed tickets.
Posted by
Clearwater, FL
11 posts
QQ -> if you have a timed entry for 10:30 (yes, i know....) can you use it later in the day and do Garden first. And yeah, chalk us up in the "too early" bucket.
going in two weeks, hopefully less crowds.
Posted by
OP
Oregon, USA
198 posts
Well, I have to say I am in the camp of those who do not like to rush out sightseeing super early in the morning when on vacation. Please don't judge us! I appreciate a leisurely breakfast and a second coffee. But that being said, a 9 or 9:30 entry (requiring leaving Paris 7:30 or 8) is not too bad, and the reward seems worth it.