Does the Paris Museum Pass Include the Versailles Gardens?
The Versailles gardens are usually free to enter for everyone — so no pass is needed — except on Musical Fountain show days (typically weekends, April–October), when a separate paid ticket is required. The pass does cover the Palace (with a reservation) and the Trianon estate. Here’s exactly what’s free, what’s paid, and how to plan a Versailles visit.
The gardens are usually free
On most days, the Versailles gardens are free to enter for everyone, with or without a pass — you simply walk in to enjoy the geometric parterres, fountains and grand vistas designed by Le Nôtre. So strictly speaking, the gardens aren’t “included” in the pass because they’re free anyway on those days.
The exception: fountain show days
On Musical Fountain (“Grandes Eaux Musicales”) and Musical Gardens days — typically weekends from April to October — the gardens require a separate paid ticket, and this is not covered by the Paris Museum Pass. If you visit on one of those days, budget for the gardens ticket on top of your pass.
What the pass does cover at Versailles
The pass includes the main Palace — the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors — for which you must book a free timed reservation, as well as the Trianon estate (the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet), which needs no reservation. That’s the heart of a Versailles visit, all on your pass.
How to know if it’s a fountain-show day
Fountain shows run on a published schedule, mostly weekends and some weekdays in the warmer months. Check the official Versailles calendar for your date before you go: if a Grandes Eaux event is on, plan for a paid gardens ticket; if not, the gardens are free to wander after your Palace visit.
Planning your Versailles day
- Reserve a free Palace slot on the official Versailles site.
- Check the fountain-show calendar for your date.
- Add a gardens ticket only if it’s a show day.
- Explore the Trianon estate (no reservation needed).
- Allow most of a day, including the RER C journey.
Is a fountain-show day worth the extra?
Many visitors think so. On show days the fountains play to baroque music, transforming the gardens into a spectacle the designers intended — a memorable experience even at an extra cost. If you’d rather keep the gardens free, simply choose a weekday outside the show season, when the gardens are open at no charge.
Getting there
Versailles is reached by RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche, around 40 minutes to an hour from central Paris — a separate train fare. Because the estate is so large, give yourself most of a day, and remember the Palace is closed on Mondays.
Is the pass still worth it for Versailles?
Yes — the Palace alone (around €21–€32 individually) makes a big contribution toward the pass, and combined with Paris museums on other days, a 4 or 6-day pass pays off handsomely. The gardens being free (most days) or a small paid extra (show days) barely affects the calculation.
What the fountain shows are like
On Grandes Eaux days, the gardens come alive: the fountains, normally still, play in sequence to baroque and classical music among the groves and bosquets that Louis XIV’s court once enjoyed. It’s a choreographed spectacle the gardens were designed for, and many visitors find it the highlight of Versailles. If your date coincides with a show, the separate gardens ticket buys a genuinely special experience on top of your pass-covered Palace visit.
Buy your Paris Museum Pass for the Palace
For Versailles, buy your Paris Museum Pass online in advance and reserve your free Palace slot — then enjoy the gardens free on most days, or add a gardens ticket for a fountain show. Secure your pass and walk into the Hall of Mirrors without the ticket queue.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Versailles gardens included in the pass?
They’re usually free for everyone; a separate paid ticket applies on fountain-show days.
When do the gardens cost money?
On Musical Fountain show days, typically weekends from April to October.
Does the pass cover the Palace?
Yes — with a free timed reservation.
Is the Trianon included?
Yes — and it needs no reservation.
How do I know if it’s a show day?
Check the official Versailles fountain-show calendar for your date.
When is Versailles closed?
Mondays.