All about the Palace of Versailles Opening Hours and How Much Time to Set Aside for Your Visit

Covering an area of 800 hectares, Versailles is a huge space with many different things to see. Its palace buildings, museums, gardens... Sometimes, each of these attractions has a different timetable. This is something you should know so that your visit to Versailles is as organised as possible and you can avoid any unforeseen events. In this article I will show you everything you need to know about the opening hours of Versailles.

The entire site includes several elements. The best known are undoubtedly the Palace of Versailles and the gardens. However, there is much more, such as the palace outbuildings known as the Trianons, as well as some very special gardens in the Queen's Village.

There are so many things to see that you should plan your visit well. To do this, you can first decide what you want to see. Maybe you just want to stroll through the gardens with your family. Or you may be an art lover and want to immerse yourself in the sumptuous Classicist Baroque of its palaces. In any case, to help you organise your visit to Versailles, I recommend you check here how to make the most of your time in Versailles. In any case, this is the average time you will need to visit each of its attractions:

• Palace of Versailles: between 1.5 and 2 hours.
• Stroll through the Gardens of Versailles: 2 hours
• Visit to the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen's Village: 1 hour.

As we will see below, not all of them open at the same time. In fact, they are staggered. This is a fact that we should be aware of in order to organise ourselves better.

We begin with the jewel in the crown of Versailles, its magnificent palace. A masterpiece of French Classicist Baroque and, without a doubt, the must-see attraction if you visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opening times vary depending on the time of year. Make a note of them:

• April to October: between 9:00 and 18:30.
• Opening hoursfrom November to March: between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm.
• Closing time for admission: half an hour before closing time.
• Closing days: Mondays (weekly rest day, 25 December and 1 January).

If you want to know everything that awaits you inside, discover the things to see at the Palace of Versailles. A practical tip is to check how you're going to get to Versailles from Paris. If you plan ahead, you will be able to control your arrival time and better plan the time you are going to set aside to get to know Versailles.

I also advise you, to avoid surprises with the timetables, to bear in mind that you will have to go through a checkpoint when you get in. In general, this will not delay your visit to the Palace. However, you should bear this in mind, especially in case there are people waiting their turn before you.

But if you want to go with the utmost peace of mind and not have any surprises with the timetables, a very good option is to book a guided tour of the Palace with an excursion from Paris. This way you will only have to worry about enjoying yourself and you won't have to waste time.

The "Domaines de Trianon" are the attractions that form part of two palace buildings separate from the Grand Palais. These are two very interesting buildings that are also worth a visit. They are authentic fairytale constructions; a must-see especially if you are visiting Versailles with children. They are as follows:

• The Grand Trianon
• The Petit Trianon
• The Queen's Village (gardens included in the Petit Trianon).

The opening hours of these palaces are as follows:

• April to October: from 12:00 noon to 6:30 pm;
• Opening hours fromNovember to March: from 12:00 to 17:30;
• Closing time for admission: half an hour before closing time;
• Closing days: Mondays (rest day), 25 December and 1 January.

The Trianon domains are the area that opens the latest. You can take this fact into account when organising your visit: the gardens open first, then the Palace of Versailles and, lastly, the Domaine de Trianon.

Just one piece of information that will help you to organise your time better and optimise your visit to Versailles. The Trianons, although small, have a lot to see and admire. A quick visit, but with a focus on what is important, could take you about 1 hour. This visit could be extended even further, especially if you feel like exploring the Queen's Village in depth.

The Gardens of Versailles are another major attraction not to be missed. It has different opening hours. In fact, it opens one hour before the Palace of Versailles and 4 hours before the Domains of Trianon.

The opening hours are as follows:

• Opening hours from November to March: from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Opening hours fromApril to October: 8:00 am to 6:30 pm
• Opening days: open every day of the year.
• Closing: if weather conditions are very bad, they may be closed.

I advise you to set aside about two hours to visit, as there is much, much to enjoy. Here you can find out what to see in the Gardens of Versailles. Your visit may also be extended if you consider having a picnic in the picnic areas (especially the area around the Grand Canal and the Pond of the Swiss).

And a tip that might come in handy when visiting the vast expanse of the gardens of Versailles. There are transport services, such as trains and trolleys, which can be used to get around the garden area more quickly. It is worth bearing this in mind, especially if you are travelling with your family or children. In the latter case, it is best to opt for the tourist train.

The Park of Versailles is the expanse of greenery, paths, walkways and flowerbeds that line the sides of the Grand Canal. A pond almost 2 km long is located in front of the Palace.

This is a very popular area in Versailles for strolling, given its peaceful surroundings. And, above all, a view of one of the façades of the Palace that will inspire some of your best photos. As if that weren't enough, you can also get close to the Grand Canal and even spend a pleasant time sailing on board. The opening times are as follows:

• April to October: from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Opening hoursfrom November to March: from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Opening days: every day of the year
• Closing: if the weather conditions are very bad.

To make the best use of your time, it is always useful to know what you are going to eat: do you opt for one of the restaurants or for a food stall? Maybe bring your own food and have a picnic? Here you can check out all the options for where to eat in Versailles.

The Carriages Museum is a 1,000 square metre museum that takes you on a journey through the history of France through its carriages.

Here you can see the vehicles of the kings of France, but also those of other important figures in French history, such as Napoleon and some of the presidents of the Third Republic. If you are planning to visit, remember the opening times:

• Opening hours from April to October: from 12:00 to 18:30.
• Opening hoursfrom November to March: from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
• Closing time for admission: half an hour before closing time.
• Closing days: Mondays (rest day), 25 December and 1 January.

The Grand Eaux is a show that takes place regularly at certain times of the year. It consists of a visit to the gardens of Versailles by night. A walk enlivened by the illuminated fountains and a fireworks display that can be enjoyed from the Grand Canal. If you are interested in this proposal, you only have to take note of the opening hours:

• Opening hours: from 8.30 pm to 11.05 pm
• Event days: every Saturday from 12 June to 18 September, as well as 15 August and 25 September.

However, I recommend that you visit the Versailles website for possible changes in times and days.

A good thing to know, especially if you are visiting Versailles on your own and plan to queue. Here are the closing times for each of the ticket offices for the attractions that require a ticket:

• Palace ticket offices: 4.50pm from November to March and 5.45pm from April to October.
• Trianon Domain ticket offices: 5pm from November to March and 5.50pm from April to October.
• Carriage Museum ticket offices: 4.50pm from November to March and 5.50pm from April to October.

In any case, to avoid queues and to be fully informed of the options available to you, here you can consult everything you need to know about tickets to Versailles.

The grounds of Versailles have several pedestrian access gates. It is also important to be aware of the latest access times.

• Main gate: last access at 5.30pm
• TheQueen's Gate: last access at 17:30
• Puerta del Marinero (Sailor's Gate): last access at 17:30
• San Antonio Gate: last entry at 17:30

Yes, that's right! At Versailles, there are little trains that take you on a leisurely tour of the palace and its gardens. It is called the Train Versailles. It is the perfect way to tour Versailles without tiring yourself out. Or if you are accompanied by elderly people or children for whom a 2-hour ride through the gardens can be exhausting. Here are the opening hours:

• From 1 November to 31 March: first departure at 11.10am and last departure at 5.10pm.
• From 1 April to 31 October: first departure at 11:10 a.m. and last departure at 5:50 p.m.

With all this information in mind, you can be sure to visit Versailles and make the most of your visit. Once you have organised your visit, all you have to do is enjoy its beauties. Art, architecture, landscaping and relaxation are waiting for you.