Versailles Palace Guided Tour and Garden Visit from Paris

Step into French royal life, explore breathtaking gardens, and enjoy roundtrip coach transportation

Travel Flexibly

4.9 / 5 See All 229 Reviews

· 6.00h · Paris, France

Versailles is one of the most iconic landmarks in France, but its popularity often means long waits and crowded spaces. This tour ensures you bypass the lines, giving you more time to explore the majestic palace and its spectacular gardens. With an expert guide, you'll uncover the fascinating history of Versailles, enjoying a smooth, stress-free experience that allows you to fully immerse yourself in its beauty.

Versailles Palace Guided Tour and Garden Visit from Paris

Skip the Line at the Palace of Versailles

Meeting point
Versailles Palace
 Hall of Mirrors
Grand Apartments

Versailles Palace Splendor
Gardens of Versailles
Fountains of Versailles
This tour ends at Porte Maillot

Your tour conveniently starts in front of the Church Notre-Dame de Compassion, where you’ll meet your guide and private coach for your ride to Versailles. First, you’ll skip the long lines to enjoy a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, then you and your group will proceed to the historic Versailles Gardens, listening to stories of France’s glamorous monarchy, exploring hidden groves, and enjoying thousands of flowers. Afterward, you’ll have some free time to explore Versailles at your own pace.

Versailles Palace Guided Tour and Garden Visit from Paris Description

Your 6-hour tour includes:

English Speaking Guide
Guided tour of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles
Skip-the-line entry to the Palace of Versailles
Round-trip transportation by coach from Paris to Versailles
Headsets if needed

Transportation from Paris to Versailles

Don’t worry about having to navigate public transportation on your own. You will meet your guide and fellow travelers in front of the Church Notre-Dame de Compassion, where you’ll start your hassle-free journey to Versailles by private coach transportation. Once you arrive and see the hours-long lines, you’ll be thrilled that you purchased your skip-the-line tickets to the château ahead of time.

Skip-the-Line Tickets and Tour of the Palace of Versailles

After arriving in front of the massive Versailles Palace, you are sure to be mesmerized by its appearance. Your expert guide, well-versed in the palace's rich history, will usher you into a world of regal splendor, as part of your fully guided experience. Say "au revoir" to long lines, as with your skip-the-line tickets you’ll be able to head straight past the typically long lines to start exploring the beautiful Palace of Versailles.

Inside, you’ll be able to marvel at the palace’s iconic highlights and learn all about its history. For example, the famous Hall of Mirrors is adorned with 357 mirrors that protected the walls from smoke from the fireplaces, and you may recognize this area from its beautiful chandeliers and golden statues. This great hall is most renowned, however, for serving as the location of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

As you traverse the opulent halls, the journey continues with the Grand Apartments, a suite of rooms that once housed the French royal family. Enter the lavish chambers adorned with sumptuous tapestries, ornate furniture, and gilded moldings. Each room exudes a distinct ambiance, from the opulence of the King's Bedchamber to the refined elegance of the Queen's Chamber.

Continue your exploration into the State Rooms, and marvel at the intricately designed Throne Room, where monarchs held court in splendor.

Explore the Beautiful Versailles Gardens

Having immersed yourself in the palace's grandeur, the journey continues through the Versailles Gardens. Your guide will lead you through the highlights of the gardens, explaining the fascinating history behind the fountains, groves, and overall design.

You may think that the manicured Gardens of Versailles are just a beautiful addition to the Palace of Versailles itself, but King Louis XIV considered the entire property to be just as important as the château itself. He entrusted the design and renovation of the gardens to André Le Nôtre—one of the most famous landscape architects of his time.

For many, the outstanding feature of the gardens is the Grand Canal, a reflecting pool in the center of the gardens. Although the reflecting pool is technically asymmetrical, it appeared perfectly symmetrical when King Louis XIV stood at the foot of the basin, which is why it was designed this way.

As the tour concludes and you return lace de la Porte Maillot in Paris, relish the opportunity to meander through the exquisite gardens at your own pace for a little more. Enjoy a moment of tranquility by the Grand Canal or explore hidden corners, soaking in the ambiance that once captivated royalty, before heading back to Paris.

show full description

What you get with this tour

Friendly English-speaking guide
Roundtrip transportation
Entrance tickets for Château de Versailles
Gardens of the Palace of Versailles
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Group size of 25 people
Hotel pick up and drop off
Guide gratuities
Food and beverages

See what people are saying

229 total reviews

Leave a review

4.9/5 (based on 229 reviews)

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

05 October 2025

Reviewed by
Erin Marthaler

So easy and so informational

24 September 2025

Reviewed by
Kimi Takazawa

Would not have done it any other way. The luxury bus was comfortable and got us to the palace so quickly. Our tour guide exceeded expectations and we gained so much knowledge about the palace!

Great tour guide!

16 September 2025

Reviewed by
Helen Shinn

show more reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

We recommend bringing a bottle of water with you since you’ll be outside in the gardens for much of this tour. You’ll also need to make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen on sunny days or a jacket or umbrella if it looks like rain.

What to bring?

Is a guided tour of the gardens included?

No. The visit to the gardens is self guided

How much walking does this tour involve?

Quite a lot. Aside from the train ride, you’ll be on your feet for most of the tour, and you’ll climb a few sets of stairs too.

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

If you have concerns about your mobility, we suggest taking a Private Golden Versailles Palace and Garden Tour so we can better accommodate your needs.

Is lunch included with this tour?

Lunch isn’t included, but food can be purchased at Versailles Palace or in town. Your guide will be happy to offer some recommendations.

Is this tour run by the Tour Guy?

This tour is run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Paris.

What happens if it rains?

We run our Versailles tours rain or shine.

Is there any chance this tour will be canceled?

On the rare occasion the tour is canceled, we'll inform you as soon as possible. We will work with you to reschedule your tour when possible or provide a full refund.

Can I bring my kids and do I have to pay for them?

Yes, kids are welcome and children under 14 years of age pay a discounted fee, while infants under 1 year of age can join for free. It is strongly recommended to bring your own infant or child seat to ensure the safety of your child.

Is this tour always held by coach?

Most of the time, yes. On some occasions, transportation will be handled by train, allowing you to avoid traffic.

Will I have to wait in line?

This tour includes skip-the-line tickets to Versailles Palace. On occasions, and due to increased security measures in Paris, some lines may form during security checks.

Where does this tour end?

This tour ends at the initial meeting point in front of the Church Notre-Dame de Compassion.

Can we meet at Versailles?

Unfortunately due to the timing and logistics of this tour, it is not possible to meet up with your guide at Versailles. If you are looking for a tour that starts at Versailles, we recommend our From Versailles: Palace and Gardens Tour