Versailles Private Day Excursion: Experience Palace, Gardens & Marie Antoinette's Domains
4.7
13 Ratings
Versailles
Embark on a private day trip to Versailles and immerse yourself in the opulence of the Palace, the beauty of the gardens, and the charm of Marie Antoinette's domains. Priority admission included!
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Palace of Versailles - The Palace of Versailles, or in french “Château de Versailles”, is one of the largest castles in the world. A World Heritage listed, the Palace of Versailles is one of the finest achievements of French art in the seventeenth century. The former hunting lodge of Louis XIII was transformed and expanded by his son Louis XIV who installed his court and his government in 1682. Until the French Revolution, kings have succeeded, embellishing each the Castle. This royal jewel is definitely a must-see French landmark.

Venture in the Palace, discover its spectacular architecture, and its splendid rooms like the King and Queen’s apartments, many livings room with its stories and the breath taking Mirror Hall design to impress visitors with its three hundred and fifty seven mirrors, its marble and bronze decorations and its gilded bronze sculptures. The visit ends with an introduction to Versailles Gardens.

Thanks to skip the line access, the guide invites you to discover the Royal Apartments.

  • The Royal Chapel - Construction of the Royal Chapel was completed in 1710 at the end of the reign of Louis XIV. It was the fifth – and final – chapel built in the Palace since the reign of Louis XIII. The design was presented to the king by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1699. Unfortunately, the First Architect to the King died in 1708 before the end of the works, which were finished by his brother-in-law, Robert de Cotte.
  • The Royal Opera (L’Opera Royal) - The Royal Opera is one of the greatest works by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Inaugurated in 1770 during the reign of Louis XV, it was at the time the largest concert hall in Europe, and was also a great technical achievement and an impressive feat of decorative refinement. A theater for monarchic and then republican life, it has hosted celebrations, shows and parliamentary debates.
  • Jardins du Chateau de Versailles - Our expert tour guide will enable you to see the best part of the Gardens.
    In 1661, Louis XIV charged André Le Nôtre to create the gardens of Versailles. The creation of gardens requires a gigantic work about forty years: leveling spaces, landscaping garden beds, creation of ponds and the Canal. Louis XIV considered gardens as
    important as the castle. André Le Nôtre created an ultimate French Style garden: a terrace with a global view of the gardens, a geometric organization of the axes, ponds, flowerbeds, groves. The garden is designed like a building, a walk playing on the perspectives. Charles Le Brun drew a large number of statues and fountains. The 221 sculptures make Versailles as the world’s largest open-air museum of sculptures. Fountains and groves adorn the gardens. The groves regularly hosted the King’s walk and the entertainment of the court. Appreciate a stroll trough the Le Nôtre’s gardens.

Each summer, Versailles offers superb entertainment in the gardens to give visitors the experience of the magnificence of the celebrations in the garden at the time of Louis XIV.
Your guide will offer you a visit to the musical gardens (Tuesday from June to October) and the musical fountains show (Saturdays and Sundays from April to October).

  • The Trianons & The Hamlet - The Petit Trianon
    In 1758, Louis XV plans the construction of a new small castle. He orders Ange-Jacques Gabriel, a royal pavilion to house the intimacy of his favor Madame de Pompadour. The Petit Trianon is a true emblem of Neo-classical architecture. At the death of Louis XV, Louis XVI offer it to his young wife, Marie Antoinette. She changes the botanical garden of Louis XV by an sumptuous Anglo-Chinese garden.

A visit to the Petit Trianon is a moving immersion in the daily life of Marie Antoinette, a deeply human Queen. Often accused of frivolity, it would end tragically during the French Revolution. Approach the personality of this historical figure, famous for her beauty, her modernity and her sumptuous entertainment. Enjoy the gardens to discover the Temple of Love and Belvedere, dear to the Queen.

The Grand Trianon is a unique building, with its central loggia which ensures a real transparency between the courtyard and the gardens. In 1687, Louis XIV ordered the construction of a “small palace of pink marble and porphyritic with gorgeous gardens”, according to the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The castle is then called “Marble Trianon”. This pink marble building subtly combines sumptuousness and intimacy. Many original sculptured decorations are visible in the apartments, as well as a magnificent Empire furniture. The Grand Trianon is surrounded by French Style Gardens whose countless flowers and groves contribute to creating a relaxing atmosphere.

​The Queen’s Hamlet, built between 1783 and 1786 by Richard Mique, coincides with the taste of the time for the charms of rural life. This small village “as in the countryside” had houses made either for the simple entertainment like the billiard room, or for a real agricultural function as the dairies or the farm. It served as a private meeting place for the Queen and her closest friends, a place of leisure.

What's Included
  • VIP Skip-the-Line access & Priority admission
  • Exclusive private tour services
  • Comfortable transport by air-conditioned minibus
  • Convenient pick-up and drop-off from Paris accommodations
  • Unrestricted access to gardens, even during events
  • Guidance from an accredited professional guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a private, full-day tour to explore Versailles with a professional tour guide by your side. This high-end experience includes visiting the Palace, Gardens, and Marie Antoinette’s estates with priority access to the Palace for your enjoyment.

