Tour Details
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
- Versailles Palace and Gardens
Photos & Highlights
- Let an expert guide you from your hotel directly to Marie-Antoinette’s door as you immerse yourself in stories of the past, rather than in public transport maps of present
- Look up and experience an era of opulence and intrigue without worrying about missing any of the highlights
Select a date
Tour Description
Versailles Palace is an unmissable destination for any visitor to Paris, but the best way to visit isn’t always the most obvious choice for those planning their travels. On this half-day Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour from Paris, your Context expert will take care of the logistics and stress and allow you to visit the magnificent palace and gardens with fresh and enthusiastic eyes. As you walk the halls and the grounds alongside a historian, they will expertly navigate the crowds and regale you with the stories and history that have contributed to making Versailles a bucket-list visit for so many.
Choose This Tour If . . .
- You don’t want to worry about long ticket lines and train times. Your expert will pick you up at your door and show you how to get home
- You want to share in the awe of the Hall of Mirrors and the meticulously maintained gardens with your family or friends
- You want someone to handle the details of ticketing and logistics so you can focus on the grandeur and spectacle
- You want to dive directly into Versailles’ most fascinating stories without bothering with guidebooks or robot-voiced audioguides
Experts
Arriving at Versailles from Paris in the comfort of a private vehicle, you most likely begin your visit in the royal gardens, wandering amongst the carefully manicured hedges, reflecting pools, and artfully carved open-air statues. Your expert will navigate the expansive landscape, highlighting the inspiration behind Le Nôtre’s designs, and leading you to the most memorable and impressive viewpoints.
After fully taking in the gardens, you’ll head to the palace itself, discussing the château's successive architectural evolutions during the reigns of Louis XIII to the 19th century, and marveling at the ornate decorative details. You’ll hear the motivations behind Louis XIV’s addition of more wings, the marble court, and the now Hall of Mirrors which was once a simple and poorly exposed terrace.
Throughout your visit, you’ll be immersed in the narrative of Versailles, placing yourself in the shoes of the intriguing cast of characters who walked its halls and alleyways. As your walk comes to a close, you will come away with a better understanding of the innovative designs and the stories of those who played a part in its long history.
Your expert will leave you at the doors of the palace should you want to take more time to explore on your own, or they will provide you with all of the details necessary to make your way back to the city center.
Your expert will leave you at the doors of the palace should you want to take more time to explore on your own, or they will provide you with all of the details necessary to make your way back to the city center.
Interested in a deeper exploration of the grounds of Versailles, including the Petit Trianon?
Check out our Full-Day Tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens.
Sites Visited
- Versailles Palace interiors–from the Grand Apartments to the Hall of Mirrors
- Versailles Gardens-André Le Nôtre’s crowning landscape design
Logistics
Transport
- One-way car transfer from Paris to Versailles is included in this tour. The car service will depart from your accommodations in central Paris. Please provide your address when booking.
- NOTE: Return car transfer from Versailles to Paris is NOT included; you are welcome to add this at check-out should you prefer to travel back to Paris with us as well.
Tickets
- Skip-the-line entry tickets into Versailles Palace and gardens
- With your entry ticket, you'll have access to all sites within the Versailles complex, even those we don't include in our tour (such as Marie Antoinette's Hamlet and the Trianon Palace). We encourage you to stay on your own to explore these sites independently at the end of your tour.
Headsets
- Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
While the palace gardens are not easily accessible for people with reduced mobility, we do have the ability to alter the tour route in order to better accommodate mobility concerns.
Please let us know about any accessibility concerns at the time of booking so that we can best advise.
Service dog accommodations
Service dogs are authorized in the palace and gardens.
Where does the tour start?
This private tour begins with car service pick-up from your accommodations in Paris. Your expert will also meet you directly at your accommodation. Please let us know where you'll be staying.
How can my party and I return to Paris?
This private tour begins with car service pick-up from your accommodations in Paris. Your expert will also meet you directly at your accommodation. Please let us know where you'll be staying.
How can my party and I return to Paris?
If you’d like, you can book a private car transfer back to Paris directly with us for the end of your tour.
I see you offer the tour in both the morning and afternoon. Which is better?
We don't necessarily recommend one over the other. The morning start time allows you to stay on for the rest of the day to explore the rest of the grounds independently. The afternoon tour offers less time for this depending on seasonal opening hours (in the summer, the gardens are open quite late!), but you also have the benefit of slightly reduced crowds.
What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to directly enter the security line at the palace without waiting to purchase tickets. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.
I'm staying nearby. Can I meet my expert directly in Versailles?
Certainly! We recommend our Express Versailles Tour which meets directly in Versailles.
I'm staying nearby. Can I meet my expert directly in Versailles?
Certainly! We recommend our Express Versailles Tour which meets directly in Versailles.
Cancellation Policy
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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405 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
We absolutely loved our tour of Versailles with Carine. Carine was so knowledgeable and provided the information in such an informative and delightful way (catering to adults and children) we could have walked around with her all day.
Alexandra
Jan 24, 2025
Sean was a fantastic guide - so personable and knowledgeable about not just Versailles but a variety of historical and cultural topics in the area. Our group of 7 thoroughly enjoyed his expertise and clear passion for history. Thank you for making our trip to Versailles so memorable and we'll be sure to contact you again on our next trip to Paris!
Amanda
Jan 5, 2025
Achille is outstanding. One of the best guides we have ever had. He is not only a subject matter expert but also friendly and engaging. The combination of Achille’s extensive knowledge, passion and endearing personality created a wonderful experience. I highly recommend him and the tour.
Maria
Jan 2, 2025
Explore Versailles with Context
Get to know one of the art historians leading this tour
Meet Marie
