MAY 2022, UPDATED 2026

When I was younger, I used to think visiting castles was such a boring thing to do. However time changes and I now love to plan a little castle visit during our travels. Besides having an interesting historic story to tell, they are a beautiful photo spots and often complemented by a lush, well maintained garden with interesting landscaping. On this list you will find my favorite castles in Europe, I have included some real hidden gems as well.

Palacio de Pena (Portugal)

You will find Palacio de Pena in Sintra, which to me is the castle capital of Portugal as it features so many gorgeous castles. Palacio de Pena is the most popular one in Sintra and it is not hard to see why. The yellow and red painted buildings are so original and even the interior is spectacular. Make sure to plan a visit as soon as the palace opens in the morning. We were lucky to have the palace grounds to ourselves for 30 minutess, until the other visitors arrived. You should also schedule some time to visit the surrounding forest and gardens.

Quinta da Regaleira (Portugal)

Quinta da Regaleira is situated in the center of Sintra and that is why it is such a surprise that the gardens are such an oasis. As we arrived very late I didn’t get to visit the interior of the palace, but I absolutely loved the gardens. They were so lush, a true fairytale. The old well is an absolute showpiece, but I don’t have any sharp pictures of it, so you should go check it out yourself.

Monseratte Palace (Portugal)

This castle is the closest you are going to get to Marrakesh in Europe. This is the last castle that we visited in Sintra and definitely not the least. It is incredibly underrated as most tourists skip this castle and go to the more popular Palacio de Pena instead.

Castle Borrekens/Vorselaar (Belgium)

One of the dreamiest castles of Belgium can be found near the Dutch border. It is a private castle, so you cannot visit the interior, but I think you don’t need to to enjoy this castle. Castle Borrekens is located in the middle of a beautiful forest and perfect to visit during fall, when the leaves turn color, or late Spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom. You can easily spend a half day hiking the surroundings.

Chateau de Walzin (Belgium)

Chateau de Walzin is located near charming Dinant in the middle of the Ardennes. It is one of the top spots for autumn in Belgium, we visited a little bit to early and the leaves had not colored yet (save some of my photoshop skills). If you would like to do a full day of hiking between castles, you can hike between Chateau de Walzin and Castle Veves, through the Furfooz nature area, which is on my list for next time.

Chateau de Versailles (France)

Of course I won’t forget Chateau de Versailles, one of the largest castles in Europe. We visited on a relatively quiet day, during COVID, when there were no American tourists. I found the interior still incredibly crowded, but our visit to the gardens was very relaxed. Make sure you buy tickets that include a visit to Marie Antoinette’s castle, which I found more impressive than the main castle. Wear comfortable shoes, because the premises are huge!

Chateau de Villandry (France)

The Loire Valley has many great castles to visit and when we were passing through France on a roadtrip, we stopped at Chateau de Villandry. This castle has one of the most impressive castle gardens in the world, I cannot imagine how much maintenance it costs. Even though we visited on a weekend, it still wasn’t very crowded, so we got to enjoy this castle to the fullest.

Chateau du Rivau (France)

Chateau du Rivau is another impressive castle in France, which is also great to visit with kids as many activities are organized and the gardens are really playful. The downside of that is that it was quite busy with playing kids when we visited, but the terrain is very large so you can still find quiet spots. A fun detail about Chateau du Rivau is that there are many peacocks roaming free, which will surprise you on unexpected moments.

Schloss Neuschwanstein (Germany)

The inspiration for the Disney Castles: Schloss Neuschwanstein. A perfect place to visit year round, as the nature will change colors with each season. We just missed the snow, but that made the hike for the castle views a lot easier. If you want to fully enjoy Neuschwanstein you must wear sturdy shoes and do the adventurous hike to the viewpoint.

Burg Eltz (Germany)

Burg Eltz found Instafame a few years ago and it is not hard to see why. The location is absolutely stunning, overlooking forests and rivers in Germany. You will never have this castle to yourself, unless you visit during sunrise. If you are visiting during summertime, you will have the opportunity to spot sunflower fields on your way there.

Leeds Castle (England)

England has no shortage of castles. Leeds castle is surprisingly located in Kent, the garden of England and definitely worth a day trip. The gardens are just as gorgeous as the impeccable decorated castle. You can partake in many activities, such as a wild bird show and listen to the commentary with the quintessential British humor.

Sudeley Castle (England)

I found Sudeley castle very impressive because of the many ruin gardens. The gardens of Sudeley have different types of themes, so you will find surprise after surprise once you turn another corner. The whole garden is maintained very well, but still gives of that perfect scruffy vibe.

