Versailles in half a day: are 4 hours enough?
The short answer
It depends on what you want to see. The Paris → Versailles road takes 40 to 52 minutes each way (route planner, indicative): if the 4 hours run from departure to return, about 2 hr 16 min to 2 hr 40 min remain on site.
The Palace is open every day except Monday, from 9 am to 6:30 pm in high season (last entry 5:45 pm). The Versailles half-day package costs €375 in a guaranteed V-Class van and €310 in an E-Class sedan.
Opening hours read on the Palace website on 18 October 2026 (valid to 1 November, high season); road by route planner. Source: Palace of Versailles, practical information.
The road time, then the time on site
Versailles is 20 to 30 km from Paris depending on the starting point, by a toll-free road. The route planner gives 40 to 52 minutes of driving. In a 4-hour half day, the outward and return legs therefore take between 1 hr 20 min and 1 hr 44 min if the 4 hours cover the whole outing. That leaves 2 hr 16 min to 2 hr 40 min on site.
This reading assumes the package's 4 hours run from the Paris pick-up to the drop-off; that point is still to be settled with your price request.
What you can do in that time
The Palace and its gardens are not visited the same way. The gardens and park are open every day from 7 am to 8:30 pm and access is free, except on fountain-show and musical-garden days. The Trianon estate opens from noon to 6:30 pm, except Mondays, and lies a 30-minute walk from the Palace through the gardens.
The Palace is closed on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May. After 1 November the hours may change: we do not detail them, so check the Palace website before choosing your date.
| Place | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Palace | Closed on Mondays; 9 am to 6:30 pm in high season, last entry 5:45 pm |
| Trianon | Noon to 6:30 pm, except Mondays; a 30-minute walk from the Palace |
| Gardens and park | 7 am to 8:30 pm daily; free access except on show days |
| Shared half-day shuttle | €35 per person, checked 12 October 2026 |
| Welcome Pickups, return trip | €205 for up to 8 people, duration not shown (checked 12 October 2026) |
Versailles with children, in four hours
With children the visit goes at their pace, and walking counts: 30 minutes on foot between the Palace and Trianon is half an hour more for small legs. One well-chosen place beats three crossed at a run.
The package includes the driver's waiting time through the half day, and the child seats are on board. On the pages read on 12 October 2026, no other service sells a half day at Versailles by van at a fixed price with on-site waiting included and stated; Welcome comes closest, alone.
The price of the Versailles half day
The “Versailles half day” package lasts 4 hours, waiting included: €375 in a guaranteed V-Class van (seven passengers) and €310 in an E-Class sedan (three passengers). The price is fixed, child seat and tolls included. See the page Versailles half day with a driver.
| Service | E-Class sedanup to 3 passengers · 3 bags | V-Class van (guaranteed)up to 7 passengers · 7 bags | S-Classup to 3 passengers · 3 bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Versailles half-day (4 h, waiting included) | €310 | €375 | €459 |
Price per vehicle, not per passenger, taxes included · 10% VAT included · Prices checked on .
Versailles in half a day, at a fixed price
Give us the date, the pick-up address and how many of you are travelling: we reply with one price per vehicle.