Versailles tours divide sharply by how you get there and around: guided bike tours that pair the palace with the town market and gardens, versus private guided palace tours with lunch or hotel pickup. The price range is dramatic—$129.74 for a full-day bike tour up to $862.97 for a private guided day with lunch.
The surprise in this data is how strong the bike tours are: multiple 4.7-4.9 ratings, big review counts, and the market-plus-gardens-plus-palace formula makes for a rich full day at a fraction of the private price. Go private (131161P2, 131161P6, 6718P76) only if you want a guide to yourselves or can't manage the cycling and full-day length. Note nearly all these tours run 8+ hours—Versailles is a serious day trip, not a morning.
#1Editor's Choice
Versailles Bike Tour with Market, Gardens & Guided Palace Tour
The best-rated way to do Versailles: bike, market, gardens, and a guided palace tour.
★★★★★ 5.0 (346 reviews)·from $173·8h 00m·
This full-day (480-minute) bike tour earns a perfect 5.0 across 346 reviews for $172.59, combining the local market, the gardens, Marie-Antoinette's hamlet, and a guided palace tour. It's the top-rated Versailles experience here and packs in the palace, grounds, and town for far less than the private tours. The catch is simply the eight-hour, active commitment.
★★★★★“It is a very fun and active way to visit Versailles and the gardens. The opportunity to shop at a market and have a picnic on the grounds of Versailles was the icing on the cake! Our guide, JB, was so knowledgeable, kind and easy to get along with. He had an excellent sense of humor and made the whole experience worthwhile. Highly recommend this tour!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- All Versailles Access
- Wet weather jackets & good humor, if the worst were to happen!
- Small Group Personal Tour (We limit our group sizes)
- Guide Conférencier (State Registered Professional Licensed Guide, able to guide inside monuments)
Where you'll go: Palace of Versailles · Place Du Marche Notre Dame · Jardins du Chateau de Versailles · Le Hameau De La Reine
What's good
- Perfect 5.0 across 346 reviews
- Guided palace tour plus market, gardens, and hamlet
- A fraction of the private-tour price
What to know
- Full 8-hour day requires stamina
- Involves cycling, not for everyone
Best for: Active travelers who want the complete Versailles day, well-guided.
Skip it if: You can't cycle or want a shorter, private experience.
#2Most Expensive
Versailles Palace & Marie-Antoinette's Estate Private Guided Tour with Lunch
A private guided palace-and-estate day with lunch—luxury, at a luxury price.
★★★★½ 4.9 (174 reviews)·from $863·8h 00m·Private
At $862.97 this is by far the priciest tour here: a full-day private guided tour of the palace, Hall of Mirrors, Grand and Petit Trianon, and Marie-Antoinette's estate, with lunch, rated 4.9 across 174 reviews. It's a genuine top-tier experience, but you're paying roughly five times the bike tour for privacy and lunch on the same core sights.
★★★★★“We had a lovely day trip to Versailles. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly and patient, allowing time for wandering family members taking photos and for our many questions. She knew so much about the palace, grounds, village and history, we left with a deeper appreciation of what we saw than had we toured on our own without a guide. Even the drive to and from Paris was filled with sights and an”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned private vehicle
- All Fees and Taxes
- Guide
Where you'll go: Palace of Versailles · La Galerie des Glaces · The Grand Trianon · Le Petit Trianon
What's good
- Comprehensive private tour including the Trianons and estate
- Lunch included; strong 4.9 rating
- Full-day, guide-to-yourselves luxury
What to know
- Extremely expensive at $862.97
- Overkill unless privacy is a firm priority
Best for: Travelers who want a private, all-inclusive Versailles day and can absorb the cost.
Skip it if: You're value-minded—the 5.0 bike tour covers similar ground for far less.
#3Best Electric Bike Day
Versailles Full-Day Electric Bike Tour : Market, Picnic & Palace
An easier e-bike version of the full-day market-and-palace formula.
★★★★½ 4.9 (103 reviews)·from $201·8h 00m·
This full-day electric-bike tour (4.9, 103 reviews) covers the market, a picnic, and the palace grounds including the Grand Trianon for $201.16. The e-bike takes the strain out of the eight-hour day—a real plus over the pedal versions—though at 103 reviews it's less proven and pricier than the standard bike tours.
