Versailles in the Afternoon

It's a zoo. We were there in an afternoon in July 2 years ago and the only palace pictures we got were of the ceilings and from the outside. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't. But....I do understand the desire to see it so my recommendation would be to tour the massive gardens. Skip the palace...you're packed in there like sardines.

Versailles in the summer is crowded no matter what time of day you arrive.

Versailles in the summer is crowded no matter what time of day you arrive.

Ditto above. Once inside, you are shoulder to shoulder through most of the displays. I doubt very much that you will get lucky with a lightly populated visit.

Makes me hot, sweaty, and stressed thinking about it!

We visited Versailles in April. We arrived mid-morning and the security lines were extremely long. So, we visited the gardens in the morning/early afternoon and visited the palace late afternoon - when the security lines were much shorter. Even then, the palace was pretty much packed. I can't imagine what it would be like during the summer.

Thank you for your comments. I think I need to make a decision to either go very early or not at all. How early would you arrive? How long does it take to walk to the line from the train station?

A few summers ago my dd and I slept in,, we didn't arrive at Versailles till 1.30 or so , the lines for the tickets was as usual very long, the line for security did not exist, we almost walked in.. I do agree that a full day is better then a half day though,, although the palace was a bit less crowded in afternoon, ( it will always be crowded in summer, period) we had barely enough time to enjoy all of the other parts of Versailles. I have been to Versailles rather many many times, so I am familar with the crowd levels.
Arriving in morning can be horrid, the tour buses start disgorging hundreds and hundreds of people by 10 am , so arrive much eariler ,, I suggest 1/2 hour BEFORE opening .

Your best bet is to either arrive first thing and beat the tour buses, or do the gardens first and tour the palace after 3:00 when the tour groups start to thin out. It's about a 15 minute walk from Versailles Rive Gauche Station to the chateau. Having a ticket already also helps avoid at least one line.

We did Versaiile in August 4 yrs ago, ditto everything everyone said however, if you are seeing other museum sights in Paris, BUY THE MUSEUM pass! At the time, Versaille was included (ck to make sure still is) and with the pass you walk right in- no line. It is WELL worth the price as we avoided lines at all the major sites.
The line for Versaille was especially long and in the summer in the heat and no available shade, it is brutal.

Is it possible that Versailles is still home to the train coach where the WWI armistice was signed?? If so, where??

Lindley, no, the train is not there , I have actually been where it is, but I was driven there by relatives, it was on the way to Pierrefonds.. I will try and look it up for you. It is definately in a place where you have to have a car to get to though, its in a wooded area. ok looked it up, hard to find exact directions to get there but its in the Compiegne.