Palace of Versailles: A Day Trip Guide From Paris

Hall of Mirrors

History

This UNESCO World Heritage Site began as a hunting lodge, built by King Louis XIII. However, his successor, Louis XIV, transformed the lodge into the glorious château that it is today. Thereafter, it became inhabited by a succession of numerous kings, who continued to contribute to its grandeur. Today, the palace spans over 63,100 square meters and comprises of 2,300 rooms.

How to get to Palace of Versailles

You can easily get to Versailles from Paris by train or car. By train, it will take approximately 45 minutes. In Paris, you will take the RER C line to get to the Château de Versailles. When purchasing your tickets, select Versailles-Château – Rive Gauche as your destination. Once you depart the train, you will see several signs leading you to the palace. From here, it is only about a 10-minute walk.

Things to do at Palace of Versailles

If you're visiting Paris, I highly recommend taking a day trip to the Palace of Versailles. You'll want enough time to visit its expansive gardens, stables, estate, chapel, and of course—the palace itself.

• The Palace: The palace is incredibly grandiose—the intricacy of all the rooms was jaw-dropping.

• Hall of Mirrors: This room is made up of marbled walls, golden sculptures, and of course, mirrors. The ceiling is lined with chandeliers and detailed with paintings.

• The Gardens: You could spend hours getting lost in The Gardens. There are numerous fountains, sculptures, and trees—over 200,000 trees and 50 fountains to be exact.

• Other spots: Additional attractions to check out that Kevin and I didn't get a chance to include the Estate of Trianon, the Royal Stables, and the Royal Chapel.

Tips

• Buy your tickets in advance here.

• Get here as early as possible, or even later in the day to avoid the crowds. Expect a 2+ hour wait during high season, even with tickets.

The Gardens

Room inside Palace of Versailles