Real Alcazar (Spain)

The beautiful castles in Andalusia are in full on Moorish style, providing you with lots of tiles, carved out ceilings and gold. Real Alcazar is a popular visit in Seville and will be a true highlight of your visit. If you get to visit in bougainvillea season, the gardens will be even more lovely, but I recommend a visit year round.

Alhambra (Spain)

The Alhambra in Spain had been on my bucket list for so long, as it was the most beautiful thing my mother had ever seen. That set the bar pretty high and I was happy to be incredibly impressed when visiting in 2018. We visited in May and the roses were in full bloom. The Alhambra is located in Granada, which is one of the driest spots in Europe, however we visited on a day that it was raining, but even that couldn’t dampen our spirits. You should do an online reservation a few weeks before, as tickets can sell out.

Aragonese Castle (Italy)

We managed to visit the stunning Aragonese Castle on Ischia island during shoulder season. The weather was slightly spooky, but that only made the visit extra interesting. You can access the castle by a pedestrian bridge, it is very idyllic. Besides the ruins of the castle, you also get amazing views over Ischia itself. Read my full blogpost on Ischia here.

Diocletian Palace (Croatia)

The Diocletian Palace is not your standard castle. It is located in the old town of Split, or should I say: it is the old town of Split? When walking the old city center of Split, you will unexpectedly enter this castle. Most of it is free to visit, but for some areas you need to buy an entrance ticket. It gets absolutely packed at the Diocletian Palace during summer, so make sure to wake early to fully enjoy it. Find my recommendations here.

Le Mont-Saint-Michel (France)

Is it a church, is it a castle, is it a village? It doesn’t matter, Le Mont-Saint-Michel is just as beautiful as you would expect. One of the best things to do is to have a walk in the grasslands opposite the castle, as the views are just so good. I have some great photo recommendations in my blogpost.

Bantry Castle (Ireland)

Some kind of hidden gem, Bantry Castle is not very famous. However the castle is very interesting and beautifully kept. Especially visit for the Italian gardens and the views over Bantry bay. Click the link above to read my full guide on Bantry Castle.

Schloss Nymphenburg (Germany)

Just outside the city center of Munich you will find Schloss Nymphenburg. Though the main castle is very beautiful, the little buildings in the park are even better. Don’t skip those on your visit. Read all about our visit here.

Residenz (Germany)

I couldn’t believe how big the Residenz castle in Munich was. It is located in the middle of the city center and the amount of rooms that you could visit just would not stop. You have probably seen pictures of the Antiquarium, which to me was the true highlight of our visit. It definitely is a can’t miss on your Munich itinerary.

Schloss Linderhof (Germany)

Definitely my favorite of the Ludwig castles: Schloss Linderhof. It is located so beautifully in the Bavarian Alps, with a stunning garden surrounding it. The castle itself is not very big and you are not allowed to take pictures inside, but I loved the tour.

Castle of Groot-Bijgaarden (Belgium)

This is a relatively unknown castle near Brussels. Two times a year the castle hosts special events in the gardens. During spring there is a tulip festival called Floralia and in autumn it is decorated with pumpkins. You cannot visit the castle itself, but the grounds are spectacular. Especially with the seasonal events. The tulip festival is a great alternative to the Keukenhof, as it is less crowded and just as colorful.

Paleis het Loo (the Netherlands)

The Netherlands is not known for it’s opulent castles, as the Dutch have historically been frugal. However, if you are looking for a good one: Paleis het Loo is one of the best options. Even though the castle is less spectacular than its counterparts in France, you can visit many rooms and learn about its interesting history. I especially loved the gardens, which have recently been redesigned. Read all about our experience here.

Chateau de Chambord (France)

In 2026 I went back to the Loire to visit some more castles and gardens. The best castle we visited on this trip was Chateau de Chambord. It is incredibly grand, with spectacular design details such as the buildings on the roof and the Leonardo da Vinci staircase. We didn’t visit all of the grounds, as we visited during an awful heatwave. But I am sure it is even more fun to enjoy it as part of a Loire a Velo-biketour.

Schloss Benrath (Germany)

I mainly wanted to visit Schloss Benrath near Düsseldorf for the magnolia trees and the pink exterior. However, my son was excited to visit inside, so we bought tickets. I was so impressed with this little castle, it is strange it does not get more visitors. The castle felt like the small sister of Schloss Nymphenburg of Munich and it is not to be missed when you are in the Düsseldorf area.

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