Last Modified: 08/08/26
For my third trip to Versailles on my Mother-Daughter Trip, I finally made it past the palace. Though I enjoy the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen and King’s private rooms, I’m so glad we made the trek to the other side of Versailles. This time, my daughter and I bought the Versailles Passport and walked through the gardens all the way to the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Queen’s Hamlet. It ended up being one of my favorite afternoons of the whole trip.
I’d always considered Versailles one building: the palace, Hall of Mirrors, the private rooms. But just past the gardens are smaller estates: the Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet. A gift for her to escape the rules and eyes of palace life, they are now a fun alternative to visit if you have explored the main palace.
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How to Visit the Trianon & Queen’s Hamlet from Paris
Where is Versailles?
Versailles is just outside Paris in the western suburbs, in transit Zone 4. If you have a weekly Navigo pass covering all five zones, getting there is included with no extra ticket needed.
By Train
We took the RER straight from our hotel, and it dropped us at the Versailles Château Rive Gauche station about a 10-minute walk to the palace gates.
By Tour
If you prefer to go by tour, Viator has some Versailles Tour options with very high ratings/reviews, though I haven’t done these personally.
Entrance Fees & Hours
We used the Versailles Passport, which gets you into the palace, the gardens, and the Trianon estate and Queen’s Hamlet. The standard palace-only ticket won’t get you out to this part of the grounds.
- Versailles Passport: about $50 total for one adult and one 15-year-old (2026 pricing)
- Book tickets online in advance: They are pretty strict about the time slots, so avoid being and try not to arrive too early to avoid sitting in line.
Hours vary by season, but in general the Palace opens early at 9 am and the Trianon opens after noon. The grounds close between 5:30 and 6:30 pm. See the Versailles website for exact hours for your planned trip.
It is recommended to have at least 6 hours for a self-guided tour, but you could easly spend 8 hours or more when seeing the main Palance and Trianon Estate.
What to See & Do at Versailles
For a full day, these are my top three options:
The Palace: Hall of Mirrors & Queen’s Rooms
We started the traditional way with the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen’s Rooms. We had an early entry and missed the bulk of the crowds. We were able to move through the rooms easily and get unobstructed views.
The Petit Trianon (Inside) & Grand Trianon (outside)
From the palace, we walked through the gardens and then through the forest all the way out to the Petit Trianon. Knowing what I know now, we probably would have taken the trolley. It was quite hot, and the walk was longer than I expected. But we did get an understanding of how large the grounds are. If you plan to walk, stick to the main path; we got lost a bit in the gardens but managed to get on track by using the map.
We walked around the outside of the Grand Trianon and explored the gardens. Just a short walk is the Petite Trianon.
The rooms in the Petite Trianon are much smaller and decorated a bit more simply, but they give more insight into what daily life at Versailles may have been like. There are views of the kitchen, dining room, and private rooms of Marie Antoinette.
The Queen’s Hamlet
This was my favorite part of the whole day. The Hamlet, Marie Antoinette’s mock countryside village, built as her sanctuary from palace life, is so pastoral it barely feels like Versailles anymore. While visitors cannot go inside the buildings, there is a path that guides you from one building to the next, including a large manor, small farming houses, and a watermill.
More to Explore Beyond the Palace
Angelina’s at Versailles
Don’t miss an opportunity to get iced tea and dessert at Angelina’s on the grounds, which can be a nice break in the heat before continuing.
Little Train at Versailles
There’s also a Little Train that runs to and from the main Palace to the Trianon area, which we were very grateful for after all that walking in the heat. It costs 5 Euros per person, per way. We paid by credit card without issue.
Is Versailles (and the Trianon) Worth the Day Trip?
Absolutely, especially if, like me, you’ve already done the palace and assumed you’d “seen” Versailles. The Trianon and Queen’s Hamlet are a completely different pace and mood, and I wish I’d made it out there on my first two visits.
A few final practical tips
- Get the Passport, not the base ticket: the standard entry won’t get you to the Trianon or Hamlet
- Wear real walking shoes: it’s a hike from the palace out to the Hamlet, through the gardens and forest.
- Protection from the elements: So glad we packed a hat, sunglasses, a portable fan, extra water, and bug spray. They were essential!
Have you made it out to the Trianon and Queen’s Hamlet, or have you only done just the main palace? If you are planning more day trips from Paris, check out my guide to Giverny and the Monet House & Gardens or my other France posts. Shoot me any questions on my Instagram!
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