There isn't a whole lot to see in the actual building here but it's really the gardens and…read moreeverything outside that is worth it. There's many walking trails and easy to get lost but don't give up. Going to the Queen's hamlet is definitely worth it as is the Temple de l'amour. There's some very large trees nearby that are just epic as well.

We enjoyed this part of Versailles better than the Palace. For one, it's much less crowded and…read morevisited so you're not constantly being jostled and shuffling along. Second, since it's not designed for flexing political propaganda, the scale of this little "country" home is more human, intimate, and comfortable. This is where Marie Antoinette let down her hair and kicked back, away from the artifices of power. The Queen's Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine) is simply delightful and puts any Disneyworld imagineer to shame. What an amazing artificial farm and country to see! Your kids will love this place, scooting around all the paths to check out all the charming nooks and crannies ... heck I'm well past childhood but it really bought out the kid in me! Understandable to see why the Queen loved this place and why she was happiest here.

Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

I've been to Versailles twice in my life, and honestly, it's a place you only need to visit once…read more It's worth checking off, though, that first time, and I was happy to go back on our family trip this month, as my brothers and kids had never been before. I booked tickets online about a month in advance, and it was easy to do--not always a given, as I found when booking the Eiffel Tower and London Eye this same trip. Tickets were €35 each for eight adults and €15 for my six-year-old, with my younger son and niece getting in for free. We set aside a whole day for our excursion from Paris, and we definitely needed it. We were there for over five hours and covered what felt like very little ground. It was kind of a grueling day for everyone, most of all my older son, who got nauseous in the cab ride over and immediately threw up on the sidewalk leading up to the castle. We were lucky enough to miss the heat wave, but it was still brutally hot, and the grounds were so massive and sprawling that no one had the will to really explore them. We did spend a couple hours at the actual castle, though, the infamous, guillotine-worthy Château de Versailles. (My grumpy sick son had some questions about what happened to the people who lived there, and I entertained him with a little history lesson. My husband later reported that another mom was listening in and judging me for my frank description of the French Revolution.) I remembered it from my first visit almost twenty years ago and had the same general reaction, which is that the opulence was impressive and repetitive. You get the idea pretty quickly, and understand immediately why heads had to roll. The private chapel kind of said it all on its own. We didn't go to every room, but we saw plenty and made sure to hit the Hall of Mirrors with its gaudy profusion of chandeliers and gold sculpture. There were a few spaces that incorporated modern artwork, which was pretty cool. When everyone was tired and hungry, we found our way to an Angelina cart and a back room with tables and fans where we were able to sit and eat. There are a number of restaurants on the grounds where you can make reservations, but this worked better for us (and also nothing was available for our huge party by the time I got around to looking). We spent a couple more hours wandering around the garden, but we didn't get particularly far. The garden was beautiful but enormous and short on shade, and it seemed impossible to cross the distance to get to whatever points of interest might be waiting a quarter mile in the sun-scorched distance. The fountains were cool and we did get to see them turn on briefly, though we missed whatever musical fountain show we were supposed to catch. We could not figure out where or when it was happening. We wasted half an hour waiting in line for golf carts before giving up and buying tickets for the train instead, to take us to the Trianon side. It was so hot, all we did was take the train and then start leaving. The train was surprisingly shitty, just a rickety train-shaped conveyance that went around the grounds, making stops at a few noteworthy places. We hopped off at Petit Trianon and walked out, taking a long, pleasant path lined with trees. It was cooler and less crowded on this side of Versailles, and if I were ever to come back, I would spend my time checking out the areas away from the palace. I remember enjoying the Queen's Hamlet on my first visit, and I noticed a lot of family's on bicycles enjoying all the charmingly landscaped open spaces. Versailles is well worth a visit at some point in your life, though I'd recommend against going in summer with small, irritable children. I don't need to see the palace again, but I wouldn't mind another go at the grounds.

