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Ile-de-France Castle & palace tours

Our most recommended Ile-de-France Castle & palace tours

Château de Fontainebleau: Priority Entrance Ticket

1. Château de Fontainebleau: Priority Entrance Ticket

Get priority entrance to Fontainebleau, the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for eight centuries. On top of exploring chapels, galleries and guest apartments which would have been used by French and visiting royalty, you will see Marie Antoinette's bed, Napoleon's throne, François Gérard's 1807 portrait of Empress Josephine and more! Wander through over 1500 rooms and 130 acres of parkland and gardens, including the the French Renaissance garden, inspired by the Italian Renaissance gardens; the French formal garden, the favorite style of Louis XIV; and the French landscape garden, inspired by the English landscape garden. You will also be able to visit the museums and feel what it must have been like as a king or queen growing up here.

From Paris: Palace of Versailles & Gardens w/ Transportation

2. From Paris: Palace of Versailles & Gardens w/ Transportation

Explore the expansive royal gardens, see yourself in the 357 mirrors of the glittering Hall of Mirrors, and learn about France’s monarchical history on this visit to the Palace of Versailles. Skip the hassle of getting to the palace from Paris with pre-booked transportation and admission.  Imagine yourself a member of the French court as you peruse the ornate state apartments that housed the French monarchy from 1682 to 1789. Get the details on palace gossip and France’s revolutionary history with an included audio guide. Spend hours exploring the legendary gardens. Admire the pristine fountains, sculptures, and beautifully manicured lawns. Discover Marie Antoinette’s private estate and controversial hamlet by choosing the full-day option.

From Paris: Versailles Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry

3. From Paris: Versailles Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry

Join an expert interpreter-guide on a half-day tour of the exquisite Palace of Versailles, and get priority, skip-the-line entrance. You will be led through the history of the Palace, one of the most important monuments in the world. Meet your guide in front of the Pullman Hotel in Paris. Board your luxurious air-conditioned coach, sit back, and relax on the short ride to Versailles. Once home to Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, you will relive the glory days of Parisian royalty. Gaze in awe as you are guided through the most beautiful rooms of the palace, including the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen's and King´s Private Apartment. After experiencing the grandeur of the interior, enjoy free time to explore the beauty of the Palace of Versailles’ gardens, filled with statues, busts, and marble vases that date back to 1661, when teams of sculptors were led by King Louis XIV's official painter, Charles Le Brun.

Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace with Gardens Access

4. Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace with Gardens Access

Discover the opulence, beauty, and history of Versailles Palace on an interactive guided tour. Access the palace through a separate entrance to begin your tour and then you head off to the famous gardens with a guide or on your own. During the 90-minute tour of the main palace, see the State Apartments, the King's Bedroom, and the emblematic Hall of Mirrors. Learn about the main figures of the French monarchy, from King Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette. Hear about the fascinating historical events that took place in many of the palace’s rooms, before stepping out to explore the vast gardens complex with your guide or on your own. Marvel at the gardens' grandeur, its bronze statues, and ornamental basins accompanied by rows of large trees. If visiting with a guide, gain fascinating insights about the garden on an optional 45-minute tour.

From Paris: Versailles Skip-the-Line Tour & Gardens Access

5. From Paris: Versailles Skip-the-Line Tour & Gardens Access

Travel from Paris on this half-day trip to Versailles. Save time with skip-the-line tickets, a convenient return transfer, and an engaging tour of Versailles Palace and its historic rooms and chambers. Start by meeting at a central point in Paris and transfer by bus to Versailles. Upon arrival, access the palace through a separate entrance. Then, discover the opulence, beauty, and history of the palace on an interactive guided tour. During the 90-minute tour, see the State Apartments, the King's Bedroom, and the emblematic Hall of Mirrors. Learn about the main figures of the French monarchy, from King Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette. Hear about the many fascinating historical events that took place in the palace's rooms. After your tour of the palace, take some free time to stroll around the beautiful French Gardens. Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens or a guided tour of the gardens and Marie Antoinette's Estate if option selected. Finally, hop back on the bus for your journey back to central Paris.

Paris: Versailles Palace Ticket with Audio Guide & Transfers

6. Paris: Versailles Palace Ticket with Audio Guide & Transfers

Explore the Palace of Versailles with this ticket and audioguide. Enjoy a comfortable roundtrip journey from Paris to the palace, visit the glittering Hall of Mirrors, and relax in the Palace Gardens. Meet your driver at one of 2 departure points in Paris and head to Versailles on a comfortable bus. Upon arrival at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument, a trilingual host will first escort you to the château. You then will discover more about the site from the informative audio guide available in 11 languages. Delve deep into the heart of court life and learn how the Palace of Versailles grew from a hunting lodge for Louis XIII before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it, moving the court and government of France to Versailles in 1682. Explore the dazzling Hall of Mirrors and the opulent State Apartments. Follow in the footsteps of Louis XIV ("The Sun King"), and stroll among gardens designed by André Le Notre at your own pace. From May to October, your ticket includes the legendary Musical Fountains & Gardens Shows. Watch as the water features light up in a dazzling spectacle to complete your day in Versailles before returning to Paris by bus.

