Versailles Palace Audio-Guided Tour by Shuttle from Paris

Good tour but couldn't understand the tour guide.

This was not a great tour. Even though it was very well organised and covered all of the key items at the Louvre, because I speak English and the tour guide had a very heavy Japanese accent which, when combined with all the background noise, made it virtually impossible to understand a word she said, so quite disappointing.

Beautiful but patience is key.

Versailles is beautiful but so crowded. The bus picked up late and dropped off in the wrong location because of traffic. Clean bus. The staff was very nice and we were able to skip the line.

Not worth the money (tourists trap)

Very disappointed. The gardens mostly dirt,no flowers, no water fountains Not worth the time and money

Horrible experience

Bus had no Air Conditioning and we took a cab back. Horrible experience! Please look else where. They were not concerned about this and less worried about accommodating the situation.

It was a bust!

This tour turned into fiasco. I'm fast, I'm betting that this won't even get posted. It's was a cold, rainy day. We stood at the meeting point with the guide for about 30 minutes past the time the bus should have come and we should have left. Finally, we had to ask the guide what was going on. She said a bus couldn't come and they were sending Ubers. After another 20 minutes, 1 Uber showed up and was quickly filled, so we were left standing again. At the point, I asked for a refund and was told I would one, so we left. (Leaving Paris so late would take away and hour of our tour time) Neither the tour company, Magic Ways, will refund my money. In fact, they didn't even realize we didn't arrive in Versailles! I get a call at the leaving time along me to come to the bus, as if we were touring Versailles and we're just late getting the bus!

A beautiful place but a difficult tour

Incredibly long bus ride with many stops. Turned what could have been a 30 minute train ride into 1.5 hours. The Palace was crowded and guides only wore vests (no flags), impossible to find them in the crowd. The Palace is beautiful but incredibly crowded.

Overpriced…. Book online entry and own transportation instead

Being honest, and we have used Viator for many excursions and enjoyed every minute, but this excursion was extremely overpriced for what is offered compared to what you can book directly on your own. Buy the timed entry tickets directly from the Palace website, and use Uber or the train. With this excursion, you still end up in the same line based on the timed entry with everyone else. You are not skipping any lines at entry, aside from the entry ticket which you can do online prior. When I asked our guide about this, he replied that everyone skips the line. We regret paying so much extra for this excursion, which was basically the bus there, audio guide and access to the garden at the Palace. The Palace itself is lovely. Expect large crowds but we don’t regret visiting, and would recommend.

Versailles

Good experience, Versailles wasv very opulent, we had rented a cart for gardens and glad we did, so big tossed all if we walked

Rip off

I purchased a tour advertised as skip the line. It was not. We arrived late and had to wait, in a long line, for over an hour. Since we arrived so late, we did not return to Paris until the end of the day ruining our plans. I have done tours to Versailles before and never had such an awful experience.

Our day at Versailles

The staff were friendly and made it easy to gain entry to the palace. The line wasn’t too bad. We enjoyed the audio tour so that we could go at our own pace. Versailles is amazing at every turn in its opulence.

Beautiful palace

The palace was beautiful . The pick up was not smooth . They left without us . I had to take a cab to the palace . They did meet us there and give us our tickets .

Amazing!!! Superb tour experience!

My goodness!!! Words fail me about this tour, it was everything we envisage and then some more. The representatives were very courteous and friendly, the drive from Paris to Versailles was very smooth and took about 35 minutes or so. My spouse and I had an AMAZING experience at the Palace of Versailles including sightseeing of the famous gardens - an experience that we would forever cherish. I highly recommend this tour and company.

Several uncomfortable hours to get nowhere and learn nothing.

I want a refund! We booked this tour well in advance and met the bus in Paris as instructed. Spent an hour or so getting to Versailles, then spent another hour or so standing in the courtyard waiting to be allowed into the palace. Finally we were admitted, and within 15 minutes an alarm sounded and we were forced to evacuate. Terrorist threat? Regardless, we were out in the street in a milling crowd. Fortunately, one of the guides, Miriam, called on my cell and told me how to find the bus. We boarded the bus and we’re told that the delay would be at least two hours, which was too long for the company. We headed back to Paris, on the way, we were given the opportunity to visit the Museum of Perfume if we wished, which we declined. Along the way the guides gave essentially no history or other information on Versailles. So, we spent several uncomfortable hours to get nowhere and learn nothing. I seriously request a full refund.

