Versailles Palace Tour: Local Guide Hall of Mirrors Gardens

See the Hall of Mirrors and gardens on your own terms, with a guide who knows where the fountains run

A guided tour of the Palace of Versailles and its gardens starting in Versailles, led by a local guide in English. You walk the Hall of Mirrors and State Apartments, then explore the gardens: on fountain show days, your guide positions you to catch the waterworks at the right moment. Choose between a half-day or full-day option. The full day involves considerable walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Palace of Versailles1h 30m · entry included
2. Hall of Mirrors30m · entry included
3. Versailles Gardens1h · entry included

Visit Palace and Gardens of Versailles

• Meet guide in Versailles
• Explore Hall of Mirrors
• See royal bedrooms and state apartments
• Learn about royal court life
• Stroll through Versailles Gardens
• Discover hidden groves and fountains

The experience

You meet your guide in Versailles and move through the palace on foot, starting with the Hall of Mirrors where kings, queens and courtiers once walked. Your guide narrates the daily ceremonies of the royal court (the elaborate rituals, the scandals, the power plays), and shows you the State Apartments where Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette slept and dressed in front of audiences. The palace itself becomes a story of the Sun King's reign and its collapse during the French Revolution.

After the palace, you walk into the gardens, which once hosted balls and firework displays as symbols of the king's command over nature. On fountain show days (Saturdays and Sundays year-round, plus Tuesdays in May and June and national holidays from April through October), your guide knows the precise schedule and places you where the waterworks run. On other days, the Musical Gardens play throughout the groves. The gardens are extensive, so wear shoes built for walking.

The tour runs three hours for the half-day option or a full day for those with more time. Both start in Versailles itself, so you skip the journey from Paris. Your guide speaks English and the tour welcomes children from age 4. Infants under 3 are free. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.

What’s included

• A fully guided tour led by a local guide in English.
• entry to the Palace of Versailles and its gardens.
• a walk through the Hall of Mirrors and State Apartments.
• access to the gardens, where your guide times fountain show viewings on days they run.
• children welcome from age 4, with infants under 3 free of charge.

Options for this experience

2 options

Half-day tour departing from VersaillesGuide in English · 09:15, 09:45, 14:00 and 14:30Half-day tour covering the Palace and the Gardens

Full-day tour departing from VersaillesGuide in English · 09:45Full-day tour that covers the Palace, the gardens, the Petit Trianon and the Domain of Marie-Antoinette

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:15, 09:45, 14:00 and 14:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Memories France

Is this one for you?The half-day tour suits a first visit or a free afternoon in the region. The full-day option works better if you want to linger in the gardens and avoid the rush back to Paris. Either way, having a guide who knows the fountain schedule means you see the waterworks if they're running that day, rather than arriving at an empty basin.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Hall of Mirrors and why does the guide spend time there?

The Hall of Mirrors is the most famous room in the palace, where the king and his court gathered daily. Your guide walks you through it and explains the ceremonies and politics that played out there, making the space come alive as a center of royal power rather than just a room to photograph.

Do the fountains always run when I visit the gardens?

Fountain shows run on a set schedule: Saturdays and Sundays year-round, plus Tuesdays in May and June and national holidays from April through October. On other days during that period, the Musical Gardens play music throughout the groves instead. Your guide knows the timing and will position you to see the fountains if they're running that day.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The half-day tour involves moderate walking through the palace and gardens. The full-day tour requires considerable walking throughout the day, so comfortable shoes are essential. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is paced to be comfortable but you'll be on your feet the whole time.

Can I get to Versailles on my own, or is transport included?

The tour starts in Versailles, so you arrange your own arrival: public transportation options are available. If you're coming by taxi from Paris, leave extra time. Taxis can take considerable time to find. The half-day tour does not include transport to or from Versailles. The full-day option includes it.

What's the difference between the half-day and full-day tour?

Both tours cover the Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments and gardens with your guide. The half-day tour runs three hours. The full-day tour gives you more time to explore and includes transportation to and from Versailles. Choose the full day if you want a deeper look at the palace and gardens without rushing.