Gardens of Versailles
about 120 minThe formal French gardens behind the palace, with fountains, groves and the long view to the Grand Canal; free except on fountain-show days.
The gardens lie behind the palace and run on to the Park. The official page describes the Grande Perspective seen from the Water Parterre, fountains, groves and the Orangery. Entry is free except on days of the fountain shows. Open every day; the hours published are the shorter winter ones (8 am to 6 pm). Reviews mention the fountains, golf cart rental and the groves.
What to do there- Look down the Grande Perspective from the Water Parterre
- Watch the Musical Fountains Show, weekends to 1 Nov 2026 (ticket)
- See four fountains at once from the end of Latona's Parterre
- Wander the groves, once the garden's open-air salons
- Get around by little train or hired electric vehicle
Château and Place d'ArmesPlace d'Armes, 78000 VersaillesBest: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Palace of Versailles
about 180 minThe palace of Louis XIV, with the Hall of Mirrors and the state apartments; closed Mondays and a time slot must be booked.
The palace has been a World Heritage site since 1979 and holds 2,300 rooms, says its official page. The Hall of Mirrors and the King's State Apartment are on the visit. The tickets page says every visitor must book a time slot. Open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Monday; the hours published are the shorter winter ones. Reviews mention the gardens, the crowds and the audio guide.
What to do there- Walk the Hall of Mirrors
- Tour the King's State Apartment, seven rooms
- See Veronese's huge Meal in the House of Simon in the Hercules Room
- Book a concert or opera at the Royal Opera or the Chapel
- Take the audioguide, in 12 languages
Château and Place d'ArmesPlace d'Armes, 78000 VersaillesBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Academy of Equestrian Arts
about 90 minA horse "ballet" in the Great Stables of the palace; hours not stated on its listing, so it is never planned.
A riding school and company housed in the Great Stables of the château. French Wikipedia says its repertoire show is staged in the stables' riding hall all year, and that a free visit of the stables is possible after each performance. The listing summary adds guided tours. No opening hours are stated: published as unknown. Reviews mention dressage, poetry and the stable tour.
What to do there- See the horse ballet La Voie de l'écuyère
- Walk through the stables after the show
- Join the guided visit behind the scenes
Château and Place d'ArmesManège de la Grande Ecurie du Château de Versailles,, Avenue Rockefeller, 78000 VersaillesBest: afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Angelina, Palace Tea Room
about 45 minThe Parisian tea room on the palace's first floor, with sweet and savoury dishes all day; reached after the palace ticket check.
The tea room on the first floor of the palace, in the Pavillon d'Orléans, offers sweet and savoury dishes all day, says the château's page. It is reached after the ticket check, from the Royal Courtyard or at the end of the State Apartments circuit. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm in winter. Reviews mention hot chocolate, the Mont-Blanc and waiting time.
What to do there- Order a hot chocolate
- Try the Mont-Blanc pastry
- Have a savoury lunch or sweet pastries all day
Château and Place d'ArmesChâteau de Versailles, 1er étage au Pavillon d’Orléans, 78000 VersaillesBest: lunch, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Gallery of Coaches
about 60 minRoyal horse-drawn coaches in the Great Stables opposite the palace; free, open Saturdays and Sundays only.
The Gallery of Coaches is on the ground floor of the Great Stables, opposite the palace, and shows ornate historic horse-drawn coaches. The château's page says entry is free and the visit takes about an hour. It opens only on Saturdays and Sundays, and the hours published are the shorter winter ones. Reviews mention free entry, the carriages and a sedan chair.
What to do there- See ornate historic horse-drawn coaches
- Look for the sedan chair
- See the Great Stables from the Place d'Armes
Château and Place d'Armes1 Av. Rockefeller, 78000 VersaillesBest: afternoon, late morningOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Ore, Ducasse at the Château
about 75 minAlain Ducasse's café in the Dufour Pavilion on the Royal Courtyard; breakfast, lunch and tea Tuesday to Sunday, no public dinner.
A contemporary café on the first floor of the Dufour Pavilion, looking onto the Royal Courtyard, run by the Alain Ducasse team, says the château's page. It serves breakfast, lunch to 2:45 pm and tea time Tuesday to Sunday, and is reached from the courtyard, outside the palace visit. Reviews mention the view of the château, Alain Ducasse and croissants.
What to do there- Have breakfast "Le Lever du roi" with a palace ticket
- Book a late lunch with direct access to the palace
- Stop for tea time after your visit
Château and Place d'ArmesChâteau De Versailles, Pavillon Dufour, 78000 VersaillesBest: lunch, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Ladurée, Château de Versailles
about 15 minLadurée macarons, ice cream and drinks in the Dufour Pavilion at the end of the palace visit; closed Mondays.
Ladurée's counter in the Dufour Pavilion, at the end of the palace tour, sells macarons, ice cream, and hot and cold drinks, says the château's page. The listing calls it an upscale bakery specialising in French macarons. Open Tuesday to Sunday; the hours published are the shorter winter ones, 10 am to 5 pm. Reviews mention macarons, the pistachio macaron and Marie Antoinette.
What to do there- Buy macarons to take away
- Have an ice cream or a hot drink after the palace
- Try the pistachio macaron
Château and Place d'ArmesChâteau de Versailles, Place d'Armes, 78000 VersaillesBest: afternoon, late morningOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.