M
Very knowledgeable and...
Very knowledgeable and friendly guide. We had the best time and lunch in the gardens was amazing! I would highly recommend !
Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour
+14 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2–3 hours
- Price from
- $136 / person
- Location
- Versailles, France
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 · 63 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Walks In Europe
- Meeting point
- We will meet in front of the Louis XIV statue, on the porch of the Versailles estate. The tour guide will have a signboard.
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 18+)
- $77
- Child (ages 0–17)
- $75
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 28 of the next 52 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
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.
Palace of Versailles
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.
Palace of Versailles
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.
What's included
Included
Expert local guide
Guided tour of Versailles palace
Tickets to the Gardens of Versailles (if selected)
Guided tour of the Gardens of the Versailles (if selected)
Small Groups of up to 12 people
Not included
Gratuity/Personal expenses
Transfer to the meeting point
Entrance to Petit Trianon, Grand Trianon, Queen’s Hamlet
Gardens if you only selected the palace option!
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.4
63 reviews
How it compares in Versailles
- No. 21 by number of reviews among 118 tours in Versailles
- Starting price $136 is 59% above the typical $86 for tours of similar length in Versailles
Excurgo comparison of 118 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour take?
Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour lasts about 2–3 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour cost?
Prices start at $136 per person for this Versailles experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
How much does Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour cost for children?
Children aged 0–17 pay from $75, adults from $77.
Does Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour sell out?
It can: 28 of the next 52 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We will meet in front of the Louis XIV statue, on the porch of the Versailles estate. The tour guide will have a signboard. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
The tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(63)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
X
Great guide stinker of a company
Versailles personal tour and Gardens. Despite booking in March for August, they changed to booking from 9.30am to 2pm.and would not correct it, stating overcapacity. So I guess the other people on tour at 9;30 must have booked in more than 6 months in advance. I explained that due to heath and age 2pm especially in the heat would prove difficult. Just offered to cancel but this was part of a larger trip. The actual tour guide Crystal was very good and there was only the 2 of us so very personal. Really 270euro was a waste as this company coukd not care less
Operator response
Hello Brian, Thank you for your review. As we repeatedly explained in our communications with you prior to this tour, we could not operate a tour at all in the morning because the capacity of guided groups access of the Palace of Versailles were regulated. This is not about overcapacity within our tours. No other customers were in your group either, you were the only customers making this a private setting, although you paid the price of a public tour. On top of that, we offered to send your gardens tickets in advance so you can explore them at your leisure, as the option you booked did not include a gardens guided visit. Our guide Chrystelle still provided you with one. For reasons beyond our control, we still tried to accommodate the best we can and were pretty generous. We could have cared less. We did not.
K
Highly Recommend.
Super easy to book. Our guide, Gwen with Walking Tours, was knowledgeable and caring. Fluent English. No waiting in queues. Smooth moving through the sites. Using Vox boxes made it easy to understand our guide, Gwen. Palace tour was a little less than 2 hours. Gardens an hour. Highly recommend.
E
Not to be recommended ...
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/.
Operator response
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.
A
Laura was amazing! She...
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!
K
VERY Disappointing
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.
N
Don't miss Versailles!
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.
J
Great tour guide makes for great tour
Laura was fantastic. She was extremely knowledgable and so passionate about being tour guide. She also had great humour.
K
Versailles and garden tour
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.
M
Bucket List trip inspired by watching Olympic equestrian
Michael was a fabulous guide. We enjoyed the experience and all the history and stories. Highly recommend.
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| Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour | 2–3 hours | 4.4 (63) | $136 | |
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 Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Gardens Access | 1h 30min | 4.6 (714) | $97 | View |
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 Versailles Full Tour: Palace, Gardens & Marie-Antoinette’s Estate | 7 hours | 4.5 (403) | $166 | View |
from$136
4.4(63) Free cancellation