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How to Skip the Line at the Palace of Versailles

By the BeatTheCrowd team · Updated 20 October 2026 · 3 min read

Quick answer

Book a timed Passport ticket on the official site (en.chateauversailles.fr) so you skip the ticket queue at Entrance B, take the first slot of the morning and go straight to the Hall of Mirrors. Visit Wednesday to Friday, because the palace is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays are packed with people whose Louvre plans hit the Tuesday closure.

At a glance

Passport (palace, Trianon, gardens): €25 low season, €35 high season (non-EEA). EEA €22/€32
Book on: en.chateauversailles.fr. Even free visitors must book a timed slot
Best time: First slot of the morning, Wednesday to Friday

How long are the lines at Versailles?

Versailles has two separate queues: the ticket office at Entrance B, and the security check at Entrance A. Booking online skips Entrance B entirely. Entrance A is for everyone, and on busy mornings it can stretch across the courtyard. The palace is typically full by about 10:30 am, and the Hall of Mirrors becomes a slow shuffle.

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Before you book your slot, check how busy Versailles is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for French school holidays, public holidays and weather.

Check today’s crowds at Palace of Versailles →

Which ticket to book

Ticket	Price	Good to know
Passport	€25 low season, €35 high season (non-EEA); €22/€32 EEA	Palace, Trianon estate and gardens. Timed entry to the palace
Palace only	Around €21	Availability online has varied, so check the official site
Free entry (under 18s, EEA under 26s)	Free	Still requires booking a free timed slot online
Guided or skip-the-line tours	From about €55	Useful when timed slots are sold out

Musical Fountains days

From spring to autumn (1 April to 1 November), the gardens charge on Musical Fountain and Musical Gardens days, usually weekends and Tuesdays. The Passport covers this; a palace-only ticket doesn't.

Best (and worst) times to go

First slot of the morning: you'll see the Hall of Mirrors before the main tide of visitors.

Wednesday to Friday: the calmest days of the week.

Worst: Tuesdays (lots of Louvre-goers come here instead), weekends and French school holidays.

Season: April to October is busiest. Winter weekdays are much calmer, though the gardens are less impressive.

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Our hourly forecast for the Palace of Versailles shows how busy each hour is expected to be on your date.

Check today’s crowds at Palace of Versailles →

A smarter order for your day

Palace first, at your early slot. Go directly to the Hall of Mirrors and the King's and Queen's apartments.

Gardens around midday, when the palace is at its most crowded.

Trianon estate and the Queen's Hamlet in the afternoon. They're a long walk (or a little train) away, and far quieter than the main palace.

Insider tips that actually save time

Download the official Versailles app for a free audio guide on your phone.

Leave big bags behind. There's a security check, and large bags slow it down.

Rent a bike or a golf cart to get across the gardens to the Trianon quickly.

Bring lunch. Picnics are allowed in parts of the park, and the cafés have long queues at midday.

FAQs

How much is a Versailles ticket?

The Passport costs €25 in low season and €35 in high season for non-EEA visitors, and €22/€32 for EEA nationals.

What day is Versailles closed?

The palace and Trianon are closed on Mondays.

What is the best day to visit Versailles?

Wednesday to Friday, at the first slot of the morning. Avoid Tuesdays. Check our crowd forecast.

Do you need to book Versailles in advance?

Yes. Entry to the palace is by timed slot, and even free visitors must book one online.

Getting there	RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about 40 minutes from central Paris, then a 10-minute walk.
Closed	Mondays, for the palace and Trianon.
How long to allow	A full day for everything, or 2-3 hours for the palace alone.

How to Skip the Line at the Palace of Versailles

How long are the lines at Versailles?

Which ticket to book

Best (and worst) times to go

A smarter order for your day

Insider tips that actually save time

Practical info

Mistakes that cost you an hour

Is skip-the-line worth paying extra for?

FAQs

How much is a Versailles ticket?

What day is Versailles closed?

What is the best day to visit Versailles?

Do you need to book Versailles in advance?

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