Versailles Half-Day Semi-Private Tour with Palace and Garden Access
Reserved timed-entry ticket to the Palace of Versailles
Versailles Half-Day Semi-Private Tour from Paris – Maximum 11 Guests
DESCRIPTION :
Discover the Treasures of Versailles: A 6-Hour Guided Semi-Private Tour
Discover the Palace of Versailles on an approximately six-hour semi-private tour from Paris, limited to a maximum of 11 guests. This carefully planned experience combines comfortable transportation, a guided visit of the Palace and Gardens, and free time to explore at your own pace.
Accompanied by an expert guide, you will spend approximately two hours inside the Palace of Versailles. Discover the King’s State Apartments, the magnificent Hall of Mirrors and some of the estate’s most remarkable rooms while learning about the lives of French royalty, the complex rituals of court life and the historical events that shaped Versailles.
After visiting the Palace, your guide will accompany you into the Gardens for an approximately 30-minute introduction to their history, design and symbolism. You will discover the work of André Le Nôtre and learn more about the fountains, sculptures, formal flowerbeds and carefully planned perspectives that made the Gardens of Versailles a masterpiece of French landscape design.
You will then have approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time to continue exploring the Gardens independently, take photographs or simply enjoy the atmosphere of the royal estate before returning to Paris.
With a maximum of 11 guests, this semi-private tour offers a more comfortable and personal way to experience Versailles while benefiting from the knowledge of a professional guide.
Tour Details
- Total duration: Approximately 6 hours, including round-trip transportation from Paris
- Guided Palace visit: Approximately 2 hours
- Guided Gardens visit: Approximately 30 minutes
- Free time in the Gardens: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Group size: Maximum 11 guests
Mobility Information
This tour involves approximately two to three hours of walking and standing, including uneven surfaces and crowded rooms inside the Palace. It is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility. Guides cannot provide individual mobility assistance.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tripadvisor — 4.6/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Viator — 4.6/5
✓ Recommended by Rick Steves
Duration : 6 hours / 2 hours 30 minutes of guided visits to the Palace and Gardens / Maximum 11 guests
Tour Language : English.
SELECT YOUR TOUR & DATE :
From 184 €
TOUR DETAILS
Included :
- Choice between hotel pickup and drop-off in Paris or departure from a designated meeting point
- Round-trip transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan
- Services of a licensed professional guide
- Approximately two-hour guided tour of the Palace in English
- Approximately 30-minute guided introduction to the Gardens
- Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time to explore the Gardens independently
- Admission to the Palace of Versailles with a reserved timed-entry ticket, Admission to the Gardens
- Access to the Musical Fountains Show or Musical Gardens when scheduled, generally from April to October
- Semi-private group limited to a maximum of 11 guests
- Audio device and wired headphones during the guided visit
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Hotel Pickup Area
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are available from selected hotels and private residences in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th and 16th arrondissements, as well as from a limited selection of hotels in the 2nd, 9th, 14th and 17th arrondissements.
For groups of six or more guests, pickup from other Paris arrondissements may be arranged, subject to availability and confirmation by our team. If your accommodation is outside the confirmed pickup area, please select the meeting-point option.
Not Included :
Food and drinks
Admission to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon
The Little Train service to the Trianon Estate
Pickup or drop-off outside Paris
Hotel or private-residence pickup and drop-off in the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th arrondissements
Gratuities, which are optional
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
WHY CHOOSE THIS TOUR?
• Semi-private experience: Travel with a maximum of 11 guests for a more comfortable and personal visit.
• Expert guided visit: Discover the Palace of Versailles, including the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors, with a professional guide.
• Palace and Gardens: After the guided Palace visit, enjoy an introduction to the Gardens followed by free time to explore independently.
• Reserved timed entry: Your admission is booked for a specific time, although mandatory security checks may occasionally delay entry.
• Convenient departure from Paris: Choose hotel pickup from selected Paris districts or join the tour at a designated meeting point.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE BOOKING
This tour involves approximately two to three hours of walking and standing, including uneven surfaces, cobblestones and crowded rooms. It is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility. Guides cannot provide individual mobility assistance.
Please be ready at your confirmed pickup location or meeting point at least five minutes before departure. Late arrivals and missed departures are considered no-shows and are non-refundable.
