Versailles Château & Gardens Walking Tour from Paris by Train

Badge of ExcellenceParis, France

Skip the Line Versailles Palace and Gardens Day Trip from Paris by Train

4 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Book this half-day Palace of Versailles tour that includes round-trip train transport from Paris, a tour of the gardens and a timed entry ticket into the Palace. After reaching Versailles by RER train, an informative guide takes on you a pleasant 2-hour tour of the garden grounds. Then, enter the Palace with a timed-entry ticket and explore its stately rooms at your own pace before returning to Paris via train at a time of your choosing.

Versailles day trip from Paris with round-trip train transport
Enjoy timed-entry access to the Palace of Versailles
Tour the spectacular Versailles Gardens with your expert guide and explore the Palace of Versailles at your leisure
Watch the famous Versailles fountain display or musical gardens show on select days in summer
Group is limited to 20 people, ensuring a more personalized experience

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

A timed-entry ticket to world-famous Palace of Versailles makes this a stress-free experience. And if you go in the summer, you might also get to see the famous dancing fountain show!

What's Included

Professional guide for the gardens
Timed entry to the Palace

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Umbrella & wet weather gear

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1 Av. Emile Zola, 75015 Paris, France
This tour meets in Paris, in a small park/clearing on Avenue Emile Zola opposite a café named "Café Regalia". The closest métro station is Javel-André Citroën (line 10). Use exit 1 (sortie 1, right side). Your guide will be wearing a Fat Tire Tours t-shirt/jacket.

Start time

08:30 AM

End point

78000 Versailles, France
This tour concludes in Versailles and guests are welcome to stay in the Palace of Versailles until closing. Roundtrip train tickets to/from Paris are included in the cost of the tour.

What To Expect

In the morning, meet your guide at a central location in Paris and take the RER train together for a 30-minute ride to Versailles. A short walk later, arrive at the gilded gates of the Palace of Versailles.

The gardens and forests of Versailles span 1,976 acres (800 hectares), and are crisscrossed by a network of picturesque trails and tree-lined paths. Follow your guide on a 2-hour walking tour of the grounds, and learn about the palace’s history, the royal family including Marie Antoinette, and the French Revolution.

If you’re here during the summer, make sure to check out the spectacular Versailles fountain display or musical gardens show that takes places on select days (included with your tour). See below for more details.

Next, make your way to the Palace of Versailles, where your guide bids you farewell and gives you your timed-entry entrance ticket, and return train ticket.

See the King's State Apartments and Chapel, and walk through the unforgettable Hall of Mirrors, where the treaty ending WWI was signed.

Take as much as you’d like to discover the sprawling palace. When you’re ready to leave Versailles, hop on the train to Paris with your provided train ticket.

Palace of Versailles

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

The Royal Chapel

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

The Hall of Mirrors

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Tapis Vert

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Grand Canal

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
The guided part of the tour is approximately 2 hours. The length of time you spend exploring the Palace and Gardens independently is up to you.
Dress accordingly to the weather with appropriate shoes.

Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

699 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 699 reviews

Wear your walking shoes

Vicki_B, Oct 2023

The palace was beautiful and the guide was very helpful taking photos for us, however he didn't warn us about certain restrictions on the Metro,. I was fined 60 euros.

Versailles is beautiful on a beautiful late September Day :-)

Edward_M, Sep 2023

Mado did an excellent job. She was very energetic and attentive to the requirements of the group. We chose the 8:30 AM Paris departure time which allowed us to go through the gardens before most of the public had arrived. The Palace itself is crowded but not much to be done about that. We always feel that these tours are made or broken by the guide. Count yourself lucky to get Mado.

Great historical stories and beautiful gardens

diana_g, Sep 2023

Our tour guide Toby was very knowledgeable and took us to many of the fountain displays ensuring we saw the ‘dancing waters’ with music accompaniment.

Best tour quote Aaron, he...

borispie, Sep 2023

Best tour quote Aaron, he was very clever and interesting. He is the best. I will do another trip with him

Wonderful site and awesome guide

Deborah_O, Sep 2023

Our guide I think his name was Martine was fabulous! He told the best explanations regarding the statues in the gardens. He was very entertaining. The palace was over the top opulent but glad we saw it.

Awesome day in Versailles Palace and Gardens

Peter_n, Sep 2023

Martine was an excellent guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared so many interesting facts about life in Versailles and the kings. It was a very enjoyable tour and Martine made it interactive and fun. Thoroughly recommend the tour to gain insight into the history of the Palace and gardens

Back in time

Janny_E, Aug 2023

Pleasant tour, our guide OJ. Was very knowledge. Train ride was nice, got to see the outskirts of the city. Palace is a true beauty. Lots of history.

Above and Beyond!

