Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
During my time in France, visiting the iconic Palace of Versailles was at the top of my list.
I couldn’t decide whether to explore on my own or join a tour, but then I came across a Palace of Versailles Bike Tour. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip!
Here’s everything you need to know, along with photos and highlights from an unforgettable day.
Palace of Versailles Bike Tour
I signed up for the bike tour a few weeks before our trip in April, and even though rain was in the forecast, we decided to go for it anyway.
The alarm went off around 6:00 AM, and we had to crawl out of bed to catch the metro.
We walked fifteen minutes to the metro station near the Catacombs (which I totally recommend checking out, by the way).
We got a little lost trying to find the right train platform, but then we saw our tour group.
Taking The Train From Paris To Versailles
After explaining the day to us, our Palace of Versailles tour guide gave us our train tickets and led us through the metro, where we took a nonstop train to Versailles.
It only took about half an hour to get there, and our guide was there to help every step of the way.
Picking Up Our Bikes In Versailles
Once we got off the train, we took a quick walk to the bikes.
They paired each person with their bike by height and provided us with rain jackets since it had been raining on and off all morning.
Stop 1: Tour Of The Palace Of Versailles
Our first stop was the iconic Palace of Versailles. Our guide told us we would be taking a tour first to avoid heavy crowds.
Even though the doors had just opened, the line was already wrapped around the palace and onto the streets.
Thankfully, you can skip the line with this tour. So we headed to the group entry and were inside within minutes.
Our guide gave us a headset so we could hear her talk, and just like that, we were on our way to the first room.
My favorite part of this tour was all of the artwork and paintings we came across as we walked through the rooms.
The Hall Of Mirrors
We explored so many amazing rooms, including the Hall of Mirrors, with its glittering chandeliers and endless mirrors. A place that I had seen in movies my entire life.
The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles is one of the most famous rooms in the world.
It’s 240 feet long and has 357 mirrors that reflect light from the huge windows, making the whole room sparkle.
It was honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
But it was super crowded, so I couldn’t get good pictures of the whole hall—people were everywhere.
After that, we walked through all the grand rooms while our guide shared all kinds of history. I didn’t get many pictures because it was still packed, and I was just soaking it all in.
The Apollo Room
Then it was on to the Apollo Room, or Salon d’Apollon, which is located on the first floor of the palace. It was used as a royal bedroom by Louis XIV.
The room is famous for its stunning ceiling fresco painted by Charles Le Brun, titled “The Apotheosis of Apollo”.
The painting depicts Louis XIV as the god Apollo, symbolizing the king’s divine right to rule and his association with the sun.
Marie Antoinette
We also got to see Marie Antoinette’s family portrait, painted by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.
Marie Antoinette was a controversial queen because she was seen as extravagant and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people. But personally, I think she is fabulous!
We spent a few hours exploring the inside of the palace before making our way outside.
In true French fashion, we grabbed an espresso and a pastry before continuing.
Stop 2: Exploring the Palace Grounds
As we left the grand rooms, we headed toward the French Gardens—just as breathtaking as you’d imagine when thinking of Versailles.
Back in 1661, landscape architect André Le Nôtre took on the challenge of transforming the palace’s wild grounds into something extraordinary.
Over 30 years, he designed these formal gardens with intricate paths, vibrant flower beds, sculpted hedges, and stunning water features.
Walking through the gardens, I couldn’t help but admire the neatly trimmed hedges, colorful flowers, and large fountains.
One of the highlights for me was the Fountain of Latona.
Right in the middle of the gardens, this stunning fountain features the goddess Latona and her children, Apollo and Artemis, set against the beautiful greenery.
Another perk of taking the tour was that our guide timed the Musical Fountains Show perfectly with our visit to the gardens.
The synchronized music with the fountains was so nice to watch while strolling around the gardens.
Stop 3: Versailles Farmers Market & Lunch
After exploring the palace in the morning, it was time for lunch at the Versailles Farmers Market.
At this point of the tour, we were already at 8,000 steps, which meant my stomach was growling!
Our original plan was to grab some food and wine at the farmers market and enjoy a picnic near the Grand Canal as a group, but the weather had other ideas.
So, the picnic was canceled, and instead, we wandered around the charming town of Versailles.
We had a meal at a local restaurant before hitting up the flea market and farmers market for some unique finds.
And of course, we had to get a French pastry before meeting up with our group and hopping back on the bikes.
Biking out of downtown Versailles was quite stressful as we navigated the town’s traffic on narrow, cobblestone streets.
Make sure to read my guide on: The Most Delicious Bakeries In Paris (2024)! Which features the place we stopped in Versailles as a bonus!
Stop 4: Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet
Once we got back on the bike path, we rode over to Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet—one of my favorite stops on the tour.
