You absolutely must make a reservation and in advance. You do not want to just show up there. When we went, there were no tickets left and weren't any for another week.

I know this is an old and prestigious location but the cobblestones were treacherous and painful. Most people were wearing the proper shoes but still, it is an achy thing to deal with to fumble over round, sharp and pitted areas. There must be a way to get this corrected and still keep the beauty of the cobblestone look and feel. I felt bad for those in wheelchairs, with canes and in strollers. There may be just one path to roll on throughout the entire outside area. This is NOT a good place for anyone who needs assistance with walking.

The outside of the property is breathtaking! The fence and gold trimmings are beautiful. There was a lot of construction going on though - even on the weekend. Perhaps they let the property go for too long? There were a few rooms and spaces we were unable to see due to construction. There were also a lot of empty spaces where I'm sure there are things around the property that could be added there.

Some of the rooms lack personality. I wish they would add more touches that make it look like people lived there. In some rooms there is a bed and like 8 chairs just randomly about.

Where to start on the grounds and the App - we had no idea where to start. It was so crowded, I missed where to find a map. My husband tried using the APP and it was not finding us at many times. We went through a door, saw some things and then were approaching the exit! We had to walk all the way back around to find the start (with the help of an employee).

You must enter the palace first. I wish we were able to see the gardens first because by the time we were done with the rooms, it was POURING outside. We did our best looking at the gardens but most of the gardens were being redone for spring so lots of dirt gardens. The fountains and tree areas were still beautiful. I highly recommend springing for the tram tour when making your reservation because the gardens are ENORMOUS! To walk them all would be insane.

Just remember that when you exit - you are DONE. Do not try to get back in. Make sure you have seen everything before exiting.

Additionally, there is a carriage house fully outside of the property. I highly recommend going there if its part of your ticket. The carriages are beautiful and the history and workmanship is really amazing. Beware of the street vendors outside of the palace! The day we went had rain forecasted and the vendors were aggressively selling stick umbrellas for $15. These umbrellas do not fit in your largest luggage and some airlines will give you a hard time bringing on the plane home. I haggled them down to $5 euro so keep this is mind!