Tracy_A, Aug 2023

Our guide, Toby was positively delightful. He has a quick step so be sure to keep up but he has lots of good tidbits to share! The tour was amazing from start to finish and well worth the price. It is a bit a physically taxing so be aware of that before choosing the walking tour.

Great tour of the gardens, does not include tour of the Palace, just entry.

Summer_S, Aug 2023

Our guide was very thorough with information about the gardens and palace. He did walk very fast which was a little difficult to keep up with. I wish they it had included a tour of the palace as well. The I for in the tour page wasn’t very clear about it being only the gardens.

Meet up for train to Versaille and a garden tour with guide.

John_R, Jul 2023

Made it easy to get to Versaille and get oriented with the garden tour. NO tour of the inside is included at all - The guide will escort you up in line and then you tour the inside internally on your own so if you want an inside tour this isnt it. That said the outside and gardens were spectacular, and our guide Mado was wonderful! She timed our stops to see a little fountain show in the gardens. Had a little bite and some wine after touring and then made our way back to the train station for our included return fare trip back to Paris. Avery nice day and glad we did it.

Feel scammed and lied to - do not do it

daniel_p, Jul 2023

I feel scammed - I bought skip the line but we had to wait on LONG line in the sun. Guide said they FAILED to update their website and Viator. Advertised as Versailles Château & Gardens tour but no tour of Chateau was given. In fact, after fast tour of parts of gardens, he walked us in and left. Round trip transportation meant they gave us return tickets for train to take on our own. Due to modified schedule for Bastille Weekend, we got lost and had to taxi back. Contacted for partial refund but both Viator and vendor refused despite they blatantly lied in descriptions.

Book this tour!

Werlly_B, Jul 2023

Matt was a great guide to get us to Versailles. He gave some tips on places to eat which was great! OJ was awesome as well! He was very knowledgeable of the history of Versailles and he was very funny! The tour was just amazing! Thank you, OJ!

Glad we did the tour

Kashyap_P, Jul 2023

Aaron with Fat Tire Tours was an amazing guide. Funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. It was hot and we happy to have a guide to make sure we saw the highlights.

Excellent experience!

KristyBloom, Jul 2023

We had an amazing time on our walking tour. Aaron was so knowledgeable and was able to answer any questions we had. He knew everything and made the tour really fun. I highly recommend it!

Dumped in Versailles!

Pamela_W, Jul 2023

The tour guide did not have a flag , but a yellow hat . We were all there early . We waisted time walking to a train station that was not a viable option , he should have called before to see if it was working ,he waisted our time ,and had to walk to another station . (He said this is common)Toby was way over 6’5” and walked at an unusually fast paced , this was not a walk ! We had no microphone and was difficult to hear . When we arrived at Versailles we had another fast passed walk from the train station . We arrived at the gardens and the fast pace continued . It was an extremely hot day .and we barely had time to sip water . Anyone who walks 40 feet ahead of the pack is not guiding . A tour should be pleasant from the beginning.. this was an endurance test . In addition , written instructions should be handed out when you just dump people off at a tour. Directions on how to get back to Paris would have been helpful and kind .

Larry

Larry_q, Jul 2023

Mado was a very fun tour person. She give us very detail information both the history and the plan throughout the trip.

Gardens Amazing but Palace Too Crowded

KryssiContreras, Jul 2023

Guide Toby shared engaging tales of greek mythology and how it related to the gardens. He stayed in the long line with us until we entered the Palace. He shared excellent recommedations for food in both Versailles and Paris. We went on a Saturday and the Palace itself was way to crowded to enjoy at all but the gardens were massive and beautiful. We loved that part.

Garden Tour of Versailles,..

Nancy_F, Jun 2023

When I booked this it said a walking tour of the gardens. I was thinking stroll. No way… it was a hike. With no place to get water. Our guide did say we could buy water before we started but then I figured I would need a bathroom, The train ride was good and our guide was EXCELLENT. But I am 82 and in pretty good shape but it was too much for me. Plus there was no way to get back to the mansion except on foot. And it was extremely hot. I asked our guide about s little train I saw but he said that was not included! I would have paid to be taken back by train. Plus my daughter wore sandals… not the right shoe to walk over dirt, pebbles and uneven grounds, it should say that in the brochure. AND THE FOUNTAINS DO NOT WORK ON THURSDAY!!! Who wants to see stagnant fountains !! Take Thursdays off your literature and explain the tour of the gardens better. I was ready to call a taxi to come get me !!!!!!

Breathtaking

Mark, Jun 2023

We had a great time. It was just beautiful and Toby was an awesome tour guide. I did not realize how huge the grounds were and the house.

Garden Walking tour

Grissel_G, Jun 2023

Excellent tour of the gardens. Lots of stops along the way with commentary to explain certain fountains and Farsi. Highly recommend.

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