The 15 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe blog post was first published on Culture Tourist on 17 May 2024, and updated on 7 October 2025.
What are the most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe? In the past, the Old Continent was home to many Royal families. They married each other, had many heirs, who each needed a home to live in. And, well, a true Royal lives in a palace, right? That’s why Europe is dotted with stunning royal palaces today. Some are privately owned, while others are turned into museums and cultural institutions. This means you can visit and admire them from the outside and inside. Although there are so many of them, here is the Culture Tourist selection of the 15 most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe.
Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe
1 – Rosenborg, Copenhagen (Denmark)
The Rosenborg Castle was built in 1606 in the Dutch Renaissance style, which was very popular in Denmark during that time. However, the building was rebuilt and expanded many times afterwards.
Rosenborg Castle is home to a lovely museum today. So, during your visit, you can explore the interior of one of the most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe and some of its unique exhibits, like the Crown Jewels.
2 – Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna (Austria)
Schonbrunn in Vienna is one of the most beautiful European Baroque palaces. Consisting of 1441 rooms, it witnessed the lavish lifestyles of its owners, the Habsburg Family. With the Neptune Fountain being one of its highlight, its gardens are equally impressive as the main building.
Today, the palace is turned into a museum, regularly organising numerous cultural events. One of the best Christmas markets in Europe is organised in front of it each December. However, if you’d like to experience it the best, attend one of the concerts organised at it.
⤷ Read more: Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna Collection
3 – Miramare Castle, Trieste (Italy)
Compared to the previous ones, Miramare is a relatively young European Royal Palace. It was built in Trieste in the second half of the 19th century for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium.
It’s unique because of its location on the cliff of a seashore. Miramare Castle has been turned into a museum, and it’s open to the public.
⤷ Read more: North Italy Road Trip – Milan, Lake Como, Trento & Verona
4 – Windsor Castle, Windsor (UK)
Windsor Castle is among the oldest edifices in this list of Europe’s most beautiful Royal Palaces. The first castle was built on this site in the 11th century and was rebuilt and expanded many times afterwards.
Saint George’s Chapel, located inside Windsor Castle, is considered one of England’s most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture.
⤷ Read more: Cultural Tourism Explained – How to be a Cultural Tourist
5 – Versailles Palace (France)
Versailles is probably the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe. Built for Louis XIV, the Sun King, it symbolises the Absolute Monarchy of his time very well.
The palace and its gardens were listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Located only 19 kilometres (12 miles) from Paris, it’s one of the most visited Royal Palaces in Europe.
⤷ Read more: 25 Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe
6 – Royal Palace, Stockholm (Sweden)
The Royal Palace, also known as the Stockholm Palace, is the official residence of the Swedish monarchs. Located in the centre of Stockholm, it serves for official Royal purposes, although the Swedish king and queen don’t reside in it.
The earlier castle standing on its spot was heavily damaged in the 1697 fire. It was replaced by the present palace, built in the Baroque style during the 18th century. Apparently, the Stockholm Royal Palace is home to some interesting ghosts, as well, the White Lady being the most famous one.
⤷ Read more: My travel diary – Four days in Stockholm
7 – Vaduz Castle (Liechtenstein)
Located on the hill above Liechtenstein’s capital bearing the same name, Vaduz Castle is the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The oldest part of Vaduz Castle was built in the 12th century, with the building extended a few times after that.
Contrary to the majority of other European Royal Palaces on this list, the Liechtenstein Prince family still lives in the castle, so unfortunately, it’s not open to the public.
8 – Château de Chambord (France)
Located in the Loire Valley, Château de Chambord is one of the most beautiful European Royal Palaces. It was created by King Francois I and is one of the best examples of French Renaissance architecture.
The Italian architect Domenico da Cortona designed the palace, while Leonardo da Vinci probably influenced it. During the Second World War, artworks from the Louvre Museum collection were kept at Château de Chambord.
⤷ Read more: Beautiful small towns you should visit in France
9 – Binnenhof, The Hague (the Netherlands)
The Binnenhof is located in The Hague city centre, next to the lovely Hofvijver Lake. It was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. The palace served as the seat of the Counts of Holland and has remained a symbol of the Netherlands ever since.
Today, it serves as home to the Dutch Parliament. This fascinating building underwent renovation in 2021, and it is expected to be finished and accessible to the public again in 2028.
⤷ Read more: Royal Winter Trip to The Hague
10 – Prague Castle (Czech Republic)
Prague Castle isn’t only one of the most beautiful European Royal Palaces, but with a surface of around 70,000 square meters (750,000 square feet), it’s also the largest castle in the world.
Created in the 9th century, it was expanded throughout centuries, serving as home to the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. One of its highlights is Saint Vitus Cathedral, one of the best examples of Bohemian Gothic style.
11 – Palace de Fontainebleau (France)
One of the largest palaces in France was home to the French rulers between the 12th and the 19th centuries. Almost all of them rebuilt it, leaving their mark and creating an architectural masterpiece. The Fontainebleau Palace has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and opened to the public in 1927 as a national museum.
Because of its interior decoration and Italian masters like architect Sebastiano Serlio and painters Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio working on it, this beautiful Royal Palace is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance style in France.
⤷ Read more: Ille-de-France Travel Diary: Paris, Fontainebleau & Moret-sur-Loing
12 – Buckingham Palace, London (UK)
Located in London, Buckingham Palace is the seat of power of the British Royal Family. Its east front is where the famous balcony on which the British Royal Family greets the crowds is.
The palace is home to the King’s Gallery, which organises exhibitions of artwork from the Royal Collection.
⤷ Read more: Tower of London: Its history, highlights & a private tour
13 – Peleș Castle, Sinaia (Romania)
Constructed for Carol I of Romania, Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance palace whose construction was finished in 1914. The palace has 170 rooms and 30 bathrooms.
Turned into a museum today, it has a fascinating collection of armour consisting of around 4,000 pieces.
⤷ Read more: The most interesting European myths & legends
14 – Albrechtsberg Palace, Dresden (Germany)
Constructed in 1854, the Neoclassical Albrechtsberg Palace is located in Dresden, right next to the Elbe River. The palace was owned by the Prussian Royal family until 1930, when it was purchased by the City of Dresden.
The Albrechtsberg is a unique European Royal Palace in this list because it’s turned into a hotel today, and you can spend the night at this special place.
15 – Karlsruhe Palace (Germany)
The Karlsruhe Palace’s construction is closely linked to the city’s establishment. It was built for the city founder, Margrave Charles III, in 1715. The original building was partially made of wood, so it had already been rebuilt in stone in 1746.
During the Allies’ bombing in the Second World War, the palace was heavily damaged. It was repaired for the third time after the war. Its interior was redesigned to better suit its new purpose as a museum space. Today, it’s home to one of the best museums in Karlsruhe, Badisches Landesmuseum.
⤷ Read more: Karlsruhe Travel Guide – What to see in Karlsruhe
With so many beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe, this list could grow much longer. They are located in every single corner of the continent, so be sure to visit some of them during your next European adventure.
Have you been to any of these European Royal Places? Let me know in the comments!