Skip this spend another day at Louvre

They don’t have the ADA in France! Stair after stair, no help finding an elevator. The audio guide didn’t give any guidance on how to go in so we made it all the way up this staircase only to discover we had made it to the EXIT of the Hall of Mirrors, had to trudge over and find the correct way in. There’s no signage either!

Poor experience

Long waiting time in the cold and rain before boarding the bus… the bus was late by 45 mins. Unacceptable service

Evacuated

Evacuated approximately 1 hour into the tour. Waited in the cold and wind approximately 45 minutes for the bus.

A Must See

What an experience! Make sure you allow enough time to get thru the line for entry. Ran out of time to see the garden. Please leave yourself plenty of time.

Expensive for what you get

I am giving this only 3 stars because the guides didn’t seem to quite know how to properly direct us once we got off the bus causing confusion and a little anger from the Palace staff. If you are able to find transportation to Versailles, it is probably a lot cheaper since the Palace ticket is I believe 18 euros and the audio guide is 5 euros. Probably my fault, but I thought we would be provided more guidance for the cost.

The past

It was amazing and needs two entire days to see it all! The Palace is extraordinary! Its walking into the past!

Beautiful & Amazingly Exhausting

It was a stunning and amazing palace. However the so called VIP luxury tour bus had no air conditioning and neither does the palace. It was EXTREMELY hot with large crowds. I noticed a few people had become quite faint from heat exhaustion and dehydration. Very few spots to purchase water inside, BUY the umbrella and/or PURCHASE the Train tickets to tour the gardens. This is a must if you’re going during summer months. Audio tour guide was also helpful due to the large crowds.

No so good

No background was given about Versailles - while the young women who signed us in and met us at the bus were lovely - the bus was extremely late for pick both coming and going - they were essentially providing transportation and skip the line - which we could have done by ourselves with less hassle.

Not this tour

My husband and I loved the Versailles Palace & Garden but, not happy with the tour guide and drivers. Waited almost an hour for the first driver to pick us up, I think he was a new driver, he had to reverse to be able to do the turns. For return the same, had to wait for the second driver 40 to 45’. Very dissatisfied and disappointed.

LONG WAIT UNDER THE SUN BEFORE ACTUAL ENTRY!

The tour bus arrived at the Palace one hour before the time listed on the Entry tickets distributed by Magic Ways. So the people from the bus formed a line in front of the special entry area and waited about 50 minutes under the hot sun before they were allowed to enter the compound. That was certainly not fast entry we paid money for. The tour tickets should have had an entry time slightly earlier than the actual arrival time at the gate so that the tourists could enter right away!!!

Beautiful & yet sad

Very beautiful but if you know history, I understand why the people did what they did. The pickup location was a little confusing bc there were numerous buses out there but eventually someone wearing a tour shirt arrived. Had no issues with anything. Overall, it was a joyous (yet sad) experience.

Versailles

The mirrored rooms were beautiful! The jardines were incredible! Large and tranquil. A must do attraction!

Versailles: go on your own

It was our second visit. We took our teenagers with us this time. Bus was on time and staff was polite but they seemed a little disorganized. Taking the train RER and buying our tickets would have been a lot cheaper and more fun experience. There would have been a line to purchase tickets but to be honest, waiting 30-45 minutes is not the end of the world when you have grown children. Very crowded inside and following a guide is difficult. Visit the gardens! Arrive early and once done, have lunch OUTSIDE the Palace at nearby local restaurants.

Accessibility was straightforward and helpful

Pick up and drop off at locations were easily accessible. Tour assistants were also helpful with reminders and answering questions. Note that this is not necessarily “skip the line” as you will need to line up for the scheduled time of your ticket. However the tour assistants (Magic Ways) was able to get us earlier enough to be at the front of the line for our scheduled entry time. Overall good experience.

Do not use Viator to book

Much too crowded! There were over 100 buses in addition to those who arrived via taxi, train or private vehicle. Visitors were stopping in the middle of the staircase to take photos causing hundred to be stuck on the stairs. Very dangerous situation.

