A trip to Paris is always a good idea; every corner offers a glimpse of history through the ages. But beyond the city’s boundaries are so many other places to discover. Versailles, for instance.
Enchanted by pictures of Versailles, it is easy to imagine and dream of visiting and possibly reliving Marie Antoinette’s past.
When you enter Versailles and see the monumentality and opulence of the Palace, it hits you like a ton of gold (literally, the amount of gold details is slightly overwhelming). The fact that everyone wants to see it is no surprise.
Hence, being on everyone’s itinerary list, it can get crowded. Waiting in line to buy a ticket, missing parts because you didn’t plan ahead or got stuck in a queue can be frustrating. So, having just been on a successful self-organised day trip to Versailles, I compiled all we did into seven easy steps, that made our visit to Versailles stress free, so it can be for you too.
How to visit Versailles
Book online
First tip on how to visit Versailles, we think the best option is to book online before your day trip. Buying in advance ensures you’ll have a ticket and won’t be disappointed. Plus you will avoid any waiting time on the day. Unfortunately, we had trouble using their website, so we booked through Klook instead.
Passport ticket
As a second tip, make sure you purchase a passport ticket that includes the gardens. Due to the rain, we didn’t spend as much time in the gardens as we would have liked. Nevertheless, the gardens are beautiful, and you can easily spend a whole afternoon exploring them, getting lost in the mazes, and marvelling at the fountains.
Also see: 10 must visit Iconic sites in Paris
What to bring with
Third tip, and I am so glad we did bring these. It’s a wise idea to pack an umbrella or poncho, especially if you will be visiting during autumn and winter.
As I mentioned before, it started raining, and if you are out in the gardens, there is no covering, so you will get soaked. The rain came down so hard that my shoes swam, but at least I was dry elsewhere.
To stay hydrated, bring water with you.
Plan your day and be prepared to queue for food
You must plan your day and be prepared to wait in line at restaurants for food. Within the Palace, we stood in line for about 30 minutes at Angelina. There were two queues, one for the lunch menu and the other for snacks and coffee. We chose the coffee and snacks queue because it was shorter and moved faster. They had sandwiches and baguettes at the counter, which was adequate for a light lunch. You can also find a few cafes in the gardens if hunger strikes. But you will have to queue here too. Once again, the coffee queue moved faster. You might even want to go before or after ‘lunch time’ when everyone else also wants to eat.
I prefered the one cafe in the garden. As it was more enjoyable since it was tucked away and relatively peaceful.
More seating
The next tip complements the previous one. At Angeline, you’ll see people searching for a seat or standing at the high tables with their coffee and snacks. However, moving to the back, past the restrooms, another section was only half full and did not become as crowded as we sat.
Don’t forget the gardens
You will undoubtedly enjoy the interior of the Palace, especially the Hall of Mirrors, but make sure not to spend too much time there. It is a must-see garden, with its mesmerising fountains is definitely something you don’t want to miss. Make sure you keep an eye on the closing time.
An easy self organised day trip by train
Last but not least, it’s an easy day trip you can do on your own. Versailles can be reached by train in about 45 minutes from Paris. Followed by a short bus ride or walk to the Palace from the station. We bought our tickets at the Montparnasse station office to ensure they were correct, which cost us less than €8 for a return.
Also see: Best self guided tour of Montmartre- the artist way
Things to take note off
If you go too late, it can get crowded, like really crowded with tour groups shuffling along the halls. So it’s best to arrive early (that typical saying of the early bird catches the worm) and visit the Palace first and then move on to the gardens.
Bonus
All the previous steps would help you plan a trip on how to visit Versailles, but an extra cherry on the top would we to book an afternoon tea at Airelles. They offers a Marie Antoinette high tea that will make your day outing an even more memorable experience. In addition to the set menu, they offer an à la carte menu as well.
A bit of history
Starting with Louis XIV’s move to Versailles in 1682, Versailles served as the official residence of the King of France until 1789. This is when the French Revolution drove the royal family to Paris. Additionally, Marie Antoinette spent her summers at Versailles. Originally, it was a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, but when Louis XIV came to power, he turned it into a gorgeous chateau to show off his nation’s wealth and power. As a result, he became known as the Sun King.
Hope these tips help you as it did for us. Let us know in the comment section at the bottom.
Save travels!
*Disclosure: As always opinions expressed here are my own, and do always check official site info before going.
