The Hall of Mirrors is the most famous room at Versailles and by mid-morning crowds are insane. Use our insider tips on How to See the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Without Crowds for a fabulous tour of the palace. Plus, a chance to grab a terrific photo in the Hall of Mirrors!
During our summer 2024 visit, we walked into the Hall of Mirrors with only a handful of people around us. Here is exactly how we avoided the crowds. Plus some fascinating facts about the dazzling Hall of Mirrors!
Our day at Versailles was the highlight of our trip to Paris for my 16 year old son, 18 year old daughter, my husband and myself. We greatly appreciated avoiding the major crowds and zigging while everyone else was zagging!
Our step-by-step plan for the Hall of Mirrors
We actually visited on a Sunday in the summer which is often a VERY busy day of the week and time of year. However, thanks to buying the 9 AM ticket, arriving early before 9:00 so were naer the front of the line ahead of any tours, and then following the rest of our tips, we avoided most crowds. Hooray!
Look how empty this looks. Seeing the Hall of Mirrors without crowds was awesome!
How to See the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Without Crowds
- Buy a Passport ticket online for the 9 AM slot. The 9 AM slot is the first of the day. Book on the official Versailles ticket site as early as you can.
- Choose a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday if possible. The palace is closed Mondays, which makes Tuesdays and weekends extra busy.
- Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early. We took a G7 taxi from Paris, which made an early arrival easy.Line up at Entrance A so you’re near the front when doors open. Note: G7 or Bolt is like taking Uber or Lyft in the USA. This saved us time in the early morning compared to if we had taken a train.
- Go right, not left. After security, most people turn left and follow the standard route. Instead, go directly across the courtyard and enter the right side of the palace to the King’s Apartments. Crossing the courtyard also makes for an amazing photo if you arrive early too – since it will look very empty! See our pics here! AMAZING!
- Follow the signs for the Hall of Mirrors and go straight there. This is the hard part: don’t stop! The rooms along the way are gorgeous, but you can come back to them.
- Enjoy the Hall of Mirrors first, then tour the rest in reverse. Take your photos, look up at the ceiling and soak it in. Then work back through the other rooms. You’ll be moving opposite the 9 AM crowds for most of your visit.
This photo is essentially of the Courtyard as we crossed it to head to the right-side entrance to the King’s Apartments.
Crowds build as the day goes on. Think shoulder to shoulder visitors trying to see the Hall of Mirrors by mid morning. Plus countless tour groups everywhere. Grabbing that instagram photo is impossible without a plan to avoid the crowds.
Use our tips on How to See the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Without Crowds to reduce the stress of touring the place and simply enjoy the spectacle of this magnificent palace!
Tips for the best Hall of Mirrors photos
- Shoot down the length of the hall from one end to capture the mirrors, windows and ceiling together.
- Look up. The painted ceiling is the true masterpiece of the room, so get at least one photo of it.
- Skip the audio guide. We used the free Palace of Versailles app and read the signs instead. This let us move far more quickly through the palace to avoid crowds! We were happy to research info on the palace the night before our trip and even after our visit rather than joining an official tour and dealing with crowds.
- Step to the windows. The view over the gardens is spectacular, and the mirrors reflect it right back.
Look at the view of the gardens!
Fascinating facts about the Hall of Mirrors
- It took six years to build. Construction ran from 1678 to 1684. The hall replaced an outdoor terrace that didn’t suit the French climate (Château de Versailles).
- There are 357 mirrors. They fill 17 arches that face 17 tall windows overlooking the gardens (Britannica).
- Mirrors were a status symbol. At the time, Venice dominated mirror-making. Filling a room with French-made mirrors showed off the kingdom’s wealth and skill.
- It’s about 240 feet (73 meters) long. That’s longer than three-quarters of a football field.
- The ceiling tells a story. Le Brun’s 30 painted scenes celebrate the achievements of King Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign (Château de Versailles).
- It once glittered with solid silver. In the 1680s, silver furniture and silver vases filled with orange trees lined the hall. The silver was melted down in 1689 to help pay for wars!
- It was a busy hallway. Courtiers walked through every day hoping to catch a glimpse of the king, and it was used for grand receptions and royal weddings.
- Treaty of Versailles was signed here. On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in this room and marked the end of World War I (Britannica).
- The Hall of Mirrors is still used today. French presidents host official receptions for visiting heads of state here.
- The Chandeliers and Ceiling are Different Now For decades, three rows of chandeliers ran the length of the hall, recreating the look of a royal ball. The palace has since returned to a single central row so visitors can see Le Brun’s ceiling more clearly per the Château de Versailles press office. My 2024 photos show the earlier look!
Family selfie at the Hall of Mirrors and Versailles!
Versailles Ticket Costs
The Hall of Mirrors is included with the Passport ticket: €35 in high season (April 1 to October 31) and €25 in low season, per the official 2026 ticketing page. Visitors under 18 get into the palace free. See our full price breakdown in 7 Easy Ways to Avoid the Crowds at Versailles
More Versailles Insider Tips
Take a peek at our other insider tips in our Versailles posts here.
- 7 Easy Ways to Avoid the Crowds at Versailles
- How to Rent a Golf Cart at Versailles
