15 Royal Family Palaces In Europe To Visit For An Elegant Experience

Here is a comprehensive list of European royal family palaces to visit for a meaningful and elegant experience.

As home to numerous kingdoms in the past, Europe hosts different royal family palaces, each with a unique feature to showcase and a story to tell. Almost every country in the continent has royal palaces with unique architectural designs that reflect the country’s heritage.

Here are some of them.

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Table of Contents

15 Royal Family Palaces in Europe to Visit

Buckingham Palace, London, The UK

Winter scene in Estonia: bare branches with red berries.

Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous royal palaces in the world and boasts more than 775 rooms. These consist of 52 Royal and guest rooms, 19 staterooms, 92 offices, 188 staff bedrooms, and 78 bathrooms.

The palace measures 24 meters high and 120 meters deep, including the central quadrangle, and 108 meters long across the front. It has been the centerpiece of the United Kingdom’s constitutional monarchy for centuries.

It has witnessed countless State Visits and Investitures, including grand Royal ceremonies initiated by the Royal Family.

Plan your trip with my top post about London, The UK :

Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain

Also called Palacio Real de Madrid in Spanish, the Royal Palace of Madrid serves as the Spanish Royal Family’s official residence in the city of Madrid.

Today, however, it is merely used for significant ceremonies since King Juan Carlos and his family prefers to stay at the Palacio de la Zarzuela on Madrid’s outskirts. Patrimonio Nacional administers the state-owned palace in the Western part of downtown Madrid, specifically on Calle de Bailen. During state functions, the administration regularly opens several rooms in the palace.

Plan your trip with my top post about Madrid, Spain :

Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium

Considered one of the most beautiful state-owned buildings in the city, the Royal Palace of Brussels is certainly a must-visit attraction. It lies in front of the Parliament building on the opposite side of the Royal Park.

It represents the country’s constitutional monarchy and its system of government. The King exerts his prerogatives in the palace as Head of State. Many local and national affairs are also conducted in the palace with the participation of distinguished guests.

Plan your trip with my top post about Belgium:

Palace of Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles is certainly one of the most acclaimed palaces in the world and has been instrumental in shaping French history. It was the home of the French monarch until the French Revolution, which exiled Louise XVI, effectively concluding France’s monarchical form of government.

The palace was turned into the Museum of the History of France in 1837, hosting over 60,000 artworks. The palace has also been inscribed first on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It showcases lavish rooms such as the Royal Opera House, The Hall of Mirrors, The King’s Apartments, and Marie-Antoinette’s Private Chambers.

Plan your trip with my top post about France:

The Royal Palace, Stockholm, Sweden

The Royal Palace of Stockholm houses the country’s King and the Royal Family and is also the venue for many special occasions and receptions.

It serves as the working site for the royalty, including the different departments composing the Royal Court. It is considered one of Europe‘s most distinct royal palaces due to its versatile functions and purposes.

The palace follows the baroque style though it was commissioned as a Roman palace with seven floors and more than 600 rooms. It also has a state apartment with a stunning view of the city and smaller living rooms opposite the inner courtyard.

Plan your trip with my top post about Stockholm, Sweden :

Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!

I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!

Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.

Windsor Castle, The UK

Dubbed the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle is truly an outstanding heritage.

It functions as the Official Residence of the United Kingdom’s Queen, and it has been serving for almost 1000 years and covers an area of about 13 acres or 5 hectares. It contains Queen Mary’s Doll House, St. George’s Chapel, and the Magnificent State Apartment with priceless treasures and artifacts from the Royal Collection.

Royal Palace, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Royal Palace in Amsterdam was constructed as a city hall in the 17th century which saw the peak of the Dutch Empire. Before turning into the Dutch Royal House, it served as the official residence of King Louis Napoleon.

It lies in the heart of Amsterdam, specifically on the west side of Dam Square fronting the War Memorial. The Act of Parliament has commissioned it as one of the three palaces in the country for the monarch’s disposal.

Plan your trip with my top post about Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

The Royal Palace, Oslo, Norway

Constructed in the first half of the 19th century, the Royal Palace in Oslo served as the official residence of one of the country’s most beloved rulers, King Charles III. It now serves as the Norwegian residence of the incumbent Royal Family, and it contains 173 rooms with beautiful gardens.

