Palace of Versailles

Extraorinarily Wonderful. Do visit during low season though so you get to see everything without having to wait in lines.

Go early! The gardens are free, and open very early in the summer (I think it was 7 am)... I had the place to myself!

Les jardins sont magnifiques!

I got to pick my own birthday present this year, so I chose a romantic weekend to Versailles, visiting the palace. We went in March, during a very rainy weekend. Not all parts were opened (no Petit Trianon or Hameau) and many of the statues were still covered. But still there were a lot of tourists. We had to stand in line for a short while, but not too long. But the inside of the palace was crowded. You were kind of forced to move along with the flow. People walking with audio guides not paying attention – suddenly stopping in front of you or stepping on you :/.
There was one thing that really annoyed me: scattered inside the palace are several souvenir shops – inside the actual museum rooms. It really disrupted the atmosphere, they should have kept them at the end or outside.
The palace (particulary the furniture) was beautiful though. So I’d still recommend going here. But only go if you can cope with the crowds – I can imagine what it must be like in the summer!

I wouldn’t come back here though, if I’d want to visit another palace I’d try Palais de Fontainebleau

The hall of mirrors was being renovated when I went. It was somewhat disappointing, but was still totally worth it!

if you plan on doing the grand/petit trianon make sure you plan on buying the pass to the gardens (if the fountains are on) because if you don’t you’ll have to walk clear around the estate from the palais rather than walking out the back and though the gardens. the trams cost 5 or 6 euros. if you don’t tram it’s a 30 minute walk from the top steps of the gardens to trianon. if you get the paris museum pass that DOES NOT include the gardens when the fountains are going to turn on that day. actually it might not include them at all, but the controler said we needed a ticket that day because of the fountains. bring water because 75 cl is about 2 euros. spend the whole day out there, it costs a lot to get in and take the RER and the place can easily suck up the entirity of the 11am-7pm hours it’s open.

The Palace of Versailles is just so beautiful, how could I pass that up?

You can drink from the free flowing water fountain! Cool!!

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There’s a loooong queue outside the museum – so bring something to sit on, an umbrella, something to eat and something to drink.

There is also a lot of thieves around – so be careful.

I strongly recommend an audio guide!