Gardens of Versailles — Attraction in Versailles

The palace is good but the highlight is the public park adjacent to the palace gardens. Carry your picnic, go cycling in the woods, a little boating and you are in relax heaven. Totally worth the travel. Take the RER C that goes to the palace (some don't go because repairs going on). Check well. But great day if you love the outdoors.

We visited Versailles on a Saturday, as it was due to rain on Sunday and the chateau is closed on Mondays. We took the metro to Gare Austerliz, and from there caught the RER C line to Versailles. The whole trip from start to finish cost us roughly 12 euros and took 1.5 hours. Once at the train station in Versailles, head right, then turn left at the large avenue with the trees in the middle (you'll see Versailles at the end). You can purchase tickets at the two tourist offices before the entrance (they charge a 1 euro commission fee per ticket and sell combo tickets), or head up to the entrance and wait in line for either the ticket booths or the automatic vendors. The lines at the chateau were long, so even with our 20 minute queue at the tourist office, we still came out ahead.

If you don't have a ticket when you arrive at Versailles Palace, be careful of which line you get into, as the people in front of us wasted nearly an hour standing in the wrong line. As you approach the Palace, you will see a large building on the left. Go there for your ticket. There are ticket machines in a small room behind the first room you enter. That will save you time. Buy your tickets with your credit card, then go back outside and wait in the long line of people going through the security check point. It's really quite simple, but there are not clear directions at the site.

Don't take food with you, as the Versailles security check point will not permit you to bring in any liquid or sandwiches. We saw people having to eat first before they went in, or throw their items away. There are several places to eat at Versailles. We had our lunch from one of the café’ inside and it was not that good.

Do stop for the audio guide (it's included in your ticket price). Each room has a number that you type into the audio guide, and then you can hear about the room. The placement of the numbers for the rooms is sometimes not the best (why put numbers on the floor by the front of the room, when the rooms are crowded and getting to the "front" of the room wastes time). You can plug headphones into the guide so you are not stuck carrying it like a toddler play phone the entire visit.

Do rent a golf car to visit the gardens. The gardens are immense - and if you have limited time and wish to get to the other side of the gardens to see the Grand and Petit Trianon (mansions where Marie Antoinette and Napoleon III - among others - lived) - then the golf carts are a fun and fast way to get there. The carts are 30 euros an hour; it took us two hours to drive through the gardens, visit some of the gorgeous fountains, see the Trianons, and get back. Personally, I found the gardens to be amazing whereas the chateau didn't do it as much for me. Don't get me wrong, worth seeing based on the historic significance alone, but it really depends on your personal preferences. From 5:20 to 5:30 they have a finally at the Neptune fountain which is quite a spectacle. Give yourself enough time to get there. It can be quite a walk depending on where you start from in the garden.

Do look at the train schedule for getting back to Paris. We were lucky, and somehow got on the right train 30 seconds before it took off. The train was standing room only, as Versailles had just closed and we hadn't gotten to the...

After concluding our exploration of the Château de Versailles, my wife and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon wandering the vast gardens, this time deliberately choosing paths we hadn’t taken on our previous visit. If the palace dazzles with grandeur, the gardens, in contrast, enchant with tranquillity, nature, and sheer open-air beauty.

Our journey began at the Orangerie, a striking display of geometrically arranged fruit trees lemon, orange, and apple, all perfectly trimmed and aligned in a descending terrace. From there, we looped back through Latona’s Fountain and Parterre, stopping to admire the mythological scenes and the sweeping views down toward the canal.

As we ventured deeper, we followed the narrower, almost secretive paths of the Jardin du Roi, uncovering charming corners like the Bosquet de la Reine, Bassin de Bacchus, and Bassin du Miroir. Each of these elements contributes to a larger narrative, a balance between power, mythology, and serenity, all framed by masterful landscape architecture.

One of the highlights of the day was reaching Le Char d’Apollon, a powerful fountain sculpture emerging from the water, where the gardens meet the Grand Canal. Here, we took a break, not just for the photos, but to rent a small rowing boat. Floating through the wide, glistening canal gave us a unique view of the grounds and the symmetry that defines the Versailles design.

We continued walking all the way to the Grand Trianon and its lovely gardens, more intimate, less ornate, and then towards the Petit Trianon. A network of charming walkways leads visitors from one to the other. Along this route, we encountered spots that felt both grand and whimsical: the Pavillon Frais, the Grotte de Marie-Antoinette, the Temple de l’Amour, and eventually, the Hameau de la Reine, which mimics a pastoral hamlet built for the Queen’s escapist fantasies.

We also found Angelina, a café and restaurant, nestled near the gardens, perfect for a short break. It’s an ideal spot to recharge, especially if you’re planning to explore every corner of the park.

Helpful Insights for Visitors: • Entry to the gardens is free on non-musical fountain days, but tickets are required during musical fountain shows and for the Trianon Estates. • There are restrooms scattered across different areas, but plan accordingly as they’re not always easy to find. • Picnicking is allowed in certain areas but not directly within the formal gardens. • Accessibility is decent along main paths but more rustic in the Trianon or Queen’s Hamlet areas, sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. • Bicycles and golf carts are available for rent near the Grand Canal for those who prefer wheels over walking.

If the palace tells you about power, art, and French history, the Parc de Versailles tells you about escape, balance, and breath. Each section of the garden offers a different experience, from theatrical grandeur to bucolic charm. It’s a journey where time seems to pause, and even after hours of walking, you’re left wanting just a...

The gardens have a separate entrance from the Palace. We went on a busy day and it was suggested to start visiting the gardens first and the Palace later. We are appreciative of this indication, because their suggestion helped us maximize our time. The garden queue was a little messy to enter but was cut in half. Then we had immediate access to the gardens.

Upon entering the garden you might find it difficult to focus in one unique place. Everything around is so beautiful, amazing landscapes in the classic French Garden style, beautiful sculptures, secret gardens. Accessing the garden early was great, however the fountains weren't turned on yet.

Think of the gardens as a passage between the Versailles Palace and the Petit Trianon. Which is basically two palaces, a big and a small one. Closer to the Petit Trianon, there is an artificial lake where we saw people doing picnics, playing with the animals and even rent paddle boats. You shouldn't stop there, make sure to visit the “Petit Trianon”. It's a small but really beautiful and well decorated palace located to the Southeast of Versaille Palace. This is where Marie Antoinette was going to escape the formality of the court life and to shake off the burden of her royal responsibilities (according to Wikipedia).

They also have live music during the day. Ask about a map or an employee at the information booth. Stay informed with the official website in order to stay tuned on up to the minute news.

Our Ratings Serge: 5 Eli: 5

Recommend: Yes, really impressive garden and landscape.

Important Tip:

Be ready to walk a lot, so bring comfortable shoes. If it’s a sunny day its better, but get a hat, sun block and water with you. We fried in the sun waiting to get into the palace. If you can visit the gardens during the morning we believe it’s better, then you will get less people around to get nicer pictures or just to get quiet moments. Don’t forget to visit the “Petit Trianon”. It's a hidden gem and really worth...