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Viking option Palace of Versailles


Nixkay
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We have chosen to do the optional trip to the Palace of Versailles when in our Viking river cruise. Has anyone else been already and have any tips? I’ve heard the queues are horrendous and we really want time to see the gardens. Has anyone skipped the main house for the gardens or do you get enough time. Thanks in advance.

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Did this last year with Viking, and had no problems at all. We were ushered in ahead of the crowds, and had plenty of time to stroll the gardens. While in the palace, it was crowded but our guide engaged with the palace monitors and we were taken ahead of the masses. Enjoy it, it is well worth seeing.

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The fountains do not operate in the morning. Viking has timed the visit so you do a morning tour of the palace and after that, you arrive in the gardens right before the fountain show begins. You won't be able to head for the gardens until your tour is complete, since you'll be entering at a different entrance than the general public. You'll be led to the garden entrance area at the end of the tour of the palace. BTW The musical fountain show is on the weekends, so hopefully that is when you are going.

https://www.european-traveler.com/france/tips-on-visiting-the-musical-fountain-show-at-the-palace-of-versailles/

 

We've been to Versailles twice, once on our own and last year we went with Viking. The gardens are enormous, the size of a small city. There are dozens of fountains and water features nestled within side gardens. You can spend all day exploring. The Viking tour will not give you enough time to visit Marie Antoinette's village. It's at the far end of the palace grounds and you really need to rent a cart to get there. IMO you need to spend the whole day at Versailles. My suggestion is to check with the tour guide and see if you can stay past the bus departure time and take the train back into Paris. The station is within walking distance of the palace.

 

Also, for future reference, you can get advance tickets for the palace and if you buy the Paris Museum Pass, you can avoid the lines at several attractions like Versailles, the Louvre, etc.

http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

Edited by OneSixtyToOne
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