The magnificent former Royal residence of Versailles is located less than 20km outside Paris and is a must-do when in the city. The spectacular Hall of Mirrors, the estate of Marie Antoinette and the lush manicured gardens will invoke a sense of awe from the moment you pass through the gates of the Palace.
If you are planning to visit, you may be wondering how to get to Versailles from Paris – having made the journey many times we wanted to share our guide on how to get to Versailles from Paris.
How to get to Versailles from Paris
Located less than 20km outside of Paris, the Palace of Versailles is easy to reach from the city. It’s one of the best trips from Paris and there are a few options for getting to Versailles from Paris.
If you want a quick overview of the best ways to get from Paris to Versailles, they are:
- Train: RER C to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche
- Guided tour: click here for tour prices!
- Train + bike: check prices here!
- Rental car – – check rental car prices now!
- E-bike from Paris – check prices here!
- Public Bus – RAPT Bus 171 from Pont de Sèvres
How to get to Versailles from Paris: if you are visting Versailles independently then remember, you will need to purchase tickets to Versailles to enter the Palace (where the incredible Hall of Mirrors is located). It is best to purchase Versailles tickets in advance or you will end up waiting in long lines for access to the Palace of Versailles. Make sure to reserve a timed entry, skip-the-line ticket – check prices here!
Book your Versailles skip the line ticket now
Paris Museum Pass
If you’re spending time sightseeing in Paris it’s worth considering the Paris Museum pass. It is a fantastic ticket that gives you entry to over 50 monuments and museums in Paris, including the Palace of Versailles. The Paris Museum Pass has 2,4 or 6-day options and is a great way to save time and money when visiting Paris. Note: you still need to make a free timed reservation for the Palace of Versailles with your Paris Museum Pass).
We purchased a Paris Museum Pass on a recent visit to Paris and it was such great value as we used it at so many places across the city – it includes unmissable Paris sights including the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, the Conciergerie Royal Palace, Versailles, the Arc du Triomphe and Sainte-Chapelle – check prices now!
Buy your Paris Museum Pass now
How to get to Versailles from Paris tip: you will still need to reserve a timed entry slot to the Palace of Versailles with a Paris Museum Pass for guaranteed entry on a specific day.
1 | Train to Versailles from Paris
Versailles is within easy reach of Paris by train and this is one of the least expensive options for visiting Versailles from Paris (tickets for the 3 trains lines are less than €5). It is the most popular way to get to Versailles from Paris and also allows you to explore Versailles on your own schedule.
Note, if you want to explore the Palace (where the incredible Hall of Mirrors is located) you will need to purchase tickets to Versailles. It is best to purchase Versailles tickets in advance or you will end up waiting in long lines for access to the Palace. Make sure to reserve timed entry, skip-the-line tickets – check prices now!
Book your Versailles Skip the Line ticket now
There are 3 train stations within a 20-minute walk of Versailles. The most convenient arrival station is the Versailles Chateau River Gauche, which is a 10-minute walk to the palace. The 3 stations are:
Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche
The closest train station to Versailles, it is a 10-minute walk to the Palace.
It is serviced by the RER C which runs through central Paris and operates frequently – there are stops near Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, Invalides and Champs de Mars (Eiffel Tower). This train is convenient for many visitors to Paris as it passes through many of the main tourist areas. The journey is between 60 and 90 minutes depending on where you join the line.
RER tickets from Paris to Versailles cost €5 and can be purchased from ticket machines or ticket counters in the station. Make sure to select Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche as the destination.
Versailles Rive Droite
SNCF trains from Gare Saint Lazare arrive at Versailles Rive Droite station, a 17-minute walk to Versailles. Gare Saint Lazare is in the 8th arrondissement and is located a few minutes from the department store Galeries Lafayette. The journey is around 45 minutes from Gare Saint Lazare.
Versailles Chantiers
SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse arrive at Versailles Chantiers station, an 18-minute walk to Versailles. Gare Montparnasse is located in the 14th and 15th arrondissements and is convenient for those staying in the south of the city. It is close to the Montparnasse Tower (check it out here), home to one of the best observation decks in Paris. The train journey takes about 50 minutes.
How to get to Versailles from Paris:If you are comfortable with any of the 3 walking distances (up to 20 minutes walking) then you can choose whichever train is convienient to your accomadation. If you prefer a shorter walk then check the best route to get on the RER C to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche.
2 | Guided Tour to Versailles from Paris
Many visitors to Paris choose to travel to Versailles on a guided tour. A tour is a great option for first-time visitors to Versailles as everything is taken care of from start to finish. The tours generally include round-trip transportation by coach from central Paris, skip-the-line tickets for entrance to the Palace of Versailles and a 2-hour guided tour of the Palace (and often the Gardens).
Book your Versailles guided tour from Paris
You can also combine a tour of Versailles with a visit to Monets Gardens. Monet’s Gardens are home to Monet’s house, the stunning flower gardens and the infamous water lily pond which Monet painted so often. A visit to Versailles and Monet’s Gardens makes for a wonderful day – check prices here!
3 | Train to Versailles and Bike Tour of Versailles
With the Versailles gardens encompassing almost 2,000 acres touring them by bicycle is a fantastic option! One of the most popular Versailles tours is a combination of train and bike and we highly recommend this tour. We did this hugely popular train and bike combo tour on one of our first summer trips to Paris and it remains as one of our favourite days in Paris – check Versailles bike tour prices here!
