Versailles
Louis XIV's royal palace and gardens, about 17 km west-southwest of central Paris, where the court and government were based from 1682 until 1789.
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Versailles is a town in the Yvelines department, about 17.1 km west-southwest of central Paris, and the site of the Château de Versailles. Louis XIV expanded his father's château into a royal palace, and in 1682 he moved the court and government here permanently. Versailles stayed the unofficial capital until 1789, while Paris remained the official one. The town was first named in a medieval document dated 1038, but it grew into a royal city under Louis XIV. The gardens around the palace are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The palace and gardens are the main attractions. Other sights include the Potager du roi, a kitchen garden Louis XIV created to supply the court with fruit and vegetables. Wooded hills and forests such as Marly, Satory and Meudon are good for walks. Summers are warm, around 15 to 25 °C, with fair sunshine. Winters are cool and sunny days are scarce, though snow rarely lies on the ground.
Versailles in five
- Book a timed slot before you goThe palace says visitors must book a time slot, and free-entry visitors need a time-stamped ticket too. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, so fix your date first. Buy only on the official site.Versailles tickets and timed entry
- Plan around Monday closingThe palace and Trianon estate close on Mondays, 25 December, 1 January and 1 May. The gardens and park keep their own daily hours, so a Monday visit means grounds only.How to visit Versailles from Paris
- Take RER C to Versailles Château Rive GaucheOf the three Versailles stations this is the closest, about a 10-minute walk from the palace. One flat-fare Metro-Train-RER ticket covers the trip, with no zones to choose.Paris
- Leave big bags in ParisLarge luggage is not allowed inside. The lockers take items up to 46 x 43 x 26 cm, so bring a day bag and nothing bigger.
- Landing in Paris first? Allow time for EESVisitors from outside the EU register at the first Schengen border, usually Paris. Keep a buffer if Versailles is planned for arrival day.EES explained
Things to do in Versailles
See all attractions in Versailles
Need to know
- Airport
- Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly, then RER or train
- Getting there
- RER C from central Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about 40 min
- Palace hours
- 9am to 5:30pm, until 6:30pm in high season; closed Mondays
- Best base
- Paris, unless you want the gardens at opening or a calm evening
- Time needed
- Half a day for the palace; a full day with gardens and Trianon
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, fewer crowdsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fewer crowds
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Gardens wakingAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gardens waking
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Gardens in bloomMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gardens in bloom
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Peak crowdsJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Peak crowdsAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Clear, goldenSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, golden
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Short daysNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Cold, festiveDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, festive
Average daily high and low in Versailles, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Versailles
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 63%
Versailles
09:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°7°63%Monday: Rain. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Tue10°5°3%Tuesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°4%Thursday: Rain. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri12°4°5%Friday: Fog. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat11°3°8%Saturday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun9°2°8%Sunday: Rain. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 06:30 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- MayVillette SoniqueParis, a day trip
- JunSolidaysParis, a day trip
- AugRock en SeineParis, a day trip
- SepFête de l'HumanitéParis, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Parisabout 40 min by RER CThe usual base, with the museums and the Seine.Read the guide
- Chartresabout 1 hour by regional trainA direct regional train links Versailles-Chantiers with the cathedral city.Read the guide
- Fontainebleauno direct train; plan it as its own dayA quieter royal palace set in a large forest, closed Tuesdays.Read the guide
Before you go to Versailles
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Rules for Versailles, checked
- The Palace and Trianon Estate close on Mondays, 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Visitors must book a time slot in advance; free-entry visitors must book a time-stamped ticket too.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable; with an online slot you can enter within 30 minutes after the chosen time.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Versailles FAQ
Is Versailles worth visiting from Paris?
Yes, if you want the Hall of Mirrors and the gardens. It takes half a day to a full day. Skip it if you have only two days in Paris and have not yet seen the Louvre or Orsay.
Do I need to book Versailles in advance?
Yes. The palace states that visitors must book a time slot, and free-entry visitors must book a time-stamped ticket too. Use the official site only to avoid fakes.
How long is the train from Paris to Versailles?
About 40 minutes on RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, then roughly 10 minutes on foot to the palace. Buy return tickets before you leave Paris.
What day is Versailles closed?
The palace and Trianon close on Mondays, 25 December, 1 January and 1 May. The gardens and park keep their own hours, so a Monday trip only gets you the grounds.
Can I visit the Versailles gardens without a palace ticket?
Garden admission is free from November to March. From April to October it is charged on show days (the Musical Fountains Show and Musical Gardens), so check the official calendar for your date.