Large bags and large umbrellas are not permitted inside the Palace, and cloakroom facilities may not be available. Please travel light and keep your personal belongings secure. Proof of age or identity may be required for reduced-rate tickets.
Your booking voucher is not an entrance ticket and cannot be used for direct admission. Please present it to your driver or guide.
HALF-DAY TOUR LIMITATIONS
The half-day programme includes the Palace and the main Gardens only. There is not enough time to visit the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon or Queen’s Hamlet, or to rent a golf cart. Guests must return to the agreed meeting point at the time indicated by the guide to avoid missing transportation back to Paris.
SEASONAL GARDEN PROGRAMME
From April 1 to November 1, 2026, admission to the Musical Fountains Show or Musical Gardens is included when scheduled on the date of your visit. The programme varies according to the day and may be modified by the Palace of Versailles.
TRAVEL TIMES
Traffic between Paris and Versailles can affect journey and return times. Pickup is therefore limited to selected areas of Paris. Your exact pickup location and time will be confirmed by email before the tour, and arrival times in Paris cannot be guaranteed.
Tour operated by Paris Webservices.
Hotel Pickup & Return — Selected Paris Areas
Hotel pickup and return are available only from selected hotels and private residences in western Paris. After booking, our team will confirm your exact pickup time and location.
At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at your accommodation or at the nearest accessible location within the confirmed pickup area, depending on traffic, road access and operational conditions.
English-Speaking Licensed Guide
This tour is conducted in English only by a professional licensed guide.
Your guide will provide clear historical and cultural commentary throughout the visit, helping you understand the palace, its architecture, royal apartments, gardens and the major events connected to Versailles.
To fully enjoy the experience, all participants should be comfortable following a guided tour in English. No translation into other languages will be provided during the tour.
Free Time After the Palace Visit
After the guided visit of the Palace of Versailles, you will enjoy free time before returning to Paris.
This is the perfect opportunity to explore the Versailles Gardens at your own pace, take photos, admire the fountains and sculptures, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of the royal estate.
Your guide will clearly indicate the meeting point and return time before leaving you to explore independently. Please make sure to be back on time, as the group must leave Versailles according to the scheduled return to Paris.
MEETING POINT & MAP
OPTION 1 — HALF-DAY SEMI-PRIVATE TOUR WITH HOTEL PICKUP, GUIDED PALACE VISIT AND GARDEN ACCESS
Hotel pickup in Paris
- Morning tour: pickup between 8:15 and 9:30 a.m.
- Afternoon tour: pickup between 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Your exact pickup time will be confirmed by email before the tour.
Departure from Versailles
- Morning tour: approximately 2:00 p.m.
- Afternoon tour: approximately 5:00 p.m.
Arrival time in Paris may vary depending on traffic conditions.
OPTION 2 — HALF-DAY SEMI-PRIVATE TOUR FROM A PARIS MEETING POINT, WITH GUIDED PALACE VISIT AND GARDEN ACCESS
The exact meeting point and departure time in Paris will be provided in your booking confirmation.
After the tour, you will be dropped off at a central location near the Champs-Élysées or the Eiffel Tower. Hotel return is not included with the meeting-point option.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation and Payment Policy
All cancellation deadlines are based on Paris local time (CET/CEST).
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Individual Bookings — 1 to 7 Guests
* More than 24 hours before departure: full refund.
* Within 24 hours of departure: non-refundable.
* Late arrivals and missed departures are considered no-shows.
* No refund is provided if a guest leaves after the tour has started.
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Group Bookings of 8–11 Guests — Direct Website Bookings Only
This policy applies to bookings of 8 to 11 guests made directly through our website.
* More than 7 days before departure: full refund.
* Between 7 days and 48 hours before departure: 50% cancellation fee.
* Within 48 hours of departure: non-refundable.
* Late arrivals and interrupted tours are non-refundable.
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Changes or Cancellations by Paris Webservices
In the event of force majeure, safety concerns or circumstances beyond our control, we may modify or cancel the service. You will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.
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Payment and Confirmation
Full advance payment is required by Visa or Mastercard through our secure SSL and 3D Secure payment system.
Your payment is held until availability is confirmed. Confirmation is normally sent within one business day. If the service cannot be confirmed, you will be notified and no charge will be applied.
Paris Webservices will never request your bank card details by email.
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Currency
All payments are processed in euros. Displayed prices include applicable taxes and VAT.
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