Plan your trip with my top post about Oslo, Norway:

Palais Grand-Ducal, Luxembourg

Serving as the official residence of the country’s Grand Duke, the Grand Ducal Palace lies in the capital city. This is also where he performs his official functions as head of state of the Grand Duchy. It has staterooms that serve as a venue for different audiences and meetings. From the Yellow Room, he delivers his special message on Christmas Eve.

Plan your trip with my top post about Luxembourg:

Amalienburg, Copenhagen, Denmark

The royal family of Denmark is among the oldest monarchies in the world. The present-day monarchy resides in Amalienburg.

The palace consists of four identical buildings: Christian VIII’s Palace, Frederick VIII’s Palace, Christian VII’s Palace, and Christian IX’s Palace. Denmark’s royal family originally lived at Christiansborg Palace, but this was burned in 1794.

Thus, they moved to Amalienburg, which became the monarch’s residence. The palace is open from June to August, and tourists can explore the numerous staterooms, including the Gala Hall and the Royal Representation Rooms.

Plan your trip with my top post about Copenhagen, Denmark:

What are my favorite travel must-haves?

As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!

Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.

Kensington Palace, The UK

Kensington Palace has been the residence of young monarchs for more than 300 years. It was also the birthplace and childhood residence of the famous Queen Victoria.

Thus, it is an ideal destination for those who want to experience taking the footsteps of notable monarchs. Here, one can see the famous Sunken Garden, the King’s State Apartments, and the Queen’s Apartments.

The palace now hosts Kate and Wills and their young family. It was once the home of Princess Diana. It is one of the most famous palaces not only in Europe but worldwide due to dramatic scenes that have been widely publicized.

Drottningholm Palace, Sweden

Inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Drottningholm Palace is one of the best royal family palaces in Europe. It was constructed in the 15th century and served as an iconic representation of overall European architecture.

Visitors can have a day tour around the palace to experience the highest international standards at that time.

The palace boasts magnificent gardens, a Chinese-inspired pavilion, and an impressive theatre. Queen Hedvig Eleonora commissioned the palace building with Nicodemus Tessin as the architect. To this day, the palace remains the official home residence of the Swedish monarch.

They stay at the palace’s southern wing.

Thus, no visitors are allowed there. However, the rest of the palace and the grounds are open for public viewing.

Plan your trip with my top post about Sweden:

Royal Palace of Riofrio, Spain

The Royal Place of Riofrio in Spain is one of the permanent residences of the Spanish monarch, one of the oldest reigning royal families in Europe.

The Patrimonio Nacional, a government agency, manages the palace and its properties. It lies in the province of Segovia in central pain and is surrounded by a park teeming with deer. King Ferdinand VI ordered the palace’s construction in 1746 to ensure that Queen Elisabeth Farnese would remain away from the court due to ongoing disputes.

The palace’s architecture follows the Italian style since Queen Elisabeth was born in northern Italy, with Virgilio Rabaglio as the architect.

Among the attractions to see within the palace are the grand staircase, patio addition, chapel, and its vast collection of furniture, tapestries, and paintings. Vast forests surround the palace and are home to numerous wildlife species. Today, however, the palace is more of a museum since the Spanish monarch rarely visits.

Plan your trip with my top post about Spain:

Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Spain

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez was constructed in the 1700s by order of King Philip II and now serves as one of the official homes of the Spanish royal family. During his reign, it became one of our seasonal centers of the court along the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, El Escorial, and Rascafria.

It is also one of the most historical attractions in Spain, having been a witness to numerous international treaties signed. Several members of previous royal families also died here, including Elisabeth Farnese in 1766 and Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony in 1828. One can find an extensive botanical collection, a woodland, ornate gardens, and stunning landscapes outside the palace.

St. James’s Palace, The UK

Touted as the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom, St. James Palace takes its name from the Court of St. James.

It lies in London’s historic city of Westminster. It has been a royal residence since the 1530s with the commissioning of Henry VIII. Today, however, it’s no longer the principal royal residence and is mostly used for the Accession Council’s ceremonial meetings.

Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?

Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!

The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.

I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.

Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.

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