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Versailles Palace Guided Tour from Paris with Optional Gardens & Fountain Show

Paris, France
Likely to Sell Out

From $91.08

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Paris Tours
All Paris Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 4 hours (approx.)
  • Hotel pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Immerse yourself in the opulence and drama of Versailles Palace and Gardens on a fully guided small-group tour from Paris to Versailles. With your skip-the-line ticket, breeze past the queue and join your expert guide for a fun and informative walk through the castle and gardens. Witness the extravagance of Louis XIV—the Sun King—who built up the massive 700-room complex, adorning the space with luxuries fit for the French monarchy.
  • Half-day, fully guided small-group tour with skip-the-line access to the Palace & Gardens of Versailles
  • Guaranteed to skip the long lines at Versailles
  • The tour also includes the famous Versailles fountain show or musical gardens on selected days
  • Small-group tour up to 25 people ensuring a more personalized experience
  • With Skip-the-Line Access to the Palace of Versailles, return coach transfers and your guide to get you there, let this tour take the hassle out of your Versailles visit so all you have to do is to relax and enjoy

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This tour is perfect for those short on time who want the ease of transport and skip-the-line access.

What's Included

  • Skip-the-Line Access to the Palace of Versailles
  • Skip-the-Line Access to the Gardens of Versailles (if option selected)
  • Small group of 25 people or less
  • Expert, English speaking guide
  • Headsets to hear the guide clearly
  • Round-trip transfers from Paris in an air-conditioned coach
  • Musical Fountain Show or Musical Gardens (on selected days)
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • 130 Rue de l'Université
    130 Rue de l'Université, 75007 Paris, France

    Meeting point is outside the Metro stop Invalides on the rue de l'Université, 75007 Paris. Arriving by metro, take the exit 1 (Esplanade des Invalides). Your guide will be standing in front of the metro exit with a City Wonders flag.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

  • Palace of Versailles
    Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France

    This tour ends at the Palace of Versailles. You will be provided with a return train to Paris.

Pickup details

** Pick up is ONLY available if PRIVATE OPTION is selected. Please make sure you contact our customer care, at least 48hours before departure, by phone 0033 1 70371426 or email info@citywonders.com to advise exact pick up/drop off location.

What To Expect

Meet your friendly tour coordinator at a central location in Paris to board a private air-conditioned coach to Versailles, and let this half-day tour take all the hassle out of the journey so you arrive in Versailles relaxed and ready to explore.

Once inside, explore the lavish design and ornament that adorns every room of the enormous complex. Marvel at the more than 13,000 pieces of art and fine furnishings, the sumptuous private chambers, and the elaborate gardens. With your pass, view the King’s and Queen’s luxurious apartments, the Royal Chapel, the Hall of Mirrors, the Coronation Room and the Hercules Drawing Room—a reminder that King Louis XIV glorified himself as a deity.

As you walk, enjoy your guide’s colorful commentary. Hear about the eccentricity and ambition of the French monarchy from the mid-17th century until the French Revolution. Discover the exciting details of the day in 1789 when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were dragged from Versailles by an angry mob, to be eventually beheaded in Paris. 

Finish your tour with a stroll through the gardens, covering more than 1,800 well-manicured acres. Depending on the day and your tour option, catch the Fountains Show or the Musical Gardens show before departing.

Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles in true royal fashion. As your guide shows you around a carefully curated selection of the palace’s 700 rooms, you’ll hear stories of the Sun King, Louis XIV, his successors, their queens, mistresses, and courtiers – including Marie Antoinette and other notable figures. Versailles had its heyday in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Sun King elevated Louis XIII’s humble hunting lodge into the official seat of the French court – and 300 years later, the palace has lost little of its glamorous excess.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

The Hall of Mirrors

Visit the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors inside Versailles while our passionate English-speaking guide marvels you with stories of the excesses of royal life, peaking under the Sun King, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Operated by City Wonders Ltd

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.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

