VERSAILLES PALACE WITH KIDS | VERSAILLES, FRANCE

An overwhelming display of wealth and power, Versailles Palace is an incredible achievement and deserves to rub shoulders with other great World Heritage sites. With over 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2, allow an entire day to bask in the opulence of French Royalty. Louis XIII’s old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the Court and government there in 1682.

There is something for everyone, art work, gardens, take a boat ride on the man made lake, a range of restaurants to dine in, get lost in the giant garden maze…one day isn’t enough! One of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art.  A succession of kings continued to embellish the Palace up until the French Revolution.

BOOKING YOUR TRIP

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Peak season is from April 1st to October 31st, with the off season being classed as 1st November to March 31st. We visited in June with a 6 month old baby and arrived first thing in the morning. We only had to queue for 10 minutes and purchased out tickets from the ticket office before heading to the room of mirrors. When we were leaving, the queue was almost out of the gates! So whatever time of year you intend on visiting, we would recommend arriving promptly to avoid queuing, and to make the most of the day. The palace is open everyday, apart from Monday. Strollers and prams are not allowed inside the palace buildings (excluding restaurants/cafes). There is a system where you leave your pram and belongings and receive a ticket, which you then collect upon your exit. But you can enter the gardens for free!

LOCATION

The official address of the Palace, is Chateau De Palace, Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France. You can put this into your SatNav or iPhone and walk there, if you are staying in Versailles.

BY RER C OR SNCF TRAIN

Purchase two ticket (two-way trip) from your point of departure to the Versailles train station, or use a pass (Navigo, Mobilis or Paris Visite) covering zones 1 to 4, if you come from Paris.
T+ tickets cannot be used for this journey.

RER C and SNCF train times are available on www.transilien.com

SHUTTLE

Versailles Express offers transport to the Palace of Versailles from the Eiffel Tower in Paris from Tuesday to Sunday:

  • Departure at 7.45 am, return at 3.15 pm.
  • Departure at 9.45 am, return at 3.15 pm.
  • Departure at 1.30 am, return at 6 pm.

Take the bus in Paris from Port de la Bourdonnais: parking Bateaux Parisiens, at the base of the Eiffel Tower on the banks of the Seine.

Book now at www.versaillesexpress.com

BUS

The RATP bus line 171 runs between Pont de Sèvres (terminus of the Paris metro line 9) and the Palace of Versailles in 30 minutes without traffic.
T+ tickets can be used for this journey.
Journey times and routes available on the RATP website

The TRI bus of the Versailles Phébus network runs between the Versailles Chantiers train station, Versailles Château Rive Gauche train station, the Palace of Versailles, the Versailles Rive Droite train station and the Palaces of Trianon (terminus “Les Trianons”).
Journey times and routes available on www.phebus.tm.fr

ACCESS

From the A13 motorway, take exit no.5 Versailles Centre and follow the signs for the Palace of Versailles.
GPS coordinates for the Palace of Versailles: 48.48’17N and 2.07’15E

PAID PARKING

There are several paying car parks. See the access and parking possibilities on the interactive map
In front of the Palace: Place d’Armes cars and coaches – open 24 hours a day.
In the park: at the Grand Canal, Petit Trianon, Grand Trianon, Queen’s Hamlet. Parking for coaches only at the Trianon crossroads – paying access via:

  • The Queen’s Gate, open for vehicles from 9am to 4.50pm or 5.50pm (in low or high season respectively)
  • The Saint Anthony’s Gate, open for vehicles from 9am to 5.50pm (only on weekends during high season)

PARKING AND DISABLED ACCESS

All types of admission and parking listed above are free upon presentation of proof of disability (disability card or European disabled parking permit), with reserved parking spaces.
In addition to these car parks, the car park at the Neptune Gate is reserved for disabled people.
Upon presentation of proof of disability, you may park or be dropped off right next to the Palace in the Main Courtyard near entrance B.

ACCESS

  • via the Queen’s Gate 
  • via the Sailors’ Gate 
  • via the Saint Anthony Gate 
  • via the Royal Star Gate, from June to October 

All about cycling in the Estate of Versailles here.

OPENING HOURS

THE PALACE

Open every day except on Mondays
and 1 May
Opening times: 9.00 am – 6.30 pm
Last admission: 6.00 pm
Ticket office closes at 5.50 pm

THE ESTATE OF TRIANON

Open every day except on Mondays
and 1 May
Opening times: 12.00 pm – 6.30pm

Last admission: 6.00 pm
Ticket office closes at 5.50 pm

The gardens close at 7.30
(evacuation begins at 7.00 pm)

THE COACH GALLERY 

Open every day except on Mondays
and 1 May
Opening times: 12.30 pm – 6.30 pm
Last admission: 5.45 pm

THE GARDENS

Open every day from 8.00 am to 8.30 pm
Last admission: 7.00 pm
save exceptional weather (snow, violent winds…)

Pedestrian access via:

  • The Main Gate (8.00 am – 8.30pm, last admission at 7.00 pm)
  • The Dragon Gate (open every day from 12.00 am to 7.00 pm, last admission 6.30 pm)
  • The Neptune Gate
  • The Menagerie Gate
  • The Little Venice Gate

The Gardens close exceptionally at 5.30pm on Sundays 27th and Tuesday 29th October.

