- Getting there: about 40 to 50 minutes by car from central Paris.
- Open: Tuesday to Sunday. The palace is closed on Mondays.
- Tickets in 2026: the Passport costs €35 from April to October and €25 from November to March. Free under 18.
- With a private driver: pickup at your Paris hotel, at the gates for opening time. From €525 per car for 5 hours, or €1,125 with a licensed guide.
When to go
- The palace is open from 9 am to 6:30 pm from April to October, and until 5:30 pm from November to March.
- The Estate of Trianon, with Marie-Antoinette’s domain, opens at noon (10 am in July and August).
- The gardens are open from 8 am to 8:30 pm in high season, and until 6 pm in winter.
- Closed: the palace and the Trianon close every Monday, and the whole estate on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
The palace is busiest on Tuesdays and weekends in high season. The calmest way to see the Hall of Mirrors is to be at the entrance at 9 am, visit the palace first, and keep the gardens and the Trianon for later in the day.
Tickets in 2026
- Passport (palace, Trianon, gardens and exhibitions): €35 from April 1 to October 31, €25 from November 1 to March 31.
- Late-afternoon Passport: €28 with entry from 4 pm in high season, €18 from 3 pm in low season.
- Estate of Trianon only: €15.
- The gardens are free, except on Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days in high season (€15).
- Free for visitors under 18.
Prices shown are for visitors from outside the EU; visitors from the EU and the European Economic Area pay a reduced rate. The palace visit requires a timed slot, so book online as soon as your date is set.
Your day with a private driver
The best hour at Versailles is the first one. With your own car, you leave your hotel early, arrive at the gates for opening time and come back to Paris whenever you are ready.
- From your door. Pickup at your Paris hotel in a Mercedes with an English-speaking chauffeur, water and Wi-Fi on board, and child seats on request.
- Time to enjoy it. About 40 to 50 minutes each way, and roughly 3 hours at Versailles.
- Tickets taken care of. We can book your entrance tickets and time slot in advance.
- A guide, if you like. A licensed English-speaking guide who knows the palace and the life of the court of Louis XIV.
| Group | Driver only, 5 hours | Driver + separate guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 people | €525 per car | €1,125 per car |
| 4 to 7 people | €590 per car | €1,290 per car |
Entrance tickets are not included. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before, see our cancellation policy.
The price is per car, not per person. For a family of four, €590 comes to about €150 each, with no group, no train and a car waiting at the gates.
A sample morning at Versailles
- 8:15 Pickup at your Paris hotel.
- 9:00 The palace at opening time: the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s and Queen’s apartments, the Royal Chapel.
- 11:00 The gardens: the Latona Fountain, the Orangery and the view down the Grand Canal.
- 12:15 Drive back to Paris, in time for lunch.
Want the Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet too? They open at noon, so they fit well into a longer day. Ask us and we plan it with you.
Make more of the day
- The Estate of Trianon: the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet, Marie-Antoinette’s private world.
- The Musical Fountains: on show days in high season, the fountains play to baroque music. Check the dates on the palace website.
- Getting around the gardens: the estate is vast, and golf carts, bikes and a little train run between the palace, the Grand Canal and the Trianon.
- Summer evenings: the Fountains Night Show runs on Saturday evenings in summer.
When a private driver makes the most sense
Other ways to get to Versailles
If you prefer another option, these are the main alternatives.
- The RER C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche takes about 40 minutes from central Paris, with a standard €2.55 ticket. The palace is about a 10-minute walk from the station.
- Trains from Saint-Lazare and Montparnasse run to two other Versailles stations, a longer walk from the palace.
- Coach tours from Paris include the transport and a group guide, with a fixed schedule.
Tips from our drivers
- Book your time slot early, especially for weekends from April to October.
- Avoid Tuesdays if you can. They are among the busiest days of the week.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Between the palace, the gardens and the Trianon, you can easily walk several kilometers.
- Visit the palace first, then the gardens and the Trianon, which open later.
- Check the Musical Fountains dates before you choose your day.
FAQ
How much is a private Versailles tour from Paris?
At ALEGA, €525 per car for 1 to 3 people and €590 for 4 to 7 people for 5 hours. With a licensed English-speaking guide, €1,125 and €1,290.
How far is Versailles from Paris?
About 40 to 50 minutes by car from central Paris, or about 40 minutes by RER C train.
What day is Versailles closed?
The palace and the Estate of Trianon are closed on Mondays, and the whole estate on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
How much are tickets to Versailles in 2026?
The Passport costs €35 from April to October and €25 from November to March for visitors from outside the EU. Entry is free under 18.
What is the best time to visit Versailles?
At 9 am opening, on a weekday other than Tuesday. Visit the palace first, then the gardens and the Trianon.
Andrei founded ALEGA in 2014 on the Champs-Élysées. His drivers take travelers from Paris to Versailles, Giverny, Champagne and Normandy.
