Palace of Versailles: a day at the kings’ palace.

Versailles with the JARI community.

Which ticket, which day, how to avoid the crowds and the summer RER closure: ask the community and JARI pros.

The Passport ticket.

The simplest option: the Passport covers the whole estate (palace, Hall of Mirrors, gardens, Trianon estate). €32 on Musical Fountains/Gardens days, cheaper on other days and for EU/EEA residents. Free for under-18s and EU residents under 26. Book a timed slot online — it’s required.

Must-sees.

• The Hall of Mirrors (357 mirrors): arrive at opening, it fills up fast.
• The King’s and Queen’s State Apartments.
• Le Nôtre’s gardens, vast and free (except on show days).
• The Trianon estate and especially the Queen’s Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine), Marie-Antoinette’s rustic village — far quieter, often missed by groups. Trianon-only ticket: €12.

Fountains set to music.

The Musical Fountains (fountains running to Baroque music) take place on Saturdays and Sundays, from 3 April to 1 November 2026 — gardens ticket €10.50. On weekdays (Tue–Fri), it’s the Musical Gardens (€10). A real show, book if you can.

Getting there (and the summer trap).

Take the RER C to “Versailles Château – Rive Gauche”, then a 10-min walk (35–45 min from Paris). Note: the RER C line is closed 15 July–22 August 2026 — take the train from Paris-Montparnasse (Versailles Chantiers) or Paris-Saint-Lazare (Versailles Rive Droite) instead.

JARI tip.

Versailles is closed on Mondays. And on Tuesdays, since the Louvre is closed, many switch to Versailles — often the busiest day, so avoid it. Best plan: arrive at opening (9am) for the palace, picnic in the gardens, then rent a bike or a boat on the Grand Canal in the afternoon. Allow a full day.

Useful links.

• Château de Versailles (officiel)
• Château de Versailles — Google Maps