Palaces are enormous, sometimes ostentatious structures that serve as the residence of royal dynasties whose governors have ruled over extensive tracts of territory. Historically significant, palaces are often included in children's stories and folklore and are thus popular with children and adults alike because of their historical significance. As a result, it is not unexpected that many individuals would want to visit a palace if given the opportunity. Many old royal palaces have been transformed into museums, which are now accessible to the public and have become famous tourist attractions as a result of their transformation.
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- 10. Shuri Castle
- 9. Spain's Alhambra and Generalife
- 8. Schönbrunn Palace
- 7. The Tower of London
- 6. The Winter Palace (State Hermitage Museum)
- 5. Turkey's Topkapi Palace
- 4. The Palace of Versailles
- 3. Thailand's Grand Palace
- 2. The Louvre Museum in Paris, France
- 1. Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing, China
Here is the list of the most visited palaces in the world, organised by country.
10. Shuri Castle
Okinawa, Japan, is home to the world's tenth most visited palace, which is situated there. From 1429 until 1879, the Shuri Castle served as the Ryukyu Kingdom's royal palace, and it is now a museum. While undergoing reconstruction in the 1990s, the palace was restored to its former condition after being totally destroyed by Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Today, the Shuri Castle is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, drawing about 1753000 people each year to the site.
9. Spain's Alhambra and Generalife
The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, was initially built as a minor castle in 889 and subsequently transformed into a royal palace by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada, in 1333. It is the world's largest surviving Moorish structure. The palace fell under the hands of Christian monarchs in 1492 and functioned as the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella until their deaths in 1492.
During subsequent centuries, when other palaces were constructed by Spanish monarchs, the Alhambra's significance steadily diminished. The Alhambra is a famous tourist attraction in Spain, and it is considered to be one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the country. The palace is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it has been recognised as such.
8. Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace, located in Vienna, Austria, is the seventh most visited palace in the world. The palace, which is located in the city's Hietzing neighbourhood, served as the summer home of the reigning Habsburg dynasty for many years. The palace, which is built in the Baroque style, has 1,441 rooms and extensive grounds that have been meticulously landscaped.
7. The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a historical monument in London, England, United Kingdom, situated on the north bank of the River Thames (UK). Originally constructed by William the Conqueror in 1066, the castle was expanded in 1078 with the addition of the White Tower, which was also built by him. In its lengthy history, from 1100 until 1952, the Tower of London was utilised as a royal jail, which constituted a significant part of its function.
The palace was the site of many high-profile executions, including those of numerous royals. For a period of time, the Tower of London also functioned as the royal home of the British monarchy. Currently, the Tower of London is a popular tourist attraction in the capital of the United Kingdom. A large number of visitors flock to the Tower of London each year, drawn by the vast history connected with the castle, which includes the exhibition of the Crown Jewels and other historical artefacts.
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6. The Winter Palace (State Hermitage Museum)
A major tourist destination in Russia's Saint Petersburg is the Winter Palace, which is one of the country's most visited buildings. For almost 200 years, the palace served as the official home of the Russian Emperors, from 1732 until 1917. Today, it is home to the State Hermitage Museum, which, after the Louvre, is the world's second-largest art museum in terms of space.
It was founded by Empress Catherine the Great in 1764, but it wasn't until 1852 that it was officially opened to the public. The museum's collection has more than 3 million objects, including some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures.
5. Turkey's Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, is the world's sixth most-visited palace, with over a million visitors each year. Mehmed the Conqueror ordered the construction of the palace in 1459, and it continued to be extended throughout the following centuries. This building functioned as both the royal palace and administrative headquarters for the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The significance of Topkapi Palace, on the other hand, started to wane progressively from the seventeenth century.
Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the Topkapi Palace was transformed into a museum and made accessible to the general public. Today, the palace serves as a significant tourist attraction in Istanbul, and the museum's collection contains artefacts that belonged to members of the Ottoman Dynasty, such as weaponry, jewellery, clothes, religious relics, and illuminated manuscripts.
4. The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a magnificent palace in the French department of Yvelines, and it has an area of 67,000 square metres. It was built during the reign of Louis XIV. It was the main royal home of the kings of France from 1682 until 1789, and it is still standing today. The palace has recently been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition to the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Opera, the royal residences, and the enormous Gardens of Versailles with its fountains, geometric flower beds, and canals, there are a number of other notable sights within the palace.
3. Thailand's Grand Palace
The Grand Palace, which is located in the centre of Bangkok, Thailand, is the world's third most visited palace, with about 8,000,000 tourists each year, according to the United Nations. The palace has served as the royal home of the Kings of Siam since its construction in 1782. However, after the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the palace was abandoned by the British administration.
The complex, which is surrounded by four walls and spans an area of 218,400 square metres, has a large number of buildings, halls, gardens, courtyards, and lawns, as well as many other structures. Tourists now flock to the palace to take in its splendour as well as the royal and historical items on exhibit at the Grand Palace's museum, which is open daily. The temple grounds also include the world-famous Emerald Buddha, which can be found here.
2. The Louvre Museum in Paris, France
The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, is one of the most visited museums in the world. But the museum is really situated on the Right Bank of the Seine River in the Louvre Residence, which was once a royal palace and now serves as a museum. It was originally constructed as a fort during the reign of Philip II in the 12th century.
After it was transformed into a palace by Francis I in 1546, the Louvre became the royal home of numerous French monarchs in the following centuries. In 1793, a portion of the Louvre was opened to the public as a museum, which has since grown to include the majority of the structure. Eight curatorial divisions house more than 460,000 objects and 35,000 pieces of art in the Louvre's exhibitions, which are spread over eight galleries.
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1. Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing, China
The Forbidden City is a palace complex in downtown Beijing, China, that is the world's most visited palace and museum, according to the World Tourism Organization. Between 1420 and 1912, it served as the imperial palace of China's reigning dynasties. Today, it serves as the home of the Palace Museum, which contains thousands of items from the imperial collections of the Qing and Ming periods of Chinese history.
With 980 structures, the Forbidden City spans an area of 72 hectares and has a population of 1.3 billion people. Awe-inspiring Chinese architecture can be seen throughout the palace, which also houses the world's biggest collection of old wooden constructions. As a result of this designation, the palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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