Insider's reporter, along with crowds of other tourists, at Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
In July, I visited Versailles in France for the first time. I quickly wished I'd gone somewhere else.
The palace and surrounding estate were awe-inspiring, but so packed that I struggled to enjoy them.
Next time, I'll take locals' advice for other attractions to visit.
Located about an hour outside of Paris by train, the Palace of Versailles is often among France's most-visited tourist attractions, per data from Statista. It's easy to see why: the palace, once home to generations of French royal families, is a sprawling, gilded feat of human artistry.
By its description, the Palace of Versailles is "one of the greatest achievements in French 17th-century art."
It's a description I can't argue with. By all accounts, Versailles is one of the most spectacular displays of artwork and architecture I've seen during my travels. But during my visit in early July, I wish I'd spent the day doing something — anything — else.
Just minutes after entering the palace, I was ready to leave.
The line moving through the Palace of Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
I'd purchased my ticket beforehand, which made getting into the palace a breeze. There was a short line for ticketed guests, and I zipped through security in minutes. I wondered if the rest of the museum would be the same way.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn't. I joined a mass of other tourists heading to the most famous room in the palace, the Hall of Mirrors. From what I could tell, there was just one route to get there; Unlike other museums I've been to, tourists weren't able to peel off to explore — visitors were kept in a loose line moving through the palace, a mass of people all headed to the same destination.
I realized this within minutes of entering and started to feel confined and uneasy among the crowds.
I realized the only way out was through, and tried to move as quickly as possible — a challenge, given the swarms of people.
Crowds walking through the Palace of Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
I've never felt as anxious in a museum as I did at Versailles.
Every room the crowd moved through was packed with visitors, making it difficult to get a close glimpse at the opulent artwork.
Group tours stopped and listened to explanations of the art, making it hard for individuals to pass. Stopping to listen and learn is entirely innocent and to be expected — but without a way to move around them, I felt trapped.
Moving through each room felt like squeezing my way through a packed concert. I became so focused on escaping the crowds that I couldn't enjoy the beauty around me.
Even moving as fast as I could, it still took nearly an hour to get through the building.
Tourists stand in a room in the Palace of Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
The crowds at Versailles reflect the post-pandemic travel boom and shouldn't be surprising. Europe has been flooded with tourists this summer, as Insider previously reported.
Summer is peak tourism season in France, and I had already visited the Louvre to witness its crowds, so I expected Versailles to be busy. Despite preparing myself for the masses of people, I was still too overwhelmed to enjoy my experience.
After nearly an hour of walking the palace's halls, I finally reached the exit and couldn't have been happier.
However, I found respite in the estate's sprawling gardens.
A view of the garden at Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
Versailles isn't limited to its palace, situated on a nearly 2,000-acre estate of manicured lawns, walking paths, and maze-like hedges.
In its sprawling gardens, the crowds dissipated — 2,000 acres is plenty of room for everyone to spread out. It was so large that there were paths that I walked without coming across another person.
The most enjoyable part of my half-day visit was Versailles' outdoor space. I spent most of my time wandering about the gardens, stumbling into hidden sculptures and fountains, and enjoying the peace away from the buzz of the palace.
Next time, I'd visit a different site in Paris.
Another view of the gardens at Versailles.
Jordan Parker Erb/Insider
In speaking with locals throughout my trip, a few different attractions repeatedly popped up in conversation.
The Louis Vuitton Foundation, for example, was recommended to me more than once. Housed within a sweeping, modern building, the museum contains a selection of contemporary and historical art, according to its website.
Other highly recommended places were the Petit Palais, which appeared to host an equally beautiful compilation of art, and the Gustave Moreau Museum, a house museum filled with painter Gustave Moreau's art collection.
Of course, these places wouldn't be immune from crowds of interested visitors. Still, next time, I'd skip the jam-packed halls of Versailles and opt for something else.
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