Things to Do in Versailles

Choose from 7 Fun Things to Do in Versailles

Grands Appartements du Roi

The highlight of a visit to Versailles is entering the Grand Apartments of the king and queen, built for Louis XIV by Le Vau in the 1670s. The King’s Apartments - or Grands Appartements du Roi - are a succession of salons dedicated to the gods and planets, used for court functions.

The opulent Queen’s Apartments include the private rooms and the golden queen’s bedchamber, whose hidden door was used by Marie-Antoinette to escape the Paris mob during the early days of the Revolution.

The most spectacular room in the entire palace is the glittering Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors). The baroque mirror-lined hall was designed by Mansart in 1678, and features mirror-lined arched windows and gilt sculptures holding aloft crystal chandeliers.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the end of World War I.

Practical Info

The Grands Appartements du Roi and La Reine take up the principal floor of the wing known as the Chateau Neuf.

Place d'Armes, Versailles 78000, France

Tues - Sun opens at 9am, closes either at 5:30pm or 6:30pm depending on season. Closed Mondays

€ 15 for Palace admission. Includes audio tour

From $ 14

Marie-Antoinette Estate

Marie-Antoinette left a mark on Versailles larger than any other left by the queens of the French monarchy, and the physical embodiment of her maverick ways can be found at her estate on the grounds of the Gardens of Versailles.

The Marie-Antoinette Estate is comprised of several elements. There is the Petit Trianon, which served as her palace away from home. Often frustrated by the politics of her husband's court, Marie-Antoinette would escape to her royal residence, where no one could enter without her express invitation – not even the king himself.

There are also Marie-Antoinette's personal gardens, through which visitors can stroll today and see that they are much unchanged from the time of the queen's reign. She also had a hamlet – a glamorous, picturesque take on the rustic country homes that the aristocracy at the time had on the grounds of their own estates – with a kitchen garden and a working farm in addition to its mill, decorative gardens and charming lake.

Practical Info

Note that the Marie-Antoinette Estate will begin restoration in 2014, sponsored by the design house Dior. Although it is free to enter the Versailles Gardens on most days (except during fountain shows and other events), the fee to tour the Marie-Antoinette Estate is €10, with a €6 reduced admission for children, students and seniors. It is open whenever the Palace of Versailles is open, but take note of the closing time, as it will take some time to return to the front gates to exit.

Château de Versailles, Place d'Armes, Versailles 78000, France

€10

From $ 14

Bassin de Neptune

Versailles’ chateau gardens are vast, laid out in formal French style and famed for their geometrically aligned terraces, tree-lined paths and, notably, their ponds.

Of all the lovely fountain pools gracing the Versailles gardens, the Bassin de Neptune is the largest.

Designed by famed landscape artist Le Notre and laid out between 1661 and 1700, the fountain features three groups of statues, including Neptune and Amphitrite.

A new fountain installed by Louis XV in the 1730s was acclaimed for the force and variety of its jets water playing over the sculptural groups. In all, the fountain boasts 99 water effects and is fronted by the lovely Dragon Fountain

In summer, Bassin de Neptune is a focus for a display of choreographed fireworks, spectacularly reflected in the fountain’s expansive pool.

The Bassin de Neptune is 300 meters (984 feet) north of the palace.

Rue des Reservoirs, Versailles 78000, France

Gardens open daily Apr - Oct; closed Mondays Nov - Mar

Adults: € 15

From $ 14

Royal Chapel

There have been five chapels throughout the history of the Palace of Versailles, but today only the last of them remains – the Royal Chapel, the exterior of which can be seen from the entrance courtyard as it disrupts the otherwise symmetrical design of the palace.

Although it was officially completed in the early 18th century under Louis XIV and consecrated in 1710, there continued to be improvements and renovations well into the 20th century. However, the majority of its use took place throughout the 1700s with daily masses, royal weddings – including that of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette - and birth announcements and baptisms.

Because the French monarchy was heavily entrenched in Catholicism, the chapel played a large part in Louis XIV's reign although today it is a deconsecrated space. Today classical concerts and other special events are hosted in the Royal Chapel, but it is closed for daily viewing by the public with the exception of VIP tours.

Chateau de Versailles, Place d’Armes, Versailles 78000, France

From $ 40

Royal Opera

Recently renovated to its original splendor, the Royal Opera at Versailles is fit for a king, and one can imagine the spectacles performed here over the centuries. But its history is a bit rockier than you might expect from a monarchy.

Louis XIV was the first to conceive of the idea of a dedicated performance space for royal performances in the late 17th century, but the ensuing historic troubles that plagued the monarchy meant that Louis XV put a stop to its construction. But that doesn't mean there were no shows at the palace. Instead, for every concert and performance, an entire theater was built from scratch and then dismantled.

Finally, faced with the spectacle that would be the wedding of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the Dauphin's grandfather completed construction and is the Royal Opera house we know today.

Since its reopening in 2009 after extensive renovations, the palace administration has made a concerted effort to book a full suite of performances and programs each season, and with this new era brings the hope that generations to come will once again enjoy this historic space.

Rue des Reservoirs, Versailles 78000, France

From $ 49

Grand Trianon

The pink-colonnaded Grand Trianon was built in 1687 by the famous architect Mansart, as a tranquil getaway from court life for Louis XIV.

Setting the benchmark for Italianate garden conservatory design, the elegantly long and low palace of pink marble and porphyry features geometrically ordered rows of columns and windows, topped by a balustrade roof.

The original furnishings were plundered during the Revolution. Today, the palace is furnished in Empire style, reflecting the decoration installed by Napoleon, who was particularly enamored of the building. Surrounding the palace is a lovely flower garden.

While the Grand Trianon is open to the public, it is also an official residence of the French President.

Practical Info

The Grand Trianon is around 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) northwest of the palace. It’s an easy stroll along Avenue de Trianon from the Bassin de Neptune fountain.

Avenue de Trianon, Versailles 78000, France

Tues - Sun 12pm - 6:30pm (Nov - Apr 12pm - 5:30pm). Closed Mondays

€ 10

From $ 14

Court of Scents (Cour des Senteurs)

Locals and foreign visitors alike are thrilled by Versailles' newest attraction, the Court of Scents (Cour des Senteurs). Located just steps away from the main gates of the city's world-famous palace, the Court of Scents opened in 2013 in Saint-Louis, the oldest neighborhood in Versailles.

Inside the courtyard is an immersive experience for the senses. From the orange blossom-perfumed fountain and Maison des Parfums to the garden paths and shopping spots, it's another world entirely.

While the Court of Scents may seem like a mere oasis for shoppers, it should be noted that it the home of rarities. The Guerlain store here, for example, is the only one in France outside Paris' Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and court's Maison Fabre is the only place in the world to purchase exact replicas of Marie Antoinette's two-toned, perfumed gloves. The Lenôtre combines perfumery and gastronomy for food lovers, and Diptyque, the final shop here, is a uniquely French brand that brings a bit of Versailles home with the visitor.

Practical Info

The Court of Scents is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. It is free to enter and browse; tours are available exclusively through Viator.

Cour des Senteurs, Versailles, France

From $ 208