When visiting Paris, one cannot forget about the famous, gilded jewel just outside of the city: the Château de Versailles.

Accessible via train (within easy walking distance of Versailles Château Rive Gauche station) this was once the country home of the French royal family until the French Revolution in 1789.

The Palace boast incredible architecture, over 350 rooms & apartments which housed royalty and courtiers from all over France, as well as some of the most ornate and luxe decor ever created. It’s also home to the Hall of Mirrors and the idyllic Versailles gardens.

If you’re looking to get outside of Paris for the day, this is definitely a must-see excursion.

Before heading out, you’ll want to take a look below for tips on making the trip effortless and stressfree.

How to Get More Out of Your Visit to Château de Versailles.

Purchase Advance Tickets

Basically, anything you want to do in Paris or it’s surrounding areas, you should book advanced tickets.

France is a very popular destination for tourist, getting advanced tickets will save you possible headache. The Versailles Passport with Time Entry is the best ticket during the weekends or peak season.

I was VERY lucky and arrived at the gates 9:00am when they opened. I was able to nab a ticket and audio guide in minutes which, according to a docent, is very unusual. Apparently it’s more common than not to stand in line for a long while just to get tickets.

Since I went during the off-season, on a Tuesday, I didn’t get to see the Fountains Show but I hear it’s pretty nice. If you’re interested in that, check out the dates here.

Related Post: What You Need to Know About Visiting the Louvre

Go on a Tuesday

Oddly specific, I know, but there’s a reason.

First off, going during the week means you may encounter less crowds. Château de Versailles is one of the most crowded places I’ve been to in Paris, so there will still be crowds but not as bad as going during the weekend.

Second, the Palace is closed on Mondays which means if tour groups are doing a weekend getaway to Paris, Versailles will be super packed on Fridays. Best to avoid that day as well.

Third, Versailles has a massive outdoor market. More on that below.

Have Patience, Go Slow

Just like any other sight or museum, crowds mean you will run into stress and frustrations. There will be people trying to take photos while you’re waiting to see an artwork or reading signage. Someone will inevitably bump into but don’t worry, most will apologize, even if it’s in a foreign language.

Feel free to go slow! The Palace is large but it doesn’t actually take you long to get through all the rooms since the audio guide keeps you at a steady pace. I began the tour at 9:00 am and was finished between 11:30-12:00 pm.

Taking your time and really soak in the opulence and the mastery that went into the making of everything inside Château de Versailles. The decor is certainly lavish and by the end of the tour  you can really understand why the last king and queen of France, Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette, were disliked by their people.

The Gardens & Park are Free

Like I said before, I went during the off season so I didn’t get to see the fountain show but I did roam around the Gardens which are open and free to the public (exempted days).

The gardens are expansive and offer you the chance to feel what it must have been like to wander around during the reign of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette.

If you wish to treat yourself to a royal snack, The Buvette du Dauphin is a great stop as well. Just know that it’s only open March to November. This is the only location inside the Gardens where you may have food and drink.

While The Buvette du Dauphin is a delightful cafe, you can also grab a hot cup of tea and a delicious French pastry from a local cafe in the park located behind the Gardens.

The park, which surrounds the canal, offers an opportunity to relax and people watch. Order take-away from one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy a romantic picnic. This is an excellent idea for budget travelers & families.

Visit the Notre Dame Open-air Market

This is something you definitely shouldn’t miss!

The Notre Dame open-air market is held every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 7:00 – 2:00pm. Located just outside Place du Marché Notre Dame, the daily indoor market, you will see row after row of white tents with the friendliest of merchants.

Besides the palace, this was my favorite thing in Versailles.

Here you can find local fruits, cheeses, fresh & dried meats, vegetables of every color, as well as beautiful homemade gifts and prepared food vendors.

I couldn’t get over how incredibly charming the experience was. Locals milling around, greeting each other, having a friendly argument over prices. You really feel more like a local and less of a tourist.

I loved how many of vendors would shout for the attention of customers, enticing them to taste samples. Honestly, you could have a whole meal from taste-testing.

More Than Just a Château

No matter the day, keeping the above tips in mind will help you have a perfect trip to Versailles.

Have any tips for visiting Château de Versailles or the town? Leave a comment below! 🙂

One of the first things I did when we decided to go to Paris, France was to grab tickets for The Louvre.

I believe The Louvre must be the #1 must-see sight on every travelers lists when coming to Paris. It’s the largest museum in the world and boast some of the greatest artworks ever created by the masters.

That being said, there were definitely a few things I wish I had known before seeking out the iconic glass pyramid.

Attention: My post may contain Amazon affiliate links! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here is What You Need to Know About Visiting The Louvre:

Advanced Tickets, Get in Early

First off, make sure you purchase your entry tickets in advance – I cannot stress this one enough! You’ll have less of a headache if you plan and purchase them ahead of time.

