Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By Car:
Get on the
périphérique
freeway that circles Paris, and take the toll-free A-13
autoroute toward Rouen. Exit at Versailles, follow signs to
Versailles Château
, and park in
the huge pay lot at Place d'Armes (€5.50/2 hours, €10/4 hours, €15/8 hours).
Cost:
Buy either a Paris Museum Pass or a Versailles Le Passeport Pass, both of which give
you access to the most important parts of the complex (see “Passes” below).
If you don't get a pass, buy individual tickets for each of the three different sections.
The Château:
€15, includes audioguide, under 18 free. Covers the famous Hall of
Mirrors, the king and queen's living quarters, many lesser rooms, and any temporary
exhibitions. For €1 more, you can get a guided tour of the Château—a great deal (see
“Guided Tours,” later). Free on the first Sunday of off-season months (Nov-March).
The Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette:
€10, no audioguide
available,under18free.CoverstheGrandTrianonanditsgardens,thePetitTrianon,the
queen's Hamlet, and a smattering of nearby buildings. Free on the first Sunday of off-
season months (Nov-March).
The Gardens:
Free, except on Fountain Spectacle days, when admission is €8.50
(weekends April-Oct plus Tue late May-late June; see “Fountain Spectacles in the Gar-
dens,” later).
Passes:
The following passes can save money and allow you to skip the long ticket-buying
lines (but not security checks before entering the palaces). Both passes include the
Château audioguide.
area (a €25 value) and is the best solution for most. It doesn't include the Gardens on
Fountain Spectacle days.
The
Le Passeport
one-day pass costs €18 and covers the Château and the Trianon/
Domaine area. The price bumps up to €25 on Fountain Spectacle days.
Buying Passes and Tickets:
It's best to buy tickets or passes in advance. They're available
at any Paris TI or FNAC department store (small fee), or online at
www.chateauversailles.fr
(print out your pass/ticket or pick it up near the entrance).
In Versailles, passes are sold at the city TI (€2 fee; for TI details, see “Information,”
later).
Your last option is to buy your pass or ticket at the Château ticket-sales office (to
the left as you face the palace). Ticket windows accept American credit cards but have
longlinesinthemorning—avoidthewaitbyusingtheticketmachinesatthebackofthe
room (you'll need a chip-and-PIN card or bills—which half the machines accept).