Spend the day uncovering the renowned symbol of French monarchy that is Versailles. Witness the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Apartments under guided supervision. Meander through the Gardens architected by André Le Nôtre and your tour will conclude with visiting the Trianon Domain & the Queen’s Hamlet. Step into the glowing realms that were once trodden by King Louis XIV and Queen Marie-Antoinette.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Location
Palace of Versailles
Place d'Armes,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(13 Ratings)
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1 star
Jennifer_s
Mar 29, 2024
Palace of Versailles/Gardens/Petit Trianon - Great tour, excellent transport and Jean Paul was great! :) The Petit Trianon was absolutely beautiful and the walk along the grounds. :)
Review provided by Viator
Robert_l
Nov 26, 2023
It's the total... - It's the total experience--the grandeur of the palace, the magnificence and scale of the gardens, the elegance of the Trianon and Petit Trianon, and the quaint rustic character of the Hameau. An extraordinary package. Plus, we had an enthusiastic guide (Anna) who enhanced the experience by bringing the buildings and grounds to life, giving us the history of the people and the times when Versailles was at the center of France.
Review provided by Viator
W8549rjcecilial
Jul 8, 2023
Fantastic day at Versailles, Gardens, and Trianon. - Anna was incredible! She was prompt, informative (not to much and not to little) and a great photographer. We feel like we saw everything and more. The grand and petite Trianon was incredible as well. We look forward to next tour with Anna. Merci beaucoup!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_l
Jul 8, 2023
Visit to Versailles, Gardens and Trianon! - Anna is incredible! She was prompt and informative (just enough information to appreciate the visit). Took great pictures. We really felt we saw everything we wanted to see and more. Looking forward to another guided tour with Anna.
Review provided by Viator
Judy_g
Jun 12, 2023
Beautiful Versailles - This was a full day with a lot to see! We covered a lot of beauty. It was especially wonderful seeing the fountains! Please wear your most comfortable shoes! It is a ton of walking! A big challenge with a stroller.
Review provided by Viator
Pam_h
Apr 28, 2023
Incredible experience - This was an incredible experience! We booked a private tour and it did not disappoint! Our tour guide Anna was fantastic! She was full of great information and took us to see so many different locations within Versailles!
Review provided by Viator
Yirshaid
Feb 22, 2023
A great experience - We had a great time and our guide had a wealth of knowledge to share with us. He showed us all the important spots/parts to see to maximize our experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nacmcfdd
Aug 17, 2022
For Unforgetable Memories visit The Palace of Versailles - Visit The Palace de Versailles for the first time or revisit and enjoy the property again. So much to see inside the Palace and explore the many Gardens and Grounds. Fantastic day trip arrive by way of Metro station and a walk to the Palace stroll down a road Kings Queens and the Royal Court once traveled lead the Palace gates. Try the Self Guided audio tours. And consider the Hosted guided tours are well worth it as they are packed with info history and extra details. Also many bus tours option available. The memories are priceless.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen
Mar 31, 2024
Good but could be better - It was a pretty good day although it could have been better. First, Gilles was very nice and a very good tour guide. My husband and I enjoy hearing about Versailles and learned a lot. Our granddaughter was bored and he didn’t engage with her too much on the elements of the tour, although he was very nice to her. The organization of the trip, however, could be better. We were picked up at 8:00 but had an 11:40 entry into the chateau. Even with the walking in the gardens we had some time to kill that we could have used at the end. It also meant retracing our steps since we couldn’t do the chateau and then the gardens and then over to the 2 other palaces. My husband is 71 and it was really too much walking for him - 6 miles by the count of my Apple Watch. If that was the only time the tour operator could get it would have been better to book a later start time and return later. The other thing I would strongly recommend is that you do not go to the fancy restaurant (Ore?). It was a huge rip off and took a lot of time away from the tour. It was my fault - Gilles showed me the menu but I just saw a sandwich that I knew my granddaughter would eat and didn’t even look at the rest. There is no way to get a single course meal there, it is crazy expensive for what you get, and it takes a very long time. Had that been pointed out I definitely would have chosen something else. It meant we had to rush through the Grand Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet and even rushing we were 30 minutes late to get back to the driver. It was a combination of having late entry tickets and the long lunch. I also wished I knew how much we were missing coming this time of year. Not only were the fountains not operating but most of the statues outside were covered. There were also areas in the palace that we didn’t have tickets for. I guess I thought that for so much money that we had access to everything. And at the end of the long day the tour operator decided to save some money and hire a small car rather than the minivan we were promised. We did not receive a refund for the difference in cost.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_d
May 21, 2023
Not worth the money. - We booked private tours while in Paris because we were traveling with a person in a wheelchair. We made sure to book only tours that said they were wheelchair accessible. We were told to be ready for the driver at 7:45am. The driver showed up at 8:00am. When we arrived at Versailles, he didn't have the right tickets. We were seven adults and he had tickets for four adults and three children. Although he corrected this by buying additional tickets it did cause confusion at the entrance to the gardens and unnecessary delays. There was absolutely no advance planning put into the fact that we were traveling with someone in a wheelchair. While we understand the grounds are not perfect for a wheelchair, thought could have been put into to how to navigate the grounds (i.e. start at the palace and then work your way downhill through the gardens). We spent the first half of the day (about three to four hours) going uphill and downhill in the gardens, which was very difficult for the wheelchair and those who were pushing the wheelchair. Even after I expressed to him that we were done with the gardens and would like to head out to get lunch, he continued to recommend that we see different fountains in the garden area. We originally wanted to have lunch outside of the palace but were not able to do so because the guide was unsure of how many times we could leave and reenter the grounds. At one point the guide had to leave us to go fix our tickets for entry into the palace (remember he had four adult tickets and three children’s tickets). He left us at 12:10pm at one of the restaurants in the garden and we were told he would meet us back at this same restaurant for a 1:00pm tour of the palace. The day was going so poorly we were convinced that he would not be returning. Thankfully he did return but not until about 1:20pm. We then headed up to tour the palace. The guide had no idea how to access the palace with a wheelchair. Again, more confusion. At least at this point the guide had more knowledge about the inside of the palace than he did about the gardens. This tour had the potential to be great. Unfortunately it fell very short.
Review provided by Viator
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