Welcome to the 4th post in my Best of Paris in a Week mini-series! Today, I’ll guide you through a stunning tour of the Palace of Versailles, one of the most iconic places in France!
For the full 6-day tour of Paris (which is organized by geographical locations), read the rest of the series and download this cheat sheet. Doubled-up attractions show where you have time to do one or the other.
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FYI: Admission to the Palace of Versailles and the Trianons are included with a Museum Pass, which I highly recommend. You can read more about it and find out how to get one in my post How to Vacation in Paris on a Budget.
Day 4: The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most incredible sites in the Parisian area. Located about an hour southwest of Paris by train, this sprawling 17th-century palace has gorgeous architecture, gardens, fountains, and sculptures that could take literal days to explore. It’s clear that Louis XIV certainly ensured that his home would be dazzling, even after all these centuries.
Since there is so much to see at Versailles, you’ll want to be sure to start your day early. The palace is usually open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., but other areas only open in the afternoon. Arriving early will ensure that you have plenty of time to see all the highlights.
Inside the Palace of Versailles
The palace consists of 2300 different rooms filled with paintings, sculptures, and royal antiques. Some areas focus on the history of the French royalty and wars, while others feature Louis XIV’s furnished apartments.
You can pick and choose which rooms to visit or follow the general floor plan to wind your way through most of the palace. Seeing everything can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on how much you read and study along the way. But if you can’t read in French, most of the reading will be out of the question anyway, unless you use Google Translate.
Whatever route and pace you choose, be sure to walk through the famous Hall of Mirrors! Many royal events were held in this gorgeous room, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Gallery of Great Battles is also an interesting hall to wander through. It features paintings of famous French battles and 80 busts dedicated to officers killed in combat.
If you want souvenirs, be sure to check out the palace’s gift shop for royal accessories and memorabilia. They have everything from fancy princess perfume to stationary and decorations.
Palace of Versailles Gardens
Once you finish up in the palace, it’s time to head out to the gardens!
The extensive gardens sprawling behind the palace are beautiful no matter the season. Even in the winter, the bold statuary and broad, hedge-bordered paths look fit for a king. From the plaza directly behind the palace, you can see the extent of the carefully curated hedges extending down to the Grand Canal.
The elaborate layout divides the garden into several smaller gardens, many of which have a “hidden” fountain or statue in the middle. It’s easy to miss many of these because the gardens sprawl so far in either direction, so be sure to take a map with you!
One of the main focal points is Latona’s fountain in the center of the main path. The fountain features both frogs and peasants, symbolizing Latona’s revenge being carried out by Jupiter in a story by Ovid. It is beautiful and fascinating with many small details to take in. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see it running, but look at how beautiful it is without water!
Don’t miss the Neptune and Dragon Fountains off to the far right of the gardens. It’s easy to overlook this section amid the maze-like grandeur, but these fountains are must-see works of art. According to the Palace of Versailles’s website, the Dragon Fountain shoots water 27 meters high, and the Neptune Fountain has a grand total of 99 water jets! That’s pretty impressive for a design from 1682!
The Neptune fountain has 99 water jets! 
The Dragon Fountain
Eventually, you’ll work your way through the gardens and down to the final masterpiece on the edge of the Grand Canal: Apollo’s Fountain. This incredible gilded-lead work of art shows Apollo emerging from the lake in his chariot drawn by four horses.
The Trianon Estate
If you have time, head to the Trianon Estate, the “retreat” area for the French royalty. The Trianon estates contain the Grand and Petit Trianons, the Queen’s Hamlet, and the Queen’s Theatre. The estate is tucked away from the Palace of Versailles behind the park, offering privacy for the royal families.
You can walk there or catch a ride on the tram that runs every few minutes. Keep in mind that exploring everything on the estate can take up to four hours, so you may have to pick and choose which buildings to explore more thoroughly. I highly recommend starting with the Trianons because they are so gorgeous.
The Trianons are beautiful, smaller palaces surrounded by lush gardens. The apartments inside are as lavish as the Versailles rooms, but the buildings are centered around privacy. The Petit Trianon specifically is where Marie-Antoinette spent much of her time avoiding the royal court. These palaces are filled with more elaborate chandeliers, furniture, and artwork like the Palace of Versailles. They are definitely worth a full walk-through if you have the time.
The Queen’s Hamlet is essentially a model village, and the Queen’s Theatre is where Marie Antoinette watched musical and dramatic performances in private. Both have their own unique and beautiful elements and are wonderful additions to your tour.
You may want to walk back to the Palace of Versailles through the park and gardens for a final piece of evening tranquility if you have the energy. The main avenue is magnificent in the sunset, and the light reflects magically off the Water Parterre at the top of the gardens.
Souvenirs and Food for the Palace of Versailles
If you want some cheap souvenirs (as opposed to the palace gift shop) there are several stores near the train station. These shops offered some fun items that I did not see in the other tourist shops I visited, and you may find some more unique treasures inside as well.
You’ll also have plenty of options for food if you prefer to catch something before hopping on the train back to Paris. Personally, the McDonald’s there was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen with its full bakery and coffee shop. And the “American” food in the main restaurant was a nice break after several days of French cuisine.
That’s it for Day 4! You will probably be exhausted after walking around all day, so I highly recommend turning in early to rest up.
If you’re planning to explore more of Paris, don’t miss the rest of my blog posts on the Best of Paris. They’re optimized to help you see the most iconic sites in the least amount of time!
Read the Rest of the Best of Paris Mini-Series
The Best of Paris in a Week: Disneyland Paris
The Best of Paris in a Week: The Louvre and Montparnasse Observation Tower
The Best of Paris in a Week: The Beautiful Ile de la Cité
The Best of Paris in a Week: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, & More
The Best of Paris in a Week: Montmartre District
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