How to Visit the Palace of Versailles Without Actually Visiting It
- Brooke
- Feb 2, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 23, 2022
Well, readers, sometimes the best laid plans go awry.
And if you're me, you have to have that built into your travel plans, because no matter how well researched, how many nights you dreamt of visiting a place, how much good weather and sort of okay transit luck you have, inevitably something will go wrong.
You might even, oh, I don't know, show up to the place, and still have it not work out. Of course, the blame will fall squarely at your feet, like it does in my case, so please, readers, let my sad tale of the visit to Versailles that wasn't be a warning in how NOT to plan an excursion.
First off, I wrote about "best laid plans." In this instance, my trip to Versailles perhaps wasn't as well planned as maybe I would have liked. When you have a month of travel abroad to plan for with finals to grade and magazine deadlines to make, small travel planning details slip through the cracks here and there. Versailles was one such example, where a little extra planning would have gone a long way. That's not to say it wasn't worth my time - I did, in fact, see Versailles. I stood there and witnessed a lot of its grandeur. Just not as much as I would have liked to, is all.
My first mistake was thinking I could buy a ticket in advance and just stroll right on in (you know, like lots of other major attractions around in the world, i.e.: the Vatican, Colosseum, etc.). You can't. If you buy a ticket in advance, you have to wait in line with all the other schmucks who showed up at 3 o'clock on a weekend afternoon. And let me tell you, there are a lot of us out there, so many in fact that you'll see the line of schmucks from afar and want to head right back to Paris (::ahem::). Don't be fooled into thinking that your ticket does you any favors other than helping you avoid a line BEFORE the giant line.
And let me tell you, the line probably took hours. There are hawkers there selling hats to the poor unsuspecting pasty white people (::ahem::) who didn't anticipate having to wait in such a gargantuan line in the hot blazing sun. If you're less stubborn than me, buy the hat - it probably would have helped. If you get annoyed like me, you'll just end up leaving because I'm not buying a hat when I already own too many (and didn't bring one with me...derp).
Also, if you find yourself there on a weekend that has the magical fountain musical show, your ticket won't get you squat either, unless you pay extra. And if you're like me, who doesn't read the fine print, you'll try to get into the gardens, in an attempt to salvage a smidgen of this trip to Versailles for no reason, only to be turned away. Sure, you could go back into the ticket office I suppose and buy that ticket. Or, you could be like me, get annoyed, and just want to head back to Paris.
Look, my trip to Versailles was not my finest travel hour. My pictures totally reflect this, as I was hot and tired (Dramamine always puts me in a bad mood). In fact, my little jaunt to Versailles represents one of my worst (though there are still probably things that top this endeavor). And as I look back, somewhat embarrassingly, and reflect on the fact that I gave up a little too easily, I also don't regret heading back to Paris for the afternoon. Instead, I look on it as a learning opportunity, to better understand what I did wrong, and to try to do better next time. Was my trip to Versailles a huge gigantic fail? Sure thing. But your trip there (and any future ones I take) doesn't have to be.
And hey, it's true - I've technically been to Versailles, both the town and the palace. Just don't forget to add the asterisk.
Palace of Versailles Details
The Palace of Versailles is located in, you guessed it, the town of Versailles, about a 30 minute train ride outside of the city center of Paris. The RER C will take you right to the town, and then you have to walk about 10 minutes or so to the actual palace. Just hope there isn't a train strike happening, or if you're traveling on the weekend, double check the train schedule. This will save you some extra heartache.
Website - here you can buy tickets and better plan out your day than I did. Keep in mind that like most things in France, the Palace is closed on Mondays.
If I had to do it again...
...and I will, since I haven't quite seen all that needs to be seen, I'd make a few changes.
First. I'd show up bright and early. This advice will never steer you wrong. Of all the places that I've showed up to at opening time, I have never once regretted my decision. Visiting these incredibly busy attractions with as few other guests as possible, ya know, those who are too tired to rouse themselves before everyone else, is the key to immense enjoyment.
My problem was I arrived that day from Amsterdam, so I was already at a disadvantage. I couldn't visit the palace the following day since it was a Monday, and, well France and their Mondays off thing. Therefore, if you're coming in from out of town, don't come in on a Sunday if you want to see the palace that day or the next.
Second, wear sunscreen and/or bring a hat or umbrella. I don't know what the lines are like first thing, but I wouldn't take the chance the next time I went, especially in the summer. Other seasons require the requisite gear for that weather. Just assume you'll be waiting out in the elements and plan accordingly.
Nail down the train schedule in advance. If it were me in the future, the version of myself who was not on her first ever "travel by herself in a foreign country the day after she said a fond farewell to her husband" trip, you might be less nervous and/or more sure of yourself. If you have a travel partner, share the load of figuring out the train schedule from your current destination. Make sure you know which train, what time, which direction, and you'll be ahead of my game. I'm usually pretty good at this, but for some reason, I doubted myself more than I should have. And hold on to that train ticket in a safe place for when you exit the station.
I'd still buy the entrance ticket to the palace in advance. Add in the magical musical show just to make sure you get entrance to the gardens, even if you'd miss all the fun because you'd be back in Paris by then.
Be prepared for it all to go awry.
Or, if all else fails, chalk it up to bad planning, hop back on the train, and grab a refreshing glass of champagne back in Paris like I did. Because at the end of the day, you're in Paris, and life just ain't that bad.
Cheers to less grumpy, more well thought out travel plans in the future, and to hopefully someday seeing Versailles in all its 17th century glory!