We locked up our bikes and took a peaceful stroll along the walking path, passing by colorful flowers and towering trees before arriving at the Hamlet.
Marie Antoinette had this place built as her personal escape, and you can totally see why she loved it here.
The hamlet looks like something out of a storybook, with its quaint cottages and pretty little lake.
Stop 5: Temple of Love
After visiting the hamlet, we visited The Temple Of Love, built in 1778 for Marie Antoinette.
Rumor has it that Marie Antoinette may have met with lovers at the Temple of Love during her time as queen.
We sat here for a while as our guide told us a bit of history on the royal family.
It felt nice to sit and relax for a while since we were well over 15,000 steps at this point.
Stop 6: Biking Around The Grand Canal
Next, we got back on our bikes and ended the tour by biking around the Grand Canal. It was the perfect way to wrap up our experience.
As we pedaled along the water, the views were stunning.
We soaked in the beauty of the gardens and grand estates.
Making for a relaxing and scenic finish to a fantastic day exploring the Palace of Versailles.
Stop 7: Return To The Train Station
As our tour came to an end, we returned our bikes to the same spot where we picked them up.
Our Palace of Versailles tour guide then led us to the train platform before we boarded the train. The journey was easy and relaxing, with no stops, dropping us off right back in Paris.
Taking the bike tour was such a great way to see Versailles. It was a mix of history, nature, and just plain fun.
You’ll get to see so much more than just the palace, and the whole experience is a lot more relaxed and enjoyable than a typical tour.
As soon as the train arrived back at the metro, we made our way over to Villa Marquise: The Most Beautiful Flower Cafe In Paris!
What Is The Best Bike Tour Of Versailles?
We did the tour with Boutique Bike Tours, and it was amazing. From start to finish, it was everything we hoped for and more.
If you’re curious about more details or want to book the tour, you can visit Boutique Bike Tours.
We booked ours through GetYourGuide.
How Long Is The Tour Of Versailles?
I’m not going to lie—it was a very long day visiting Versailles but in the best way possible.
The entire tour lasted about ten hours, with us leaving the train station at 7:00 AM and returning around 5:00 PM.
We clocked about 18,000 steps, and that didn’t even include the bike riding.
I wish we had planned this earlier in our trip because we were exhausted by the end and needed a day to rest.
But, in the end, it was totally worth it, and I’m so glad we chose this tour over the standard ones.
Is The Bike Tour Of Versailles Hard?
The bike tour of Versailles was quite challenging. Even though we’re avid bikers, the route included lots of hills, gravel, and other tough sections.
As you can tell, we spent most of the day biking and walking, with very little time to rest.
However, our group had people of all ages, so we took our time throughout the day.
The hardest part was biking through the town of Versailles.
Where there were no bike paths and the drivers were rude, nearly hitting us. Despite these difficulties, it’s doable for many people.
How Much Does A Bike Tour Of Versailles Cost?
Tour prices and what’s included can vary, so be sure to check the website before booking.
But the cost covered the Palace of Versailles entry fee, train tickets, and fountain show tickets.
The only extra cost was lunch.
It was a bit pricey, but having a guide and biking around the grounds was a unique experience and worth the splurge for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I also didn’t have to think or plan anything for the first time during our trip, which was a nice break.
Tips For Your Bike Tour Of Versailles
- Bring a rain jacket! France has rainy days, especially in spring. We visited in April, and most of the day was dry, except for early morning and lunch.
- Skip The Line: The fee includes the Versailles skip-the-line tickets
- Stay After: From April to October, the French garden attached to the Palace closes at 8:30 PM, so you will have plenty of time to visit it after your time inside the Palace.
- Tickets to the Musical Fountain Show are included in the tour’s price only for participants.
- Train Tickets: The Palace of Versailles provides all of the train tickets to and from Versailles back to Paris. The trains back to Paris leave every 15 minutes and the last train leaves around 11:00 pm.
- Tip the guides! Make sure to tip your guide, its not necessary but they really put a lot of hard work into spending a whole day with the group.
Where Is The Palace Of Versailles?
The palace is outside of Paris, perfect for a day trip away.
Explore More Of Paris
I loved my visit to Paris! It is such a beautiful city packed with art and history.
From staying at this Hotel In Paris With An Eiffel Tower View to visiting Van Gogh’s Historic Blue Door in Montmartre!
You can also read all about our other day trip from Paris, Reims and Epernay in a Day: The Ultimate Day Trip From Paris!
Do a wine tasting at Les Caves du Louvre: The Best Wine Tasting In Paris!
Here is Where To Put Love Locks In Paris In 2025
Read all of my Paris Travel Guides!
Where Do You Want To Travel Next?