The Palace of Versailles
June 14th, 2024 – Paris, France – A Trip To The Palace of Versailles
Our second day in Paris, France (out of four) was spent at the stunning Palace of Versailles.
We woke up around 9:00 AM, a bit slow-moving after our late night at Disneyland Paris the day before. It had been a ton of fun, but jet lag had definitely caught up to us and we were tired. Because of that, our morning started off a little later than planned and everyone rushed to get ready for the day.
One thing I really loved was our little Marriott townhome we stayed at in Paris. It had two bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bathroom, which made it perfect for getting ready quickly in the mornings. This helped speed up the process and it made our stay more comfortable for the whole family.
After our quick morning, we left the hotel around 10:00 AM and took the Marriott's Village d'ile-de-France shuttle to the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy Train Station (right next to Disneyland Paris). The shuttle cost us around $17.00 for a one-way ride for all four of us. This was perfect just to get us to the transportation area for the day.
✅ Easy Car Rental Process
While the shuttle was convenient, we wanted a bit more flexibility, so we rented a car at the train station. The rental process was super easy—you talk to an associate, choose a car, get the keys, and walk to the lot to find it. And to be completely honest, driving in Europe isn’t scary at all—it’s very similar to the U.S. If you want the freedom to explore around and outside the city, renting a car is absolutely worth it.
We got an intermediate SUV—big enough for all of us but still compact enough to navigate European streets and find parking spots.
Pro-tip: smaller cars are more affordable and easier to manage in Europe, and there’s usually more availability for compact models. This will help you travel on a budget, have more freedom, and make you feel more comfortable on your many adventures.
🍞 French Pastry Heaven
Once we got our car and headed out, we were starving because we hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so about 15 minutes southwest of Paris, we stopped at a charming local bakery called called Là…Pain (which literally translates to “The Bread” in English). The place was amazing, with tons of fresh bread and classic French pastries on display. We ended up grabbing a pain au chocolat, croissants, brownie bites, viennoise au chocolat, cranberry hazelnut artisan bread, a classic baguette, and chocolate bread. Everything was delicious and easy to eat in the car without making a mess. Plus everyone picked something out they wanted to try!
We even got to meet the owner of Là…Pain who was incredibly kind. He told us all about the baked goods he makes every day for his community and he generously offered for us to come back the following day to watch him bake in his real French bakery. The baker and his staff spoke to us in English and they were happy to answer all our many questions about everything. The whole experience deserved a solid five stars—friendly service and incredible food.
After enjoying our delicious goodies the rest of the drive (and struggling a little without water to wash all the bread down), we arrived at the Palace of Versailles and parked in the gravel lot situated right in front of the palace entrance. Parking in front of the palace requires you to pay, but the location is ideal for easy access to your car and for a short walk in/ out of the historical site.
✨ A Golden First Impression
When you first see the Palace of Versailles, it’s incredibly grand. The gold accents and extensive wings of the estate create a striking first impression. The gold coating reflects onto everything surrounding this massive palace that adds to the elegance of the property.
We loved looking around as we entered through the central gates from the parking lot where we found ourselves in a wide stone courtyard surrounded by the main palace wings. This area offered a beautiful view of the estate’s architecture and craftsmanship, built with the finest materials of the 1700s and it continues to be preserved to reflect its authentic grandeur today.
After taking a few quick photos of the area, we scanned our tickets and entered the buildings through the grand doors. This marked the beginning of our self-guided tour, which led us through various sections of the palace that were each unique and stunning to see.
✅ Buying The Tickets
Ticket Tip: Buy your tickets online ahead of time to avoid long standby lines or having the possibility of your desired ticket time sold-out when you arrive at the palace. I also highly recommend going straight to The Palace of Versailles website when purchasing your tickets online. The direct website is safer and ensures you get real tickets (no scams). The website is easy to use and gives you a detailed overview of all the tickets offered and shows you the set costs related to the benefits bundled in each of those tickets.
Once you arrive on their website, read through the ticket options, select the one that includes everything you want to see during your visit, choose your preferred date and time, and complete your purchase. A digital copy of your tickets will be sent to the email address you provided during checkout. You’ll show that email when you arrive at the Palace of Versailles to gain access to the estate and all the features included with your selected ticket you purchased.
When you go to buy tickets - Here are the three most popular ticket types:
Passport Ticket (Recommended): Includes the main Palace, Gardens, and Estate of Trianon. This gives you full access to everything, including the Queen’s Hamlet—our favorite part! It cost the most out of the three options listed here, but it’s worth it to get a full experience of the entire site.
Palace Ticket: Grants access to the main Palace and gardens (gardens only included from Nov 1 to Mar 30, but not during the other peak months -which is the best time to see the garden area - so that fact makes this ticket a little less appealing). It does not include the Trianon estates - which I highly recommend making some time for if you can.
Estate of Trianon Ticket: Access only to the Trianon properties and gardens—not the main Palace. This is a good option, but you won’t get to see the actual Palace of Versailles and it’s main gardens.
After looking through all the ticket options online, we chose the Passport Ticket which gave us access to the entire gardens, the main Palace of Versailles, and the Estates of Trianon. We loved this choice and felt like we still only saw a small sliver of everything that this property has to offer.
🏰 Exploring the Main Palace of Versailles
We focused first on the main Palace of Versailles. If you appreciate art and design, this place is jaw-dropping and helps you to admire all the skills/ talents that went into creating such a large, detailed estate. The white marble statues, checkered marble floors, and golden accents everywhere were incredibly ornate and I found it all beautiful to glance around at in every room we entered.
I loved their libraries and reading rooms, which were quaint yet comfortable. All the artwork was stunning, showcasing some of the best artists from the 1700s. I admired al the elements in the palace, though I found it to be quite elaborate—almost overwhelming at times. But, I came to appreciate its extravagant designs as I moved from room to room, recognizing the intentions behind this artful creations.
Another top highlight, I feel like everyone always has to mention, is the famous Hall of Mirrors. This room is known for its enormous crystal chandeliers running down the center space, the arched mirrors that reflect the adjacent widows that run along the exterior wall of the room, and detailed ceiling paintings covering every inch overhead. It felt like something right out of a royal fairytale, especially with the palace gardens glowing green in the natural background.
The best part of getting to see this room was how my sister had recently studied Versailles in her AP European History class. With her love of everything history she acted as our personal tour guide providing us with accurate historical information about the Hall of Mirrors . I loved hearing all the facts—it made the visit even more meaningful to create a historical footprint of this room and understanding for me/ my family.
One more room that was interesting for me was the Gallery of the Great Battles. This area of the palace was gently lit with a long-gridded window that ran the entire celling length of the room. There were massive portraits covering all the walls moving from one great war to the next showcasing the power and struggle of the French throughout history.
While I’m not a fan of glorifying war, I appreciated the historical artistry and realistic human stories told through each piece. It showed the stuggles of each time period and the progress of human beings over time through advancement in intelligence.
🌳 Versailles Gardens
After a good walk of exploring the Palace, we headed out into the gardens. They are massive and were perfectly manicured when we were there in June in preparation for the summer 2024 olympics.
With the gardens being so big, to save time, we decided to rent a golf cart for the last couple of hours we had. We wanted to visit the Queen’s Hamlet, which is about half a mile from the main Palace of Versailles. Walking there would have taken us around 15–20 minutes at a relatively quick pace, but knowing us, we would have stopped frequently for photos and likely meandered our way, making the walk closer to an hour. Since we didn’t have much time to spare, we opted for the golf cart and headed out into the green, natural space.
One of my favorite parts was the edible garden, which features a wide variety of citrus trees surrounding a large circular pond, with exquisitely swirled lawn designs everywhere in between. It’s located to the south of the main estate, beyond the central grand deck area of the palace courtyard. Try not to miss this area, because it is special in its own ornate way.
🌿 The Gardens Keep Getting Better
The rest of the gardens were incredible as well! The main garden area features hornbeam tree hedges crafted into a maze-like design, with fountains scattered throughout the maze to represent the different seasons of the year.
The park portion of Versailles includes the T-shaped pond area, which leads naturally to the Le char d’Apollon, or the Apollo Fountain in English. This iconic fountain is famous for its striking gold design, depicting Apollo and his horses soaring from the center, symbolizing the powerful force of water.
Visitors often sit along the edges of the fountain and lake area to enjoy the natural beauty of the park while they’re there. This a great place to stop for a moment, enjoy the view of everything before continuing on with the rest of the gardens. The gardens and parklands at Versailles are truly beautiful too, meticulously crafted to offer a peaceful experience for all visitors.
During our time exploring the gardens, we drove past the ponds, lakes, fountains, and tree-lined walkways, eventually stopping at a little gelato cart near the lake area.
🍨 A Sweet Stop
The gelato stand is a simple mobile cart, where the creamy frozen dessert is kept in shiny metal containers, like you would have found in the old-fashioned ice cream shops. If you want a refreshing treat, all you have to do is pick a flavor, and they’ll scoop it into a small disposable cup for you to enjoy. Pay, and you’re good to go.
The flavor selection was smaller, with flavors like lemon, vanilla, chocolate, champagne, and mint chocolate chip. The offerings change regularly depending on supply and the season. Just keep in mind that the gelato cart is only open during the warmer months, so it might not be available if you visit in the off-season. That being said, it’s not a major issue—there are plenty of other snacks and food options available both on the Versailles grounds and in the surrounding community outside the estate gates that are just as good to choose from.
Overall, the gelato was refreshing, and we were grateful to grab some much-needed waters on our quick snack break.
🕰️ A Step Back in Time - The Queen’s Hamlet
Eventually, we made it to the Queen’s Hamlet, which is tucked away in a peaceful corner of the estate. The Queen’s Hamlet was created for Queen Marie Antoinette in 1783 and took about four to five years to complete. While it is smaller compared to other properties on the Versailles estate, it remains quite elaborate and beautifully decorated—even by today’s standards.With thatched cottages, rustic fences, wildflowers, and grazing animals, it felt like you are stepping back in time and I loved it!
Marie Antoinette commissioned the Hamlet as a peaceful retreat where she could raise her children more simply, away from the extravagance of the main Palace of Versailles. She wanted them to experience a version of the countryside lifestyle—surrounded by real farm animals, gardens, and nature. Her deep love for her children inspired her to seek a life of greater simplicity for them. Her wishes are reflected in the charming gardens and cottages located throughout the estate.
The Queen’s Hamlet is wonderful. The main building is small and easy to explore, but it was the gardens and the quaint village area that amazed us the most—they took much longer to wander through than we had planned for. So, keep that in mind if you want to plan your timing here during your visit to fit in everything you want to see and do.
Overall, with its small village tucked away at the back, the Queen’s Hamlet feels like it came straight out of a storybook! Which was my favorite part and feeling of exploring this tucked away area. It’s hard to capture all the details in words—the rustic cottages, whimsical wildflowers, wooden fences lining tiny plots of land, the serene lake at the center, and farm animals peacefully grazing in the green fields all created a truly magical atmosphere. If you have the time, the Queen’s Hamlet is absolutely worth the visit—it will enchant you.
If I only had a couple of hours at Versailles, I would honestly choose to visit just the gardens and the Queen’s Hamlet. While the Palace itself is breathtaking and grand, I personally found the character and natural simplicity of these other areas even more compelling to explore. They transport you back in time and offer a glimpse of the idyllic French countryside. That’s just my perspective, but I’ve spoken with other visitors—both families and individuals —and every one of them felt the same way. Everyone seems to fall in love with the Queen’s Hamlet and highly recommends making time for this beautiful part of the Trianon estate.
⚠️ Golf Cart Return Tip
After exploring the Trianon gardens, it began to rain, and we had to head back, especially since the palace gardens and park areas were closing.
Come to find out, we were also late returning our golf cart and got in trouble—oops! Let’s just say we had quite the ending to our time at the Palace of Versailles, that we won’t ever forget!
Quick Note: If you’re renting a golf cart near the end of the day, make sure to return it at least 15 minutes before 6:00 pm (18:00)—just to be safe. Return times can vary depending on the season, so be sure to check the posted closing time when you're there and plan accordingly. Rental times can vary, so it’s a good idea to just ask the staff at the golf cart center when you rent what time you need to return the cart and you’'ll be safe. We mistakenly thought we had until 8:00 pm (20:00) when the gardens close, but it turns out the carts had to be back by 6:00 pm. That one’s on us—but now we know, and hopefully this tip helps you be a better-prepared tourist when you are there!
Also Helpful: Here’s the link to pricing and discounts for electric vehicles (golf carts) on the official Versailles website. They charge by the hour, with extra fees for every 15 minutes you go over your rental time. All the details are there, so check it out before you go, if you're considering renting one to explore the gardens.
🏛️ Final Thoughts on Versailles
Our trip to Versailles was fun, a little rainy, and ended on a wild note with the golf cart mishap. Still, we are so glad we went. It’s a must-see historical landmark, and I’d recommend it for both individuals and groups. The estate is beautiful, fascinating, and inspiring—there’s truly something for everyone.
After Versailles, we headed back to our car, parked right in front of the palace. Our timing was perfect—just as we pulled out of the lot, the skies opened up and it started pouring rain down on us.
One thing I loved about visiting Paris in the summer was the afternoon storms. Sure, getting wet isn’t ideal, but there’s something about summer rain that I just love—the smell, the freshness, and the childhood memories it brings back. It’s one of my favorite parts of the season and it enhances any summer trip!
🍝 Next Stop: Food! (Eventually...)
We watched the rain fall from the car as we drove, stomachs growling, and we finally agreed that Italian food was the way to go. But we couldn’t quite decide on a place to stop at for dinner yet, so we kept driving around while using Google Maps to search out nearby restaurants that might satisfy everyone.
Google Maps is my go-to when we’re traveling. I actually like to plan meals before trips by zooming in on the map of our destination, making notes, and saving a list of restaurants in different cuisines. That way, we have a variety of options and don’t waste time choosing later.
Nothing’s worse than traveling with “hangry” people—so planning ahead saves time and helps avoid stress for everyone in the group.
That night after the Palace of Versailles, however, it caught us off guard. We hadn’t originally planned to visit Versailles—it was a last-minute decision we made while standing in line at Disneyland Paris the day before—so we didn’t have a dinner plans in place around the area at all.
But that’s okay! Plans change, and I was so glad we decided to visit the Palace of Versailles. We just rolled with it and used Google Maps to explore food options nearby that looked and sounded good. It turned into a little adventure—and the great thing is, no matter where you go, there’s always food to be found.
🍕 A Spontaneous Italian Dinner Stop & The End
So that’s exactly what we did. We headed northeast toward our hotel and stopped at a small Italian place in the suburbs of Paris called IT – Italian Trattoria BNF. It was pretty busy, and the staff spoke very little English, which made ordering little tricky for our family who speaks minimal French. We couldn’t translate the menu fast enough, so we just winged it—ordering dishes that seemed familiar.
We ended up ordering a cream sauce-based pasta topped with burrata, a classic herby Margherita pizza, a red sauce pasta with nutty pesto and marinated olives, a spicy chili-based pasta, a classic Caesar salad, and some cheese-stuffed bread rolls. Everything was nicely presented and cooked well, but overall, the food lacked a bit of flavor. The pastas were a bit watery and could’ve used thicker sauces that clung to the noodles instead of pooling at the bottom of the plate. The pizza was a bit oily and missed the fluffy crust and perfect chew you’d expect from a good artisan pie. The bread tasted a little stale and lacked flavor, and the salad dressing didn’t pack enough punch to stand up to the watery lettuce.
The food was still decent and gave us a chance to sit down and eat, but I wouldn’t recommend this spot as a must-visit in Paris—especially with so many other exceptional dining options throughout the City of Light.
That being said, it served its dinner food purpose: we needed something quick on the way back to the hotel, and we were grateful for a place to eat and a car that could take us straight back to our hotel, where we had onsite parking. Let’s just say we all appreciated the convenience of the night. 😊