I bought tickets for the first day, a Sunday, and got through the entry line & security within minutes. The second day, Monday, I decided on a whim to go back and it took somewhere between 35-45 minutes just to get through the door, then another 30 minutes just to buy a ticket. Not very fun.

Second, try to get your entry ticket for early morning but NOT the first group. The Louvre opens at 9:00am and is packed with people who are looking to spend the whole day there. My suggestion is get you entry tickets for 10:00am. You’ll still have a whole day to explore but will miss the opening crowd.

The Louvre is not open on Tuesdays and major holidays.

Download The Museum Map

You can get a physical one when you enter the museum but I recommend planning ahead of time and downloading the map.

Mind you, some people want to see every piece of artwork. Although I adore art history, there are over 35,000 pieces of artwork on display. Some might say this is blasphemous but you might not wish to see each and every piece. I only spent 3 hours each day checking out the museum – it’s huge and walking will exhaust you.

My recommendation is to download the museum map, select 2 or 3 galleries you definitely need to see and then roam afterwards. You’d be surprised how much you can see in just 3-4 hours.

Not an art expert but still want to enjoy the museum? Or perhaps you don’t have a lot of time? The Louvre can recommend “Visitor Trails” which will take you through sections of the museums and point out famous works. You can view this here or print it out & take it with you when you visit.

Confirm Room Closures

Nothing is worse then flying all the way to Paris, paying for the museum ticket, only to find out that the artwork you want to view is in a gallery that’s closed for the day. This was my experience but I was lucky enough to go two separate days so I ended up seeing everything I wanted to.

The Louvre started doing renovations several years back and have scheduled room closures so the renovations can be completed while the museum is still open. This means you will need to research ahead of time to make sure of which closures are where.

Thankfully, The Louvre made a set schedule for these closures which you can view here. Between this and the museum map, you should be able to plan exactly where you want to go and when.

Make the Mona Lisa Your First Stop

One of the most famous pieces of artwork ever created, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Unfortunately that also means everyone wants to see it. The best time to see the Mona Lisa would be early morning as the museum gets more crowded in the afternoons.

There will be a roped off section around the artwork so that the crowd is standing at least 6-8 feet away. The Mona Lisa isn’t a terribly large piece of artwork and having to stand far back doesn’t help so have some patience, especially if it’s already crowded. 

You might want to make this the first item – I went on a Sunday morning and only waited a few minutes before I was able to get an up-front view.

Take Your Time and Let Large Groups Go First

Something I learned very quickly while I meandered around the museum is there are a lot of large groups. Some could be 10 people, others are larger with 30+ people, and plenty of them will believe they have the ‘right of way’. And while it’s tempting to rush ahead of them, don’t.

By letting these massive groups go first, you’ll not rushed when it’s your turn. Everyone else will avoid large groups like the plague but by hanging out and allowing them to view first, you reap the reward of getting prime viewing afterwards.

Don’t Use the Bathrooms in the Exhibits

For the love of everything green on this planet, don’t use the toilets located in the galleries. If you can hold it or find one of the larger, multi-stall restrooms, do that.

I made the mistake of going into one of these since they’re conveniently located in each gallery but these suckers are single stall and disgusting. I’m talking about New York subway bathroom disgusting. These bathrooms aren’t cleaned as often as their larger, more public compatriots.

If you simply cannot wait and must use one, look for the W/C sign on the hidden doors leading into each gallery. Enter at your own risk.

Photo Taking

This is something you will need to be careful of since certain galleries will and will not allow you to take photos, just depends on which you walk into. I was a bit disappointed in this since I really wanted photos of very famous works. Then again, since better copies are found all over the internet it’s not a huge deal.

Still, be careful and when in doubt, ask a docent.

Save Money, Take Snacks

If you’re like and you travel on a tight budget you know that sometimes you need to wave off the expensive food and carry snacks instead. Thankfully the Louvre is very good about allowing you to bring in snacks.

Since the the Louvre has lockers, bringing snacks isn’t an inconvenience since you can drop them off with your coat or bags and grab them whenever you like.

I recommend carrying items that aren’t smelly: apples, nuts, protein or granola bars, gummies, or pastries. Don’t bring things that spoil easily or have a heavy smell like cheese, bananas or a full meal.

I ended up carrying a protein bar, apple and gummies and that held me until lunch. Eating a full breakfast beforehand, especially if your hotel includes it, is a super smart and cheap way of staying full while in the museum.

You’ll be burning calories while walking around so I still suggest some snacks.

If you do wish to splurge, there are several snack counters around the main entrance. There’s also The Comptoir du Louvre, which has lots of yummy pastries, and The Cafe Mollien.

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I hope my experience at the Louvre will help you to plan a stress-free, enjoyable trip. If you have a tip or want to share your experience, please leave a comment below!