In the last post, we discussed the incredible, extravagant and beautiful Versailles, the iconic former royal palace that is located in the suburbs of Paris. With no expense spared, art everywhere, stunning gardens and lots to see, it makes for an immensely popular tourist destination. However, this also means that it is often mobbed by tourists and this can make your experience of the place more nightmarish than dreamlike. Here are our top tips on how to visit Versailles and enjoy it. Just find a vacation rental in Paris, keep these things in mind and have a great trip!
1. Tickets
If you don't want to line up for over an hour, the easiest way to ensure a smooth visit to Versailles is to purchase your tickets in advance from the palace’s official website. You will still have to queue but you'll get to join the ticket holders' line, which moves much more quickly.
2. When to go
Try and arrive at 9am when the palace opens to avoid peak crowds but also as the estate is incredibly vast, you'll need the time. Otherwise, you can arrive in the late afternoon when the crowd starts to taper off and you can even stick around to take in the special evening shows or an opera that take place in the summer.
3. Pack a lunchtime
You'll need energy to make your way all around the estate so pack a lunch to save money and keep you going!
4. Summer
It might be a good idea to try and avoid summer visits, at all, if you can help it! Crowds will be at their fullest.
5. Fountains
The fountains are only turned on a few times a week and it's something to try and make time to see. They are turned on on Saturday and Sunday, from March to the end of October and Tuesdays from late May to late June, twice a day 11am to noon and 3.30pm to 5pm.
6. What to visit
Make time to visit the famous palace and gardens but it might also be a good idea to set aside time to stop by Marie Antoinette’s personal country village where she dressed like a maid and milked cows and the other palaces, the Petit Trianon and Trianon Palaces.
7. Give yourself time
You can just take a couple of hours to see the palace itself but, if you want to really explore the estate, it might be an idea to set aside a whole day as it is massive!
Now that you know the insider tips and tricks, get planning your trip to Versailles and take in its incredible beauty for yourself.
If you don't want to line up for over an hour, the easiest way to ensure a smooth visit to Versailles is to purchase your tickets in advance from the palace’s official website. You will still have to queue but you'll get to join the ticket holders' line, which moves much more quickly.
2. When to go
Try and arrive at 9am when the palace opens to avoid peak crowds but also as the estate is incredibly vast, you'll need the time. Otherwise, you can arrive in the late afternoon when the crowd starts to taper off and you can even stick around to take in the special evening shows or an opera that take place in the summer.
3. Pack a lunchtime
You'll need energy to make your way all around the estate so pack a lunch to save money and keep you going!
4. Summer
It might be a good idea to try and avoid summer visits, at all, if you can help it! Crowds will be at their fullest.
5. Fountains
The fountains are only turned on a few times a week and it's something to try and make time to see. They are turned on on Saturday and Sunday, from March to the end of October and Tuesdays from late May to late June, twice a day 11am to noon and 3.30pm to 5pm.
6. What to visit
Make time to visit the famous palace and gardens but it might also be a good idea to set aside time to stop by Marie Antoinette’s personal country village where she dressed like a maid and milked cows and the other palaces, the Petit Trianon and Trianon Palaces.
7. Give yourself time
You can just take a couple of hours to see the palace itself but, if you want to really explore the estate, it might be an idea to set aside a whole day as it is massive!
Now that you know the insider tips and tricks, get planning your trip to Versailles and take in its incredible beauty for yourself.