I am planning to go to Versailles on my Paris trip this June (something we missed last year), and I was just looking at their web site. I noticed they offer guided tours, which include areas of the chataeu not accessible on an "independent" tour. Both my husband and I are very interested in history -- and loved the "behind the scenes" tour of the Doge's Palace in Venice. Just wondering if anyone has done one of the Versailles guided tours and has an opinion or advice.

Good question. I have a similar one. I'll be traveling with my 13-year-old daughter. She's excited about seeing Versailles, but I don't want to overdo it, and I think she'd get bored if we tried to see everything. Any recommendations for a tour that captures the spirit of the place but isn't an all-day affair would be helpful.

I've been to Versailles twice. Once on my own and the second time on the guided tour. The guided tour was much more interesting! I am something of a history buff, and am fairly well read on the history of the place etc. But I found the guided tour much more informative.. to find out exactly where someone stood at such and such a time or listen to interesting anectdotes brings the history alive in a way no guidbook can. Additionally, before you leave, watch a 3 Musketeer's movie or something to really get you in the mood,,, Further, just finished Antonia Frasiers book on Marie Antoinette, a MUST read before a visit to Versailles.. made me want to go back a third time.. Antoinia really digs into the behind the scenes life at Versaillers during the rein of Louis 16th...

Yes, take one of the guided tours offered at Versailles. Very informative. Then you may want to stroll through gardens on your own afterwards.<BR><BR>There are companies that offer a full day, taking you there and back. I found it easy enough to get to Versailles on my own using the RER train and then choosing one of the guided tours at palace.

I've taken the guided tour 3 yr ago, it was very interesting.To avoid the crowd for me the best route was the following: Go early, first to the booking office of the guided tours, book a tour. There are 2-3 different tours in English and many more in French. In French every 15 min starts a tour, in English every hour. Next go to the part which can be visited with an audioguide, and visit the the so called main galleries last. There you can rent an audioguide. Buy the museum pass in Paris.

I have been to Versailles a couple of times & have taken some of the extra tours(have a small added price attached to them) My favorite was the Marie Attoinette tour. - when we went on that 1 a few years back, they had just refurbished a couple of rooms that were open to the tour but not the public. There is also a tour of the King's rooms, & also of the Queen's rooms, & there is also another tour that includes the chapel. These are conducted at different times in different languages. If you take the Enlish language tours, please remember that most are French speaking guides giving a tour in English, so do not make comments about their less than perfect English. That can be embaressing, I know it was when somebody on our tour made those types of comments.

When I went to Versille a few months ago we took a day tour through a company at oour hotel. It was sort of a scam because they siad the tour was 5 hours. Well 5 hours including the hour and a half transportation each way. Most of our group didn't even get to tour inside. We knew someone working there so they let us to the front of the line. WE walked around on our own and lsitened to the tour guides from other tours. There are so many people there it is had to hear and their English is less than perfect. Unless you are a complete history buff I would go on my own. Its beautiful just looking around at it.