Palace of Versailles is breathtaking, an incredible place to see. We purchased the front of the…read moreline guided tour, which was well worth it. We jumped in front of the many lines and really learned a lot about the history and living conditions of the palace courtesans. I recommend booking tickets in advance. We used uber to arrive at our tour start point and then took the short train ride back to the Eiffel Tower station after our visit. The grounds are vast and gorgeous. We rented a golf cart by the hour to navigate the site, most appreciated following the tour. There is a chapel that we had access to from the guided tour, beautiful and special. Definitely a highlight and not to be missed on your Paris trip. The souvenir shop was lacklustre- they have a couple of places to grab a coffee/snack (for example Angelina's) in the main palace and in the gardens. There are boats you can rent in the canal area and fireworks some evenings if you stay all day.

We had a 1:40pm tour…read more Yes, BREATHTAKING rooms But ya'll I could not with the crowds and feel like I was being herded like sheep from room to room along with other tours. At times it seemed dangerous. Perhaps get the earliest tour you can book.

The coach gallery at the Royal Stables of Château de Versailles is impressive ... because the…read morehorse-drawn carriages are impressive (extravagant, pretentious, gaudy, or pick a word) ... just as they were 200 years ago, 100 years ago, and today. French Royalty (like Louis XIV), Emperors (like Napoleon I), and state visitors (like Czar Nicolas II) all rode in pimped out traveling thrones designed to impress with so much attention-grabbing bling that even Liberace would of been embarrassed. The stables were built from 1679 to 1682 and manned by up to 1,500 people during the Louis XIV era to house 2,000 horses. This setting on the ground floor of the Great Stables is a perfect home for the carriage museum. The coaches are works of art ... blending gold decorations, wood carvings, metal work, upholstery, and other decorative elements in creative, ostentatious, and luxurious ways to show the splendor of the sovereign. * Open 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. (6:30 in summer) * Closed Mondays * Admission is free / No ticket required * It's about 5 minute walk from the Château * Plan about 1 hour or less * There is no tour nor is it needed * Photography (without flash) is allowed * No food or drink allowed La Galerie des Carrosses at Les Écurie Royales is impressive. If your visit to Château de Versailles permits an hour excursion, I recommend taking the time to see the museum ... because the carriages were crafted to impress ... and their ornate flamboyance continues to impress.

The Grand Ecurie just opened for tours a year or so ago, so many Versailles visitors may…read moreunknowingly pass it by. It's a good stop on the way back to the train station - it's right on the way. Best of all - it's FREE! The exhibit space isn't huge - maybe it will take 30 minutes to go through, but it's worth a short detour. You'll get to see inside the historic stables, which still have the old feeding troughs. The kings horses lived better than I do - the interior is beautiful. The carriages on display are from the reign of Napoleon and later with lots from Napoleon III. I was a little surprised there wasn't anything from the Ancien Regime but maybe none of that stuff survived? Anyway, it's a great detour to a day trip to Versailles and a fascinating look at the old stables. If you're lucky, you may see some of the resident horses being trained.

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!

Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took…read morethe RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel.

We arrived at Musée d'Orsay without a pre bought ticket…read more The line wasn't that long so we decided to stay. We were inching along, and then suddenly the line moved really fast, they were letting people enter faster. We spent over 10 minutes and we were in. This museum is smaller than the Louvre, and has many floors and seems harder to navigate, so I just let my son take the lead and I followed. We took our time admiring the paintings: Monet, Lautrec, Van Gogh, Degas....some people are going with the flow, but some took too much time posing with the paintings, maybe thinking it's their personal studio .... We really like this museum. The time we went, there is a special exhibit dedicated to Renoir.

Stunning. One of the most beautiful museums I've been to in the world. It is an absolutely must see…read moreif you're in Paris. The space itself pulls you in, and it's easy to spend hours here without realizing it. I got lost in the beauty of the paintings here many times. Although the Louvre Museum is #1 and the most iconic, Musée d'Orsay is absolutely worth seeing and holds its own. It's in my opinion the #2 must see museum in Paris. Le Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay inside is also worth a stop on it's own, beautiful setting with high quality desserts and coffee.

Being here makes me feel so happy. I love everything about this experience... The Château, the…read moregardens, the sculptures... and people watching, of course. While here, I'm hearing multiple languages and seeing people from around the world loving all of it too. Art is a universal language. Feeling inspired to be present in the moment and to enjoy the garden and the glorious views. We gave ourselves four hours to linger and to take in all of it. Never be rushed when you come here... It's worth spending extra time taking it all in. So beautiful! And having champagne and treats in the café is a bonus!

