Wandering the regal halls of the Palace of Versailles is often cited as one of the best things to do in Paris, keeping history lovers, art buffs and sightseeing enthusiasts entertained.
From the extravagant Hall of Mirrors to the Queen’s Hamlet and elaborate palatial gardens, the royal residence is one of the most beloved jewels of Paris, allowing a peek behind the curtain into the privileges, and responsibilities of the kings and queens of France.
Uncover the essence of Versailles with our top 3 picks, including the most highly-rated excursion, a delightful bike tour option, and the ultimate private exploration. Or scroll down to see our entire list of the best Versailles tours from Paris.
| # | Activity Type | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skip-the-Line Guided Tour | From 72€ | 4 hours |
| 2 | Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Palace Tour | From 160€ | 8 hours |
| 3 | Private Half-Day Trip | From 1020€ | 5 hours |
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1 – Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Transfers
Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5 (2564 reviews)
“Everything and everyone was on Time!!! It was exactly as you described in the Page. I highly recommend your services!” Karla, Headout
Encouraging your education and enjoyment of the “City of Lights,” this Versailles tour from Paris transports you on a journey back to the 17th century when the now UNESCO-listed landmark was erected.
You’ll discover the grand Baroque interior of the palace, including its Hall of Mirrors, which was designed to showcase the strength and power of King Louis XIV — also referred to as Louis the Great.
As well as this opulent room, you’ll also explore some of the 60,000 artworks covering the history of France and the surrounding palatial gardens, which serve as a creative masterpiece, brought to life by the respected landscape architect, André Le Nôtre.
Our review
This Versailles tour from Paris perfectly combines everything you need for your experience into one neat package. The transportation is arranged efficiently and the guides are both friendly and expertly educated on the former royal residence.
Read more: Versailles Palace Tickets Price
2 – Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Guided Palace Tour
Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 (570 reviews)
“This was my favorite experience during my entire trip to Paris! Clara was the most wonderful tour guide…she made everything interesting and fun! I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone and everyone!” Jason, Viator
If you wish to experience the area surrounding Paris up close, you may instead consider choosing this cycling experience, operated by Boutique Bike Tours.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city center behind, you’ll enjoy a high-speed train journey to the historic town of Versailles where you’ll mount a bicycle to explore the area, including its esteemed farmers market filled with residents showcasing a vibrant display of locally-grown produce.
Alongside the main palace, you’ll also visit the Queen’s Hamlet — built for Marie Antoinette in the second half of the 18th century — before ending your experience with a gourmet picnic overlooking the magnificent site.
Our review
While you may not be able to count on the weather for this tour, you can certainly count on the attention of the fantastic group of guides who run this experience.
You’ll discover local cuisine, which can be devoured while gazing upon one of the most spectacular architectural landmarks of the 17th century, discover the sheer magnitude of the palace and enjoy a leisurely cycle, all while accompanied by a welcoming and fun local.
Read more: Versailles Tours – Which One is Best?
3 – Private Half-Day Trip with Macarons
Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 (57 reviews)
“Our Viator tour with Claudio was excellent. We learned so much and he really brought the chateau experience to life!” Natasha, Viator
Enjoy the ultimate French experience with this excursion that combines the artistic and historic wonders of the Palace of Versailles with the luxury of delicate macarons, which you can feast on decadently throughout the rest of the day.
Provided by Paris to Versailles Private Tours, this trip is ideal for those who wish to enjoy a more personalized experience than can be attained on a group tour. With a private guide, you’ll enjoy chatting one-on-one about the various points of interest you see, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions along the way.
You can tailor this experience to the topics that fascinate you most and after your exploration, you’re bound to enjoy the sweet taste of a pastel-colored macaron.
Our review
You’ll benefit from convenient touches on this private tour, including a hotel pickup service, which enables you to relax, put your feet up and enjoy the experience. The guides are attentive to your needs and you’ll feel as though you’ve made a friend as you discuss the most notable events in French history together.
4 – Palace & Gardens: Small-group Guided Tour + Roundtrip
Rating: ⭐️ 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
“Driver was wonderful… informative, engaging, and funny. Transportation was so comfortable. Small group size was ideal. The whole day was amazing! Couldn’t have asked for more.” Britt, Tiqets
Those looking for a more intimate experience can select one of several small-group Versailles tours from Paris. This one, in particular, operated by Paris TRIP, takes care of all transportation, enabling you to simply enjoy sightseeing without worrying over organization details.
You’ll gain priority entrance to the Palace of Versailles and enjoy a guided tour, hosted by a qualified expert. Wander in the footsteps of royalty as you discover the history of several monarchs, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, both of whom were beheaded during the French Revolution.
Gain a broad overview of life at the palace as you wander through state apartments, chapels, gardens and grand halls, all while listening to an entertaining commentary.
Our review
From royalty to architectural styles, you’ll gain a wide array of knowledge surrounding French history by embarking on this Palace of Versailles tour from Paris. If you wish to experience the site at its most serene, choose the early morning tour to beat the crowds.
5 – Versailles Palace and Trianon Guided Day Tour
Rating: ⭐️ 4/5 (161 reviews)
“This was the most incredible tour I have ever been on. Our guide Claire was funny, informative and an absolute delight to spend the day with. I have wanted to go to Versailles for years and she absolutely made in a memorable experience.” Shelley, Viator
One of the best Versailles tours from Paris is hosted by Paris City Vision and covers numerous landmarks, arming travelers with a plethora of insider knowledge on the French monarchy.
