Day Trip to Versailles! Oh my!

My fascination with grand homes and gardens is no secret here.  Add in the European element and the love of travel and you have the reason a trip to Versailles was on our list of sites we hoped to visit  And on this recent trip, we did it.  Such an easy train ride from Paris, we arrived early in the morning to allow plenty of time to tour the gardens before our entry time for the house.  This is something to remember if you’re planning a visit: because the palace and grounds are so vast, make the most of your time by arriving early and touring the grounds first even if your house entry time is later.

The palace is just a short walk from the train, and there are crowds to follow to get to the gates, so you won’t miss it!  The entrance is as grand and gilded as you would expect it to be, and there are more details to notice than you can ever completely take in.

I could have stared at the Orangery Garden for hours I think.  The lush greens combined with the perfect symmetry and whimsical charm feel just like stepping into a fairy tale.

We visited on a weekend, so we were treated with the added luxury of experiencing the Musical Fountains Shows.  There was majestic orchestral music flowing through the gardens and accompanying the fountains throughout the day, making the visit even more surreal.

The grounds of Versailles are a wonder aside from the palace itself.  You could spend days exploring all of it, and it is laid out in sections divided by the towering hedges, with secret surprises awaiting you through the passages.

There are multiple restaurants on the property and we chose a spot adjoining the gardens by the Grand Canal.

And for one of the most unexpected treats in an already perfect day, we rented a row boat after lunch for a half an hour and Dave rowed us around while Lola and I tried not to be overwhelmed with the excitement of it all.  This was absolutely worth the 16 euro and I highly recommend it! Apparently the boats are available for rent from March to November so be sure to add this to your list.  So fun!

Can you spot the palace in the distance behind us?

Right after our boat ride, it was our house entry time so we made our way back to the entrance to tour the palace.

Grand, grand, grand with a side of magnificent.  That’s about the only way I can describe the palace.  Here are just a few shots to pick up where the words fail…

The house was really amazing, but it did get crowded as we entered the Hall of Mirrors as everyone tried to take it all in!  When we exited, we decided to visit some more of the gardens and get some ice cream which was a perfectly sweet ending to a fabulous day.

As we walked back to the train station, we looked up an antique store my friend had recommended called Au Facteur Cheval.  It was another treasure to explore and a fun stop to add to your itinerary!

A few more tips to remember when planning a trip to Versailles–

A guide is not required, although you can pay a service to meet you at the train station and walk you all the way to the door of the Palace.  Some may even offer tours inside, but I know audio sets are available for purchase online when you buy tickets directly.  We had no problem taking the train ourselves and m making our way around, so if you are familiar with trains you will be fine as well.

There is a lot of walking involved when you visit Versailles so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.  Golf carts are available to rent by the hour in the gardens but there is a fee.  There is also a small tram/train that you can ride to and from certain areas.  But if you choose to walk all around as we did, just allow the time to see it all.  The walks are not hard and there are benches and spots to buy drinks and food around the property.

When you do buy your advance tickets, it’s best to buy directly from the Versailles site HERE  as third party agents are not guaranteed.  Have you been to Versailles before? I’d love to hear your tips as well.