Versailles gardens on Sunday ticket question
 

We will have the museum pass for regular entrance. Is there anywhere to purchase just the garden tickets other than the long lines at Versailles? It didn't appear you could do this on their website.

If we have to stand in line should we still get there early to see some of the palace first? Or would it be possible to arrive around 10 am for the 11 am show, do that first and then see the buildings? I realize that we won't be able to see it all so I am not expecting to. We just want the highlights and a nice day out.

This will be for Sunday, 10 July.

Thanks!

been to Versailles a few times including one weekend. I'm sure the museum pass will facilitate entry but be prepared for big crowds especially in the summer. The Palace will be very crowded with shuffling crowds especially when you want to go. Gardens will be better and more fun in my opinion. The fountains may be on then.

Don't you want to know if it will be raining on July 1 before you buy tickets to go on that day?

I don't know of any place you can buy a ticket just for those gardens with the fountains in advance (it is 8 euro).

I'd get there as early as possible myself. The gardens are right next to part of the chateau you tour, so it is easy to view some of the rooms and then go out to the gardens if you want.

Hi trvlgirlmq,

We were at Versailles with a party of four on a Sunday this past October. Because we couldn't get group consensus in advance on which day to go to Versailles we didn't purchase our tickets online. Big Mistake! Unless, of course you like standing in a ticket queue for one and a quarter hours. I would imagine the lines could be even longer in July when you are going. You might try contacting Versailles directly (they have that option on their website via phone or email) and ask if there is a separate ticket line for the gardens only. My recommendation would be to fore-go using the museum pass even if it will save a few dollars and buy the pass for the chateau and gardens online. That's just somebody's advice who dislikes standing in long lines. Have a great trip!

Doesn't the museum pass allow you to bypass the chateau line? If that's the case, then I'm wondering if it would make sense to get in line first thing upon opening for the garden tickets (when everyone else is lining up for the chateau) & buy those before going to the chateau and bypassing that line with the pass. Then, when you were ready to visit the gardens, you could just walk right in. Voila - both lines basically bypassed. This is my plan for next month during a fountain weekend. Has anybody done this?

Alternatively, one could visit the gardens, Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Hameau before touring the chateau -- hopefully catching smaller crowds as you'd be going the opposite direction. I guess that was the second portion of the OP's question, as well. (This is the other plan I'm debating.) Again, if you get in line for the garden tickets right at opening, I doubt many others would be there yet. Thoughts?

I thought it did, otherwise there is little point to it (allowed you to bypass the regular line).

Thanks everyone. I think we will stick with the museum pass. I have an alternate itinerary that puts us at Versailles on a non-music day. I will check with all the travel companions to see which version they like best. We have some things we have to work around and Monday is not an option so we'll make the best of it.

Only 49 days until we leave!