Firstly, how the hell do you get there?
I was fortunate enough to have a dad who cannot travel Europe without his own rental car, and honestly, if you’re in a position to, I’d totally recommend it! However, if you’re planning to use public transport there are trains and buses available with tickets from 2 to 7 euros. Expect to reach your destination in around 50 minutes, giving you plenty of time to read, people-watch or blast some music (or all three).
When you get there head over to the main street, Avenue de Paris, to explore the old town and grab a delish mille-feuille from one of the various bakeries.
Next, make your way to the Palace of Versaille and Jardins, which does require its own ticket for each entrance. You can buy them when you get there or online, and as usual, I always recommend booking your ticket beforehand to avoid disappointment and skip the crowds.
The Palace of Versailles was built by Louis XIV in 1682 and showcases some pretty spectacular Baroque architecture. It’s famous for its Hall of Mirrors gallery that houses over 350 mirrors – in case you’re wondering, yes this is the place that Olivia Rodgrigo mentions in Drop Dead and yes it’s totally gorgeous.
Once finishing your tour of the Palace, take some time to explore the gardens and the various fountains that occupy them. There’s also Marie Antoinette’s Estate at the end of the grounds, commissioned solely for the queen to experience what it was like to live in a peasant hamlet (absolutely bizarre, but let them eat cake I guess).
A few other gorgeous spots that you should check out if you have time are the Versailles Cathedral and the Carrés Notre Dame market for some organic fruit and veggies, sweet treats and crafts. The market is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 7am to 1:30pm (be sure to double check as opening hours may change depending on season).
Au Revoir,
Jacqueline.
