The breathtaking palace of Versailles is a 20/30 mintue car ride from Paris. This is one of the most beautiful historical sites I’ve ever visited, a must-see for those of you that are interested in art, architecture, landscape and of course, history. I would recommend going in the summer as the walk outdoors is more enjoyable and the garden is a lot prettier. A few tips before you go.

Free admission for:

• Persons under 18 years old
• Residents of the EU under 26 years old
• Teachers assigned to a French establishment bearing their “Pass Education”
• Disabled persons and their accompanying adult
• The first Sunday of any month from November to March, with access to only:
  • State Apartments and Hall of mirrors
  • Exhibitions
  • Apartments of the Dauphin and the Dauphine
  • Mesdames’ Apartments
  • Coronation room, Battles gallery, 1830 room
  • Grand Trianon and Estate of Marie-Antoinette
• Buy your tickets online to avoid long lines.
• Download the ‘Palaces and Gardens of Trianon’, ‘Versailles Gardens’, and ‘Palace audioguide’ mobile applications for guided tours, audio tours and maps of the palace/gardens to know where you’re going and make sure you haven’t missed anything.
• If you’re a group of 4 or more I would advise renting the electric cars and driving yourself around the gardens.

I would recommend eating before you go. If not, you can get a bite at Angelina (famous for their hot chocolate) or snack on a few macaroons from Ladurée till your back in Paris. I’ve heard there are a few cafés around the palace that are nice but I’ve never tried them.

If you know of any good cafés please let me know in the comments below!