The Most Beautiful Palaces in the World
Imposing, luxurious, majestic, stately… Palaces are living history and are some of the most beautiful works of architecture the world has to offer. From France, to Thailand, to Turkey, we’ll take you on a royal tour of the world’s most beautiful palaces.
The elegant Palace of Versailles
We’ll begin our tour of the most beautiful palaces in the world just 30 minutes from Paris, in Versailles. Here you’ll find the Palace of Versailles, a symbol of absolutist power and one of the great jewels of French art of the seventeenth century. Did you know that it’s been part of the World Heritage List since 1979?
The former hunting lodge of Louis XIII was remodelled by his son, Louis XIV, in 1682, to establish the Court and the government. Since then, predecessor kings would continue to embellish this building until the French Revolution. To explore all the history of this marvellous royal jewel, why not take a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles?
Topkapi Palace, a true architectural jewel in Turkey
Next stop Istanbul! And in particular, the imposing Topkapi Palace, located on the banks of the Bosphorus. This palace was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also served the administrative and educational centre of the state.
Built shortly after Mehmed II took Constantinople, the Topkapi Palace has been modified by different rulers. Today it houses four courtyards and multiple buildings which display stunning Islamic architecture. It’s highlights are the Harem, the Treasury, the Imperial Mint or the Kiosk of Baghdad. Don’t miss out on visiting it by buying the Topkapi Palace ticket.
Madrid’s Royal Palace, the largest in Western Europe
We’ll continue our tour of the most beautiful palaces with a stop in Madrid and its Royal Palace. Did you know that it’s the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world? It has over 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms – impressive!
On a guided tour of the Royal Palace you can see the favourite rooms of King Charles III, admire the details of the Gasparini Chamber and the Porcelain Room, and feel like a true courtier in the luxurious Gala Dining Room and the famous Throne Room.
The colourful Pena Palace
Da Pena is not only the most iconic castle in Portugal, it’s also one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. It might be its striking colours, its stunning silhouette or its eclectic style, but the truth is that the Da Pena Palace has a charm that makes it incomparable. Built in the 18th century on the initiative of King Ferdinand II consort, it attracts thousands of visitors every year to the city of Sintra.
In it coexist the classic Portuguese tiles with typical elements of romanticism or sculptures of great religious symbolism. Its compendium of neo-Gothic, neo-Mudejar and neo-Manueline architecture led the Pena Palace to be declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1995, and it has been a National Monument since 1910. Come and explore this labyrinth of colour with the entrance to the Pena Palace and its gardens!
Potala Palace, beautiful Tibetan architecture
Perched atop Red Mountain in the centre of the Lhasa Valley, the Potala Palace has long been one of the most important and impressive monuments in Tibet.
The complex is made up of the White Palace, the Red Palace and its outbuildings, and was once the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. The beauty of its architecture, its rich ornamentation and the harmony it conveys with the surrounding landscape, made it part of the World Heritage List in 1994, a place that will leave you speechless if you take this private guided tour!
Buckingham Palace, the home of London
We arrived at Buckingham Palace, an icon of the British Crown in London.
Today you can visit the interior to see some of the royal chambers used by Queen Elizabeth II. In the different rooms you’ll be able to appreciate a great variety of paintings and refined period furniture with English and French style decoration. In short, a real architectural jewel full of works of art. Grab your ticket to Buckingham Palace!
The Royal Palace of Caserta, the hidden jewel of Campania
Known as the Reggia of Caserta, the Royal Palace of Caserta is another of the most beautiful palaces in the world, but also one of the most unknown. In fact, did you know that it’s the largest royal residence in the world?
Located north of Naples, it’s a baroque masterpiece of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Kingdom of the Bourbons with a magnificent art collection. Paintings, porcelain, furniture, drawings, books? A real treat that you cannot miss on your trip to the Italian region of Campania!
The Beijing Summer Palace, the Garden of Health and Harmony
Pagodas amidst the mist, a marble boat, lush nature and spaces full of colourful decorations. These are just some of the surprises awaiting you at the Beijing Summer Palace, one of the most beautiful palace complexes in the world!
From the Grand Corridor with its figurative windows that frame the landscape to its characteristic green and red tones, this small imperial city delights any self-respecting visitor. If you’re in Beijing, you cannot miss the top 3 of the sites of city, along with the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
Schönbrunn Palace, imperial residence of the Habsburgs
Built in the 17th century as the summer residence of the Habsburgs, Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna is also known as the ”Viennese Versailles” for its elegance and beauty.
Besides being one of the most important historical buildings in Austria, the enormous sumptuousness of the building and its rooms make it one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. On a guided tour of Schoenbrunn Palace you’ll discover spaces such as the Chinese Circular Hall, the Breakfast Room, or the Ceremonial Hall – impressive!
Royal Palace of Bangkok, the administrative center of the Thai monarchy
Lastly, our final stop on our tour of we the most beautiful palaces in the world, but by no means least, the Royal Palace in Bangkok. This huge complex of buildings became the administrative centre of the Thai monarchy and the official residence of the monarch from the late eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.
The most important place in the palace is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, which houses the Emerald Buddha which, carved in jade in the 15th century and only 45 centimetres high, is the most valuable and revered Buddha in Thailand.
