I am not usually this confused, but the logistics of which ticket to use and which lines you then have to go through at the chateau has me scratching my noggin. I will be there the 2nd week of Oct. I had planned to get a museum pass and use that, but several folks have said the lines for this are excrutiating. I see the official website has time entries which might be worth buying. But my question is this: is there a special security line for people with a timed entry ticket? I know everyone has to go through security and it sounds like this is the slowdown. So what happens if you are stuck in the security line past the time for your timed entry. I have looked on the website and don't see where the logistics are clearly explained. Please, if you have recently used a timed entry ticket from the Versailles website, what steps did you take to get through security and how much time did you have to build in not to miss your time?
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA
182 posts
I have scheduled a tour in May. With a museum pass
I understand there is a separate area to meet for the tours and I am sure the guide leads the group in a separate line for direct access.
That’s why I booked the tour.
I will post my experience if others don’t share any experiences
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities, Minnesota
1823 posts
Thanks, Greg. It would be very helpful if you or others on the Forum would post recent experience and any tips on how to make it easier to visit Versaille, especially museum pass line vs time entry tickets. I look forward to your report next month.
Posted by
Rockville, MD, USA
595 posts
We went in late April 2018 - slept in, toured the gardens first, then the Grand Trianon at noon, Hameau, very late lunch at le Petit Trianon, tram back to the palace, showed our museum passes, had a minimal security line, rooms still crowded but we could move at our own pace.
Posted by
Jersey
8 posts
I am also having a confusing time looking through the different skip the line options for Versaille. We will be there in late September. Some sites suggest going on Tuesday or Fridays in order to see the fountain show. They also say to not go on the weekend. Can someone recommend an option they have had success using? Also, is it better to go in the morning or afternoon?
We will be taking the train from Paris.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
In recent years, with the increase in global tourists, Versailles is one of those places that has too many visitors.
Posted by
Canada
354 posts
I have bought a timed entry ticket in August and the website says "This ticket gives access to the whole Estate and guarantees access to the Palace within half an hour of the selected time." I assume this takes into account the security line.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
Is the Kings Apartments tour still available? We booked that a couple of years ago and it worked flawlessly with zero waiting or hassle.
Posted by
227 posts
The King's Apt. is still one of the tours and we plan to take that in September and I had some of the same questions as Laurie. I just listened to a podcast this morning, I still need to finish the last 15 minutes but it was very interesting and helpful for planning. The first part of the podcast is a lot of the history but the last 30 minutes are more about the logistics. Keep in mind that the podcast is from 2014 and it is #14 of Join Us in France titled "Tools Versailles Chateau, a Day-Trip from Paris". I have listened to quite a few of these podcasts as well as many of The Earful Tower and they are such a help and so informative. One of the suggestions of the lady was to spend the morning of your day there in the garden areas and take the tour around 1:00 when lots of people go to lunch. We plan to go on Saturday or Sunday because I think those are the days the fountains are on. We will have to decide before we leave for the trip and then pray for a nice day, that's the only concern I have about booking so far in advance. When we went to Schonbrunn in Vienna, I booked the tickets the night before and had them on my phone but I imagine the crowds don't compare from what I understand. And did I read on another forum about Versailles that you have to have a printed ticket, not on phone only? I suggest searching in the forums for all the other Versailles threads as well, there are so many! I will be keeping an eye on this one for more tips too!
Posted by
34 posts
We went to Versailles at the very end of May on a timed ticket. Our ticket time was at 9 am. We had planned to get there before 9 am but because of a little confusion on the trains, we reached the exterior of Versailles at 9. There was a small security point before you pass through the exterior gates. It was really fast, not that well-organized, and they just checked bags and that was it. Then, we walked up to the chateau and there are two lines - one where people do not have timed tickets and then a shorter one for people with timed tickets. We didn't wait long in our line. I am not sure how much the wait to get through the exterior gates varies over the day but we didn't really wait at all at that spot.
Posted by
45 posts
I may be joining this late, but we are just back from an early June trip, and did a late Thursday visit. I had heard Wednesdays or Thursdays best, as they are mid-week. Ours turned out perfect with a Museum Pass. Arrived via train in Versailles around 12:30, lunch in town on the walk to the palace, gardens first with Trianons, then the little train back to the Palace by 5, walked straight in (no line for anyone), toured Palace with the audio guide (some people, but lots of room), and we walked out at 6:15. Did not do the Kings Apt tour as that was early in the morning. In October, I do not think you will have the huge crowds that folks talk about in the summer months. I also had heard that if you have a museum pass, you skip the long line by asking an employee and they show you the expedited line. We did not have to bother with that, as there was no line at all. Bon voyage - you will love it!