There are some places, particularly in France, THE top most visited country in the entire world, that a lot of travelers avoid like the plague just to dodge hordes of tourists. I get that. Sort of. In my mind, these places are so damn popular for a reason, be it their history, cultural significance, or their really, really good macarons. None of these over-crowded places should necessarily be avoided; it just takes a little extra planning to make it happen and make it happen without a headache and/or panic attack.
The Palace of Versailles is one of those sites. This is the first place I ever visited where I came away inspired to check out history books at the library (where all this fascination with history was in high school, I am not sure, because I don’t think I could regurgitate one singular history fact from any of my classes).
The cool thing about Versailles is that, during your stay in Paris, by jumping on the RER rail and shelling over an affordable sum of 7 Euros, you can get a comfortable train trip to the beautiful (and historical!) castle, all in about 30 minutes or so. Pretty dope! I am all about stuff being easy and no hassle.
The castle and its grounds is a five minute walk from the train station, and Versailles is one of the most historically well-known and important places in all of France, so your excuses for not visiting are pretty much non-existent, right? “But the CROWDS!” you say, a terrified look in your wary eyes, already imagining all the bobbing heads that will ruin your otherwise perfect shots.
When I went, it was after spending a few hours in Paris in the morning, and I returned in plenty of time to explore the city some more FOR HOURS. That’s right. A day chock-full of culture and learning! Woohoo.
Here’s what you can do to avoid the massive lines and crowds once you arrive.
- Book ahead. If you book on the Chateau Versailles website, you’ll be able to choose from several different packages, the most expensive option, 20€, getting you access to the Palace with an audioguide, the Gardens, and the estate of Trianon. This will allow you to skip the ticket office line, though you’ll still have to wait to get into the castle. You may also choose to book through a third party, like this one, which grants you entrance to both the Palace and the Gardens with an expert guide and allows you to skip the line entirely. There are even some tour companies that will take you on a wine tasting in the town of Versailles prior to your castle visit, so shop around.
- Arrive when the gates open, or earlier. The earlier the better. The line gets out of control FAST, so don’t dick around.
- Try visiting the gardens first, since most people see the Palace first.
- Go on the weekdays, as foot traffic is lighter, and avoid going in the summer, which is peak tourist season (but if you must go in the summer, see bullets number one and two).
The Palace
Be prepared for some big crowds when you’ve finally made it inside. I felt overwhelmed and it was almost hard to move from room to room at times. It 1000% will feel like a tourist trap, and you’ll probably get knocked in the head by someone’s selfie stick, but that is not enough of a deterrent in my opinion. Regain consciousness, stand back up, glare at the selfie-stick wielding tourist, and soldier on.
I personally would recommend having a guide, because half the fun of this visit is learning all about the various King Louises who have occupied the palace over the years, and it will give your trip a bit more meaning and context than if you peruse the rooms yourself.
The Gardens
Massive. Imagine living here and walking through these gardens every day. You’d never need another form of exercise! It was too bad that the day we went was a gloomy, rainy day, because it was freezing cold and every square inch of the gardens was under about an inch of water, but it still allowed us to appreciate the beauty of the grounds.
Research ahead of time, as between April and October the Gardens put on a musical fountain show that costs a bit extra but is a great experience, if you’re into fountain shows, which I’m guessing you are.
If you’re in Paris for more than a couple of days, I would recommend penciling a visit to the palace into your itinerary. It is a bucket-list item for sure, and so accessible and beautiful (though I would suggest checking the weather forecast before heading over; I have heard it is GORGEOUS on a nice, precipitation-free day) that there is no real reason not to experience it in person — as long as you plan ahead.
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