The Château de Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne) is open every day except Tuesday, from 9:30 am to 5 pm from October to March and from 9:30 am to 6 pm from April to September; a ticket costs €17 at full price and is free for under-18s. The courtyards, gardens and park are free every day. The château recommends 2 hours for the visitor route. This page covers the official hours and closures, free admission, getting there by train from Paris Gare de Lyon, and the best time for the gardens by month.
Fontainebleau is an easy day trip from the capital: see our guide to visiting Paris, and compare with the Palace of Versailles.
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Château de Fontainebleau: key facts
- Château hours: every day except Tuesday, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; 9:30 am–5 pm from October to March (last entry 4:15 pm), 9:30 am–6 pm from April to September (last entry 5:15 pm) — checked on 23 October 2026 on chateaudefontainebleau.fr
- Prices: full price €17, reduced €15; €13 flat rate one hour before closing; guided tour €7 on top of the ticket; video guide €4 — checked on 23 October 2026 on chateaudefontainebleau.fr
- Free: under 18s, EU residents aged 18–25 (not US or UK residents), the first Sunday of the month (except July and August), and for everyone in the courtyards, gardens and park.
- Booking: not compulsory; tickets online or on site, valid all day with free entry and exit.
- Getting there: train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, then bus line 3401 to the « Château » stop.
Opening hours and closures
| Area | Period | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Château | October to March | 9:30 am–5 pm (rooms closing gradually from 4 pm) | 4:15 pm |
| Château | April to September | 9:30 am–6 pm (rooms closing gradually from 5 pm) | 5:15 pm |
| Courtyards and gardens (free) | November to February | 9 am–5 pm | 4 pm |
| Courtyards and gardens (free) | March, April and October | 9 am–6 pm | 5 pm |
| Courtyards and gardens (free) | May to September | 9 am–7 pm | 6 pm |
| Park (free) | All year | 24 hours a day (Marrier gate closed from 7:30 pm to 9 am) | — |
The château advises starting the visit before 2 pm from October to March and before 3 pm from April to September so you can do the route without rushing. In bad weather, the gardens may be closed at the management’s discretion. North of Paris, another princely estate can be visited in a day: see our page on the Château de Chantilly: hours and access.
Tickets, free admission and discounts
The entrance ticket gives access to the Grands Appartements (State Apartments) and the Napoleon I Museum. It is bought online through the ticket office linked from chateaudefontainebleau.fr, or on site, at the entrance in the Louis XV wing, to the right of the Cour d’Honneur. With an online ticket, you go straight through the main corridor after the security check — frequently asked questions.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Full price | €17 |
| Reduced rate (large families, non-EU residents aged 18–25, payment with chèques-vacances holiday vouchers, etc.) | €15 |
| One hour before closing | €13 (flat rate) |
| Guided tour (on top of the ticket) | €7 |
| Video guide | €4 |
| Groups of 20 or more paying people | €15 per person |
- Free with proof: under 18s; ages 18 to under 26 who have lived in the EU for more than 6 months (visitors from the US or UK do not qualify); visitors with disabilities (French CMI card or foreign equivalent) and their companion; job seekers and recipients of French benefits (RSA, ASS, ASF, ASPA); holders of the French Pass Éducation; art students, among others.
- Free for everyone: the first Sunday of the month, except in July and August, and during certain national events (Museums Night, European Heritage Days, etc.).
- Guided tours: in French all year, in English in summer until 31 August. They open spaces not accessible on a self-guided visit and give direct access in a dedicated slot.
- Payment: cash, bank cards, chèques-vacances and chèques culture at the ticket desk; bank card only online.
What to see: château, gardens and park
The château presents itself as the only one inhabited by every sovereign from the 12th to the 19th century, and the most fully furnished of the French royal châteaux, with more than 1,500 rooms — official presentation. Francis I had it rebuilt from 1528 as an Italian-style palace; Henry IV made it his favorite château; Napoleon I fitted out the only surviving Napoleonic Throne Room and abdicated there on 4 and 6 April 1814 — 900 years of history.
Self-guided: the sovereigns’ Grands Appartements and the Napoleon I Museum (about 2 hours). Guided tour only: the Imperial Theater, the Petits Appartements, the apartments of Madame de Maintenon and Marie-Antoinette’s Turkish boudoir.
