Palace of Versailles prices: all the ticket costs in 2026

How much does a Versailles ticket cost in 2026?

Since 14 January 2026, the Palace of Versailles has applied seasonal pricing. High season runs from 1 April to 31 October, low season from 1 November to 31 March. The price of a given ticket therefore changes with the time of your visit, and with whether or not you live in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Before we get into the detail, keep one simple benchmark in mind: the Palace ticket starts at around €21, and the Passport — which opens up the whole estate — sits between €25 (low season) and €35 (Musical Fountains days in high season). All the figures below come from the palace’s official ticket office and are given for guidance only: check the exact price when you book.

Ticket-by-ticket price breakdown

Here’s the full table of the main entry options and what they include.

Indicative prices based on chateauversailles.fr (2026). Off-season, access to the gardens is free for everyone, except on musical fountains days. Tickets booked through our partner Headout may include a service fee.

Who gets into Versailles free?

Several categories qualify for free entry to the palace and the Trianon Estate, on presentation of proof:

• All under-18s, regardless of nationality.
• 18–25-year-olds resident in the EU or the EEA (with an ID card or residence permit).
• People with disabilities and their carer.
• Jobseekers and those on income support (proof less than 6 months old).
• Holders of certain professional cards (ICOM, teachers on educational projects, journalists).

One crucial point, and the source of much disappointment: even when it’s free, a timed-slot ticket is still compulsory to enter the palace. Book your “free” ticket online like everyone else; you’ll show your proof of eligibility at the check.

Discounts and passes: what really matters

Beyond free admission, a few schemes can help you optimise the budget:

• EEA resident discount: around €3 off the Passport and the Trianon, on proof.
• Large families and ANCV beneficiaries: preferential rates (Passport around €13).
• Paris Museum Pass: it covers entry to the palace, but not the slot booking nor the paying gardens in season. You still have to book an entry time online.

From my own experience: for a couple or a family spending a few days in Paris, the Paris Museum Pass pays off if you string together several major museums. But for Versailles alone, a Passport booked in advance is simpler and avoids the nasty surprise of a missing slot.

Do you have to pay extra for the audio guide?

Good news: the audio guide is included with most Palace tickets and with the Passport. You pick it up at the entrance, available in around a dozen languages. So there’s generally no supplement to budget for on that front. Lecturer-led guided tours, however, are separate services charged on top — that’s the case for tours of the private apartments or the Royal Opera.

Our verdict on value for money

Versailles isn’t the most expensive site in Paris, and remains one of the most impressive in the world for the price of a ticket. If I had to sum it up:

• Tight budget, express visit: Palace ticket, especially in low season.
• First visit, want to see everything: Passport, the best compromise.
• Family with children: make the most of free entry for under-18s, and don’t forget their slot.
• Garden lover: aim for Musical Fountains days (€15) for the fountain show, or a free winter morning.

See our dedicated pages to dig deeper: the Passport, skip-the-line tickets, or the gardens.

Why prices change with the season

Many visitors are surprised not to find “the” price of Versailles. The reason is simple: since 14 January 2026, the palace has applied seasonal pricing, as the official website states. The same Passport therefore doesn’t cost the same in February and in July.

The calendar is split into two clear periods. High season runs from 1 April to 31 October: this is the busiest period, when the gardens come alive with shows and demand is strong. Low season runs from 1 November to 31 March, quieter, with reduced prices.

In practice, the Passport goes from around €25 in low season to €32 in high season, and climbs to €35 on Musical Fountains days, when the fountains are flowing. This logic rewards off-peak visits: visiting on a Tuesday in March costs less, and takes place in a far more breathable estate.

My advice: if your date is flexible, look first at the Musical Fountains calendar. You’ll know straight away whether you’re paying the “active estate” rate or the standard rate, and you’ll avoid discovering a supplement when you come to confirm your basket.

Group, family and school prices

Beyond the individual ticket, several groups benefit from tailored terms. The exact detail is booked on the official website, but here are the key principles to know before planning a visit for several people.

• Families: under-18s enter free, whatever their nationality. A family of two adults and two children therefore pays for only two tickets. Do still remember to book a slot for each child.
• Large families and ANCV beneficiaries: preferential rates exist (Passport around €13), on presentation of the relevant proof.
• Adult groups: organised groups book through a dedicated channel and enter via Entrance B, separate from the individual Entrance A (Pavillon Dufour). A guided tour helps you avoid the main queue.
• School and social-sector groups: the palace offers specific terms for supervised groups, to be arranged in advance with the bookings department.

A practical point: 18–25-year-olds resident in the EU or EEA are free, but 18–25-year-olds from outside the EEA are not. In a group of international friends, the price can therefore vary from one person to the next depending on nationality and the proof presented.

Evening and late tickets: the late-afternoon Passport

If your budget is tight or you like quieter late afternoons, the Evening Passport is worth a look. This late-entry ticket gives the same access as a standard Passport — Palace, Trianon Estate and gardens — but at a reduced rate, from around €15 to €18 depending on the season (€15 for EEA residents in low season).

The appeal is twofold. First the price: it’s one of the cheapest ways to see inside the palace. Then the atmosphere: by late afternoon the morning groups have gone, the light on the Hall of Mirrors becomes magnificent, and visitor numbers drop noticeably.

The trade-off is visiting time. The palace closes at 6.30pm in high season (5.30pm in low season), so you need to aim for an efficient route focused on the State Apartments. The Trianon Estate closes earlier still: it’s hard to combine everything on a late entry.

My take: the Evening Passport is ideal for a second visit, or for anyone who mainly wants the palace interior and the gardens in soft light, without wearing themselves out over a whole day.

Official ticket or partner ticket: the real comparison

It’s the question everyone asks. There’s no wrong answer, only a trade-off between raw price and convenience. Here’s how to decide honestly.

The official ticket office (chateauversailles.fr) shows the lowest face-value price: it’s the state selling directly, with no commission. It’s unbeatable on price. On the other hand, the interface is less flexible, customer service less immediate, and the cancellation policy stricter.

An approved partner ticket, such as via Headout, sometimes costs a few euros more because of a service fee. In return you get instant confirmation, a mobile ticket with no printing, multilingual support, and depending on the offer flexible cancellation up to 24 hours before. For a trip where the date might shift, that safety net is often worth the few euros’ difference.

My simple rule: fixed date and budget the priority → official ticket office; uncertain date, international trip, need for flexibility → partner ticket with cancellation. Either way, the timed slot is still compulsory, and a “free” ticket (under-18s, etc.) is always booked on the official site.

How much to budget in total for a visit

The ticket is only part of the spend. To avoid surprises, here’s an estimate of the real budget for a day at Versailles starting from Paris. All the transport and catering figures are ballpark amounts, not official palace prices.

• The ticket: reckon on the Passport, i.e. €25 in low season and up to €35 on Musical Fountains days (official-site prices).
• Transport: the RER C to “Versailles Château – Rive Gauche” is the most direct option, followed by a 10-minute walk. Allow for the return trip in your Paris transport budget.
• The little train: the estate is vast (the Grand Canal is 1.5 km long). The little train, electric buggies, bikes or rowing boats cost extra if you want to spare your legs.
• Lunch: on-site catering or a picnic in the park — an economical and very pleasant option in good weather.

In short: for one person, the heaviest cost is usually the ticket and transport. A family with under-18 children sharply reduces the bill thanks to free entry. And if you arrive by RER, you avoid the paid parking on the Place d’Armes.