Tourists today are still struggling to catch a glimpse of, well, anything in the palace. This is especially true during the summer when busloads of people from all over the world dump into the former royal residence, snapping photos of Marie Antoinette’s bed and the historic Hall of Mirrors.

There is no surefire way to streamline your visit, and the biggest tip is to wear comfortable shoes, have a bottle of water, and be prepared to just go for it. You won’t regret it. While the crowds are unavoidable, there are a few tips that can help you maximize your time at Versailles.

1. Get the passport

Buy the Versailles passport ahead of time. It costs €18, or €25 on the days when the fountain shows are on (Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday) but the ticket will get you into every part of Versailles: the chateau, the smaller buildings in the gardens and the gardens themselves.

Each of these sights has its own ticket line, but with the passport, you’ll only have to wait in the security lines. Unless you are eligible for free entry, the passport pays for itself in time and money, especially in the summer when there are lines for the gardens (which aren’t free between April and October).

2. Line up early

If you were wise and got to Versailles early, hop in the seemingly massive line to enter the chateau immediately. If you are armed with tickets already, the security check line won’t take that long, but it only grows longer with each passing hour. The other option is to wait until later in the afternoon, right before closing, but you run the risk of a long line at 6 p.m., the last entry into the palace.

3. Do not neglect the other parts of Versailles.

After taking in the grandeur of the palace, tourists who push on towards the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet fall more and more in love with Versailles. Strolling through the fairytale garden created for Marie Antoinette, complete with farm animals and grain mill, adds another layer of allure to the already bewildering estate.

Many visitors are reluctant to walk all the way out there, which means there are fewer crowds than the tour-bus-laden chateau. It’s impossible to imagine ignoring such a fascinating part of Versailles.

4.  Discover the king’s other garden

For a mere €3 you can visit the Potager du Roi, the king’s personal vegetable garden. It sounds goofy, but it’s another experience that compliments the grandiosity of Versailles. Most of the garden’s layout is similar to how it looked during Louis XIV’s time and it still produces tons of fruits and vegetables sold at the markets in Versailles. Talk about a meal literally fit for a king…

5. Picnic by the Canal

While you can’t technically picnic inside the gated part of the gardens, you can sit along the Grand Canal just outside the gates of the domain – you’ll need your ticket to re-enter the grounds, however. It’s easiest if you pack a sandwich and a bottle of water in your bag as it will save some time and money.

When you head back into town after your visit you can sit down to a nice glass of wine or pint of beer before boarding the train back to Paris.

Your Versailles tips?

Aside from claiming divine right and declaring yourself the Sun King, what other ways have Cheapos found to take advantage of Versailles? Share with us in the comments section.

The post Palace of Versailles: 5 tips for making the most of your visit appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

At the time of Kari’s visit in the fall 2008, the basilica was closed for renovations. However, lucky for dear Cheapos back home, she overturned the ruling (!) and snapped a few photos anyway. Here are some of the highlights of her exploration:

The view from here, El Escorial, near Madrid, Spain

A gorgeous upward view of the old monastery and palace.

This wall showcases the original tools used to build the original palace.

Fancy gardens in el Escorial show the natives’ green thumbs at work.

The ornate sarcophagus of Don Juan of Austria, inside the Royal Pantheon. In 1571, the 24-year-old illegitimate son of Charles V led a Christian fleet to victory over the Turks in the naval battle of Lepanto.

Sheep grazing in the outer fields of el Escorial.

The kids seem to be fascinated by the idea of a “ghost town” here.

The post Madrid’s Ghost Town: El Escorial appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The palace is located in the epicenter of Stockholm, perched above the charming island of Gamla Stan. The fact that the royal family no longer resides here shouldn’t dissuade you from visiting, as there are royal apartments, a royal armory, and a museum of antiquities to discover. (The first family lives on another island — Drottningholm, which you may also visit.) These museums, however, are not free.

Stockholm’s Changing of the Guards

The Hogvakten, or “Royal Guards,” are stationed in the palace and feature “Stockholm’s finest boys” (according to Stockholm’s office of tourism). The guard, part of the Swedish Armed Forces, is comprised of 30,000 soldiers. Tourists are invited to watch the daily ritual in front of the palace as one squad of 20 hands over their guardianship to the next squad.

During the summer, the spectacle begins at the Army Museum (Armemuseum, Riddargatan), from which the new squad takes off 30 minutes prior to the palace ceremony. The guards march in snazzy blue uniforms and tight formation to the Royal Palace, often accompanied by a military band. Upon arrival at the palace, they launch into a 35-minute display of precision marching, flag waving, and all-business attitudes.

Hours

The Changing of the Guard takes place every day at the Royal Palace. Monday – Saturday, 12:15. Sunday 1:15. (The parade, with band, occurs only during the summer months.)

More information: Stockholmtown (the city’s official website) and the Royal Palace website.

See also: our recommended budget hotels in Stockholm.

The post Stockholm: Changing of the guard, a royal freebie appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Yes, this fantasy-park (and the mistress who inspired it) became a lot more famous after Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, but seriously. It was worth a visit even before that. In addition to an entirely charming make-believe peasant village, her estate also includes the two palaces of the Grand and the Petit Trianon, get-aways of Queens and royal mistresses since the 1690s.

To get to the estate, walk through the gardens of Versailles, turn right half way down the giant reflecting pool. From there the walk takes about 15 minutes. Entrance to the Domaine de la Reine is €9. Entrance to the chateau is free for students of art, art history, architecture, and the like. The fantastic gardens of the chateau are open every day, and totally free except for special festival dates.

Looking for other day trips? Check out these 8 excellent options from Paris by train.

The post Versailles: Day trip from Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.