Château de Fontainebleau Opening Hours

Timings

Palace of Fontainebleau

The château museum is generally open daily except Tuesdays, with core opening hours running from late morning to late afternoon and seasonal variations through the year. The gardens and park usually stay open longer than the museum, and the château also closes on certain holidays; the exact regular last-entry cutoff is not clearly published in checked sources.

Jan - Mar

Apr - Jun

Jul - Sep

Oct - Dec

Jan 1 TO Mar 31 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Mar 31)	TIMINGS	Last Admission
Monday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Tuesday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Wednesday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Thursday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Friday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Saturday	09:30–17:00	16:15
Sunday	09:30–17:00	16:15

The château museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Known holiday closures include 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December, though the exact annual list can vary.
Gardens and park usually have longer opening hours than the château museum.
The precise regular last-entry time was not clearly specified across the checked sources.

apartments of napoleon

Jan 1 TO Dec 31 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Dec 31)	TIMINGS
Monday	09:30–17:15
Tuesday (Today)	Closed
Wednesday	09:30–17:15
Thursday	09:30–17:15
Friday	09:30–17:15
Saturday	09:30–17:15
Sunday	09:30–17:15

Best time to visit the Palace of Fontainebleau

Weekday vs Weekend

If you can choose, visit on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday rather than Saturday or Sunday. Visitor reports describe weekday mornings as the calmest period, and arriving before late-morning tour groups reach the main apartments helps reduce waiting at security and slow movement in popular rooms such as the François I Gallery.

Saturdays and Sundays draw more families and groups, with weekend middays the busiest stretch. If a weekend visit is your only option, make the interior rooms your priority in the morning, or shift your main palace visit later in the afternoon when rooms can feel less congested than at midday.

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Pleasant

Crowded

Very Crowded

Closed

Peak season vs low season

Spring and early autumn are the most balanced times to visit if you want comfortable weather for both interiors and gardens. Visitor reports consistently praise these periods for easier strolling and a calmer overall pace than summer.

Summer brings more tour groups and busier weekend middays, even though Fontainebleau is still usually less pressured than Versailles. If you visit in summer, do the interior rooms before late-morning group arrivals and leave garden time for later in the day.

Winter usually means quieter interiors, but the trade-off is a less appealing garden visit and shorter daylight. In the colder months, focus more of your schedule on the château itself and treat the outdoor areas as a shorter add-on.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Off Season

Moderate Season

Peak Season

Frequently Asked Questions about Château de Fontainebleau opening hours

Q. Is the Château de Fontainebleau open every day?

A. Château de Fontainebleau is open every day of the week except Tuesdays.

Q. When is the Château de Fontainebleau closed?

A. Château de Fontainebleau is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, and December 25.

Q. When is the restaurant at the Château de Fontainebleau open?

A. The restaurant at the Château de Fontainebleau, Les Petites Bouches de l’Empereur, is open from 9:30 AM to 6 PM (April to September) and 9:30 AM to 5 PM (October to March).

Q. When is the shop at Château de Fontainebleau open?

A. The shop at Château de Fontainebleau is open from 9:30 AM to 6 PM (April to September) and 9:30 AM to 5 PM (October to March), but it is closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.

Q. Are there different timings for the parks and gardens at Château de Fontainebleau?

A. Yes, the parks and gardens at Château de Fontainebleau have different timings based on the season.

Q. What are the timings for the parks at Château de Fontainebleau?

A. The park at Château de Fontainebleau is open 24x7.

Q. What are the timings for the gardens and courtyards at Château de Fontainebleau?

A. The timings for the gardens and courtyards at Château de Fontainebleau are from 9 AM to 6 PM (March, April & October), 9 AM to 7 PM (May to September), and 9 AM to 5 PM (November to February).

Q. How long should I spend at Château de Fontainebleau?

A. The recommended minimum duration of a visit to Château de Fontainebleau is 2 hours.

Q. What is the best time to visit Château de Fontainebleau?

A. Weekdays are generally better than weekends in terms of smaller crowds. Arriving early in the morning when the Château opens allows you to enjoy the attraction with minimal crowds.

Q. Is the Château de Fontainebleau open on public holidays?

A. Château de Fontainebleau is open on public holidays except January 1, May 1, and December 25.

Q. Should I visit Château de Fontainebleau on a public holiday?

A. It is generally not recommended to visit Château de Fontainebleau on public holidays due to the closure and potentially larger crowds.

Q. What are the Château de Fontainebleau's opening hours for public holidays?

A. Château de Fontainebleau is open for the same hours on a public holiday as it is on a normal day.