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If you want to explore the gardens at the Palace of Versailles, it’s a good idea to rent an electric vehicle (golf cart) to get the most out of your experience. The grounds are massive and on a hot summer day, the golf cart can get you around without getting tired.

1. Waiting Time

When we exited the palace, we got in line for the golf carts from the South Terrace. We were a little intimidated by the long line and were told that the wait was approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

We waited exactly an hour and it was definitely worth the wait, especially since we were visiting in the summer (July). We wanted to explore attractions that were at least a mile and a half away (one-way), so walking would definitely have been exhausting.

waiting in line for a golf cart — Waiting in line for a golf cart

2. The Cost

How much does it cost to rent a golf cart at Versailles? It is €38 per vehicle per hour and €9,5 per additional 15 minutes. The minimum rental period is one hour and the maximum number of people per vehicle is four (or 5 if including children).

Electric vehicle poster — Small Electric Cars Pricing

A woman standing in line — Crystal standing in line

3. Renting Time

How long can you rent the golf cart at Versailles? You can rent it for as long as the garden is open. Initially, you will have to rent it for an hour, but after that, it’s up to you when you want to return the golf cart. We ended up renting it for two hours and would have rented it longer (there is so much to see!) if the garden was open longer.

4. Speed of Electric Vehicle

The speed of the golf cart is at a very leisurely pace, but obviously faster than walking. You can’t adjust the speed even if you wanted to, so keep in mind that you can’t rush through the gardens.

A woman at a pay station — Candy paying for the golf cart

5. The Audio Guide

The golf cart is equipped with a GPS-enabled audio guide, so it gives you information as your driving (available in 8 languages). The audio guide helps you to discover the park of Versailles at your own pace. There was also lovely classical music in between the audio guide.

6. Stay On Course

You will definitely want to stay on course when driving the golf cart on the grounds of Versailles. We unfortunately were following a golf cart in front of us that went off course, which caused our vehicle to automatically shut off. We weren’t prepared for this and made the mistake of trying to make a U-turn when we should have reversed into a straight line.

Two women sitting on a golf cart — Ready to start exploring the gardens

We were stuck and were pushing the vehicle back into the authorized area and this was exhausting as the vehicle is really hard to push! We wish there were signs in the garden indicating unauthorized areas, but there are none, so you really have to pay close attention to the paper map (the map is given to you when you get on the golf cart).

We weren’t the only ones getting lost and ran into another couple that was having difficulty navigating the garden. The gardens are massive with no signs, so it’s definitely a bit challenging.

Gardens at Palace of Versailles — Driving around the gardens

7. Plan Ahead

We wanted to make stops at the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine), but to our surprise, we only had time to make one stop. We couldn’t believe how fast the time was going by wandering the gardens, using the restrooms, and grabbing snacks.

Standing in front of Petit Trianon — Crystal excited to start exploring Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon

By the time we arrived at Petit Trianon, we realized that this was going to be the only site we had time to explore. If there is a specific attraction you want to visit, definitely stop there first. We made a couple of stops getting refreshments and taking photos so this ate up the first hour of our tour in the gardens.

Petite Trianon Versaiiles — Petit Trianon

8. Stop for Snacks & Water

There are several places to stop and grab food or to sit down and dine. We didn’t want to sit and dine since we were limited on time, so we made a quick pit stop at "gourmandises De La Petite Venise". We grabbed some water and also bought some gelato to cool down. You can also buy some pastries or sandwiches to go.

9. Parking Your Golf Cart

Make sure you follow the parking rules on the map. Most of it is common sense like not parking in front of a gate or view points. If you stop and leave your vehicle unattended for a period of time, it’s very important to make note of your vehicle number. Also, remember to always keep the keys with you.

Allé Des Prés gardens — Gardens along Allé Des Prés (Alley of Meadows)

Palace of Versailles flower garden — Strolling near the Grille Des Eeuxièmes Cent Marches (Gate Of The Second Hundred Steps)

10. Garden Hours

Garden hours are different from the Palace hours so it’s best to check their times when you visit. We started exploring the gardens in the afternoon, but if you go in the morning, keep in mind that the Estate of Trianon does not open until 12 PM. So you can explore the grounds, but the estates don’t open as early as the gardens.

Hope these tips are useful and enjoy your ride around the beautiful gardens!