THE PARK

Open every day from 7.00 am to 8.30 pm
save exceptional weather (snow, violent winds…)

Pedestrian access via:

  • The Main Gate (8.00 am – 8.30pm, last admission at 7.00 pm)
  • The Queen’s Gate (7.00 am – 8.30 pm, last admission at 8.00 pm)
  • The Sailors’ Gate (7.30 am – 7.30 pm, last admission at 7.00 pm)
  • The Saint Anthony’s Gate (7.30 am – 7.30 pm, last admission at 7.00)
  • Grille of the royal star, accessible from June to October (9.30 am – 7 pm, last access at 6.30 pm)

Access for vehicles via:

  • The Queen’s Gate (9.00 am – last admission 5.50 pm)
  • The Saint Anthony’s Gate (only on weekends and holidays, 9.00 am – last admission 5.50 pm).

THE ESTATE OF MARLY

Open every day from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm

Extended hours on Saturdays and Sundays 
until 9.30 pm from mid-May to early September,
and up to 8.30 pm until mid-September

The Estate of Marly will be closed for the cars Saturday 22th June, from 7:30 am to 6:pm.

TICKETS

Access to the Palace and the estate of Trianon is free for visitors under 18 (or under 26 residing in the EU). Warning: on the days of the Fountains Shows and Musical Gardens, the access to the gardens is free only for children from 0 to 5 years old.

You have two basic options, a passport that has a timed entrance into the Palace and a passport that does not.

PARKING

Most of the time you have to pay to park in the street in east Versailles. There is plenty of street parking near to the main gates of the Palace, a 10 minute walk if you’re lucky enough to secure one. Again, visiting first thing in the morning will improve your chances of getting street parking, near to the attraction. We recommend that you park your car in one of the outdoor or underground car parks, which have around 3,000 spaces:

PLACE D’ARMES CAR PARK

15 minutes of parking: €1 (for the first 4 hours of parking)
15 minutes of parking: €0.50 (after the first 4 hours of parking)
Lost ticket: €30 (per day vehicle is present)

PARKING A CAMPERVAN

Avenue de Sceaux car park valid during the day.
At night campervans must go to the Versailles campsite (open from March to October)
Fiche Apidae :
Huttopia Versailles

PLACE D’ARMES CAR PARK

– Coaches with less than 25 seats: No subscription: €40 – With subscription: €25
– Coaches with more than 25 seats: No subscription: €60 – With subscription: €49
– Large-capacity double-decker coaches: No subscription: €70 – With subscription: €49
There is a drop-off zone (10 minutes maximum) in the car park for setting groups down close to the Palace.Car park in the Palace Park

Accessed via Boulevard de la Reine.
Parking available in Allée de Bailly and near Grand Trianon.
Admission: €30

DISABLED PARKING

Drop-off possible by car and bus near Entrance B of the Palace of Versailles, located in the Cour d’Honneur.
Nearby, car parking at Place d’Armes with reserved spaces.
One reserved space opposite Versailles Tourist Information Centre
Google map of disabled parking spaces

ACCOMMODATION



Booking.com

DINING

There are plenty of dining options, ranging in price. Of course, you can bring your own food and drink and enjoy a picnic in the grounds for free. Here is a summary of the eateries

NAPPY CHANGE FACILITIES

In the Palace, there are toilets and changing tables before the ticket checks in the South Ministers’ Wing and after the ticket checks in the basement of the Dufour Pavilion (Entrance A). Other toilets are located in the basement of the Gabriel Pavilion (Entrance B) and at the end of the History Gallery.

From the gardens, there are toilets at your disposal next to the Dauphin’s Grove, next to the Girandole Grove and in the Park at Little Venice.

At the palaces of Trianon, there are toilets and changing tables outside the Grand Trianon in the Park. Other toilets can be found at the Petit Trianon before the ticket checks, as well as in the Queen’s Hamlet.

STROLLER ACCESS

You can use your pram/stroller almost everywhere. Outside is no issue, but inside the actual palace you will be directed to a check in desk and asked to leave large bags and your pram. You are issued with a ticket and can collect once you have made your way through the building, this can be time consuming and if your baby is heavy, use a baby carrier. Or reins if they are walking, the rooms can be very busy with small walkways to navigate.

TIPS

  • The Palace is open every day except on Mondays from 9:00 am, but the estate of Trianon and the Coach Gallery only open in the afternoon.
  • The Park and Gardens are open every day. Access to the Gardens is free except on days of fountains shows.
  • You can access the estate of Trianon through the Gardens or through the city. 
  • There are three train stations in Versailles, the closest one of the Palace is Versailles Château Rive Gauche.  
  • Pushchairs, metal baby carriers, … must be deposited at the free left luggage. 

UPON ARRIVAL

THE PALACE

Queues can be lengthy if you don’t arrive early, and with plenty to do and see, make the most of your visit by preparing beforehand. We would recommend viewing inside first, the quieter it is the more enjoyable you will find it. You can take your time and get lost inside, which is easily done a there are over 250 rooms! Toilets are few and far between, and with small doorways and plenty of international visitors, you may find it frustrating to navigate once the building begins to fill up. Personally, we went straight to the room of mirrors (right at the end – typical!) and then took our time walking back.

If you haven’t booked tickets online, the ticket office is on your left and well sign posted. I ALWAYS recommend buying tickets beforehand, reduces stress. The gardens are free to enjoy, so take advantage if you and your family aren’t really interested in art. The grounds are huge and you can spend hours wandering through the maze like hedges or rent little boat to really relax.

SHOP

A gift shop is present and you can purchase the standard tourist gifts. Overpriced and not enough staff.

BLOG FRANCE

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