Alongside popular features of the Palace of Versailles, such as the Hall of Mirrors, you’ll also have the opportunity to discover the Gallery of Battles, which depicts almost 1,500 years of the country’s military victories, including the Battle of Tolbiac and the Battle of Wagram.
Stroll through the tranquil gardens at your leisure before reassembling with your group to explore the Trianon estate, which served as a refuge for the kings and queens of France away from their royal duties, as well as the Queen’s Hamlet where you’ll dive into the history of Marie Antoinette.
Our review
The perfect option for those who wish to combine a guided experience with independent exploration. The palace complex is enormous and those who choose a tour that lasts all day, like this one, should have a moderate level of fitness to enjoy the experience fully.
6 – Versailles Palace & Giverny Monet House Guided Visit with Lunch
Rating: ⭐️ 4/5 (1715 reviews)
“The gardens at Monet’s house were stunning. The place for lunch was charming and the lunch and wine were great! (…) Versailles was spectacular. It was a very fun day!” Carol, Viator
Those whose interests lie in the artistic endeavors of France can combine the Palace of Versailles’ colossal collection of paintings with the garden that served as a source of inspiration for the 19th-century impressionist mastermind, Claude Monet.
You’ll visit the home of the esteemed painter and the peaceful haven he created in his own backyard, which art lovers may recognize from the artists’ “Nymphéas” series.
After wandering these famed gardens, you’ll travel to the Palace of Versailles where you’ll gain an insight into the extravagant lifestyle of France’s elite through history, learning plenty of fascinating tidbits of information along the way from your Paris City Vision guide.
Our review
Those who are short on time to experience Paris can enjoy this fast-paced tour that covers several of the area’s most significant historic landmarks. You’ll pack plenty of sightseeing and information into just one day, ensuring you leave Paris as an expert on its art scene.
7 – Palace and Gardens Tour by Train with Skip-the-Line
Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5 (216 reviews)
“Amazing experience! Our tour guide was great and went at a great pace! We were able to fully enjoy our tour and take pictures.” Angela, Viator
If you’re seeking flexibility, one of the best options for exploring the Palace of Versailles is this tour from Memories France, which operates several times per day, ensuring every traveler can experience this lavish landmark.
You’ll enjoy skip-the-line access to the palace, enabling you to spend your precious vacation time exploring instead of queueing, and discovering the rooms that, while luxurious, contributed to Marie Antoinette’s hatred of Versailles.
Those who wish to delve further into the history of the site can upgrade to explore the Trianon, where the Austrian princess-turned-French queen found respite from the routines and expectations of the main palace.
Our review
Travelers rave over how well-organized and paced this tour of the Palace of Versailles is. From traveling to the site via train to ambling through some of the palace’s impressive rooms, you’ll always be expertly guided by a lively and passionate individual keen to show you their city.
Read More: Versailles Palace Last Minute Tickets
8 – Morning tour of Versailles Palace and Gardens
Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5 (14 reviews)
“Katherine our tour guide was absolutely phenomenal! She was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about everything having to do with Versailles. The bus ride was quick and comfortable, and we found it was just the right amount of time to explore Versailles – highly recommend!” Musement
The early hours of the morning are undoubtedly the best time to explore the Palace of Versailles before an influx of tourists swarms upon the landmark.
With fewer crowds than at other times of day, you’ll be able to take in the details of the paintings that line the walls, the gilded walls of the state apartments and the glistening chandeliers located in the Hall of Mirrors.
This Paris City Vision tour also gives you ample opportunity to stroll through the palace gardens, admiring countless statues, fountains and floral displays.
Our review
This excursion is well-planned to ensure you spend the perfect amount of time exploring the Palace of Versailles without tiring. Discovering the palace so early in the day leaves you the afternoon free to embark on a tour of the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, allowing you to optimize your time in the French capital.
9 – Helicopter Flight over Paris & the Château de Versailles
Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 (5 reviews)
There are several bucket list moments to experience in Paris. However, there is no adventure more memorable than gliding over the city’s skyline in a helicopter, discovering its many arrondissements from above with Helipass.
Alongside the city center, you’ll also gain a birds-eye view over the Palace of Versailles before landing next to the exquisite landmark where you can admire its architectural details in all their glory.
Then, climb back on board and enjoy an engaging flight back to Paris, passing over the ornate fountains of the Trocadéro and the Montparnasse Tower, which stands alone more than 200 meters above the city streets.
Our review
This excursion can only be described as remarkable and is without a doubt one of the best Versailles tours from Paris. Whether you wish to surprise a loved one with a once-in-a-lifetime experience or simply enjoy a view of Paris that other tourists aren’t privy to, you’ll find yourself boasting about your trip as soon as your feet touch down back in Paris.
How to book Versaille tours from Paris?
There are an abundance of companies offering Versailles tours from Paris across several travel websites. However, by using the Tourscanner search engine, you can view all of your options in one place, compare prices and deals, and even choose combination experiences, such as a Paris & Versailles Bundle.
You’ll also be able to read reviews from real travelers, ensuring that you select the tour best suited to your needs.