7 Famous Castles in Europe
Europe's most famous castles cover more than 1,000 years of royal drama, sieges and architectural ambition. From a Bavarian fairy tale perched in the Alps to a colorful Romanticist palace rising above the Portuguese coast, these seven reward the ticket lines and the uphill walks with some of the best views on the continent.
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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Rising from a rocky Bavarian hillside near the town of Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle looks like it was conjured straight from a storybook. Commissioned by King Ludwig II in 1869 as a personal retreat, the castle blends Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine design elements into something entirely theatrical. Its exterior inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle, and roughly 1.4 million visitors make the trek each year to see the real thing.
Inside, the Throne Room dazzles with golden mosaics and marble columns, while the Singer's Hall pays tribute to Ludwig's obsession with Richard Wagner's operas. The Marienbrücke, a footbridge over the Pöllat Gorge, offers what may be the most photographed castle view in Europe. Entry is by guided tour only, lasting about 30 minutes, and tickets should be booked online well in advance through the Hohenschwangau Ticket Center.
What are the most famous castles in Europe? Neuschwanstein in Germany, the Alhambra in Spain, Edinburgh Castle, France's Chambord, Prague Castle, the Tower of London and Portugal's Pena Palace.
What is the best time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle? Late spring and early fall bring smaller crowds than July and August, and September adds fall color. Winter snow makes for the classic photo, but the Marienbrücke often closes for ice, so check before going.
How do visitors get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich? The train from Munich to Füssen takes about two hours, and from there a short bus ride reaches Hohenschwangau village. A steep uphill walk or shuttle bus brings visitors to Neuschwanstein Castle itself.
Are photos allowed inside Neuschwanstein Castle? Photography and filming are not permitted inside Neuschwanstein Castle. However, exterior viewpoints — especially from the Marienbrücke — offer spectacular angles for capturing the castle against its Alpine backdrop.
The Alhambra, Spain
Perched on the Sabika hill above Granada, the Alhambra is not simply a castle. It is a fortified city encompassing palaces, gardens, a military fortress, and an entire medieval community. Built primarily during the 13th and 14th centuries by the Nasrid dynasty, the complex served as the capital of the last Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula until 1492.
The Nasrid Palaces are the crown jewel of the Alhambra, featuring the famous Court of the Lions with its delicate marble fountain and intricate stucco carvings. The Generalife gardens cascade across terraces filled with fountains and aromatic plantings. About 2.7 million people visit the Alhambra each year, making advance ticket purchases — especially for timed Nasrid Palaces entry — essential.
How far in advance should visitors book Alhambra tickets? Alhambra tickets can be purchased up to three months ahead, and booking early is strongly recommended. Nasrid Palaces access sells out quickly, particularly during peak travel months between April and October.
What areas make up the Alhambra complex? The Alhambra consists of the Alcazaba fortress, the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of Charles V, and the Generalife gardens. Each section of the Alhambra reflects a different era and function within the complex.
Can visitors see the Alhambra at night? The Alhambra offers limited nighttime visits to the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife on select evenings. Night visits to the Alhambra provide a dramatically different atmosphere with illuminated stonework and far fewer crowds.
See more of Spain while traveling, well beyond its castles and palaces.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Dominating the Edinburgh skyline from atop an extinct volcanic plug, Edinburgh Castle has been a seat of power since the Iron Age. The castle has endured more sieges than any other fortress in Great Britain, and its walls contain Edinburgh's oldest building — the 12th-century St Margaret's Chapel. The Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain, are displayed in the Crown Room.
The Great Hall, completed around 1511 for King James IV, features a magnificent hammerbeam roof and once hosted royal banquets and parliamentary sessions. Visitors should time their arrival for the One o'Clock Gun, fired daily except Sundays — a tradition dating to 1861 that helped ships in the Firth of Forth set their chronometers. Edinburgh Castle drew over 2 million visitors in 2025, making advance ticket booking strongly recommended.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh Castle? Weekday mornings outside the August festival season have the thinnest crowds. Summer has the longest hours, but spring and fall bring shorter queues and dramatic Scottish light.
What should visitors not miss at Edinburgh Castle? The Crown Room housing the Honours of Scotland, St Margaret's Chapel, the Great Hall, and the panoramic views from the battlements are Edinburgh Castle's top highlights. The castle's official guided walking tours, sold as a separate ticket that includes entry, are well worth booking.
Is Edinburgh Castle accessible for visitors with mobility challenges? Edinburgh Castle offers ramps and accessible routes for many areas, though some historic sections including St Margaret's Chapel involve steep steps. Manual wheelchairs are available first come, first served, and a mobility vehicle runs up to Crown Square on request.
Château de Chambord, France
Chambord is the Loire Valley at its most extravagant. Begun in 1519 as a hunting lodge for the young King François I, it grew into one of the most ambitious building projects in French history. The château has 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 77 staircases, and a rooftop terrace studded with chimneys and turrets that resemble a small city skyline.
