best way to see all of Versailles

They offer different tours of the palace, so you'll need to pick the one that shows you everything you want to see. The Passport ticket gives you access to everything (except the tour of the private apartments) and that includes the Trianons and Hamlet. It also includes the grounds on days when the fountains run (otherwise free). You'll have to book a tour of the private spaces seperately. You'll also have to check the schedule for days when the fountains will run - they only turn them on certain days. Also understand that the fountains only run at certain times on those days and each only for a short time - it's like a progressive dinner where you move from fountain to fountain as they turn them on. To see and do all of that, it will be a very full day. You might not even be able to see and do everything in one day. Keep in mind that fountain days are very crowded and crowds reduce efficiencies of moving around and seeing things.

Yes, the fountains are bit overblown. They don't all run at the same time (apparently, in the good old days, it took the entire flow of the nearby river to run them all). So I'd say spend a nonfountain day to see everything but the fountains, then come back another nice day to see the fountains if they are still high on your must-see list.

Love Versailles, been there 10+ times. I will never go on fountain day again. Way more crowded than usual, unimpressive fountains imo, and they blare classical music (which I love) over a very bad sound system. It was so annoying and totally spoiled it for me. Our favorite way to visit is to rent bikes by the Grand Canal and ride all around to everything, all around the Grand Canal and through the forest.

Everything Susan just said,, I say too, lol I could have written her post!