Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour
Description
Explore the iconic rooms and rich history of Versailles Palace on a small-group guided tour Access the magnificent palace and discover the Royal Apartments, including the King’s Grand Apartment and the Queen’s chambers. Marvel at the opulent Gallery of Mirrors, renowned for its royal events and breathtaking decor. Upgrade your experience ( optional ) with a guided garden visit or enjoy the beauty of gardens at your own pace. Wander through the enchanting gardens and admire famous fountains such as Apollo’s. Take your time to enjoy the gardens and visit the Coach Gallery at your leisure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the wonders of the Versailles Palace in an extraordinarily small-group tour of max 12 people led by an expert guide. Enjoy skip-the-line access and learn about the fascinating history of French royalty. Upgrade your experience with a guided garden visit or explore the beauty of gardens at your own pace.
Step into the grandeur of Versailles on this immersive tour of the palace and its magnificent grounds. Once a simple hunting lodge, the Château de Versailles was transformed into the opulent seat of French royalty. Explore the glittering Hall of Mirrors, stroll through the lavish King and Queen’s Apartments, and admire the exquisite artwork and décor that define 17th-century French court life. Outside, wander the meticulously landscaped gardens with their fountains, sculptures, and hidden groves that reflect the Sun King's vision of perfection. This visit offers a captivating look into the power, artistry, and extravagance of France’s most famous royal residence.
Begin your tour in the Grand Apartment of the King, a lavish suite where every room tells tales of monarchs who ruled from this grand palace. Admire the detailed ceiling frescoes and explore the fine artistry in the Throne Room. Then, visit the Queen’s Apartment, the private chambers where royal queens lived in elegance, surrounded by the luxury and refinement of the 17th century. Explore the meticulously restored rooms, which showcase the exquisite artistry and design of the era.
Next, walk through the world-renowned Gallery of Mirrors, where sunlight pours through arched windows, reflecting off shimmering chandeliers and creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Imagine the grandeur of royal events in this hall, where political deals were sealed, and history was made.
OPTIONAL UPGRADE: Choose to Include a Guided Visit to the Gardens of Versailles: After exploring the palace, step outside and join your guide to stroll through the expansive gardens. Discover famous fountains like Apollo’s Fountain, a tribute to the Sun King, and Neptune’s Fountain, known for its dramatic water displays. Explore the serene Basins of the Seasons, where sculptures represent the different times of the year.
OPTIONAL UPGRADE: Choose to Include Access Tickets to the Gardens of Versailles: If you prefer to explore the gardens independently, choose this option to enjoy the beauty of Versailles' gardens at your own pace after your palace visit. Conclude your tour by spending more time in the gardens. You can also explore the Coach Gallery and its exhibitions at your own pace, discovering additional aspects of Versailles’ royal history and the elaborate carriages used by past monarchs.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
- Large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the palace.
- Food and drinks are not allowed inside the palace.
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- It is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
- Please consider that from November to March, the gardens are under seasonal maintenance.
- Please note that The Water Theater is available from April 1st to October 31st, 2025.
- Please remember to bring valid identification documents with you, considering monument entrances and security checks within the city.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- This tour offers three different options; please choose carefully! If you choose only the Palace then Gardens are not included.
- • Some areas of the palace may occasionally be closed by the Versailles administration due to maintenance, but your visit will still include the highlights of the estate.
Reviews(60)
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!!! Due to traffic congestion, we arrived at the meeting point at 9:33am SHARP and departure was supposedly at 9:30am. Another tour guide said the group had left earlier!! We ran to the door where the tour groups enter. There were 3 groups waiting to enter but the Walks in Europe group was NO WHERE TO BE SEEN!! Consequently, five of us who each paid $238.63 were not able to join the tour which clearly would have left prior to 9:30am as they were long gone by 9:33am!!! SHAME ON WALKS IN EUROPE. They made $1,193.15 CDN on us. (That said, we purchased our own tickets for $57 EUROS which allowed us entry to everything: the palace, the gardens and the Trianon with a perfect wireless audio set. The self-guided tour was excellent and allowed us to focus on the sections we were interested in, at our own pace. Anyone considering this tour should instead purchase a ticket directly from the palace. You can purchase online as well https://en.chateauversailles.fr/.
We ask all customers to arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Our records show that we called you twice before the tour and again at 09:35 to inform you that the guide was about to depart. The admission tickets for the Palace are timed-entry tickets and expire shortly after the scheduled entry time. For this reason, the group cannot be delayed. This requirement is clearly stated in the trip notes, booking confirmation, and reminder emails sent before the tour. Unfortunately, as you arrived after the departure time, you missed the tour. As noted in our booking conditions, late arrivals and no-shows are not eligible for a refund.
Laura was amazing! She was so nice and knew SO much about the palace. Glad to have met her and spent the day with her!
We arrived early for our 2:00 tour as this was the third of three tours we had arranged thru Viator and the other two wanted us there at least 15 minutes early. At 1:58 we began to panic. There was no one holding a sign for the company as we had been directed and then there she was….no sign….just asking our names. Crisis averted. We started with the palace and then ended with the gardens. I don’t even know how to begin to explain how disappointing the tour was….I am sure our guide is a very nice human being but as a tour guide with this price tag….disappointing. Allowed the other couple in our group to monopolize the guide’s attention…..didn’t know the answer to ANY of the questions I asked including “what is the tall thing in the middle of the ‘Napolean’ room” and “how large are the gardens?” Pretty basic. I highly recommend a guided tour of Versailles….but maybe not this one.
A guided tour is absolutely the best way to get the most out of Versailles. We took the 1/2 day option. Our only problem was, after eating at the fabulous restaurant, the tram back up to the top was not available after 6 PM. NOT Viator's problem, just a heads up to other visitors.
Laura was fantastic. She was extremely knowledgable and so passionate about being tour guide. She also had great humour.
William D. Was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about not only the history of Louis XIV but France’s history as well. You can’t go wrong with this tour.
Michael was a fabulous guide. We enjoyed the experience and all the history and stories. Highly recommend.
Versailles Palace and gardens was the most beautiful experience. Nadia is simply fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and has an amazing sense of humor. She shared quite a few funny stories along guiding us through the historical facts. I would highly recommend her for anyone who would like to visit Versailles.
Expect crowds. Difficult to walk through and take photos. Beautiful historic interior and exterior architecture. Interesting and friendly guide. A must see.
Our guide was very friendly, patient, and informed. The palace and the gardens are something to behold. There is nowhere on earth like it.
