Versailles Day Trip from Paris: Planning a Visit by Private Car

Versailles is one of those rare places that genuinely lives up to its reputation. The Palace, the Hall of Mirrors, the gardens, the Trianons, the Marie-Antoinette hamlet — there's enough to fill an entire day, and most visitors leave wishing they'd had more time. This guide is for travellers planning a Versailles day trip from Paris, with a focus on doing it by private car instead of the train.

We're a Paris-based chauffeur company. Versailles is one of our most-requested destinations after the airports. Here's what we tell our clients.

The basics: where, how long, what it costs

The Palace of Versailles is 22km southwest of central Paris. By car it's a 30–45 minute journey depending on traffic, primarily on the A13 motorway. By train it's the RER C line from various Paris stations to Versailles–Rive Gauche, a 35–45 minute ride.

A full visit — Palace + gardens + Trianons + hamlet — takes a full day, ideally 6–8 hours on site. A "Palace only" visit can be done in 3–4 hours including travel.

Adult ticket prices for the Palace alone are around €21. Combined tickets (Palace + Trianons + gardens with fountain shows) range from €24 to €32 depending on the day and season. Children under 18 are free for the Palace itself.

Why drive instead of taking the train?

The RER C from Paris to Versailles–Rive Gauche is a perfectly functional option for budget travellers. The trains run frequently, the journey is direct, and the cost is around €4 each way. So why would anyone pay for a private car?

Three practical reasons:

1. The walk from Versailles–Rive Gauche to the Palace. It's 10–15 minutes on foot, mostly residential streets. Pleasant on a sunny day, miserable in the rain or with a stroller.

2. The crowds on the RER C. During peak tourist season (April–October, weekends, holidays), the train can be standing-room-only for the entire 40-minute ride. After the day's visit, the return train is the same.

3. Parking is genuinely difficult. The Palace's main car parks fill by 10am on busy days. Some visitors end up parking 1.5km away and walking. With a chauffeur, you're dropped at the main entrance and picked up at the same point — no parking concern.

For a special trip (a couple's day out, a family visit, a milestone birthday), the cost difference between train and chauffeur (€8 vs ~€100 round-trip) is often justified by the experience improvement.

When to visit Versailles

Best months: April to early June, and September. The gardens are in full bloom, the weather is reliable but not too hot, and crowds are manageable.

Worst months: July and August (extreme heat in some rooms, heavy crowds), and rainy days from November to February (the gardens are largely dormant, and many fountains are off).

Best day of the week: Tuesday is when the Palace is closed — don't go that day. Avoid Saturdays in summer (peak crowds). Tuesday excluded, Sunday is often the calmest day, especially in shoulder seasons.

Best time to arrive: at opening (9am). The first hour is the calmest you'll see all day. By 11am the Hall of Mirrors is shoulder-to-shoulder. By 1pm the queues to enter peak. If you must arrive later, aim for 3pm — you'll have 2.5 hours before closing, but the crowds thin in the late afternoon.

What to see (and what to skip if time is short)

Versailles is enormous. A full visit covers:

The Palace (1.5–2.5 hours):

• The State Apartments
• The Hall of Mirrors (the iconic gilded room)
• The King's and Queen's Bedchambers
• The Royal Chapel

The Gardens (1–3 hours, depending on whether you walk or rent a vehicle):

• The Apollo Fountain
• The Grand Canal
• The geometric Le Nôtre design
• Best on "Musical Fountains" days when fountains run with classical music (extra fee, weekends in season)

The Trianons (1–2 hours):

• Grand Trianon (smaller palace, more intimate)
• Petit Trianon (Marie-Antoinette's private retreat)
• The Queen's Hamlet (the rustic village she had built)

If you have only half a day (3–4 hours), do the Palace + a quick walk in the gardens nearest to the Palace. Skip the Trianons.

If you have a full day (6–8 hours), do everything. The Trianons are 1.5km from the main Palace — a nice walk if you have energy, or you can rent a small electric vehicle on site.

How to book your Palace ticket

Always book online in advance. The on-site ticket queue at busy times can be 45–90 minutes. Online tickets specify a time slot for entry — this is non-negotiable, you must arrive in your slot.

The official Versailles website (chateauversailles.fr) is the safest place to book. Avoid third-party resellers — many charge a markup for the same ticket.

The Passport ticket (around €24–32) covers the Palace, both Trianons, and the gardens including the fountain shows. If you're doing a full-day visit, this is the right ticket.

The Palace-only ticket (around €21) is fine for a half-day visit.

What about lunch?

Inside the estate, dining options are limited and expensive. The two restaurants in the gardens (Ore — Alain Ducasse's place inside the Palace, and the more casual gardens café) are good but require booking weeks ahead for the former.

Most visitors do one of:

• Eat before they arrive (early lunch in Paris before driving down)
• Bring a packed picnic for the gardens (allowed in non-restricted areas)
• Eat in the town of Versailles after the visit (many decent restaurants 5–10 minutes from the Palace)

How a private chauffeur trip works

You're picked up at your Paris address at the time you choose. The drive takes 30–45 minutes — your driver knows the best route depending on traffic. You're dropped at the main Palace entrance (Honneur courtyard), where you go through security and enter on your booked time slot.

For the return, you have two options:

• Pre-arranged pickup time (e.g. "pick me up at 5pm at the same place"): your driver returns at the agreed time.
• By-the-hour booking (also called "as-directed"): your driver waits in the area, available to come and get you within 5–10 minutes of your call. More expensive but more flexible — useful if you're not sure how long you'll stay.

For the by-the-hour option, you can also ask your driver to take you between sites (Palace → Trianons → Hamlet) without you having to walk. Worth considering if you're with elderly travellers or young children.

Common questions

Can I bring my own picnic? Yes, in the gardens (non-restricted areas). Not in the Palace itself.

Are there bathrooms in the gardens? Yes, near the main fountains and the Trianons. Free.

How long should I plan for? Half-day minimum (Palace only), full day for a complete visit including Trianons.

Is it accessible for people with mobility issues? The Palace is mostly accessible, with lifts where needed. The gardens are flat and walkable but very large — wheelchairs work, but the distances are significant.

Can I bring children? Yes. Under 18 is free for the Palace. Strollers are allowed in the gardens but must be left at the entrance for some Palace rooms (you can rent baby carriers on site).

What about dress code? None, but sensible shoes are essential. The gardens involve a lot of walking on gravel and stone paths.

Want a comfortable Versailles day?

Book a Dahab Versailles transfer — round-trip from your Paris address, drop-off at the main entrance, fixed price. From €100 for the Business sedan, €127 for the family van.

For details on Versailles-specific transfers and by-the-hour service, see our Versailles page.