Versailles: Palace Priority Access Ticket with Audio Guide

7. Versailles: Palace Priority Access Ticket with Audio Guide

With your ticket to the Palace of Versailles, skip the lines and get to the palace quickly. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to admire the King's Apartments as well as the famous Hall of Mirrors, a room whose walls are covered with mirrors. Built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles is one of the greatest symbols of the absolute monarchy and the important role of France in the 18th century. Thanks to your audio guide available directly on your smartphone, you can learn more about the different rooms of the castle, the works of art it contains as well as its rich history.

Versailles: Skip-the-Line Guided Palace Tour w/ Gardens

8. Versailles: Skip-the-Line Guided Palace Tour w/ Gardens

Learn more about the Palace of Versailles on a guided tour of the inside and spend some free time in the gardens. Avoid the hassle of waiting in long lines with skip-the-line tickets. Meet your guide at Versailles at the foot of the Equestrian Statue of the Sun King, Louis the 14th. Start your tour with a visit to the Royal Apartments. Walk through the interior of the palace and explore its many rooms. Learn fascinating information about its history from your guide. Afterward, spend some free time in the gardens. Explore this 2,000-acre park filled with lovely fountains, statues, and landscaped gardens. If visiting Versailles on a Tuesday or a Friday, see the Musical Gardens show. On Saturdays or Sundays, catch the Musical Fountains Show (from March to October).

Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris

9. Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris

This full-day trip from Paris takes you to the Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau châteaux for guided tours of the castles and a chance to explore their gardens. Set off from Paris at 09:15 on the hour-long drive to Vaux-le-Vicomte, the château that inspired King Louis XIV to build his Versailles Palace. A masterpiece of mid-17th century classical architecture, the château and its grounds were created by 3 talented artists working for Nicolas Fouquet, a rich, high-ranking French official and Louis XIV's Superintendent of Finance. The 3 artists were the painter and decorator Charles Le Brun, the architect Louis Le Vau, and the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre. With an audio guide you’ll explore Nicolas Fouquet's private apartments, the state rooms, and the château's great kitchens and vaulted cellars. Enjoy a stroll through the stunning French-style formal gardens on the estate’s 86-acre grounds, featuring sculpted bushes, lakes, and multicolored flower beds. If you like you can eat lunch on the lawn or in the Vaux-le-Vicomte restaurant. You’ll leave Vaux-le-Vicomte at 13:30 for the second part of the tour, heading to the heart of the forest of Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau is the only royal château to have been continuously inhabited for 7 centuries. Dating back to the 12th century, it was one of the residences of French rulers from Francis I to Napoleon III. During your audio-guided visit, you’ll explore the richly furnished château, admiring its unique collections and key pieces such as the throne of Napoleon I and the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase. You’ll also see the spacious private apartments. After the tour, you’ll have time to explore the vast grounds surrounding the château, as well as its 3 lovely gardens. Departure from Fontainebleau is scheduled for 17:00, with arrival back in central Paris at around 18:15.

Chateau of Chantilly: Skip-the-Line Ticket

10. Chateau of Chantilly: Skip-the-Line Ticket

Visit the entire Domaine de Chantilly at your leisure, 7,800 hectares located in one of the largest forests in Paris.  Explore the Château, which houses the Condé Museum. This is made up of the princely suites, an exceptional collection of paintings (over 800 masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, Poussin, and Delacroix), and a library and archives conserving over 13,000 works.  Visit the gardens for a magnificent panorama of the art of the Western garden, with the French-style garden designed by Le Nôtre in the 17th century, the 18th-century Anglo-Chinese garden housing the Hamlet that served as a model for Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet in the Petit Trianon in Versailles, and the 19th century English garden. Discover the Great Stables, which are a masterpiece of 18th-century architecture. They house the Museum of the Horse, which is home to over 200 objects and works of art dedicated to the equine world. All year long, the Great Stables propose magical equestrian shows.

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What people are saying about Ile-de-France

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 4,112 reviews

This tour was exceptionally well organized. Directions were perfect, the bus was extremely comfortable, Isabelle our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, making the experience so much more meaningful. I visited Versailles 25 years ago and learned so much more this time. Having this private tour also helped us relax after a trying day navigating around the strikes around Paris on March 15. I can’t recommend this enough - no line, comfortable transportation so you can nap to and from. Tip: Angelina Cafe is in Versailles. You can skip the long line for the dining room and just get sandwiches and beverages - including the famous hot chocolate - and then go eat in the garden outside. What a beautiful and relaxing experience. The goat cheese and honey sandwich has spinach and is on a sesame baguette. So delicious!

The staff were very helpful in rectifying our issue with being delayed due to the rail strikes taking place on the day. The gentlemen behind the desk called while en route to check up on us and was able to fit us in for the following your an hour later so we could still enjoy the experience. He was helpful, kind, respectful and resourceful. Gabriella led our tour and she was friendly and engaging. It was a great opportunity to spot little details and learn things you would never come across without a tour. Lots of facts given and information learned.

Si vas a Paris no dejes de ir a este lugar, me encanto y sobre todo la guía ella se llama Gabriela, es muy amable, quede sorprendida con toda la historia que tiene el palacio y sobre todo que Gabriela te explica cada detalle 10/10.

Our guide Isabelle did an amazing job. Not only she was very knowledgeable. She also hosted the tour with great enthusiasm and strongly interacted with the group. Thanks for this experience!

The guide Laura is the best in business .. she is so much passionate about the palace and the history. I learnt a great deal and thanks to her energy levels .