Versailles
Top activities in Versailles

Versailles Palace Skip the line Guided Full Day or Half Day Tour

Badge of ExcellenceVersailles, France
Likely to Sell Out

From USD 96.20

Select Date and Travellers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Versailles Tours
All Versailles Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Versailles, once home to French kings, is among the world’s largest and most opulent palaces. On this small-group tour, see the ever-popular landmark without the hassle. Upon meeting your guide, you’ll head straight inside with skip-the-line tickets. Explore the Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments, Versailles' gardens, and other highlights, and learn more from your guide’s commentary (headsets are provided so you can hear every word). This flexible tour gives you the chance to pick from different departure times, and opt to dine in the elegant, on-site restaurant.
  • Guaranteed admission to Versailles: a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Skip-the-line tickets let you beat the crowds and save time
  • A small-group tour means you can get up close and personal with the sights
  • Choose from different departure times and dining options when booking

What's Included

  • Fully guided tour of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles
  • Guided visit of the Musical Gardens or Fountain show: weekends & selected days April through October
  • Fully accredited English speaking guide
  • Headsets so you can always hear your guide
  • Limited groups of 20 people or fewer
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup/drop off
  • Transportation to/from Versailles

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Equestrian statue of Louis XIV
    78000 Versailles, France

    Departure Point: At the bronze statue of Louis XIV on horseback in front of the Palace. Address: Statue équestre de Louis XIV, Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles Directions: Meet your guide at the statue of Louis XIV on horseback located on the esplanade directly in front of the Palace of Versailles. It faces the main Avenue de Paris and the Palace is behind it.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • This tour involves a reasonable amount of walking. Please ensure you wear comfortable shoes.
  • Infants aged 0-3 years are free of charge and do not require a booking.
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travellers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