★★★★★“f you’re considering a bike tour from Paris to Versailles—do it, and book with Renault. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire day seamless and fun. He brought the history and highlights to life while keeping everything relaxed and enjoyable. The ride itself is beautiful, Great way To get out of the city and get to know Versailles, the town and not just the palace. Thanks b”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Entrance ticket to Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet and the Petit Trianon
- Electric bike, helmet, rain cape, and saddlebag
- Entrance ticket to the Château de Versailles, its gardens, and fountains
- Picnic blanket
Where you'll go: Marnes-la-Coquette · La Foret De Fausses-Reposes · Place Du Marche Notre Dame · The Grand Trianon
What's good
- E-bike makes the long day far less strenuous
- Strong 4.9 rating
- Includes market, picnic, and palace grounds
What to know
- Only 103 reviews
- More expensive than the standard bike tours
Best for: Travelers who want the bike-tour experience without the leg work.
Skip it if: You're happy on a regular bike, or want more reviews behind you.
#4Best Value
Versailles Palace Bike Tour with Market & Marie-Antoinette hamlet
The bike tour that hits palace, market, and hamlet for the lowest price.
★★★★½ 4.8 (673 reviews)·from $130·8h 00m·
At $129.74 this full-day bike tour ties for the cheapest here and is well-reviewed at 4.8 across 673 reviews, covering the palace, the town market, Marie-Antoinette's hamlet, and the gardens. It offers nearly the same rich formula as the 5.0 top pick at a lower price—the trade being a slightly lower rating and no guided palace-interior emphasis.
★★★★★“We had a great time in Versailles. Michael was very knowledgeable and had fun stories about the palace’s history. The bikes are very comfortable and the ride is long but with plenty of stops along the way. The marché Michael took us to buy food for the picnic is wonderful.
We highly recommend this tour. Our kids 17 and 14 also enjoyed it very much.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Access to Petit & Grand Trianon Château
- Versailles farmer’s market
- Engaging and expert Versailles guides
- Round trip train tickets Paris - Versailles
Where you'll go: Palace of Versailles · Place Du Marche Notre Dame · Le Hameau De La Reine · Jardins du Chateau de Versailles
What's good
- Lowest price at $129.74 with a solid 673-review base
- Covers palace, market, hamlet, and gardens
- Well-rated at 4.8
What to know
- 4.8 trails the 5.0 leader
- Full-day cycling commitment
Best for: Value-seekers who want the full Versailles bike day.
Skip it if: You want the highest rating or a private guide.
#5Best Tailored Private
Versailles Palace Private Tailored Guided Tour With Hotel Pickup
A shorter private tour with hotel pickup, customizable to your pace.
★★★★½ 4.8 (282 reviews)·from $589·4h 00m·Private
This 4-hour private tour ($589.20, 4.8 over 282 reviews) offers a tailored guided visit to the palace and Hall of Mirrors with hotel pickup. At half the length of the $862 flagship it's the more digestible private option, and the 282-review 4.8 is reassuring—but it's still a major splurge for a focused palace visit.
★★★★★“We had the pleasure of having Chris as our driver and guide. He picked us up at our Vrbo apartment in Central Paris and then off to Versailles. The traffic was incredibly light on the way and he commented on that would likely not be the case on our return.
We had an incredible tour and his knowledge, sense of humor, perfect English and open to any and all questions about the property were very i”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Live guided tour by a local professional art historian guide
- Private transportation
Where you'll go: Palace of Versailles · La Galerie des Glaces · Versailles
What's good
- Private, customizable, with hotel pickup
- Solid 4.8 across 282 reviews
- Shorter 4-hour format than the full-day privates
What to know
- Still very expensive at $589.20
- Covers less than the full-day private (no Trianons/estate emphasis)
Best for: Travelers wanting a private palace visit with door-to-door ease.
Skip it if: You want the fuller estate coverage, or the bike tours' value.
#6Best Private Grounds Tour
Versailles Royal Palace & Gardens Private Tour by Golf Cart
A private golf-cart tour of the palace and gardens—mobility without the bike.
★★★★½ 4.8 (241 reviews)·from $237·3h 00m·Private
This 3-hour private tour (4.8, 241 reviews) uses a golf cart to cover the palace, gardens, and Grand Trianon for $236.87. It's the private option for people who want to cover the vast grounds comfortably without cycling or a full day, and at $236.87 it's the most affordable of the private tours by a wide margin.
★★★★★“William was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and personable - beautiful day in the gardens and palace. Our tour was originally scheduled for the afternoon but due to hat they moved us to the AM w/o any issues”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- The Royal Chapel
- Versailles Passport Tickets (full estate access)
- The Hall of Mirrors
- Priority entrance tickets into Versailles Palace
Where you'll go: Versailles · Jardins du Chateau de Versailles · Palace of Versailles · The Grand Trianon
What's good
- Private tour by comfortable golf cart, no cycling
- Cheapest of the private options
- Solid 4.8 across 241 reviews
What to know
- Shorter and less palace-interior focused
- Golf cart limits where you can go vs. walking
Best for: Travelers wanting a private, low-effort tour of the grounds.