The outdoor areas (free). The estate covers 130 hectares (321 acres) with four main courtyards, three gardens and a park — courtyards and gardens. Do not miss the Cour d’Honneur and its Horseshoe Staircase (1632), the Oval Courtyard and its former keep, the Fountain Courtyard facing the Carp Pond, the Grand Parterre designed by Le Nôtre and Le Vau (14 hectares / 35 acres, presented as the largest in Europe), the Diana Garden, the English Garden and Henry IV’s Grand Canal, nearly 1,200 m (3,937 ft) long. The real tennis court (jeu de paume), built in 1601 and rebuilt under Louis XV, is one of the few halls still in use in France.
| If you have… | Suggested program (based on official durations) |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | Grands Appartements and Napoleon I Museum |
| Half a day | Château + Cour d’Honneur, Fountain Courtyard and Diana Garden |
| A full day | Château with a guided tour, Grand Parterre, English Garden, picnic in the park around the Grand Canal |
Best time to visit: the light on the gardens month by month
The gardens close at a fixed time depending on the season. We calculated the time of sunset in Fontainebleau on the 15th of each month and compared it with the official closing time of the courtyards and gardens.
| Month (15th) | Sunset | Gardens close | The sun sets… | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:21 pm | 5 pm | after closing | 8 h 46 |
| February | 6:10 pm | 5 pm | after closing | 10 h 13 |
| March | 6:54 pm | 6 pm | after closing | 11 h 51 |
| April | 8:39 pm | 6 pm | after closing | 13 h 40 |
| May | 9:22 pm | 7 pm | after closing | 15 h 13 |
| June | 9:52 pm | 7 pm | after closing | 16 h 05 |
| July | 9:46 pm | 7 pm | after closing | 15 h 43 |
| August | 9:04 pm | 7 pm | after closing | 14 h 21 |
| September | 8:02 pm | 7 pm | after closing | 12 h 37 |
| October | 7:00 pm | 6 pm | after closing | 10 h 52 |
| November | 5:10 pm | 5 pm | after closing | 9 h 14 |
| December | 4:54 pm | 5 pm | before closing | 8 h 21 |
How to read it: from November to January, the sun sets before or around 5:30 pm and the last moments in the gardens are in low light. The park, open day and night, remains accessible at sunset all year around the Grand Canal. The first Sunday of the month (free) draws more visitors: choose another weekday if you can, other than Tuesday.
Getting there from Paris
By train: from Paris Gare de Lyon (mainline platforms), trains toward Montargis, Montereau or Laroche-Migennes, getting off at Fontainebleau-Avon; then bus line 3401 toward Les Lilas to the « Château » stop. By car: A6 from the Porte d’Orléans or Porte d’Italie, exit Fontainebleau, then follow « château » — access page. By coach: PARISCityVISION offers excursions from Paris.
Accessibility: wheelchairs and folding cane seats are lent free on site against an ID document (no reservation); two parking spaces within the grounds, access via the Cour des Mathurins; a lift to the Grands Appartements; the Diana and English gardens are accessible. The Napoleon Museum and some guided tours (Imperial Theater, Turkish boudoir) are not accessible because of steps — accessibility page.
Common mistakes
- Coming on a Tuesday: the château is closed (the gardens and park stay open).
- Arriving at 4:30 pm in winter: last entry is 4:15 pm from October to March.
- Bringing your dog into the gardens: not allowed, even on a leash, in the courtyards and gardens; allowed on a leash in the park around the Grand Canal.
- Entering with a bulky stroller or a back baby carrier: not allowed on the route; free left-luggage and umbrella strollers are available.
- Photographing with flash or a selfie stick: not allowed inside; drones and tripods are banned across the whole estate.
- Picnicking anywhere: on the lawns only in the English Garden and the park; tents, tables and chairs are not allowed.
What to see nearby
For more châteaux, see Versailles and, further afield, Chambord. Back in Paris, the Gare de Lyon is close to the Jardin des Plantes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Château de Fontainebleau?
€17 at full price, €15 reduced and €13 one hour before closing. Free for under-18s, EU residents aged 18–25 and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, except in July and August.
What are the opening hours of the Château de Fontainebleau?
Every day except Tuesday: 9:30 am–5 pm from October to March (last entry 4:15 pm) and 9:30 am–6 pm from April to September (last entry 5:15 pm). Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Are the gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau free?
Yes, the courtyards, gardens and park are free every day; the park is open 24 hours a day.
How do you get to the Château de Fontainebleau by train?
From Paris Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon station, then bus line 3401 toward Les Lilas to the « Château » stop.
How long does it take to visit the Château de Fontainebleau?
The château recommends 2 hours for the visitor route (Grands Appartements and Napoleon I Museum). Allow a full day with the gardens and park. About 20 km (12 mi) to the north, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fouquet’s residence, combines well with Fontainebleau on a weekend in Seine-et-Marne.
Do you need to book the Château de Fontainebleau?
No, but buying online avoids the ticket office. The ticket is valid all day, with free entry and exit.
Our sources
- Château de Fontainebleau (chateaudefontainebleau.fr): practical information (hours, prices, access, rules), frequently asked questions, 900 years of history, a château of 1,500 rooms, courtyards and gardens, visitors with disabilities, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the approximate coordinates of the château (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.