Fit for a King

Whether you’re a fan of architecture or history, its clear to see that castles are a shining example of human ingenuity and innovation. Some of these castles rival modern buildings and are so stunning that they draw millions of people to their walls annually. With that in mind, here are the 20 biggest palaces in the world.

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1. Louvre Palace

Louvre Palace was originally built for King Philip II in Paris, and later converted to be the royal residence for all future kings of France. This stunning piece of architecture and history has since been turned into one of the biggest museums in the world. With a floor area of over two and a half million square feet, it has earned a place amongst the biggest palaces in the world.

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2. Hofburg Palace

Hofburg Palace stands in the heart of Vienna as one of Austria's most beautiful must-see sites. Built in the 13th century, it has served as the residence for some of the most powerful people throughout the history of Europe and Austria. Nowadays, a small part of the two and a half million square foot palace serves as the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria.

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3. Winter Palace

The Winter Palace was designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli for the most famous empress of Russia, Empress Elizabeth. Located in St. Petersburg, this palace has housed Russian monarchs throughout history. With over fifteen hundred rooms, nearly two thousand windows, and doors, this two and a half million square foot palace still stands strong today as one of the biggest ones in the world.

W. Bulach on Wikimedia

4. Istana Nurul Iman

Istana Nurul Iman is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and his government. At just over two million square feet, this palace combines elements of Islamic and Malay architecture. Currently, due to the entire palace being used as a functional official residence, it holds the Guinness World Record as the largest residential palace in the world.

Pangalau on Wikimedia

5. Apostolic Palace

The Apostolic Palace is arguably the most famous palace in the world. Known also as the Papal Palace, this building serves as the official residence of the Pope of Vatican City. Within the walls of this huge palace are the Papal Apartments, the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Vatican Museums, all spanning just over 1.7 million square feet.

Dietmar Rabich on Wikimedia

6. Forbidden City

One of the biggest and most historic palaces ever built is the Forbidden City in Beijing. Commissioned by the Yongle Emperor for the Ming Dynasty, this palace served as the imperial palace for over 20 emperors through two Chinese dynasties. Today, the palace operates as a museum, and it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Allen Timothy Chang (張華倫) (Allentchang) on Wikimedia

7. Malbork Castle

One of Poland's most notable pieces of architecture, Malbork Castle was built in the northern part of Poland all the way back in the 13th century. When it was built, it became the largest brick castle in the world. This 1.5 million square foot gem is an important part of history and architecture even by today’s standards.

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8. Royal Palace of Caserta

The Royal Palace of Caserta was built for King Charles of Bourbon back in the year 1752. Standing at nearly 1.5 million square feet, this Italian palace has five floors and over a thousand rooms. One of the most interesting things about this castle is the internal courtyards and stunning integration of nature throughout the build.

Livioandronico2013 on Wikimedia

9. Royal Palace of Madrid

Serving as the official residence of the Spanish royal family, the Royal Palace of Madrid was constructed in the 18th century. While it is used for ceremonies as well, this palace spans over 1.4 million square feet and contains thousands of rooms. It houses some of the most significant pieces of art and artifacts from history.

Carlos Delgado on Wikimedia

10. Qasr Al Watan

The Palace of the Nation, also known as Qasr Al Watan, is the presidential palace of the United Arab Emirates. Located in Abu Dhabi, this stunning palace houses the President, Vice President, the officers who protect them, as well as the Crown Prince and their ministers. One of the most priceless parts of this palace is the so-called “House of Knowledge,” which contains a number of rare and important artifacts and objects.

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11. Quirinal Palace

Built between the years of 1583 and 1585 in Rome, the Quirinal Palace has housed a number of important figures. Originally built by Pope Gregory XIII as a papal summer residence, it later became the official residence of the Italian monarchs. Today, this beautiful palace serves as the residence of the President of the Italian Republic.

Franco Vannini from Sansepolcro (AR), Italy on Wikimedia

12. Abdeen Palace

One of the biggest tourist attractions of Cairo, Abdeen Palace spans an incredible 1.2 million square feet. Constructed to be the official residence of Egypt’s royal family, this exceptional piece of architecture used to do just that until the 1952 revolution. Now it houses several exhibitions and is one of the most visited museums in northeast Africa.

Gérard Ducher (user:Néfermaât) on Wikimedia

13. Falaknuma Palace

Falaknuma Palace was built in Hyderabad back in 1894 by Sir Viqar-ul-Umra. The palace is set on a hillrock and covers an area of 32 acres. Built using a combination of Italian and Tudor architecture, it is used as a very luxurious hotel in today's times.

Bernard Gagnon on Wikimedia

14. Istana Negara

The Istana Negara palace is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the monarch of Malaysia. It was built in Segambut, replacing the old Istana Negara which was located in central Kuala Lumpur. Spanning nearly one million square feet, this palace is split into three main portions: the Formal Component, Administration Component, and the Royal Component.

CEphoto, Uwe Aranas on Wikimedia

15. Binnenhof

The Binnenhof is one of the most important and historic complexes of Dutch politics. Originally built in the 13th century as a Gothic castle in The Hague, it now serves as the official residence of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and their government institutions. It holds the title as one of the biggest palaces used by the ruler of a country in the world.

Txllxt TxllxT on Wikimedia

16. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace in London is one of the most famous palaces in the world. Serving as the official residence of the British Royal Family, it was originally acquired by King George III in 1761. Since then, it became the official royal residence, featuring 775 rooms and covering an area of around 850 thousand square feet.

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17. Çırağan Palace

Located on the shore of Istanbul, the Çırağan Palace was constructed somewhere between the years of 1863 and 1867 during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz. The palace was constructed in a time when all Ottoman sultans were building their own palaces rather than using their ancestors' ones. Today, this beautiful architectural gem serves as a luxury hotel in Turkey.

HALUK COMERTEL on Wikimedia

18. Prague Castle

Prague Castle, situated in the capital of the Czech Republic, is an important part of Czech history. Covering an area of around 750 thousand square feet, this 9th-century gem has served as the seat of power for kings, emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia, as well as the current president of the Czech Republic. It is recognized as one of the largest ancient castles in the world.

MathKnight and Zachi Evenor on Wikimedia

19. Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one of the most historically and religiously intriguing palaces today. Used as the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years, this 750 thousand square foot palace includes vast courtyards, mosques, treasuries, and pavilions. Today, it operates as one of the most important museums when it comes to Ottoman artifacts and sacred Islamic relics.

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen on Wikimedia

20. Mukden Palace

Mukden Palace, also known as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, was built in 1625 by the founding father of the Qing Dynasty. It served as the imperial residence until it was moved to a bigger palace in Beijing, the Forbidden City. Since the collapse of imperial rule in China, this palace has been converted into a museum and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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