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Major city · France

Versailles

Give the palace one full day with a timed ticket booked ahead; sleep in Paris and day-trip, or stay one night if you also want the Trianon and the town.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), weekends and French school holidays
Airports
CDG · ORY
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  • France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
  • France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
  • France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
  • France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.

Versailles is a suburb 17 km west of Paris, built around Louis XIV's palace and gardens. Most visitors come for a single day from Paris on the RER C. The estate is huge: the palace, the gardens, the Grand and Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet are 30+ minutes apart on foot, so one day only covers part of it. Staying overnight is worth it only if you want two days on the estate or a quieter evening in the town.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Versailles, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Sit-down mealSit-down lunch, main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or crêpe near the palace€5–9 (≈ US$6–11)
  • Beercafé / supermarket can€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)€1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketPalace pass with timed entry€21 (≈ US$25) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€35 (≈ US$45)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€320 (≈ US$400)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €220 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Palace of Versailles and the Hall of MirrorsGardens by André Le Nôtre and the Grand CanalGrand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen's HamletMusical fountain shows
Airports
CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (RER B to central Paris, then RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche; about 1 h 45 min total) · ORY Paris Orly (Orlyval or tram to the RER B, then RER C; about 1 h 30 min)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Versailles: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

2°C

11 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

10 rd

Mar

12°C

4°C

10 rd

Apr

16°C

6°C

9 rd

May

20°C

10°C

10 rd

Jun

23°C

13°C

9 rd

Jul

25°C

15°C

8 rd

Aug

25°C

15°C

8 rd

Sep

21°C

12°C

9 rd

Oct

16°C

9°C

10 rd

Nov

11°C

5°C

11 rd

Dec

8°C

3°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town and the palace forecourt are walkable. Inside the estate, distances are long: the Grand Trianon is about 30 min on foot from the palace, the Queen's Hamlet further. A small train and bike or golf-cart hire run in the grounds in season; buses serve the town. Three stations: Château Rive Gauche (RER C, closest), Rive Droite (Transilien L from Saint-Lazare) and Chantiers (Transilien N and TER from Montparnasse).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Parisgo

Door to door: 40–50 min

RER C from Versailles Château Rive Gauche, or Transilien L from Rive Droite

The default base: sleep in Paris and day-trip out.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Transilien L from Versailles Rive Droite, change at Saint-Germain-en-Laye Grande Ceinture or via Paris

Château, terrace over the Seine and a market town.

Maisons-Laffitte

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Transilien L from Versailles Rive Droite toward Paris Saint-Lazare

Château and a racecourse town on the Seine.

Rambouillet

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Transilien N from Versailles Chantiers

Presidential château and forest; quieter than Versailles.

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

caution

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Transilien N or RER C from Versailles Chantiers

New town with the national velodrome and France's main cycling track; limited sightseeing.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Quartier Notre-Dame (near Château Rive Gauche)

Closest to the palace gate, 5–10 min on foot; restaurants and shops on rue de la Paroisse.

Quartier Saint-Louis

Quiet 18th-century grid around the cathedral, 15 min walk to the palace; best for one night.

Near Versailles Chantiers station

Best rail links to Paris Montparnasse and the west; the walk to the palace is less pleasant.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€45–75 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
€75–140 (≈ US$90–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €160€160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110€220
RER C from central Paris, both ways2 × €7 · check€14
Palace pass with timed entry2 × €21 · check; gardens-only and Trianon-only tickets cost less€42
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€47
Trip total≈ €257 per person per day, bed included€513≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euros; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
Sandwich or crêpe near the palace€5–9 (≈ US$6–11)
Sit-down lunch, main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
Beer: café / supermarket can€5–8 (≈ US$6–10) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
RER C ride from central Paris€3.55 (≈ US$5) (check)
Palace pass with timed entry€21 (≈ US$25) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Versailles is a safe, wealthy suburb; the real risks are pickpockets in the palace crowds and on the RER C, summer heat in the gardens, and long walks with no shade or water.
  • A timed entry slot for the palace is mandatory, even with a museum pass or free entry: book on the official site before you travel.
  • Do not get off at Viroflay Rive Gauche; the name is similar but it is the wrong station.
  • Some RER C trains to Versailles-Chantiers take a long loop through the southern suburbs; take a train that ends at Versailles Château Rive Gauche.
  • Baby strollers are not allowed inside the palace; selfie sticks are banned.
  • Rooms close at short notice for renovation or state functions: check opening times the day before.

Emergency numbers

European emergency number
112
Ambulance (SAMU)
15
Police
17
Fire
18

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

VersaillesVersailles

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • European emergency number112
  • Ambulance (SAMU)15
  • Police17
  • Fire18

Embassy

No embassies in Versailles; they are in Paris. US: 2 avenue Gabriel, Paris 8e (check). UK: 35 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8e (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • RER C Paris → Versailles Château Rive Gauche: €3.55 (≈ US$5), about 37 min from Saint-Michel (check)
  • Transilien L Paris Saint-Lazare → Versailles Rive Droite: €4.35 (≈ US$6), about 33 min (check)
  • Taxi Paris centre → Versailles: €45–70 (≈ US$55–85), 30–60 min depending on traffic (check)

Say or show

  • Excusez-moi / Pardon — Excuse me / Sorry (ex-ku-zay mwa / par-don)
  • Merci — Thank you (mer-see)
  • Celui-ci, s'il vous plaît — This one, please (suh-lwee see, seel voo pleh)
  • C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-byen)
  • Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-yay par kart)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-let)

Timed palace entry is mandatory; book on the official site before you travel.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Versailles. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), weekends and French school holidays · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CDG and ORY: last RER C departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: palace and gardens, Trianon and Hamlet, Quartier Notre-Dame, Quartier Saint-Louis.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (palace, Trianon, Queen's Hamlet, Potager du Roi, Coach Gallery) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to France

Sources