The Most Beautiful Royal Residences Around The World

A stunning palace is on the wish list for any city. However, like all beautiful things, there's a hefty price tag attached to it. For many palaces across the world, it takes big bucks to keep a castle in business. That includes Buckingham Palace in London, England, which, according to People, recently underwent a $460 million renovation. Unfortunately, that was only one of the palace bills that taxpayers had to pay to keep the royal family living comfortably. A bill for $60 million was racked up following a catastrophic fire at Windsor Castle about 30 years ago, and Prince William and Princess Kate's then-new home at Kensington Palace was renovated prior to their arrival for more than $7 million.

Although most of us are familiar with Buckingham Palace (even if we're not familiar with its colossal costs), there are tons of other royal palaces throughout the world that each country's respective royal family calls home. They're all different in that they reflect that country's architectural style and history, but one thing is the same — they're all pretty impressive.

The real Palace of Versailles in Paris, France, may not exactly be a close neighbor of Stockholm, Sweden, but it might as well be with Drottningholm Royal Palace. The Palace of Versailles inspired this grand home, but with its location on an island in Lake Mälar, a perfectly preserved theater dating back 250 years, and lush green gardens, it stands in a league all its own, according to World Heritage.

The Swedish royal family is lucky enough to call this amazing estate home. Tourists can visit it throughout the year and, for a real steal, they can also stroll through the always-free gardens. These gardens include grand fountains, seemingly endless rows of trees, and even a Chinese pavilion. It's a perfect example of how Drottningholm Royal Palace isn't just a representation of Swedish or even European life. Instead, the palace showcases how both Europe and Asia worked together during this time to create stunning structures and décor. What's even more amazing, though, is that all of these elements are the same as when the palace was built during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, per UNESCO. It's been meticulously cared for, so the original building materials, gardens, and pieces of grand décor are exactly as they were so many years ago.

It might have the typical name of a royal palace, but the Royal Palace of Madrid (otherwise known as Palacio Real in Spanish) is a structure of contradictions. Per Madrid Tourism, the Spanish royal family doesn't ever call it a night at the Royal Palace, but the castle is still used for official events while the family lives in another palace near the city. It's also not the original royal palace that once sat on this one's footprint in the ninth century. That castle, typical of Spain and Portugal during that time period, burned to the ground in the mid-1700s. In its place, King Felipe V built a new palace –- and, like Drottningholm Royal Palace, it was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But this time, he wanted to ensure another fire wouldn't take it down. So, the new Royal Palace was made of stone and brick, and just a few years after it was built, Carlos III moved in.

But the Royal Palace is far more than stone and brick. Known to be one of the most beautiful palaces on the continent, the Royal Palace is adorned with stunning murals painted by some of the most well-known artists of the time. It also boasts elegant mahogany doors and windows, as well as Spanish marble, which gives the structure its lavish ambiance.

Like some other royal palaces, Raghadan Palace isn't the constant home of King Abdullah II and his wife, Queen Rania. Instead, the royal family splits their time between Raghadan Palace and their less-ostentatious home that's also in the city of Amman, per Daily Express. However, whether they're there or not, Raghadan Palace is one of the most important buildings in the country. It's where official business, such as traditional ceremonies or dignitary meetings, occurs. It's been that way ever since it was built in 1926. It was themed after other significant Islamic buildings in the country, with its stained glass windows and intricate woodwork.

However, the palace is not the same as a century ago. Raghadan Palace, which translates to the palace of "a decent life," was severely damaged by a freak fire about 50 years ago. The roof, flooring, and some rooms were destroyed, but were quickly restored to their former glory. Preservationists took special care to ensure that some spaces, including the important Throne Hall, looked just as before. The building also includes a central courtyard adorned by two foreboding and historic cannons; an elaborately-decorated lobby area; a reception hall with space for praying; a meeting hall used for gatherings with politicians; and the former quarters of the late Sharif Hussein bin Ali (via The Royal Hashemite Court).

Although Huis ten Bosch Palace started simply as a vacation home for Amalia van Solms nearly 400 years ago, it's now much more than its namesake, which means "house in the woods." It's the home of the Dutch royal family, tucked away in the Haagse Bos forest, per The Hague. However, with its somewhat dark history, it makes sense that the palace was demoted to a part-time residence for hundreds of years. When Amalia van Solms' husband died during the palace's construction, she wanted it simply used to honor his life rather than used as a functional structure. That changed in the 1980s, and the royal family moved back to this Italian-style building.

Like many other royal residences, Huis ten Bosch Palace now serves as a royal home, a place for official business, as well as an escape from the busy city for the public. It takes up nearly half a mile of lush greenery and forestry, where visitors can run, walk, or picnic just a short walk from the Hague. Unfortunately, a view of the palace is all visitors can hope for. Since the royal family lives here, there are no tours of the palace's interior. But from beyond the wrought iron gates, you can still see the castle's gold cupola, white brick façade, and stately exterior.

It may not get the same hype that the Taj Mahal enjoys, but Mysore Palace, one of the biggest palaces in the country, is nothing to balk at. FabHotels notes that what's also known as Amba Vilas Palace is also where the Wodeyar Dynasty lived for a whopping 500 years. Its three stories represent a mix of Hindu, Mughal, Rajput, and Gothic elements, which translate into colored glass ceilings, over-the-top chandeliers from faraway lands, international artwork, towering archways, and sun-filled bay windows. It's no surprise that it took more than a dozen years to build this elegant and grand structure in the southern state of Karnataka. That, however, only came after the former palace in its place burned to the ground in a devastating fire as a result of a thunderstorm.

Although the royal family does call Mysore Palace home, some of it is open to visitors, who can check out the palace's best features. This includes a colossal assortment of Indian dolls, the soaring 'Elephant Gate' which welcomes visitors to the palace, various temples throughout the property, and priceless paintings and photographs. If you're planning a visit, though, make sure you stay into the evening. Almost every single night, a sound and light show enchants both adults and children alike.

Unlike some other royal palaces, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam is usually open to tourists. According to its website, every effort is made to accommodate visitors in seeing this grand structure designed during the 17^th century. Although that isn't the current case due to COVID-19 — the palace is currently closed to keep both staff and visitors safe from infection — it's known as a friendly palace that serves as King Willem-Alexander's formal reception building. Its history makes it clear why this palace is so welcoming to guests. Long before it was ever used as the site of royal dinners and ceremonies, it was a town hall before King Louis Bonaparte decided it was destined for more refined duties about 200 years ago.

The Royal Palace was built during the "golden age" of the Netherlands. Today, it remains the most beloved and intact structure from that time, which is apparent to both the public and visiting dignitaries alike. From the Royal Palace's stunning Citizen's Hall to the galleries that house works of art from well-known artists throughout history, it's a sight to behold. Yet another beautiful must-see collection here is King Louis Bonaparte's vast assortment of Empire furniture, which other visiting nobles are lucky enough to use when they come to town.