This is a fantastic museum in the heart of Paris. Huge collection…read more Unfortunately they let people take photos for weddings and influencers. They are during prime tourist time. They should consider having a separate time for the influencers and the wedding people, charging more for them, but also not impacting all of the other paying visitors. Losing stars because of the negative impact of all the wedding and influencers types that made the visit disappointing.

Lorenzo was a great tour guide. He knows his history and presented a great story and vision of the…read moretime! It was a great way to learn about the details of Versailles, the gardens, the petit Trianon, and the Hamlet. I feel like I had a personal history lesson.

We enjoyed our tour with Lorenzo of the Chateau de Chantilly. He was very knowledgeable about the…read moreChateau and it's history. There were lots of school tours and he did an excellent job of maneuvering around the large crowds. We would highly recommend this tour!

This will blow you out of the water! Every other art show on tour housing comparison to wonder…read morecollection that is at the Atelier des Lumieres. There was a double feature when I went of Picasso and Rousseau. I was in awe the entire time. The Picasso show was about 40 mins and the Rousseau was 20 minutes. I felt immersed in the art of the Rousseau collection, but I saw the story in the life of Picasso during his collection. This is a must when in Paris

I can't remember how I found out about this "exhibit"…read more When I originally saw the ad it was about Klimt being the main show. That would have been so cool. It ended the week before my arrival. But it was still a great show. Purchase your ticket online and pick a date and time. Originally thought the exhibit was in an old warehouse, but it's the main floor of a residential building. Two stories of open space. The images are projected on the floor and all the walls choreographed to music. The first was Van Gogh's Starry Night with other of his works mixed. Japanese Images of a Floating World was next installation. The works have movement and floats through the vast space. There are no seats. Be careful walking around, as people just sit in the middle of the floor to watch. You can hang out and watch it a second time. Highly recommend seeing this.

The Petit Palais is a beautiful old building which houses a free art museum. The special exhibits…read morehave a fee (around $14-$20 Euros), but the permanent collection is free and does not requite a reservation. They have a pretty garden view from the cafe as well, which is a nice place to stop for a coffee or tea while admiring the outdoors. Not far from the Musee d'Orsay and l'Orangerie if you would like to visit both on the same day.

Loved our visit to the Petit Palais. Free entry, gorgeous architecture, and two full floors of…read moresculptures, paintings, and artifacts that are beautifully displayed. The building--designed by Charles Girault for the 1900 Universal Exhibition--is a masterpiece in itself. The collection spans from antiquity to the early 20th century and is surprisingly extensive. If you're nearby, don't miss it.

Yes. Come do the touristy things like shopping, eating, and sightseeing. But also consider this…read moreplace with a spin to the sightseeing portion with a historical twist. The admissions price you pay is worth it. You just don't see this type of local flair anywhere else. Soak in the history about Paris and also its darker side. Your perspective about things will change, for most people anyway. The takeaway the hubs took from this experience is that nothing really matters at the end. It's a real eye opening experience TBH. As you wander the dark corridors, you will see piles of real human bones piled in neat stacks. It was saddening to realize that these were once human beings. Now they are part of a collection of unknown souls. It was just a down to earth experience. The audio tour will allow you to wander at your pleasure so there's no real rush or live tour. Book early because spots are limited!

The major thing we wanted to do in Paris was visit the catacombs, an underground ossuary containing…read morethe bones of more than six million people. The catacombs are part of Paris' abandoned mine and quarry network, and bones were moved to the catacombs because the cemeteries were running out of space. The first bones were transferred from the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents after the cemetery was closed in 1780 due to overuse. The catacombs are an extremely popular attraction, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as a limited number of people are admitted each hour, and with good reason -- the experience would be extremely unpleasant if overly crowded. However, you can only purchase tickets one week in advance, and the catacombs are not open on Mondays. The two full days we were in Paris were Sunday and Monday, so I had to ensure that we were able to get tickets for Sunday April 7. Fortunately I was successful! Tickets were €29 each, although per the website, they are now €31. Unfortunately, the catacombs are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues -- the 1.5km long route has 243 stairs -- 131 to descend and 112 to ascend. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and if you want to see bones and skulls (no full skeletons, though), the Paris catacombs won't disappoint! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Beware of stairs!]