I would recommend that you make sure to bring lots of water to keep you hydrated as the lines in the cafes can be quite long!
It would be great if we can have at least 30 mins - 45 mins more to spend in the garden in order to be able to catch the ride back, especially if it is summer and is peak period.
Reviews
4.0
889 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 889 reviews
I trust this operator...
Dara_P, Mar 2023
My daughters (13 & 15) and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Versailles with City Wonders/Viator. It is always lovely to see the palace and the grounds but what made this tour stand out was the staff from the tour company. Starting with the people on the phone who fielded last-minute questions, to the young woman who greeted us at the coach and gave us a little history lesson on our way out to Versailles, to the driver who was jovial and gracious, to our guide, Maria, who was friendly, informative, funny, and warm. This was our first time using this operator and I would use them again in a heartbeat.
Good day at Versailles.
Brenda_T, Mar 2023
What an experience. Very good guide. Knowledgeable and personable. This is the second time I have done this survey. Thanks.
Cold and crowded
Jane_W, Mar 2023
The wait time to get inside the palace could have been manage better. The weather was extremely cold and we had to wait outside. Once inside, more waiting and crowded. Our tour guide, Maria, was excellent. She was knowledgeable and added a bit of humor to her narrative.
DO NOT BOOK WITH CITY WONDERS
Emma_G, Jan 2023
I booked with City Wonders twice (two separate events) and got nothing but grief. The first time, they canceled and I had to find a new tour to re book. Thats fine, except for the fact that the "only" way for me to get a refund for the tour THEY canceled was if I called them in France. I'm from Canada, so the time difference didn't add up and when I called THEM, they sent me to Viator, who sent me back to them who sent me to Viator and blah blah. Eventually I asked to do it through email which I was told I could, only to receive a response that nope, no option for a refund unless I call. For the actual tour, we showed up at the wrong spot and waited 5min. We realized our error (and fully own this ourselves) and phone HR to see if there was someway to meet the tour inside. We were told "ABSOLUTELY NOT TOUR LEAVES ON TIME IF YOU ARE LATE WE CAN'T HELP YOU" and they hung up on us. Fast forward to our next tour: They themselves are late. But not 5 minutes - 1 HOUR. A bus load of people trying to contact HR to no avail, a bus driver who has no clue whats going on and then finally, a silent tour guide slips on the bus and tells us (only because we went to her and ask) that she will bring us to our guide at the Palace. When we arrive, we are rushed and told by our new tour guide "We must hurry, they don't like it when we are late like this". When calling for a refund there was no remorse. Somehow it is everyone's but their fault that their tour is late. They offered a partial refund, despite some other travelers missing their later trains and schedules. We did not get the full tour - as we were late - and because our guide was so scrambled, she missed telling us about the courtyard and fountains. Interesting to note how they can be 1hr late and still get their money but we can't be late by 5minutes. We were told "these things happen in the travel business". To summarize: There are so many palace tours offered, I highly recommend visiting the Palace, but do NOT book with City Wonders.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Hello Emma_G, Every team member at City Wonders would like to extend our sincere apologies for the inadequate service experiences you have shared with us. We take your comments very seriously and have already communicated them to the appropriate departments. In regard to your first tour, as we simply cannot accommodate late arrivals, we advise on the booking voucher to be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. In regard to your second experience with us at Versailles, there is simply no excuse for the guide being late to your tour. We understand that this caused you and your group a very frustrating inconvenience, and for that, we hope that a partial refund went a long way in remedying the matter as much as possible. We will take the appropriate action with the guide, so that we can ensure that this does not happen again. We are extremely saddened that you have not been able to share positive experience with us. We will use your feedback to improve in every way that we possibly can. Thank you for bringing these matters to our attention. Wishing you all the best. Sincerely, Edgar J. & the CW Team
Don’t miss it
Scott_R, Jan 2023
Worth the trip from Paris to see the palace. Be ready to be amazed as you are taken back in time to great opulence.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Hello Scott_R! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us an amazing review on Viator. Everyone at City Wonders is delighted to hear that you loved your tour of Versailles with us. It was our pleasure having you with us for this memorable experience. We hope to see you again on some of our other uniquely crafted tours in the future. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for choosing City Wonders. Feel free to follow us on our social media pages such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to keep up with our exclusive content and future promotions. Instagram: citywonderstours Twitter: @City_Wonders Facebook: City Wonders Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Don’t expect a chair!
Scott_M, Jan 2023
Just be prepared not to sit, and your feet hurt by the end of the experience. And our guide was a great storyteller, but also repeated directions over and over and over. Even yelled at the teenagers at one point.
Rambled History
Michele_G, Dec 2022
Sadly the guide was unprepared and rambled about Louis XIV and Louis the XVI, and at times confusing the two. This was done at length, in the first few rooms. As for the contents of each room and any significance in that room, that was not addressed. If it wasn’t for the return transportation to Paris, we would have left the tour. Our teenagers did leave the tour and waited for us at the exit.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Hello Michele_G, We are very disappointed to hear about your experience with us at Versailles. At City Wonders, we pride ourselves on delivering high quality tours with expert guides who aim to enrich your understanding and wonder of the site as you follow through our Versailles tour route. We are sorry that this was not the case on your tour. Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Great tour, highly recommend
Alexis_L, Dec 2022
Great tour, everything was perfect. Transportation and entry was quick. It was a great way to learn about the palace. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and kind.
Easy Access!
Holly_F, Dec 2022
We loved how quick we got inside and didn’t have to stand in line. Made the visit so much more enjoyable.
Okay not great
Steven_P, Dec 2022
The headsets were poor quality and the tour guide should learn how to speak English properly. And the bus driver didn't know when he was supposed to take us back