Book your Versailles bike tour
The tour includes a guide for the full tour duration starting in Paris (the tour meets close to the Eiffel Tower), RER train tickets from Paris – Versailles – Paris, bike rental (bikes are collected close to the Palace of Versailles), and a guided tour of Versailles Palace and gardens (including skip the line tickets to the Palace of Versailles). One of the first stops after collecting your bike at Versailles is at a local village market to pick up supplies for a picnic lunch. This bike and train combo tour makes for a wonderful day.
How to get to Versailles from Paris: the bike tours typically cover around 10 miles on relatively flat ground so a moderate level of fitness is required.
4 | Drive to Versailles from Paris
It’s a straightforward drive to Versailles from central Paris and we did this on our most recent visit.
We’ve driven both our own car and a rental car in Paris and throughout France. Renting a car in France is one of the best ways to explore the country and a day trip to Versailles can be combined with a visit to the beautiful Monets Gardens – check prices now!
The Palace of Versailles is around a 1-hour drive from Paris city centre in regular traffic and there is lots of parking available right outside the palace’s front gates at the Place d’Armes.
If you want to stay overnight at Versailles then the Novotel Chateau de Versailles is a great option. It is modern, and clean and is a 15-minute walk from Versailles. We stayed here on ourmmost recent visit to Versailles and it was perfect – check prices here!
Book your stay at Versailles now
How to Get to Versailles from Paris tip: If you are planning to visit Versailles by car we recommend arriving earlier in the day. The parking lot directly in front of the palace gates can get full by the afternoon on busy days.
5 | By E-Bike From Paris
A wonderfully unique way to travel to Versailles is by cycling from Paris. Versailles is 16 kilometres out of Paris and can be easily reached by electric bike. There are some fantastic tours available which include electric bike rental and a full guided tour from Paris – check e-bike tour prices here!
The journey to Versailles by bike is beautiful. It starts on a cycle path along the Seine and passes through Parc de Saint Cloud, the small village of Manes-la-Coquette and the Fausses-Reposes forest before arriving at Versailles. It is also possible to make this journey by regular bike but you will need to budget at least a couple of hours each way for the bike ride.
Book e-bike tour from Versaille to Paris
6 | Public Bus from Paris to Versailles
The RAPT Bus 171 runs from Pont de Sèvres bus terminal (the last stop on Metro line 9) to Versailles. The journey takes around 30 minutes but this is dependent on traffic on the day.
You can transfer to Metro Line 9 from the stations at the following lines: Metro Line 1 (Franklin D Roosevelt), Line 4 (Strasbourg St Denis), Line 5 (Oberkampf), 6 (Trocadéro), 8 (Richelieu Drouot), 10 (Michel Ange), 11 (Havre Caumartin) and 13 (Miromesnil).
Tickets cost €2.10 if purchased in advance of boarding the bus (you an purchase from the Metro vending machines and ticket windows) or €2.50 if purchased on board the bus. If you use a combination of Metro and Bus then you will need two tickets at €5.
Tips for visiting the Palace of Versailles
Other information you might need to know about visiting Versailles:
Versailles Opening Hours
The Palace of Versailles and the estate of Trianon (Marie-Antoinette’s estate) are open Tuesday to Sunday – both are closed on Mondays. The Palace opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:30pm and the estate of Trianon opens at 12pm. The last admission is 5.00pm.
The gardens and park are open every day from 8am to 6pm.
Do I need a ticket for Versailles?
A ticket is required for entry to both the Palace of Versailles and the Estate of Trianon. It is best to purchase Versailles tickets in advance or you will end up waiting in long lines for access to the Palace. Make sure to reserve timed entry, skip-the-line ticket- reserve Versailles skip-the-line tickets here!
Book your Versailles tickets now
A ticket is not required for access to the park and garden unless it there is a fountain show or musical garden day scheduled.
How long does it take to get to Versailles by train?
The RER C takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on which station you depart from in central Paris. The journey is around 45 minutes from Gare Saint Lazare and 50 minutes from Gare Montparnasse.
How much time do I need at Versailles?
It takes us 2 to 3 hours to visit the Palace and another few hours to explore the gardens – we usually rent a golf cart to travel through the gardens as they are huge!
When is the best time to visit Versailles?
With over 10 million visitors every year Versailles tends to be busy most days!
Saturday and Sunday tend to be the most crowded days at Versailles. Tuesday morning is also a busy time with the Palace and Marie Antionette’s Estate being closed on Monday.
We like to book tickets for first thing in the morning when visitors first start to enter the Palace – we go straight to the Hall of Mirrors when it is at its quietest.
What are the must-sees in Versailles?
There’s so much to see and do in Versailles it’s hard to squeeze it all into a one-day visit. Our favourite must-sees in Versailles are:
Palace of Versailles: The Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, the State Apartments and the artwork throughout the Palace
Gardens of Versailles: Apollo Basin, the symmetrical landscaping in the Orangery, Grand Canal (rowboats can be rented on Grand Canal if you have time). Depending on when you travel to Versailles experience the Musical Fountains and Night Fountains Shows are wonderful to experience as is the extended garden access during the Musical Gardens.
Estate of Trianon: Petit Trianon (associated with Marie Antionette), Grand Trianon and the Hamlet
