I don’t know how many times I’ve seen wide-eyed visitors arrive at the gates of Versailles, only to wilt in a super long ticket queue, blister their feet in the wrong shoes, or realize afterwards they missed the best parts entirely.
France’s most famous palace IS truly amazing, but it’s also enormous, extremely crowded, and a little unforgiving. If you avoid these Versailles mistakes, you’ll have the visit King Louis XIV would have wanted for you.
1. Not booking Versailles entrance tickets in advance
If you remember one thing from this article, make it this. If you just turn up and try to buy a ticket at Versailles, you’ll definitely be stuck standing in line, sometimes for an hour or more, outside under the sun or rain. Or even worse, tickets might be completely sold out for the day, and you’ll have made the trek out there for nothing.
That’s why I highly recommend that you book your Versailles entrance tickets around two or three months before your trip. This way, instead of being stuck in it, you’ll breeze past that long ticket queue like you have a special invite from the King himself.
2. Going to Versailles on the wrong day
Versailles is closed on Mondays, and every year hundreds of people make the trip all the way out there only to find the gates locked. But even among the days that it’s open (Tuesday to Sunday), not all offer the same experience.
That’s because the best parts of the chateau’s incredible gardens, which are the magical groves (bosquets in French), are only open on certain days and from April through October. These special days, called Les Grands Eaux Musicales or Les Jardins Musicaux, are usually Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but in summer, additional days are usually added.
Versailles tends to be busier on these special days, but if you want the full experience, you might want to brave the crowds, and actually, the gardens themselves are so HUGE, they never feel too hectic.
If you just want to visit the interior of the main castle, and maybe take a quick peek at the closer gardens, then it’s totally fine to go on other days. So you’ll want to check the calendar before you lock in your plans and be a little extra careful about which day you choose to go.
3. Not realizing that Versailles isn’t in Paris
Versailles is considered a Paris attraction, but the sprawling complex isn’t actually IN the city. It’s located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the city center, so you need to count on 40 to 60 minutes each way to reach the château. Because of this, you’ll need to allot enough time to visit it… which brings us to the next problem.
4. Not planning enough time
This is a simple, yet crucial Versailles mistake to avoid. You can’t just “pop by” Versailles. The palace alone is gigantic (it has over 2,300 rooms, 1,000 of which are open to the public), and there’s a security line even if you have a pre-booked ticket. Then there are the massive gardens, the Trianon estate, and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet, which are pretty far away from the main palace.
Adding in the travel time (about 1.5-2 hours there and back), you need a minimum of four hours, although six is better, or a full day to visit “everything”. If you only have a few days in Paris, you might want to skip Versailles altogether and concentrate on enjoying the tons of activities you’ve got within the city center.
5. Having no plan once you’re there
As I mentioned above, Versailles is huge and really spread out (the whole site is 815 hectares or about 2,015 acres). Many visitors just wander around, drifting with the crowd, and they miss the best parts.
There are also a whole bunch of things to consider. You have to book a timed entrance to visit the main palace, but when’s the best time? How do you want to get around to the various parts of the complex? On foot, bike, train, or golf cart?
You need a bit of strategy, and it depends on plenty of things, from how much time you’ve got to whether you want to have a sit-down lunch, picnic, or race back to Paris right after. I’ve included lots of great tips on how to visit Versailles, including which tickets to buy and where to eat, in our Paris Day Trips Guide.
If you don’t love planning, you might want to join this fabulous small-group guided tour. They handle the entrance tickets and logistics, and their amazing guides will steer you around the highlights while revealing all the stories that make the gilded rooms and graceful gardens come alive.
6. Wearing the wrong shoes
Plan on wearing those cute new shoes you just picked up at that lovely shop in the Marais? Leave them at your hotel. Between the palace’s long corridors, the cobblestones, and the seemingly endless laneways through the gardens, you’ll be on your feet for hours. The last time I went, I clocked 15,000 steps, and I didn’t even go inside the Trianon Palaces.
Comfortable, broken-in footwear is not optional at Versailles. Your feet will thank you when you can finally sit in the taxi or train back to Paris.
7. Not having a plan for lunch
There are actually a bunch of different dining options inside the castle complex, but they aren’t all created equal, AND you need to know where they are. Wandering around hungry and hoping for the best is a recipe for overpriced, uninspiring sandwiches.
I suggest that you decide in advance and reserve a table somewhere you actually want to eat, or pack a picnic and enjoy it in the gardens (I’ve included all kinds of spots in our Paris Day Trips Guide). Either way, have an idea before your stomach starts making the decisions.
8. Forgetting an umbrella (or a fan)
The weather can be really unpredictable in and around Paris. Depending on the season, you might need an umbrella for a sudden shower, or a handheld fan when summer crowds and sun make the palace feel like a sauna.
No matter the time of year, check the forecast in advance and pack accordingly. It’s a small thing that can make a huge difference to your experience at Versailles.
If you need help with your packing, check our Paris Packing Guide.
9. Missing the special events at Versailles
In high season, Versailles puts on all kinds of special shows, including fireworks, costumed balls, and other spectacular evenings that feel like stepping into the 17th century. Many visitors don’t realize these exist until they’ve already left.
I’m really fond of the fireworks evenings, often on Saturday nights in summer. This means you can go in the afternoon, visit the interior of the main castle, have dinner nearby, then see the gardens during the show. It’s a totally magical experience and could turn out to be a highlight of your whole trip.
Check the events schedule before you book your tickets, and if something lines up with your stay, you might want to plan around it.
10. Skipping seeing the town of Versailles
Most people rush back to Paris as soon as they’ve seen the château, which I think is a bit of a shame, because the chic city surrounding the castle is well worth exploring. The town itself is very charming, with a lovely market, appealing shops, great restaurants, and beautiful architecture. Give yourself an hour or two to stroll around after the palace. It’s a nice way to wind down and experience a slower pace than the castle and what you’ll find in busier Paris. Again, I have included some great spots to discover in town in our Day Trips Guide, which comes with a Digital Map for your phone too.
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