Viewing Versailles
Robin_T, Dec 2022
We loved viewing the rooms and artefacts in the palace and listening to Martha, our guide, explain the significance of each one and how and by whom it was used. Martha was very knowledgeable and her voice very clear and easy to listen to. The meeting place was easy to find, the bus trip to and from was warm, clean and comfortable and gave us great views of French towns, gardens and forests. We had very little waiting time to get in to Versailles and because we went early in the morning I think it wasn’t as crowded as later in the day when we finished the tour. We also had time to wander around the royal gardens before we reboarded the bus. I would highly recommend this tour and Martha as an excellent guide.
Crowded but worth it !
Janet_B, Dec 2022
Anthony was an awesome tour guide. Even in the midst of thousands of other guests at Versailles, his stories of the kings and queens were detailed, passionate, insightful and captivating . Exceptionale!
Fun on a cold day!
Susie_G, Dec 2022
Great trip! The instructions are a tad confusing but even though it says the tour ends at Versailles and you get a train ticket back to Paris the bus does bring you back. Only 30 mins each way. You get to meet the tour guide when you get there. He was very knowledgeable! After the tour you get time to see the gardens. It was cold the day we went so we hit the cafe (not restaurant) instead where you can go upstairs to sit for food/wine. It was perfect!
Wonderful Tour
annieherrera7, Dec 2022
Our tour guide was very informative and friendly. Happy to answer any questions we had. She also made sure we knew what time we had to get back to our bus so we go get back into Paris. Gave us just enough free time to wander in the gardens of the palace.
Never again
Andrew_H, Nov 2022
It was an awful experience. We got lost trying to find meeting Point and was roughly 5 minutes late. Missed the tour and was talked to very harshly and received no refund or rain check. Will never book through this company again.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Hello Andrew_H, We are very saddened to hear that you were unable to make your tour of Versailles with us. As well, we must apologize if you received any sort of rude or inadequate treatment from a member of our customer service department. We thank you for bringing this to our attention. On the booking voucher we always include directions to the meeting point along with GPS coordinates and pictures. Our Customer Care team is there to direct you further. As we cannot accommodate late arrivals, we advise on the booking to be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the starting time. Kind regards, Edgar J. from City Wonders
City Wonders is a Scam tour company
Jane_P, Nov 2022
We arrive on time from the instructions they give us (the tour company called City wonders ). But they left early without our family from the metro station. We called their company for help immediately without any solution and no refund. It's a scam. Don't waste your money on this tour company. Give your money to charity instead!!
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hello Jane_P, We are very saddened to hear that you could not make your with us at Versailles. We would like to extend our sincere apologies if there was anything we may have done better to avoid this situation. While we do advise our guests to arrive 15 mins prior to their scheduled tour time, we are here to accomodate you. Please send us your full name, booking reference number and some additional information to what you listed here so that we find out exactly what occurred today. If we were at fault, we will make it right. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Guide was great
Harry_B, Nov 2022
The guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun and interesting. He had a good sense of humor as well as historical knowledge
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Hello Harry_B! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us an amazing review. Everyone at City Wonders is delighted to hear that you loved your tour with us. It was our pleasure having you for this memorable experience. We hope to see you again on some of our other unique tours in the future. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for choosing City Wonders. Feel free to follow us on our social media pages such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to keep up with our exclusive content. Instagram: citywonderstours Twitter: @City_Wonders Facebook: City Wonders Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Guide who brings it all to life.
Dwight_K, Nov 2022
Alex was our excellent guide. He was quite informative and interesting in his commentary. The creation of this vast palace lends insight into the 17th century of France.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Hello Dwight_K! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us an amazing review. Everyone at City Wonders is delighted to hear that you loved your tour with us. It was our pleasure having you for this memorable experience. We hope to see you again on some of our other unique tours in the future. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for choosing City Wonders. Feel free to follow us on our social media pages such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to keep up with our exclusive content. Instagram: citywonderstours Twitter: @City_Wonders Facebook: City Wonders Kind regards, Edgar J. City Wonders
Not great - not worth the price.
David_R, Nov 2022
Guide needed a microphone and headsets should have bed. Included. Could not hear nor understand the guide.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hello David_R, Thank you for taking the time to leave us an honest review on Viator. We would like to apologize for not providing our guide with the necessary equipment that she, and your group, needed in order to better understand her. We thank you for bringing this to our attention. Wishing you the best, Edgar J. from City Wonders
Not worth the costs
Jennifer_B, Nov 2022
The details for the meet up space is challenging. Or maybe it’s just the American with me, as five other Americans had the same problem. The operator didn’t respond. I was running late and wanted to see if it was possible to meet them. No response. I had to call corporate and learned there was a shuttle. The tour guide may have been with us 1 hour. It was like a highlight reel . For over 2,000 rooms and gardens I think there could’ve been more. Not worth it to me.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hello Jennifer_B, We would like to thank you for leaving us an honest and detailed review on Viator. We apologize that you felt our meeting point was difficult to find. We will make sure to review this in order to make things as quick and easy as possible for all our guests. In regard to your guide, we apologize that they did not spend more time alongside your group. We try to give our customers the most thorough and intimate experiences possible, so we are very disappointed to hear this. Thank you for your feedback, Jennifer. Wishing you the best, Edgar J. from City Wonders
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