The Palace of Versailles estate covers around 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and is divided into four main zones: the Main Palace, the Gardens, the Park, and the Trianon Estate (which includes Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet). Free paper maps are available at the information points in the Dufour Pavilion near Entrance A. The official Versailles app also includes an interactive map with audio guide content.
Versailles is much larger than most visitors expect. The main palace alone has 700 rooms across multiple wings, and the estate stretches for kilometres in every direction. Without a clear sense of the layout, it’s easy to spend too long in one area and miss everything else — or exhaust yourself walking in the wrong direction. This guide walks you through every section of the Versailles estate, so you know exactly where you’re going before you arrive.
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Table of Contents
Overview: The Four Zones of Versailles
The entire Versailles estate can be broken into four distinct areas. Understanding this structure before your visit makes navigation far easier:
- The Main Palace (Château de Versailles) — the central royal residence, including the Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments, Royal Chapel, and Gallery of Great Battles.
- The Gardens (Jardins de Versailles) — the formal French gardens directly south and west of the palace, featuring fountains, parterres, groves, and sculpted hedges.
- The Park (Parc de Versailles) — the wider naturalistic parkland beyond the formal gardens, home to the Grand Canal, forested paths, and the Little Train circuit.
- The Trianon Estate — the private royal retreats at the far end of the estate: Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet. About 25–30 minutes on foot from the main palace.
The Main Palace: What’s Where
When you pass through the Honour Gate (Grille d’Honneur) and cross the Cour d’Honneur (Honour Courtyard), you’re standing in front of the central façade of the main palace. The palace is arranged across ground level and first floor:
Ground Floor
- Museum of French History — the Mesdames’ Apartments and historical galleries, including the Gallery of the History of the Palace
- Gallery of Coaches — open weekends and public holidays; houses royal carriages and coronation coaches
First Floor
- King’s and Queen’s State Apartments — the formal ceremonial rooms, including the famous Hercules, Venus, Diana, Mars, and Mercury Rooms
- Hall of Mirrors — the central gallery connecting the King’s and Queen’s apartments; the most visited space in the palace
- War Room and Peace Room — flanking the Hall of Mirrors at either end
- Royal Chapel — accessed via the North Wing and the grand staircase from the Honour Courtyard
- Gallery of Great Battles — in the South Wing; 120 metres of monumental battle paintings
Maps of the main palace are available at the information point on the garden level of the Dufour Pavilion, just after Entrance A. Audio guides can also be collected here.
The Gardens: Zones and Key Landmarks
The Gardens of Versailles are the largest formal gardens in the world, designed by André Le Nôtre in the 17th century. They’re laid out on a central east–west axis extending from the palace towards the Grand Canal. The main landmarks from the palace outwards are:
| Landmark | Location | Notes |
| Water Parterre | Directly west of palace | Two large reflecting pools; best spot for palace photos |
| Latona Fountain | Top of main axis | Classical fountain depicting Latona and her children |
| Apollo Fountain | Centre of main axis | Gilded Apollo rising from water; faces the Grand Canal |
| Grand Canal | Western end of axis | Kilometre-long canal; boat hire and cycling available |
| Orangery | South of palace | Houses 3,000 orange trees in winter; spectacular in summer |
| Queen’s Grove | South garden | Shaded grove with fountains; peaceful and less-visited |
| Colonnade Grove | North garden | Circular marble colonnade; one of the most striking groves |
| Neptune Fountain | North end of gardens | The largest fountain in the gardens; dramatic water displays |
| Ballroom Grove | Central gardens | Open-air amphitheatre with tiered rockwork and cascades |
To enter the gardens from the palace, head to the top left of the Cour d’Honneur and through the Princes’ Courtyard gate. From the Park, you can enter through the Queen’s Gate, Petite Venise Gate, or Ménagerie Gate near the Grand Canal.
On Musical Fountains Show days (most Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from late March to late October), a €10 garden surcharge applies. This is included in the Passport/Full Access ticket.
The Park: Grand Canal and Beyond
Beyond the formal gardens lies the Park of Versailles — 800 hectares of forest, meadows, and waterways. The Grand Canal is its centrepiece: a kilometre-long cross-shaped canal where you can hire rowing boats (seasonal) or cycle along the banks.
The Park is free to enter at all times via the Queen’s Gate (on Boulevard de la Reine, a 16-minute walk from the Honour Gate), the Saint Anthony Gate (near Marie Antoinette’s Estate, 30 minutes on foot), or the Sailors’ Gate (on Route de Saint-Cyr).
The Little Train runs a circuit from the Château through the Park to the Grand Trianon and back, with stops at Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. It costs around €9 for a round trip and is the easiest way to cover the distance without walking.
The Trianon Estate: Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon & the Hamlet
The Trianon Estate is located at the far end of the Park, approximately 25–30 minutes on foot from the main palace (or 20 minutes by Little Train, or 15 minutes by golf cart from the Water Parterre). It comprises:
- Grand Trianon — Louis XIV’s marble and porphyry retreat; now used for state visits. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
- Petit Trianon — the more intimate palace given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI. Her private apartments are here.
- Marie Antoinette’s Estate (The Hamlet) — a picturesque farm village built for the queen; includes the Queen’s House, farm animals, and an English Garden.
Access to Petit Trianon and the Hamlet is only possible through the Grand Trianon. The Trianon Estate opens at 12 pm on weekdays and 9 am on weekends (April–October). A Full Access Ticket covers entry to all areas including the Trianon Estate.
How to Get Around the Estate
| Option | Best For | Cost | Notes |
| Walking | Palace + Gardens only | Free | Palace to Trianon = ~25–30 min on foot |
| Little Train | Trianon Estate access | ~€9 return | Runs Palace → Grand Trianon → Petit Trianon → back |
| Bike hire | Park & Grand Canal | From ~€8/hr | Not permitted in formal Gardens |
| Golf cart hire | Covering large distances | €42/60 min | Available from South Terrace near palace |
| Rowing boat | Grand Canal | Seasonal | Available near the Grand Canal boathouse |
For a full breakdown of vehicle rental options, see our guide to renting vehicles at Versailles.
Where to Pick Up a Map at Versailles
- Free paper maps are available at the information point on the garden level of the Dufour Pavilion (just after Entrance A) and on the ground floor at the start of the State Apartments tour.
- The official Versailles app (available on iOS and Android) includes an interactive map with navigation and audio guide content. Download it before your visit.
- The audio guide, available from the Dufour Pavilion, includes a map of the palace and orientation guidance.
- If you’ve booked the Skip-the-Line Guided Tour, your guide will handle orientation — no map needed.
Why do you need a Palace of Versailles map?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the frequently asked questions about the Versailles Palace Map.
Where can I find the map and audio guides in Versailles?
The audio guide desk is located in Gabriel Hall’s lobby. Maps are available at the Information Point on the garden level of the Dufour Pavilion, just after Entrance A.
On the ground floor, at the start of the Gallery of History / State Apartments tour, you’ll find information points and maps.
There is another information point on the garden level of the Dufour Pavilion after Entrance A.
Which ticket is best to visit Versailles?
There are three popular tickets – entry tickets, guided tours, and small-group guided tours.
If you are on a budget, choose the Versailles Palace and Gardens Entry ticket.
If you prefer a local expert to take you through, the Versailles Palace skip-the-line Guided Tour is the best option.
If you want your Paris to Versailles travel handled, Versailles Palace Small-Group Guided Tour with Transport will give you the best experience.
