Versailles day trip from Paris
A day trip to Versailles from Paris: the Petit Trianon, the Gardens of Versailles and their fountains, the Palace of Versailles with the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors, and the Marché Notre-Dame in the town. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Versailles in 1 day
Day 1
Gardens of Versailles and fountains
Le Nôtre's formal gardens with terraces, groves, statues and the Grand Canal, with fountain shows set to music in season.
Petit Trianon
A small Neoclassical château in the estate's grounds, given to Marie Antoinette, with her gardens and the Queen's Hamlet nearby.
Palace of Versailles (State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors)
Louis XIV's royal palace, with the gilded State Apartments, the King's and Queen's rooms and the famous Hall of Mirrors.
Marché Notre-Dame
Versailles' central market in the town, with covered halls of food stalls and outdoor stands on market mornings; good for a snack.
Getting there
From Paris, the RER C runs to Versailles Château Rive Gauche in about 40 minutes, a short walk from the palace. SNCF trains also run from Saint-Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite and from Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers, each a longer walk; by car it is about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Staying in Paris? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Versailles
April to October is the best time, when the gardens are in flower and the fountain shows run, though summer weekends are very crowded. Winter is quieter, but the gardens are bare and the fountains are off. Avoid Tuesdays and weekends if you can, and remember the palace is closed on Mondays.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Versailles on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Versailles on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Versailles on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Versailles
- The palace is closed on Mondays and is busiest on Tuesdays and weekends; book a timed entry ticket online well ahead.
- Arrive at opening for the Hall of Mirrors, or visit the palace in the afternoon when the morning tour groups have left.
- The estate is huge: the Trianon palaces are a long walk from the main palace, and a small train, bike hire or boats on the Grand Canal help.
- On fountain show days in the warm months the gardens need a ticket; check the calendar for the Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens.
- From Paris, RER C stops at Versailles Château Rive Gauche, the closest station to the palace; trains from Saint-Lazare and Montparnasse also run.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Gardens of Versailles and fountains: ToucanWings, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palace of Versailles (State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors): ToucanWings, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Petit Trianon: Moonik, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
