How to Use the Paris Museum Pass at Versailles: Entrance, Route and Timing
The Paris Museum Pass covers the Palace of Versailles and the Trianon estate — but you must reserve a free timed slot for the Palace (the Trianon needs no reservation). Enter via the Pavillon Dufour (Entrance A) for pass holders, arrive early, and avoid Mondays (closed). Note the gardens need a separate ticket on Musical Fountain show days. Here’s how to plan a smooth Versailles day.
What the pass covers at Versailles
Your pass includes the main Palace — the State Apartments and the dazzling Hall of Mirrors — as well as the Trianon estate (the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet). The gardens are usually free to enter, with the exception of paid Musical Fountain show days, when a separate gardens ticket is required.
You must reserve the Palace
Versailles requires every visitor, pass holders included, to book a timed slot for the Palace, on the official Versailles website. The Trianon estate doesn’t need a reservation. Because Versailles is hugely popular, book your Palace slot as soon as you have your pass — morning slots in particular go quickly.
Which entrance to use
Pass holders with a reservation enter through the Pavillon Dufour (Entrance A), rather than the general ticket queues. Look for the signage for pass and reservation holders on arrival, have your pass and slot confirmation ready, and you’ll skip the line to buy a ticket — though security screening still applies.
A sensible route around the estate
- Start at the Palace at your reserved time — State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors.
- Step out into the gardens (free except on fountain-show days).
- Walk or take the little train to the Trianon estate.
- Explore the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet.
- Allow time to return for the RER back to Paris.
Best timing
Aim for an early Palace slot to beat the crowds in the Hall of Mirrors, then move outdoors as the day fills up. Avoid Mondays, when Versailles is closed, and ideally weekends, which are busiest and trigger the paid fountain shows. A weekday morning is the calmest, most rewarding choice.
Getting there
Versailles sits outside central Paris, reached most easily by RER C train to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche, then a short walk to the estate. The journey takes roughly 40 minutes to an hour each way, which is why Versailles deserves most of a day — factor that into your pass-day planning.
Mind the fountain-show days
On Musical Fountain (“Grandes Eaux”) days — typically weekends from April to October — the gardens require a separate paid ticket not covered by the pass. If you’re visiting then, budget for the gardens ticket; if you’d rather keep the gardens free, choose a weekday outside the show season.
How much it saves
A Versailles Palace ticket runs around €21 to €32 in 2026 depending on category and inclusions, so Versailles alone makes a big contribution toward your pass. Combined with a couple of Paris sites on other days, it helps a 4 or 6-day pass pay back handsomely.
What to see inside the Palace
- The Hall of Mirrors — 357 mirrors and chandeliers, the must-see.
- The State Apartments — the King’s and Queen’s grand rooms.
- The Royal Chapel — soaring Baroque splendour.
- The Hercules Salon — vast ceiling frescoes.
- The gardens — geometric parterres and grand vistas (free except on fountain-show days).
Buy your Paris Museum Pass for a Versailles day
To visit Versailles smoothly, buy your Paris Museum Pass online, reserve your free Palace slot on the official Versailles site, and enter via the Pavillon Dufour. Secure your pass and walk into the Hall of Mirrors without the ticket queue.
Frequently asked questions
Does the pass cover Versailles?
Yes — the Palace and the Trianon estate.
Do I need to reserve?
Yes for the Palace (a free timed slot); the Trianon needs no reservation.
Which entrance do pass holders use?
The Pavillon Dufour (Entrance A).
Are the gardens included?
Usually free, but a separate ticket is needed on Musical Fountain show days.
When is Versailles closed?
Mondays.
How do I get there?
By RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche, about 40–60 minutes each way.