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While a well-decorated home is certainly admirable, a lavishly designed Royal Palace offers an entirely unmatched experience. Boasting hundreds of rooms, masterpieces of art adorning every surface, and stunning gardens at every corner, these historic royal residences are truly awe-inspiring. As you endure the summer heat in your modest apartment, take a moment to explore our curated list of the world’s most extravagant palaces and let them inspire your dreams.
1. PALACE OF VERSAILLES // VERSAILLES, FRANCE
The Palace of Versailles is a stunning masterpiece of lush gardens, immaculately maintained grounds, and exquisite decor, embodying the very essence of opulence. However, this UNESCO World Heritage Site began as a modest hunting lodge for Louis XIII in 1624. It was his son, Louis XIV, who transformed it into a vast complex and relocated the government there in 1682. Every detail of the palace and its surroundings was meticulously designed to exalt the monarchy. Among its many marvels is the Hall of Mirrors, a 230-foot-long gallery featuring 17 grand mirrors opposite windows that offer breathtaking views of the gardens. Versailles represents luxury on an unparalleled scale, a sight that must be seen to be fully appreciated.
2. SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE // VIENNA, AUSTRIA
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Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Habsburg Dynasty at the breathtaking Schönbrunn Palace, located just outside Vienna. While the site featured structures during the Middle Ages, it became part of the Habsburg estate in 1569. In the 17th century, a hunting lodge stood here, which was later destroyed during the Turkish siege of Vienna. In 1693, Leopold I commissioned architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to design and build a palace on the site. The palace and its expansive grounds, as they appear today, were largely developed in the 18th century under Empress Maria Theresa. With 1441 rooms, the palace has witnessed pivotal moments in Austrian and European history: it was here that a 6-year-old Mozart performed his first concert for the Empress in the Mirror Room, and where Napoleon established his headquarters in 1805 and 1809. The grounds also house the Vienna Zoo, the world’s oldest zoo.
3. THE WINTER PALACE // ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
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Situated on the southern bank of the Neva River in St. Petersburg, the Winter Palace
The palace also features an enormous wine cellar, which historian Orlando Figes of Cambridge University described to PBS as "the largest wine cellar ever known to history." During the storming of the Winter Palace in October 1917, Figes noted, "The mob that seized the palace immediately began plundering the cellars. The drinking and looting continued for weeks." The chaos only subsided in December when "the Bolsheviks imposed martial law on Petrograd to restore order," Figes explained. "It wasn't until the new year that the city, perhaps recovering from the greatest hangover in history, finally returned to normalcy."
4. BUCKINGHAM PALACE // LONDON, ENGLAND
Buckingham Palace, the Queen of England's primary London residence, has been appraised at over £1 billion. However, before it became a palace—and one of the world's most expensive homes—it was known as Buckingham House, which George III acquired in 1761 as a family residence. In 1826, King George IV sought to transform Buckingham House into a grand palace. Parliament approved a budget of £450,000, but by 1829, costs had exceeded half a million pounds, leading to the dismissal of architect John Nash. The project was completed under architect Edward Blore and King William IV, who succeeded George IV. In 1837, Queen Victoria became the first monarch to reside in Buckingham Palace.
Today, the palace features an impressive 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms for official events. The iconic balcony, used to mark significant moments in British history—from royal birthdays to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain—saw its first royal appearance in 1851 during Queen Victoria's reign.
5. TOPKAPI PALACE // ISTANBUL, TURKEY
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Constructed between 1460 and 1478 on an ancient Roman acropolis, Topkapı Palace in Istanbul was the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries. Situated on the Istanbul Peninsula, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus River, and the Golden Horn, Topkapı spans nearly 100 acres and held immense cultural and military significance. It housed a vast armory alongside priceless cultural artifacts and relics. Today, it operates as a museum, with one of its most notable exhibits being the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, an 86-carat gem displayed in the Treasury room (which also contains other invaluable treasures).
6. ALHAMBRA PALACE // GRANADA, SPAIN
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Originally constructed as a fortress, the Alhambra Palace in Granada was transformed into a royal residence around 1050. It underwent significant expansion in 1333 under Yusuf I, the sultan of Granada. Today, Alhambra welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually. The palace’s full Arabic name, Al Qalat al-Hamra, means "red fort," referencing the reddish clay used in its construction. Inside, the walls are adorned with intricate mosaics, exquisite calligraphy, and poetic inscriptions. The palace’s gardens, filled with cypress trees and elaborate fountains, create an almost magical atmosphere. This emphasis on beauty traces back to the original architects, who aimed to decorate every surface, resulting in a stunning blend of artistic styles.
7. THE FORBIDDEN CITY // BEIJING, CHINA
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One of the world’s most iconic palaces, the Forbidden City in central Beijing, was home to 24 emperors spanning the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The sprawling complex, comprising 980 buildings, covers 178 acres. Its construction utilized exceptionally rare Phoebe zhennan wood, golden bricks, marble, and massive boulders. Historical records describe how a 31-foot-long, 135-ton stone was transported on a sled over ice by a team of men, a journey that took 28 days.
After ceasing to function as the government seat in 1912, the Forbidden City became a museum dedicated to preserving China’s cultural heritage, housing around 1 million artifacts.
8. PENA NATIONAL PALACE // SINTRA, PORTUGAL
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Situated on the second-highest peak in the Sintra hills, Pena National Palace was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and constructed in the mid-19th century on the ruins of an ancient medieval monastery. Its vibrant pink and ochre hues, combined with a circular watchtower and winding battlements, draw inspiration from the Rhineland’s German castles, while Islamic influences are evident in the intricate tilework and vaulted arches. The surrounding hills are home to 500 diverse species of trees from across the world. Nearby, the Chalet of the Countess of Edla was designed as a private summer retreat for Ferdinand and his second wife, modeled after Alpine chalets and surrounded by gardens featuring both native and exotic plants.
