7 palaces worth visiting in Europe
Over the years I have visited dozens of palaces and castles in Europe and have chosen a few of my favorites to share with you. There are only palaces here, by which I mean former or current rulers' buildings with authentically decorated historical interiors.
Czech Republic, Hluboká
1. The State Chateau of Hluboká
A real fairytale castle. It doesn't seem big at first, but the closer you get, the more impressive the palace is. I've never seen anything like it - the place is so detailed and the well kept garden only makes it stand out.
Location: 373 41 Hluboká nad Vltavou, Czech Republic (between the south-west and south regions of the Czech Republic on the way from Prague to Linz)
Visiting: Open from July to August, depending on the tour, but approximately 10.00 am to 4.00 p.m.
Open only on weekends during the winter season.
Tours: The only way to explore the castle is through the tours they organize during opening hours. There are tours of state rooms, private apartments, the castle kitchen, suite rooms and the viewing platform of the Chateau tower. You have to pay for each tour separately and wait for your time window or book the tour in advance. During the winter season, they do a basic tour of the palace.
Ticket information: Click here to see current prices and plan your visit
Slovakia, Bojnice
2. Bojnice Castle
A proper "Disney" castle from a distance, and from wherever you approach the castle, you can see it because it is on top of a hill.
Location: Zámok a okolie 1, 972 01 Bojnice, Slovakia (in northwestern Slovakia)
Visiting: Open daily from June to September from 9 am to 5 pm, in other months see their website for opening hours.
Tours: The interior of the castle and the cave can only be visited with a guide.
(In September 2023, when I visited the castle, we had to participate in the Slovak tour because the next English tour was hours away - in addition, there were two routes in the two wings of the castle: one with a guide and one for visiting on your own.)
But now I understand that there is only one entrance fee and 1.5 an hour-long tour, about which it is written that the tours in English are currently at 11.10 a.m. and 1.40 p.m.
Ticket information: To visit the castle and courtyard and to go on a tour, you need to buy a ticket; the price for adults is €15 (more information about tickets here).
Austria, Vienna
3. Schönbrunn Palace
A massive and amazing palace and with its grounds and gardens. This is my absolute favorite palace experience, even if it rained the day I visited. Reserve at least 4 hours of your day to visit the place. And I recommend visiting not only the palace, but also the Privy Garden, Orangery Garden, Maze and Gloriette.
Location: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna, Austria
Visiting: The palace is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the gardens from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tours: The castle can only be visited with a tour. And there are plenty of options depending on how much time you have and what you're interested in (tours can be found here).
Ticket information: The price of the ticket also depends on which excursion you book and which other attractions you would like to see. I bought the Classic pass for 38 € and it included the following visits: Schönbrunn Palace, Privy Garden, Orangery Garden, Maze and Gloriette. If you're already there, make the most of your visit, you won't regret it.
The last picture was taken from the Gloriette and that tiny building in the background is actually Schönbrunn Palace - gives you perspective on how grand the place is.
Latvia, Rundāle
4. Rundāle Palace
This 18th-century Baroque palace is called the "Latvian Versailles" because of its magnificent building and perfectly curated gardens. If you are in the Baltic countries, visit this palace near the Latvian-Lithuanian border.
Location: Pilsrundāle, Rundāle Parish, Bauska district, LV-3921, Latvia (take the E67 road from Riga and you will find the castle 30 km from the Lithuanian border)
Visiting: From May to October, the palace is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Gardens in May and October from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from June to September from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
See winter opening times HERE.
Ticket information: You can buy a ticket at the Stables in front of the palace. The price of the palace and museum in summer is €17 for adults, see other prices on their website.
Italy, Naples
5. Royal Palace of Naples
A stunning 17th century palace restored today with an authentic interior in the heart of Naples. At first, looking at the building from the outside, you can't imagine how much beauty it hides inside.
Location: Piazza del Plebiscito, 1, 80132 Naples NA, Italy
Visiting: Opening hours: the palace can be visited from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tours: You can visit the palace independently without a tour. However, if you want to visit the gardens, plan your visit according to the garden's opening hours.
Ticket information: Tickets can be purchased online or on site. The good thing about online tickets is that their date is "open" - so you can use it to visit the museum at any time during opening hours. Price for adults 15 €.
Greece, Corfu
6. The Achilleion Palace
A truly unexpected and beautiful oasis in Corfu. The palace was built by Empress Elisabeth ("Sissi") of Austria and after her death was purchased by Emperor William II of Germany. Both really admired and loved Corfu. The gardens and views are amazing.
Location: Achilleio 490 84, Corfu, Greece (a 30-minute drive south of Kerkyra)
Visiting: The palace and gardens are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The palace has been under renovations and closed for a while now and including the summer of 2024, but the gardens are open.
Ticket information: A ticket to visit the gardens costs €5, and you can also buy an e-ticket HERE.
Sweden, Stockholm
7. The Royal Palace - Kungliga slotten
The Swedish Royal Palace is the real workplace of the king and queen. There are 600 rooms and you can visit some of them. As it is a working palace and not just a museum, some rooms may be closed for some events. Apart from that, the inside of the palace is really beautiful and you can also visit the courtyard once a day to watch the changing of the guard.
Location: Kungliga slottet, 107 70 Stockholm, Sweden (in the heart of Stockholm's Old Town (Gamla Stan))
Visiting: Usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but check the exact time in advance - they have a schedule of opening hours on the website)
Ticket information: The ticket office is located in the courtyard and a visit to the palace costs 200 SEK (about 18 €) in summer.