Skip it if: You want deep palace interiors or the bike-tour value.
#7Most Proven Bike Tour
Versailles Full Day Bike Tour with Palace, Gardens, & Picnic
The most-reviewed Versailles tour—a full bike day with a picnic.
★★★★½ 4.7 (1,744 reviews)·from $130·7h 30m·
This full-day bike tour has the deepest track record in the category, with 1,744 reviews at 4.7, and covers the palace, gardens, Grand Canal, and Grand Trianon with a picnic, for $129.74. It ties for cheapest and is the most road-tested—the 4.7 is a touch lower than its bike-tour rivals, but the sheer volume of reviews makes it a dependable choice.
★★★★★“The experience was amazing! Kayla was a great guide. Made us laugh and told us lots of history on Versailles. The market in Versailles was wonderful. Wish I could experience this it daily. I highly recommend this tour. I leaned so much!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Ability to explore the Chateau and Royal Gardens on your own
- Bicycle and helmet
- Up to 1.5 hours in the Palace
- Child seats are available if requested at the time of booking
Where you'll go: Versailles · Place Du Marche Notre Dame · Grand Canal · The Grand Trianon
What's good
- Most reviews in the category (1,744)
- Tied for the lowest price at $129.74
- Full day with picnic, palace, and gardens
What to know
- 4.7 is the lowest of the bike tours
- Long, active full-day format
Best for: Travelers who want the most-proven, best-value full-day bike tour.
Skip it if: You want the top rating (the 5.0 tour) or a private experience.
Before you go
- The estate is huge — a bike tour (~$130) covers the gardens, Grand Canal, and Trianons far better than walking, and usually includes a market picnic.
- Independent entry lines are notoriously long; book a tour or timed ticket with reserved/skip-the-line access.
- Marie-Antoinette's hamlet and the Trianons are a long walk from the main palace and easy to miss — confirm they're on your itinerary if you want them.
- Musical fountain shows run only on select spring–autumn days and cost extra; check the 'Grandes Eaux' calendar to time your visit.
- Closed Mondays — plan around it, and note the palace is busiest midday when Paris day-trippers arrive.
- Confirm whether transport from Paris is included; many tours meet at Versailles and assume you take the RER C yourself.
How I ranked these
For Palace of Versailles tours I weighted three things: what you actually get for the money (group size, what's included, special access), the rating balanced against how many reviews back it up — a 4.9 from 200 people isn't the same as a 4.6 from 15,000 — and price for what's on offer. Ratings, review counts and prices shift over time, so always check the live booking page before you pay.
Good to know
Why do so many Versailles tours involve bikes?
The estate is enormous — the gardens, Grand Canal, Trianon palaces, and Marie-Antoinette's hamlet sprawl far beyond the main palace, and walking it all is exhausting. The bike tours (from ~$130) typically add a stop at the Versailles town market for a picnic, then ride the grounds and finish with a guided palace visit, covering ground you'd never manage on foot in a day.
What's included in the palace visit, and do I skip the line?
Most tours here include a guided tour of the State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors (La Galerie des Glaces), plus reserved or skip-the-line entry — important, because independent lines at Versailles are notoriously long. Higher-end options (the private tour with lunch ~$863, private tailored tour ~$589) add the Grand and Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's estate.
Can I see Marie-Antoinette's hamlet and the Trianons?
Yes — several tours specifically include Le Hameau de la Reine (her mock rustic village) and the Grand Trianon, which many visitors miss because they're a long walk from the main palace. The bike tours and the private estate tours are built around reaching them. If that's a priority, confirm the itinerary lists the Trianon estate.
When are the garden fountains actually running?
The musical fountain shows ('Grandes Eaux') run on select days, mainly spring through autumn weekends, and carry a separate garden ticket. The gardens themselves are otherwise often free to walk, but the fountains only play on scheduled days — check the calendar, because seeing them dance to Baroque music is a highlight worth timing your visit for.
How do I get to Versailles, and do tours include transport?
Versailles is about 20 km from central Paris, reachable by RER C train. Some tours meet you there or nearby; the private options (~$589–$863) include hotel pickup. Read whether transport from Paris is included — many bike and small-group tours assume you make your own way to a meeting point outside Paris.
Prices are "from" prices in USD and change with date and availability. Last updated August 2026.