See more

Traveller Tips

There is a great deal of walking and it can be taxing but well worth it if you are comfortable with the amount of walking.
Reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 38 reviews
Less than expected.,
Terri_G, Oct 2022
While our guide was lovely, I was disappointed in the "skip the line" . The wait was crazy. The crowds even worse. Other tour guides were breaking through our group, unable to see points of interest. The headphones were sketchy. The wait for the restroom was ridiculous. If your timing groups, then let groups go thru the rooms at a specific time. When we tried to get in the gardens, our tickets were not valid and had to be resent from the tour office. Seemed to be a lot of confusion.But, the Palace itself was lovely, just wish we could have enjoyed it more.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you for your review, although we are sorry that our tour did not live up to your expectations. We do book a reserved entry time slot at the palace, many months in advance. This allows us to completely avoid the long lines you see in front of the palace, and usually we enter on time at our allotted time. However it is the guards at Versailles who control the entry times, in case of crowding our guides will do all they can to ensure we get in as quickly as possible. They are also there to ensure you navigate the crowds inside as best and as easily as possible, ensuring you get the best viewpoints and don't miss anything. Versailles is a hugely popular site and it can get very busy, the guards onsite manage this as best they can, and our guides are experts in guiding you through the crowds as well as on the fascinating history of the palace! We apologise for the confusion with the garden tickets, our team sent the new ones immediately and we are glad you were able to get in without waiting. We hope you had a great stay in Paris and that we may have the chance to take you to Versailles on another occasion when the visiting conditions are better.
Versailles another must see
Nancy_Y, Oct 2022
Although we missed the first part of the tour in the palace because we were late, Memories of France was able to accommodate the second half of the tour of the private quarters of the king and queen, the garden, and Hamlet. Our tour guide Astrid met up with us and was awesome!! Very knowledgeable as well.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you for your review! We were so happy that you were able to catch up with the tour and enjoy the second part of it. We do all we can to accommodate guests who are late, but we have pre-reserved entries that are timed and trains to catch to Versailles so it's very hard for us to wait long. We hope that on future visits to Paris we will have the opportunity to take you inside the palace too. We hope you had a wonderful stay here!
Beautiful tout
TanishaLoggins, Aug 2022
Beautiful tour. Great tour guide. Really enjoyed the tour and it was a great time to beat the crowd.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Thank you very much for your review! We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your tour so much. We hope you had a wonderful stay in Paris!
Don’t Book through Memories France
Scott_R, July 2022
The coordinator Victoria arrived 25 minutes late. She was dirty, disheveled and didn’t communicate any of the logistics. Some of the guests who she gathered in Paris were already irate with her. We finally entered the palace at 10:35. While Ed was pleasant and informative. This half day tour ended 1:15.
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your review. We are very disappointed to read your comments, and would like to address them here. The group coming from Paris with our coordinator were a little late arriving in Versailles. As I'm sure you saw when they arrived, there was an elderly guest in the group who was not able to walk very fast and also a guest who had a problem with her leg, so the group walked at a pace to accommodate them and ensure they were comfortable, which meant that they arrived at the meeting point in Versailles later than they would normally. Unfortunately there was a guest arriving from Paris who was angry because he wanted to stop on the way and look for somewhere to change money. Victoria had told him that this would not be possible, as the group needed to stay together and she was very aware that they were slower than normal and running a bit late. We do hope that when our guests book a group tour they understand that they will be sharing the experience with other people, and prepare accordingly so that they are able to participate fully in the group activity and respect the other members and the timings that we have in place. It is also the role of the coordinator to ensure that the group as a whole get to where they should be on time, and Victoria was doing her job, despite that fact that it did not suit the guest in question. In terms of logistics, we have designed and printed special maps explaining how to get back to the station at the end of your tour, which trains to take, where they go and which metros you can then connect with. Victoria ensured all the group members were given one. Once the coordinator has handed the group to the guide, it is the guide who explains the logistics of the visit and how your morning or day will be organised as they are taking care of you during the visit. We were a little late entering the palace, but Ed is an excellent guide and we are sure he made sure that you saw everything. Our tours are also guided in the gardens, ensuring you see the most beautiful parts of them, as many of the most interesting parts are hidden and can easily be missed. As to your comments regarding Victoria's appearance, I'm afraid I find them unnecessary and unkind, and also exactly the opposite of what I see whenever I see her. More importantly she is a caring and kind person who works hard to ensure that all our guests are well taken care of at all times, and who is always ready to deal with any tricky situations that arise with a smile and a positive attitude. Once again we are sorry that you did not enjoy your tour. We all work hard to ensure that our guests have the best experience possible and that everyone is the group is comfortable and happy at all times. We are disappointed that you did not feel this way, and hope nonetheless that you liked Versailles and that you had a good stay in Paris.
