Versailles Palace Day Tour with Lunch
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Versailles Palace
- Guided tour of Royal Apartments and Hall of Mirrors
- Round-trip transportation from Paris
- Lunch at local restaurant near the palace
- Explore the magnificent gardens of Versailles
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to Versailles Palace and Gardens
- Guided tour of the Royal Apartments and Hall of Mirrors
- Round-trip transportation from Paris with hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch at a local restaurant near the palace
- Gratuities for the guide and driver
Itinerary
Leave central Paris and head southwest by luxury minibus to the historic town of Versailles, roughly 25 miles (40km) away. Famous as the home of King Louis XIV, the town’s palace, gardens and memorials all attest to the sheer grandeur of his ruling era. First stop is the Palace of Versailles, the town’s sprawling palatial compound where Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, once lived. At the center of French royal power throughout 17th and 18th centuries, the building oozes royal elegance and, as such, draws visitors from all around the world.
Head straight past the long lines of visitors outside the palace with your skip-the-line ticket, and head inside to experience the history and opulence of it. On a tour led by your expert guide, discover the stunning State Apartments that comprise the Hall of Mirrors and Queen’s Apartments. While walking, your guide will enthrall you with tales of the kings who lived there.
After approximately one hour exploring the Palace of Versailles, step outside to discover the magnificent gardens at your own pace. Just as impressive as the palace itself, these French Baroque gardens took nearly 40 years to complete and feature highlights such as the famous Versailles fountains and the Orangery. Following your visit to the gardens, enjoy some free time for lunch (not included) near the Grand Canal. Your guide will be happy to recommend nearby options. If the weather permits, you may also choose to enjoy a light outdoor picnic on the grass by the Grand Canal.
Your afternoon is spent at the estate of Trianon, which "is perhaps most closely associated with Queen Marie-Antoinette", where you will visit the Petit Trianon, the place where "The wife of Louis XVI regularly sought refuge." Marie Antionette’s Queen’s Hamlet is nearby, and this is the last Versailles sight to be seen before your journey back to Paris. Designed by the popular French architect Richard Mique, the retreat features a charming thatched-roof cottage, lakes, streams and even a little farmhouse. After exploring the Queen’s Hamlet, head back to your luxury minibus for the return journey to Paris.
Meeting point
Start Location
41 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, Paris, France
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; ensure you are comfortable with the language.
- Lunch is included; inform the provider of any dietary restrictions in advance.
- The tour is not wheelchair accessible; consider this when booking.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the tour involves extensive walking and the palace grounds are vast.
- Bring a valid ID for entry into the palace.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly, as parts of the tour are outdoors.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Traveler reviews
PERFECT DAY IN VERSAILLES!
Nikolai was amazing! He made it fun and VERY interesting with all his great stories!! He answered every question…he showed us EVERYTHING there was to see…I never felt rushed…all along he made it so much fun!!
Wonderful Day with Oliver
Had a fantastic visit to Versailles with Oliver as our guide. We were very lucky to be the only two people on the tour that day and the weather was perfect. Oliver was able to provide great historical background and answered many questions that we had. The lunch location was busy but the food was very good. Highly recommend this tour for the day and hopefully you will be lucky enough to get Oliver as your guide also.
Amazing!!
Olivia was fantastic! So knowledgeable and kind. She took the time to explain the history without boring any of the attendees.
Great tour
Very interesting tour: small group, good timing and logistics, very interesting tour with a lot of history in both castles. Lunch place can be better in food quality, but it was Ok for so small price. Thank you for the great rip!
Beautiful, but not enough time
Lovely building, amazing gardens, lunch spot was ok, guide was very friendly. There wasn't enough time to explore even half of the gardens, and it was much more walking than we expected. The Queen's Village part was a lovely surprise in spite of the trek - looked like Hobbiton.