About 20 km from Paris, Versailles is one of the day trips visitors to the capital ask about most, and one where good planning genuinely changes the experience. Here's how to make the most of it without losing time on logistics.
Versailles in a nutshell
Versailles is the palace Louis XIV built to embody absolute monarchy: the Hall of Mirrors, the King's and Queen's State Apartments, and gardens laid out by André Le Nôtre (parterres, fountains, the Grand Canal) extended by the Estate of Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's hamlet, where she would retreat from the formality of court life.
How long do you need to visit Versailles?
The estate is far larger than it looks on a map. As an estimate drawn from travellers' accounts, the palace alone takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours; palace and gardens together, 4 to 5 hours. Add the Trianon and it becomes a full day, the walk between the main palace and the Queen's hamlet runs into kilometres. Comfortable shoes aren't a minor detail here.
How to get there from Paris
The RER C train runs to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, followed by a walk to the entrance: the cheapest option, but you depend on the train schedule both ways, and you walk with your belongings.
By road, Versailles is 30 to 45 minutes from Paris. Glide offers two private formulas in a Tesla Model Y sedan, up to 4 passengers:
- Round-trip, €130: your driver drops you at the palace, leaves, and comes back at the return time you choose when booking, no later than 5 hours after departure. Book the Versailles round-trip.
- Half-day, €350: the car and driver are booked for 5 hours and the driver waits on site. See the Versailles half-day.
Neither includes a guide or entrance tickets. Payment is made in full at booking, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up.
Tickets and the best time to visit
Every visitor must book a time slot, even those who enter free. The palace and the Trianon are closed on Mondays, and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. In high season, Tuesdays and weekends are the busiest days; the palace advises seeing the palace at its 9am opening, the gardens from 10am to noon and the Trianon from midday. On Grandes Eaux and Musical Gardens days in high season, garden access is ticketed (€15).
All 2026 prices, free entry and opening hours by season are in our guide to Versailles tickets and the best time to visit. Tickets are sold on the official site, en.chateauversailles.fr.
Round-trip or half-day?
The round-trip suits you if you know roughly how long you'll stay: you choose your return time when booking, no later than 5 hours after departure. The half-day suits families, or anyone who'd rather not watch the clock: the driver waits on site for the 5 hours the car is booked.
Want to pair it with Giverny? See our guide to Versailles and Giverny in one day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private driver to Versailles cost?
With Glide, €130 for the round-trip, the driver comes back at the return time you choose when booking, no later than 5 hours after departure, or €350 for the half-day, the car and driver are booked for 5 hours and the driver waits on site. Tesla Model Y sedan, up to 4 passengers.
Are palace entrance tickets included?
No. Neither formula includes entrance tickets or a guide. Tickets for the palace and the Trianon are bought separately, on the official site, with a mandatory time slot.
How long should I plan for Versailles?
As an estimate, 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours for the palace alone, 4 to 5 hours with the gardens, and a full day with the Trianon.
How many people fit in the vehicle?
Up to 4 passengers in the Tesla Model Y sedan.