Versailles Palace & Gardens Skip-the-line Guided Tour

Begin your visit to the UNESCO-listed grand estate with a stroll through the expansive Gardens of Versailles (Jardins de Versailles). The property covers 1,980 acres (800 hectares), with vast green lawns and a variety of trees and flowering plants. There are roughly 210,000 flowers planted here every year, and what you'll see blooming depends on the timing of your visit. Summer visitors hear about the garden's development over the years, while winter visitors are able to explore the gardens at their leisure without a guide.

Your next stop is the exquisite Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles), one of France's most popular tourist attractions, where you'll be able to walk right past the long queues that often form at the entrance thanks to your skip-the-line ticket. Follow your guide through the palace's opulent rooms and halls, learning about the important moments in French history that took place here from 1682 to 1789.

Walk through the royal family's private living quarters, including the King's and Queens' Apartments, as well as the Royal Chapel and the much-photographed Hall of Mirrors.

Visitors who plan a trip from April to October on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays have the added bonus of seeing the special musical gardens (on Tuesdays) or musical fountain shows (Saturdays and Sundays) which are included on your entry ticket. Feel free to head back into the gardens at the conclusion of your half-day tour to enjoy the music or fountain shows at your leisure.