Unhappy

The Palace was amazing. The guides were unorganised. They told us nothing in regards to what we were to see or do. No commentary to engage us on the trip. They told us nothing about what we would see and be prepared for. Many on the tour were unhappy with the guides. I would not recommend this tour. My suggestion would be to visit Versailles and the Gardens but do it on the train on your own!!! Don’t do a self guided tour have a guide. The extra money would be well worth it. Once again the guides on this tour were useless and I would not recommend the company Magic Way.

Great experience

They made it so easy for us to be able to visit Versailles from Paris. We would definitely book with them again!

Guides were late. The bus...

Guides were late. The bus was late on return. We stood in line.overall it was not good transportar coordination

Bad experience. No air...

Bad experience. No air conditioning in bus. No proper communication. Reservation showed me gardens were included in reservation but were not.

Great

The girls on the tour bus was great and helpful. They explained all in detail. They walked us in and met us to get back on the bus

Very nice experience

Good staff. Very caring and explained everything to all the guests. Stayed on time and respectful of schedule. Versailles is a beautiful place.

Over-rated experience

Difficult to navigate around. Audio guide not straight forward and little or no information about many art works.

Well worth the visit

The gardens were beautiful! We could have spent a couple hours exploring. The palace was very crowded and hot but worth visiting.

Not with Viator

Versailles was a nice one and done trip. Glad it’s done. Just be careful not to pick Viator as your tour. If you need assistance or wish to communicate with them your out of luck

Audio Guide Difficult to Use

The bus ride was very nice and the staff was friendly. However, I would have preferred a guided tour. There was no guidance about where to go first. We just wandered around. For many of the rooms that we went in, we could not find the number to punch into the audio.

Highly recommended

Our guides were kind, patient and very informative. It was great having the freedom to explore with the addition of the audio guides. Transportation made the day easy.

Disappointed

Waited in line on raining day to get in. Was given a tickets and said see you at 3:30. Could have done that myself precooked tickets, rode bus, waited in line. No direction once got in other than here is the audio and no pointed where to start. Went wrong direction…so did many others and then had to retrace. Would not book this with the tour company again.

Nice but rushed

The company that takes you to and from the palace was wonderful. The audio tour was horrible, hard to find the numbers in the rooms to listen to what they have for you, they tour needs to give you more time to be there as we only saw maybe 5% of the palace and then had to go back to the shuttle.

Great tour

Loved this tour!! I went by myself and really enjoyed it. I felt safe the entire time. The driver was kind and knowledgeable

Maybe… maybe not

Got us there on time, return trip was a mess. Dumping rain and waiting on latecomer couple for return trip. They didn’t bother calling the van letting us wait in a dry place. He had us in a line queu … late comer gets seated first (salt in wound)

Not worth it

This tour was a waste of my time and money. We got to Versailles at 11:00 am but could not enter the palace until 1:30 with the timed ticket they bought. We were told to go to the gardens for 2 1/2 hours in January. Half hour would have been enough in the gardens. The fountains weren’t even on. The bus ride there was comfortable but Uber would have been cheaper and more direct.

Not worthy it!!!

We took Viator tours during our family vacations all the time. This was by far the worst. It was nothing other than transportation and admission tickets. If you travel with 3 or more in the group, I suggest you to but entrance tickets ahead time then take UBER will be much cheaper than this.

we were given the wrong...

we were given the wrong tickets to enter the palace. they let us in because our daughter was a minor, but others in our tour also had wrong tickets given to them.

less tour, more transit...

I loved most of the tours we booked with Viator. This tour was less of a tour and more of a transportation with ticked experience. Given the sheer size of Versailles it worked for us because trying to stay in a group with the number of people there would have made it very difficult. The guide was good about setting expectations, having us meet at specific times and locations so everything was fine but this was less organized than some of the other tours we had. It was good for the fact that we didn't have to A. find transportation B. buy tickets C. figure out how to get around Versailles.

Excellent for getting to and into Versailles!

Very efficient, punctual, and had a lot solo dedicated time in Versailles. The guides were very helpful! The gardens are HUGE - MUST wear sneakers, and look for the mini tram for 8 extra euros that can take you around to see the garden highlights.

Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour

Great tour! The tour guides ran the tour with tremendous efficiency and communicated all aspects of the tour in detail. The Palace of Versailles and its gardens were absolutely stunning! This tour should be a must-do when visiting Paris!

Amazing visit. The only...

Amazing visit. The only problem was that there wasn't enough time. The bus was very comfortable and the staff were helpful.