Lively walk through Versailles
Nina_I, July 2022
Caroline is a fabulous guide! Informative highlights of Versailles & the gardens. The pace was perfect!
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your review which we have shared with Caroline! We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your tour of Versailles with her. We hope that your stay here in Paris was fabulous and that we may have the chance to welcome you again on future visits!
Perfect length tour. Excellent tour guide
Keith_M, July 2022
Hall of mirrors, ballroom in the gardens, original furniture. Lunch at restaurants just outside garden overly the channel
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your review! We are very happy that you enjoyed your tour and saw so many beautiful things. And had a great lunch too by the sound of it! We hope you had a wonderful stay in Paris and that we will see you again soon!
Our tour guide Valorie...
Gloria_A, July 2022
Our tour guide Valorie was amazing!!! Learned so much from her. She was very informative while being witty and fun.
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your review which we have shared with Valerie. We are really pleased that you had such a great time with her in Versailles, and learned such a lot! We hope the rest of your stay in Paris was wonderful too and that we may see you again if ever you return here.
Valerie brought Versailles to life!
dj4jcgrj8w, July 2022
Valerie was fantastic! She was funny and engaging and knowledgeable. Decent bit of walking (obviously) with most of it seemingly outside in the gardens as you go by different fountains. Felt a bit rushed in the gift shop, but other than that, it was a steady paced tour inside the palace. Outside was great, too... the nice weather didn't hurt at all. But, above all, Valerie was the star of the show!
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your kind review which we have passed on to Valerie. She was of course as pleased to read it as we were! We are very happy you enjoyed your tour with her. There certainly is a lot to see in Versailles and we want to ensure you are in the best spots at the right time to enjoy the fountain show (they don't all come on at the same time!) We hope you had a fabulous stay in Paris!
Very nice tour
Rhonda_M, July 2022
Our guide, Valerie, was very knowledgeable and helpful. Although it was incredibly crowded, we maneuvered as efficiently as possible. Unfortunate that it was cool and rainy so wandering the gardens was shorter than we had planned.
Response from Host, July 2022
Thank you for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed your tour of Versailles. It can get very crowded there in the summer season and the guides are not only experts in history but also in getting you through the crowds to the best spots! It's a pity you had rain on the day of your visit, we hope you enjoyed the gardens nonetheless. We'd love to take you back there on a sunny day and show you the lovely gardens in the estate of Marie-Antoinette should you ever be in Paris again! We hope you had a great stay.
Versailles tour
Sam_K, June 2022
The Guide was excellent. She is very knowledgeable, her English language is perfect and she gave us time to take pictures and answered all our questions. We missed the first part of the tour because of the traffic but she spent extra time with in the end to explain what we missed. Great service.
Response from Host, June 2022
Thank you for your review! We are sorry you missed part of the tour, but were really happy that you were able to catch up with the guide and enjoy the gardens with her. We very much appreciate you taking the time to leave us reviews for each visit, and we hope you and your family had a wonderful stay in Paris.
Spectacular and Engaging Tour
MariaCeleste_C, June 2022
Although I had visited Versailles in the past, this guided tour was worth booking. We had the privilege to be guided by the awesome, Roman, who made the tour super interesting, captivating our imaginations and keeping our kids involved and enagaged during the entire day. I can’t stress enough how excellent Roman was. He totally made our day. Versailles and its grounds, including the Petit Trianon are spectacular by themselves, but absorbing them with a great guided tour is a super plus. Thank you Roman!
Response from Host, June 2022
Many thanks for your kind and detailed review which we have shared with Romain. We are so pleased that you and your family enjoyed your day at Versailles, it's one of our favourite places to visit and we are always delighted when others love it as much as we do. We hope you and your family had a wonderful stay in Paris and look forward to perhaps seeing you again in future!
Versailles Palace Explained
Jane_N, May 2022
The tour of Versailles was excellent! Our guide met us on time. He was so enthusiastic! He brought history to life. There is a lot to see and I felt he got us to the highlights. It was well worth it to experience this historic palace and gardens with a guide.
Response from Host, May 2022
Many thanks for your review. We are delighted that you had such a great time in Versailles! There's such a lot of amazing and fascinating history to learn about there and having a guide really makes a difference. We hope you had a wonderful stay in Paris and would love to see you again should you come back in future!
It was amazing and so informative
Pamela_R, May 2022
Ed was our guide and shared so much about Versailles that we didn’t know. This was my third visit to Versailles and he showed us things I had never seen before! Bravo, Ed! Pam R.
