Versailles, a full day out.
Château at opening · the Musical Fountains in the gardens · Trianon · clocks changed last night
Clocks went back in the early hours today (EU + UK). You gained an hour. Sunset is now about an hour earlier by the clock (~17:45 in Paris), so the outdoor half of the day, the gardens and the fountains, wants to happen earlier, and London will be dark by ~16:30 once you're there. Phones update on their own; check any watch or camera that doesn't. All reservation times on this site are already local clock time, nothing moves.
A Sunday, so the Grandes Eaux Musicales (the Musical Fountains) run in the gardens, the fountains set to Baroque music. Palace first, then the fountains and Trianon. Note the gardens close early today, at 17:30. You also change hotels today, Marriott to L'Empire, handled around the day trip.
Optional, before the day starts. A 1-hour gym session or a run (nearest option is on the Paris page), and an afternoon nap block is built into the schedule below, take it on the long days.
01Morning
02Afternoon
03Evening
The table
Tickets and bookings
| Item | When | Est. | Link | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RER C, Paris to Versailles and back (×2) | 08:30 | ~$15 | open | , |
| Château de Versailles + Trianon (on the Museum Pass, book the timed slot) inbox, search “Versailles” | 09:30 | free | open | to book |
| Grandes Eaux Musicales, garden ticket (×2) The Musical Fountains are a separate garden ticket (~€10.50 each), NOT on the Museum Pass. Runs every weekend; the 25th is a Sunday. | 25 Oct, book with the palace slot | ~$23 | open | to book |
| Hotel changeover, Marriott to L'Empire L'Empire's front desk for an early bag drop (call ahead), or the Marriott holds them. Taxi with the bags in the evening. | check out AM, check in ~18:15 | ~$16 | , | , |
Before you leave the door
Go straight into the Château at your timed slot, the Hall of Mirrors is wall-to-wall by 11:30. Then give the gardens the afternoon while the fountains run, but the gardens shut early today at 17:30, so be heading back by 17:00. The RER C drops you a 10-minute walk from the gates; don't taxi it.
House pickTrying to also do central Paris today, Versailles is a full day. And skipping the fountains to save €10 each, they only run on weekends and you happen to be here on one.
House pickStrike on the RER C (common) to Transilien line N or L to Versailles Chantiers, or a rideshare. Or drop Versailles entirely: Musée d'Orsay + Rodin + a Seine walk + Sainte-Chapelle, all on the pass.
House pickChâteau at 09:30 opening; the fountains run to a timed programme through the afternoon (check the day's sheet on arrival); gardens close 17:30.
House pickIf time, or if a deal lands
| Option | Added | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Skip Versailles to Orsay + Rodin + Saint-Germain | +$-38 | gentler day, all on the pass |
| Disneyland Paris, full day (replaces Versailles) | +$150 | Julian: “Beauty and the Beast ride, small park, cheap fast-passes” · cheapest Tue/Wed |
What today runs
Estimates. Swap in the real figure as you go.
| RER C, Paris to Versailles and back (×2) | $15 |
| Château + Trianon (on Museum Pass) | $0 |
| Grandes Eaux Musicales, garden ticket (×2) | $23 |
| Apartment changeover, taxi with bags | $16 |
| Lunch, Versailles town / garden crêpe | $50 |
| Coffee + crêpe in the gardens | $12 |
| Dinner, a Louvre-area bistro | $60 |
| Today, Paris | $176 |
Flights and the places to stay are on the costs page, not counted here.
How it went
Written after the day: what you did, what you loved, what you'd skip, the photographs, a voice note or two. It fills in here and in the album.