Versailles Small Group Guided Tour from Paris
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Versailles Palace
- Explore the opulent Hall of Mirrors
- Stroll through the meticulously manicured Gardens
- Discover the Trianon Palaces and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet
- Learn about French history from an expert guide
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Paris
- Skip-the-line access to Versailles Palace
- Guided tour of the Palace and Gardens
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
The chateau and gardens count among the most prestigious monuments of the world’s artistic heritage, and are certainly the finest and most complete achievement of 17th century French art. Former residence of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV, this sumptuous royal palace was home to three of France’s most illustrious Kings for over 100 years. The guided tour of the palace includes the State Apartments of the King and Queen, Royal Chapel and Hall of Mirrors, a richly decorated gallery which boasts 357 mirrors, french bay windows and crystal chandeliers.
Discover the famous gardens à la française ; a 2,000 acre park designed by André le Notre with its magnificent groves, statues, and fountains. Depending on the day and time of the year you join the tour, you will have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the Fountains Show or the Musical Gardens show before returning to Paris.
Meeting point
Start Location
Paris TRIP - Tours in Paris, 41 Av. de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- Photography is allowed in most areas; check for any restrictions
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for extensive exploration
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning architecture and gardens
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities
- Strollers or baby carriages are not allowed on this tour
Traveler reviews
Versailles is worth seeing
Our guide for our small group tour drove the second vehicle with another seven people in addition to the five in our van. Did not feel like a small group tour. We had some mixup getting into Versailles and there was an altercation between our guide and the entry staff. Our guide Wasted too much time in crowded rooms of the palace. At least three large groups passed ours. He was excited to mention Thomas Jefferson’s black wife and the children more than once. Half of the time, our guide was in a different room from at least six people in our group so we had difficulty hearing him, even with the whisper ear devices. The two other people that had been in our van taking the ride to Versailles left the tour while we were in the Palace. After the Palace, we were told we had 50 minutes to be back at the parking lot. I told our guide to leave if we were not there. We were looking forward to experiencing the musical fountains. I was not sure we could do the fountains, and return to the parking lot in time. So, I told our guide, twice, that if we didn’t return the parking by the time he gave us that they should return without us. We would get a cab for our return. I still received two texts about the rendezvous time. Overall, a little disappointing. It felt like our guide was determined to do this experience his way, and he had no interest in anyone else’s experience. The whole experience was hard to follow. Drama is not an activity I enjoy on vacation. I would not recommend this guide. The Palace is certainly the star. But the musical fountains are not to be missed. Our guide was a solid 2.0 on a 5.0 scale.
Unsuccessful Tour Contact for Reschedule
We were looking forward to this tour but the other couple that arrived the day before had an issue that made it impossible for us to participate in this tour. When this issue occurred we were inside of their 24 hour cancellation policy for refunds. We tried unsuccessfully to contact the tour operator by phone and by message to reschedule with no response. I asked the tour operator if they would refund my money as a good faith gesture. They decided to keep my money and deny my request - not very helpful and poor business practice. I guess that the tour would have been good but their lack of contact coupled with their poor business practices makes this tour less than acceptable. Pay attention to the Terms And Conditions!!!
Wonderful excursion through 18th century France
Our guide Gilbert was impeccable. Kind, communicative, and clear throughout the tour. He was so knowledgeable about the history of the palace, the Kings Louis/Marie Antoinette, and the era. I left with such a deeper appreciation for the history of this place and the people of it and France than I expected. I’ve been on probably 100s of castle/palace tours, and to be honest I wasn’t exactly ecstatic about the idea of the tour before we went, but I was just so impressed by it all. That feeling was in no small part because of this tour. Given the crowd sizes as Versailles, I also highly recommend this tour as a it’s a small group tour with 8 people maximum. First, the transit to/from the grounds is very comfortable. Next, you have many chances to ask questions and dive deeper into different areas of the tour. And third, the small group also gives you more time on your own to explore a few areas and take incredible pictures. My only suggestion for how to make the tour better would be to add additional time and include an option for an included golf cart rental so that we can see more of the gardens. They were so incredible, but with only about 30 minutes of time on our own for them, there’s not much we could see in person. Overall though, I wouldn’t change anything about the actual palace tour itself. Oh and also, the tour office (where you meet your guide for the transport) has a very well maintained restroom you can use before and after the tour. Definitely a bonus!
Beautiful Versailles!
Go see the gardens immediately after the palace or you won’t have enough time! We loved the tour and our guide - we just wish we’d had an extra hour!
Versailles made easy
Very efficient and knowledgeable tour guide. I really enjoyed the history and stories she shared. I highly recommend this tour.