A WELL TRAVELED PAIR
A Magical Day Trip to Versailles
by Katie McCabe | @awelltraveledpair | April 10th, 2017
The Palace of Versailles is one of France's most beautiful, and popular, tourist attractions. We went on a Monday, when the inside of the palace is closed, but we enjoyed a romantic day wandering around the stunning grounds, eating lunch at their garden restaurant, and relaxing along the Grand Canal. Monday is a great day to go to Versailles if you don't want to go inside the palace itself. You'll avoid large groups of tourists, and admission to the grounds and gardens is free.
The property of Versailles is over 2,000 acres, so it is easy to spend hours and hours exploring. We fell in love with the meticulous gardens, the beautiful sculptures, and the exquisite architecture.
We came across a lovely restaurant, Brasserie de la Girandole, nestled in the heart of the gardens. There we enjoyed some delicious crepes and a perfect glass of Bordeaux, while surrounded by spectacular scenery.
After lunch, we made our way to the Grand Canal, where we ended our day lying in the grass, enjoying some creamy sorbet, and watching rowboats float by. Boats are available to rent for around $20 USD per hour, and they're the perfect way to add a little extra romance to your trip.
A day trip from Paris to Versailles is easiest by train. This hassle-free journey takes forty-five minutes, and is quite enjoyable. You want to take the RER C line to the Versailles Château Rive Gauche stop. A roundtrip ticket should cost around $8 USD. Once you arrive at the stop, the Palace is a short five minute walk away.
Explore the palace, wander the exquisite grounds, and immerse yourself in this wondrous place.