The show-stealer is the double-helix staircase at the center of the keep, widely attributed to the influence of Leonardo da Vinci. Two intertwined spirals allow people to ascend and descend simultaneously without crossing paths. The surrounding estate covers more than 13,000 acres enclosed by a 20-mile wall, making it the largest walled park in Europe. Visitors can explore by bike, on foot or by electric boat, and the Loire is home to some of the most iconic European wineries.
How long should visitors spend at Château de Chambord? The interior takes about two hours; add the gardens, the rooftop terrace and the estate trails and it fills a full day.
Is Château de Chambord easy to reach from Paris? Chambord sits about a two-hour drive from Paris. Visitors can also take a train to Blois-Chambord station and connect via shuttle bus. Several guided day tours from Paris include Château de Chambord alongside other Loire châteaux.
Did Leonardo da Vinci actually design Château de Chambord? While no definitive proof exists, architectural historians widely believe Leonardo da Vinci influenced the design of Chambord's famous double-helix staircase. He was a guest of François I at nearby Clos Lucé during the château's early planning stages.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Prague Castle holds the Guinness record as the largest ancient castle complex in the world, stretching nearly 1,900 feet in length and covering roughly 750,000 square feet. Founded around 880, it has served continuously as a seat of power for Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors, and Czech presidents. Its skyline, crowned by the spires of St. Vitus Cathedral, is one of the most recognized in Europe.
St. Vitus Cathedral is arguably the castle's greatest treasure — a Gothic masterpiece whose construction began in 1344 and was not completed until 1929. Golden Lane, a row of tiny colorful houses built into the castle's northern wall, once sheltered marksmen and artisans. Franz Kafka briefly lived at number 22. The castle attracted 2.59 million visitors in 2024, and multiple ticket circuits allow visitors to customize their experience.
Is it worth paying for a Prague Castle ticket circuit? The castle courtyards and exterior can be explored for free, but the paid Prague Castle ticket circuits unlock interiors of St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, St. George's Basilica, and the Old Royal Palace. The full Prague Castle circuit is worthwhile for history enthusiasts.
What is the best approach route to Prague Castle? Walking uphill from the Lesser Town through Nerudova Street offers the most scenic approach to Prague Castle. Alternatively, take a tram to Pohořelec and walk downhill through the complex.
How long does a visit to Prague Castle take? Most visitors spend two to three hours at Prague Castle, though those exploring every exhibition and garden could spend half a day. Prague Castle's gardens are open seasonally from April through October.
Tower of London, England
The Tower of London has been a fortress, royal palace, prison, mint, armory, and zoo over its nearly 1,000-year history. William the Conqueror fortified the site soon after his 1066 conquest and began the central White Tower around 1078, and the imposing Norman keep still stands as the complex's centerpiece. The Tower sits on the north bank of the Thames, anchoring London's skyline next to the Victorian-era Tower Bridge.
The Crown Jewels exhibition remains the Tower's most popular draw, featuring more than 100 objects including the Imperial State Crown and the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond. The Yeoman Warders — known as Beefeaters — lead entertaining guided tours included with admission. The Tower's famous ravens, kept by royal decree, wander the grounds under the watchful eye of the Ravenmaster. Tickets cost upward of 35 pounds for adults, and advance online booking is strongly recommended.
Why are ravens kept at the Tower of London? Legend holds that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the Crown and kingdom will fall. At least six ravens are maintained at the Tower of London at all times by royal decree.
What is the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London? The Ceremony of the Keys is a 700-year-old nightly ritual in which the Tower of London is locked by the Chief Yeoman Warder. Tickets for the Tower of London ceremony are pay-what-you-choose, from 10 to 50 pounds (30 pounds suggested), and must be booked online well in advance.
How much time is needed to visit the Tower of London? Most visitors spend three to four hours exploring the Tower of London. Arrive at opening on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and head to the Crown Jewels before the tour groups do.
For more of Britain's fortresses, see these British castles.
Pena Palace, Portugal
Perched on the second-highest peak of the Sintra Mountains, Pena Palace is Europe's first purpose-built Romantic palace, predating Neuschwanstein by about 30 years. King Ferdinand II transformed a ruined 16th-century monastery into a kaleidoscopic palace beginning in 1838, mixing Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Renaissance elements into a building that looks like it was assembled from several different centuries and continents.
The palace's vivid red and yellow facades rise above an 85-hectare park filled with tree species from around the world, including North American sequoias, Japanese cryptomeria, and Australian tree ferns. Inside, trompe-l'oeil paintings, original royal furnishings, and the preserved chapel with its 1528 alabaster altarpiece reward visitors who make the steep climb. Pena Palace is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
How do visitors reach Pena Palace from Lisbon? A train from Lisbon's Rossio station reaches Sintra in about 40 minutes. From Sintra station, bus 434 runs regularly to Pena Palace. Private vehicles are not permitted on the palace access road, so the bus or a steep uphill walk are the main options for reaching Pena Palace.
Should visitors buy Pena Palace tickets in advance? Yes, especially from April through September. Tickets are timed, and buying online skips the queue at the gate.
What else should visitors see near Pena Palace in Sintra? The Moorish Castle is a short walk from Pena Palace and offers dramatic hilltop views. The town of Sintra itself features the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and traditional pastry shops well worth exploring alongside Pena Palace.
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