Things to do in  Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is France’s most famous palace, home to kings from Louis XIII to Louis XVI, and renowned for its magnificent 17th-century architecture and lavish gardens. The UNESCO World Heritage Site also played an important role in French history, from the French Revolution through Napoleon and the Treaty of Versailles.

Must-see sights at the Palace of Versailles include the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, the opulent King’s State Apartment, and the Royal Chapel. Leave yourself enough time to explore the vast gardens, too, where you can visit the Orangery, see Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon, and watch the Musical Fountain show.

To make the most of a visit to the Palace of Versailles, plan a full-day tour. Give yourself around two to three hours to visit the main palace, enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants, then take a walking tour of the gardens, including the Grand and Petit Trianons, Orangery, and Musical Fountain.

After touring the palace and gardens of Versailles, you can also visit the Gallery Of Coaches and Lambinet Museum, and enjoy a walk or bike ride through the park of Versailles. The city of Versailles is also home to Versailles Royal Opera House, Versailles Cathedral, and many shops and restaurants.

Versailles is 12 miles from Paris and can be reached by car, bus, train, or on an organized day tour. The easiest way is by train—take RER train Line C to Rive Gauche station or SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse to Chantiers station, or Gare Saint Lazare to Rive Droite Station.

The Palace of Versailles is not open at night. However, Musical Fountain Night Shows are held in the Gardens of Versailles every Saturday night from mid-June through mid-September from 8.30 pm to 11 pm. A special night ball is also held in the Hall of Mirrors on these nights.