Response from Host, May 2022
Thank you very much for your kind review! It gives us great pleasure to read that you saw new things on your visit with us, despite having been to Versailles twice already! We have passed your comments on to Ed, and we hope to see you again in Paris one day!
Great way to see the Versailles Place, great guide and tour
z3shutter, May 2022
Did a 1/2 day tour, and it was a great experience. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable about the palace, art, history, and context of that time's French history and culture. As well as the difference between royal vs commoner life. So it was a very immersive experience. Well-paced tour and we got to see most of the relevant sections, artifacts, and gardens. Did not have to deal with any lines. Overall we did 3 tours w the same company, Memories France, and all tours and guides were excellent. We did not go to Marie Antoinette's estate as we did a 1/2 day tour and then spent free time exploring the massive gardens and fountains, and that was a good idea than trying to pack a full day tour.
Response from Host, May 2022
Many thanks for taking the time to leave us a detailed review for each of the tours you took with us! We really appreciate it, and we thank you also for choosing to take your tours with us during your stay in Paris! I personally love the guided tour at Versailles as it really brings the palace to life, and daily life there was so crazy and amazing and is so fascinating to learn about. We're happy you enjoyed the lovely gardens too, you can certainly spend a lot of time exploring there! If ever you come back to Paris we would be really pleased to see you again!
Beautiful trip to Versailles.
Laura_L, May 2022
Our tour guide, Valerie, was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Versailles including the chateau and the gardens. At the end of the trip she helped us find a great area for lunch outside the chateau and provided us with information about other available Versailles tours.
Response from Host, May 2022
Thank you for your review! We are delighted that you enjoyed your morning in Versailles with Valerie, and that you had a great lunch in the city! There's a lot of wonderful things to see there as well as the palace, it's great if she was able to help you make the most of your day there. We hope you had a wonderful stay in Paris and in Versailles!
Great Tour, ticket access difficult
Brenda_M, Apr 2022
The tour guide Roman was excellent although a little late. There were 3 groups meeting at Louis statue at the same time and since he was not there, we were unsure of our booking. The viator site was a little confusing with the access and delivery of the tickets.
Response from Host, May 2022
Many thanks for your review. We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your tour! The guests arriving on the train on the day of your tour were a little late, but I'd like to take this opportunity to reassure all guests! Your guide always has the tickets and reservations, all you need is your voucher on your phone. Your voucher should have all the information you need, but if you have any questions pre-tour don't hesitate to contact us via the Viator messaging and we'll be happy to help (we are the local operator). On the day of your tour, you can also message or call us if ever you are unsure, but generally our guides and/or coordinators are at the meeting point 15 minutes before you are due to arrive. We hope to see you again in Paris on future trips!
I will return.
Gina_F, Apr 2022
A great tour and what a wonderful guide Rosario was. She brought the castle and the families that live there to life.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Thank you for your kind review which we have shared with Rosaria. We love sharing the stories of life in Versailles in times gone by, the lives of the people who lived there are so fascinating and so important to the history of France. There is such a lot to see and learn there and we are really pleased that you enjoyed your tour. We hope we'll see you again on your next visit to Paris!
You cannot miss this!!
Anonymous, Apr 2022
This was one incredible day! Caroline B. led us through the palace and shared intriguing information about every room we viewed. She knew it ALL! We couldn’t believe all the surprises the gardens have and the immensity of the palace itself. You must go here (it is so easy to get to by train) if you visit Paris. I would not do this visit any other way than to take a tour with this company and Caroline!
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Thank you for your very kind comments which we have shared with Caroline. She was very happy to read them, as are we! Versailles is a wonderful place, there is so much to see and so much to learn, we are really glad that you had such a great experience on your visit there with us. Your recommendation means a lot to us, thank you. Please don't hesitate to contact us next time you are in Paris!
Great guide
Patricia_K, Apr 2022
Tour guide was amazing and knowledgeable . Depth of knowledge and good sense of humor . High recommend
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Thank you very much for your review and recommendation which we very much appreciate. We are glad that you enjoyed your tour and had fun at Versailles! It's an amazing place, there is so much to see and learn. We hope to see you again for more discoveries in Paris!
Excellent experience!
Stephanie_G, Sept 2021
Fabulous tour! Our guide, Sylvanie, was incredibly knowledgeable, funny and professional. She never rushed our small group of 12 through any part of the tour and answered all our inquisitive questions. Highly recommend taking this skip the line guided tour and if you can, ask for Sylvanie!

Explore Similar Things to Do

Attractions in Versailles, France

Help CentreCustomer CarePrivacy PolicyAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2023 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions