Visit the Palace of Versailles and explore its gardens (self-guided tour)
Walk in the park of the Palace of Versailles, visit the palace, boat ride, visit of Marie Antoinette’s estate, Trianon castles… Of all the castles in Ile de France, the Palace of Versailles and its estate are the embodiment of excess in the time of Louis XIV and the pinnacle of elegance.
The castle and its 2300 rooms (not all of them are visible), as well as the magnificent park of 800 hectares will fascinate children.
The entrance ticket for the Palace of Versailles gives access to the Gardens except during the Musical Fountains shows or the Musical Gardens days (April to October). Entrance ticket for the entrance to the Palace of Versailles, access to the Gardens (however, an extra charge must be paid on the days of the fountains and musical garden show), access to the Trianon estate, access to the Galerie des Carrosses on weekends, and during the Christmas holidays
Guided tours (Palace of Versailles, gardens or city of Versailles)
- Family tours are for children from 7 years old
- They are led by tour guides who are specialists in young people
- Duration: 1h30
- These tours are a great success during the holidays. We advise you to book as soon as possible
Versailles Ludique (Escape Games and treasure hunts)
The Great Shows at the Palace of Versailles
- The Musical Fountains Show (every weekend from April to the end of October). During the Musical Fountains, the fountains fail to provide music and exceptionally parts of the park that are usually closed are accessible to the public. At the time of Louis XIV, the groves were open-air lounges hidden in the heart of the wooded areas of the garden. People went to these places reserved for celebration and entertainment to have a snack, listen to music or dance.
- The Musical Gardens : Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until the end of October. Walk to the rhythm of baroque music (Lully, Rameau, Charpentier…), in the heart of the French gardens.
- The Night Fountains : every Saturday from June to September (8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.). 2h30 walk to the rhythm of baroque music, in the sumptuous French gardens of the Palace of Versailles. The whole thing is put in water and lighted. The evening ends with a large fireworks display at 10:50 p.m. It’s simply magical
- The Royal Serenade of the Hall of Mirrors : every Saturday from June to September (5 sessions per evening of 40 minutes: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm – 7:10 pm – 7:30 pm – 7:50 pm). The opportunity to discover the Grand Apartments of the Palace of Versailles in the company of baroque musicians and dancers
- The King’s journey from the Hall of Mirrors to the King’s Apartments: the magic of Christmas in the Hall of Mirrors. Exceptional show visit
Activities for children at the Palace of Versailles
- Little train to explore the Park and reach the most remote places such as the Domaine de Trianon. €8.50 full price for a full tour from the Château. €6.50 for people from 11 to 18 years old, Free for children under 11 years old. Possibility to get on and off at the various stops within the limit of one lap of the circuit. Return to the Château: €4.60. Depending on the season, trains every 10, 15 or 20 minutes.
- Ride in a small electric vehicle to fully enjoy the estate. The vehicles can take 4 people and are equipped with a geolocation system and an audio guide in 8 languages. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap: €38 per hour per vehicle
- Boat on the Grand Canal . 4 people per boat or 5 people if children are present. €14 for half an hour, €18 for an hour, €4.50 for an additional quarter of an hour
- Bicycle rental with the possibility of picking up a bicycle at one point and returning it to another. €7 for half an hour, €9 for an hour, €19 for a half-day (4 hours), €21 for a day (8 hours)
- Game booklets for children, as well as the game booklets of the exhibitions to download from the official website of the Palace of Versailles
