Palace of Versailles
One of the few major French landmarks where free entry under 18 applies across the board, Versailles works for families with a wide spread of ages. Grounds give young children room to move while older visitors take in the interior properly. Pack a picnic, plan for at least five hours, and book timed entry in advance.
- Hours
- Palace Tue-Sun 9am-5:30pm (6:30pm April-Oct). Gardens daily 8am-6pm (8:30pm summer). Closed Mondays.
- Price
- Palace €18 adults; free under 18. Gardens €11 or €27 combined. RER C ~€8 return.
- Duration
- Full day (5-7 hours)
- Booking required
- Yes
Tips
- Book timed entry online before you go. Arrive at 9am opening to beat the tour groups to the Hall of Mirrors.
- RER C from central Paris takes 45 minutes. Under-18s enter the palace free; strollers are welcome throughout the gardens.
- Pack a picnic — on-site dining is expensive and outdoors time is the best part of the visit anyway.
- Plan a full day. The palace interior takes 1.5-2 hours; the gardens need 2-3 more hours to explore properly.