It's a really beautifully laid out veggie garden. I say veggie versus flower b/c when we were…read morethere it wasn't the right season. Got there early in the morning when it was dry. Found ourselves getting lost a few times trying to find the place, asked City street workers, retired grandpas, storekeepers- all gave us funky side street directions. Finally asked a young woman at cross walk who happened to be a worker in a nearby office, told us to follow her. She pointed out their ticket office. *NOTE: It's across the street from local nursing college. If you try to enter from other side of estate, you can't. Have to pay a nominal entrance fee. Ticket office is also where the garden's offerings are sold, very seasonal. (Yes, the stuff the former Kings of France dined on, you, too, can also buy it's veggie descendants and dine on, too!). Expensive, as it is organic and think prestige factor. Eg: spinach for $4/lb. Yikes! If you don't care for veggies, they had nougat candy made with honey gathered from beehives in the garden. Also, jars of honey for sale. Pleasant calming experience. Mostly disability friendly, too. Elderly people with canes and saw a woman in a wheelchair enjoying their walks.

From the owner: Une récolte royale chaque année Dans l'enceinte de l'école supérieure nationale de paysage, le…read morepotager du roi étale sur 4 ha ses vergers et ses rangs d'oignons. Aménagé par Jean Baptiste Quintinie pour Louis XIV en 1683, il s'articule sur un grand carré sur lesquels on récolte des fraises en juin et des asperges en septembre. Les pommiers et les poiriers, 200 variétés différentes, s'alignent méthodiquement dans des petits jardins tout autour du potager. Vous déambulez en plein air, en écoutant l'évolution historique du lieu, avant de passer à la dégustation des légumes rares, les crosnes, et des fruits. Vous pouvez faire le plein de soupes, jus de fruit et conserves qui approvisionnent la boutique et le marché de la place Saint Louis en saison. Le potager écoule pas moins de 50 tonnes de pommes et de poires et 20 tonnes de légumes par an.

From the owner: Galerie d'antiquaire à versailles. Un lieu unique pour les amateurs, collectionneurs et…read moreprofessionnels d'antiquités asiatiques. Découvrez une sélection d'antiquités chinoises et japonaise dans une galerie d'art située au centre du quartier des antiquaires du bailliage et de la geôle à versailles.

Le Petit Trianon was the refuge from the court of Vesailles for Marie Antoinette. It was gifted to…read moreher by her husband, Louis XVI in 1774. We entered Le Petit Trianon and straight away followed the outdoor path to the Temple of Love. We contined on to the Queens Hamlet; a wonderful walkable and lovely stroll that takes you back to another time. There are rustic cottages that guests of the Queen stayed in upon her invitation. Herbs and vegetables grown in the gardens were used for meals. Ilthe property also included a dairy. There are waterways and unique and prized trees planted throughout. We spent more than half of the afternoon exploring this area, so we had run out of time to go inside Le Petit Trianon! Its only opened from 12pm-5:30pm, so it would be best to plan ahead according to what you want to see. There is so much to explore! We enjoyed this more than dealing with the crowds at Versailles. Take the little train one or both ways, ( stops at the grand canal, and Le Grand and Petit Trianon) which was 9 euros when we visited in Feb 2026. Be sure to find out beforehand when the last little train leaves, as we missed it. Its about a 30 minute walk back to the Palace from Le Petit Trianon.

The Chateaux de Trianon (there's a big one and a little one, both lovely) are absolutely worth…read moreseeing. You can rent a golf cart or hop on a mini-train, but if weather permits, the walk is not bad at all. Mom and I came here as part of our day trip to Versailles, and we both loved visiting these little chateaux. While they are both a good bit smaller than Versailles, each is quite grand (in every sense of the word). Mom and I especially enjoyed seeing the furnished rooms and beautiful views from the windows. Warning: the signage is not particularly extensive, so it's easy to get turned around. It's not the end of the world (the gardens are lovely as can be), but do plan for a bit of wandering. Enjoy the peace. Side note: definitely visit the Queen's Hamlet. It's super fun: imagine an interpretation of a small English village, complete with thatched roofs.