Opening Hours 2026
Chambord is open every day of the year except 1 January and 25 December. Hours vary by season — the château stays open later in summer to allow for the golden evening light on the north façade.
| Season / Period | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 4 – Mar 27 | 9:00am – 5:00pm | Last entry 4:30pm. Some Mondays may close in deep low season. |
| Mar 28 – Oct 25 | 9:00am – 6:00pm | High season. Last entry 5:30pm. |
| Oct 26 – Dec 18 | 9:00am – 5:00pm | Last entry 4:30pm. |
| Dec 19 – Jan 2 | 9:00am – 6:00pm | Christmas programme. Last entry 5:30pm. |
| Dec 24 & Dec 31 | 9:00am – 4:00pm | Early close on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. |
| Jan 1 & Dec 25 | Closed | New Year's Day and Christmas Day. |
Visit before 10:30am or after 4:00pm to avoid the peak crowds at the rooftop terrace. The double-helix staircase is most enjoyable when you can stop and look up without a queue behind you.
Ticket Prices 2026
New pricing came into effect on 14 January 2026. Entry to the château includes all rooms, the double-helix staircase, the royal apartments, and the rooftop terrace. The formal gardens are free to access without a ticket.
| Category | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (non-EEA) | €31 | All visitors from outside the European Economic Area. Purchased on-site; ID may be checked. |
| EEA preferential rate | €21 | Nationals or residents of EEA countries. Valid photo ID required at ticket office. |
| Under 18 | Free | Collect a free ticket at the box office. Valid for all nationalities. |
| EU citizens/residents 18–25 | Free | Collect free ticket at box office with valid EU ID or residence permit. |
| HistoPad (AR tablet) | €6.50 extra | Augmented-reality tablet in 12 languages. Available at the entrance; not included in standard ticket. |
| On-site English guided tour | €7 adults / €4 ages 3–17 | Daily Jul 6–Aug 30 at 11:15am only. In addition to château entry. |
| Parking | €8 per car | All car parks. Free for cyclists and visitors with reduced mobility. |
The EEA preferential rate (€21) and all free-entry categories must be purchased or collected at the on-site ticket office — they are not available online. The standard €31 ticket can be booked online in advance to skip the ticket queue. Queue times in July–August can reach 30–45 minutes.
How to Get to Chambord
From Paris (most popular)
The simplest option is a guided day trip from Paris — transport is included, no driving or parking required. Most tours depart from central Paris between 7:30am and 8:30am and return by 8:00–9:00pm.
Independently: take the intercity train from Paris Austerlitz to Blois-Chambord station (journey: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, 4–5 daily departures). From Blois, the château shuttle bus (Navette Chambord) runs to the castle — journey approximately 25 minutes. The shuttle operates April through October only; check TLC (transports du Loir-et-Cher) for current timetables as frequency is limited.
By Car
From Paris, take the A10 motorway towards Blois. Exit at Mer (junction 16) or Blois (junction 17) — both are well signed for Chambord. Journey time from Paris: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes without traffic. Chambord is not on a major route — it is a destination, not a through road.
From Tours or Amboise
Tours is the natural base for exploring multiple Loire châteaux. From Tours to Chambord by car: approximately 45 minutes. Several day tours depart from Tours, combining Chambord with Chenonceau, Amboise, or the wine caves of Ambacia.
From Blois
Blois is the closest town with a train station (18km from the château). The shuttle bus runs seasonally. A taxi from Blois to Chambord costs approximately €25–€35 each way — worth considering if the shuttle isn't running or if you're arriving outside shuttle hours. The E-bike tour from Blois follows the Loire à Vélo cycle route (17km) through the Sologne forest to the château gates.
Getting Around the Estate
The National Estate of Chambord covers 5,440 hectares — roughly the same area as central Paris. The château itself sits near the northern entrance and is easily walkable from the car parks. To explore the wider estate (forest trails, the Canal de Chambord, the formal gardens, the south façade approach) you have several options:
- On foot — signposted trails from the château. Allow 1–2 hours for the garden circuit.
- Bicycle or e-bike hire — available near the car parks, seasonally. Strongly recommended for seeing the canal approach and south façade.
- Golf cart — available through the private golf cart tour from Paris, or rented on-site seasonally.
- Horse-drawn carriage — seasonal, departs from the stables.
What to See at Chambord
Allow at minimum 2 hours for the château interior. The rooftop terrace alone deserves 30 minutes — 365 chimneys, 77 staircases, and a view across the Sologne forest that François I intended as proof of his power. Add an hour for the formal gardens. A full day lets you explore the park properly.
- The double-helix staircase — at the heart of the keep; allow 20 minutes to climb and examine it properly. See our dedicated staircase page for the full Leonardo da Vinci story.
- Royal apartments — François I's rooms on the first floor; Louis XIV's suite on the second. The furniture and tapestries date from the 17th–18th centuries.
- The rooftop terrace — the château's extraordinary skyline of chimneys, dormers, and lantern towers. The best viewing time is late afternoon when the light comes from the south.
- The formal gardens — redesigned to the original 17th-century plan by Louis XIV's landscaper, restored and reopened in 2017. The parterre de broderie (embroidered parterre) covers 6.5 hectares.
- The stables and equestrian shows — the Académie équestre de Versailles gives seasonal performances at Chambord's stables. Check chambord.org for show dates.
- The forest and wildlife — from September to October, the stag rut brings extraordinary sounds and sightings to the estate's enclosed forest. See our wildlife guide for timing and viewing tips.
Practical Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Château de Chambord, 41250 Chambord, France |
| Phone | +33 2 88CASTLE |
| Official website | chambord.org |
| Parking | €8 per car (2026). Large car parks north of the château. Arrive by 9:30am in peak season for easy parking. |
| Accessibility | Ground floor and some upper floors accessible by lift. The double-helix staircase and rooftop are not wheelchair accessible. Formal gardens are largely flat. Free parking for visitors with reduced mobility. |
| Photography | Photography is permitted throughout the château and gardens for personal use. No flash in the royal apartments. |
| Food & drink | Two restaurants and a brasserie in the village between the car parks and the château. A snack kiosk near the gardens. Picnicking permitted on the lawns. |
| Luggage | Large bags and backpacks must be deposited at the cloakroom (gratuit / free) at the château entrance. Security checks at the gate. |
| Dogs | Dogs on leads permitted in the gardens and estate. Not permitted inside the château. |
| Children | Free entry under 18. A treasure hunt activity (chasse au trésor) is available for children 6–12 — ask at the ticket office. The HistoPad tablet has a children's interface. |
Book Your Chambord Castle Tour
Visiting independently is perfectly possible, but a guided Chambord Castle tour transforms the experience. The double-helix staircase, the royal apartments, and the château's 500-year story all benefit enormously from expert commentary — and a guide knows which rooms to prioritise and which queues to avoid. Tours from Paris start from $152 per person with entry tickets included.
See the full list of Chambord Castle tours and tickets — from skip-the-line entry tickets to VIP Loire Valley days with Michelin lunch.