7 Palace Hotels That Will Make You Feel Like Royalty

Want to feel like royalty without having to marry a monarch? Good news: Across the world, châteaus, castles and palaces that once belonged to nobility have been transformed into sumptuous hotels and resorts where you can live out your sovereign dreams. In Ireland, for example, a medieval castle is now a sprawling lakefront resort set on 350 acres of verdant countryside.

Farther afield, there’s a storied Moroccan palace hotel that began as an 18th-century gift from a sultan to his son, and the floating Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, which served as the summer estate of the Mewar royal family. No matter where your royal duties take you, just remember to pack your own crown. (Photo courtesy of Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur.)

Ashford Castle (Cong, Ireland)
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Though it was built as a defensive stronghold in 1228, Ashford Castle is best known for once belonging to the Guinness family. Now an 83-room hotel overlooking Lough Corrib, the property transports guests back in time with elaborate prints that climb from the custom carpets to the tasseled canopies above the beds, plus antique furniture and Murano glass chandeliers. Just as impressive as the design is the scale of the estate, which sprawls across 350 acres and offers such traditional pursuits as falconry, shooting, horseback riding and fly-fishing on the lake in handcrafted wooden boats.

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice (Venice, Italy)
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Before Marriott raised its flag here, this hotel was a private palazzo occupied by Venetian nobility. Though a $50 million renovation completed in 2013 brought it into the 21st century, it still retains its 15th-century charms with Murano glass fixtures, antique furnishings and hand-painted wood details. Looking to splurge? Book the Redentore Terrazza Suite, which has a private plunge pool and rooftop terrace that showcases the hotel’s enviable location on the Grand Canal. Come aperitivo hour, grab a drink from the martini trolley at Bar Longhi or, when it’s open for the season, a Bellini on the terrace. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Barré/The Gritti Palace.)

Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey)

This waterfront hotel underwent a redesign in 2023, but you can still feel its roots as a sultan’s palace during the Ottoman Empire. Traditional design elements, like pebble mosaics, Iznik tiles and decorative latticework, can be found throughout the property, and a handful of suites occupying the historic palace have more traditional decor, such as box molding and parquet floors. But history aside, the hotel’s location on the banks of the Bosporus might be its most compelling feature; book a room with a balcony or float around in the infinity pool to take in the view.

La Mamounia Marrakech (Marrakech, Morocco)

Before it was one of the most luxurious hotels on the planet, this property was a 32-acre orchard bequeathed to Prince Al Mamoun by his father, an 18th-century sultan of Morocco, as a wedding gift. Today, the hotel’s origin story is immortalized in a suite that bears the prince’s name and is filled with decorative elements including plaster friezes and zellige mosaics. It’s just one of six suites designed to celebrate the property’s history (such as the Churchill, named for one of the hotel’s most famous former guests). Don’t miss the traditional hammam and the sprawling outdoor pool with a glittering Murano glass bottom.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur (Udaipur, India)

Nothing screams royal retreat quite like a white marble palace filled with Indian silks and hand-carved latticework, all floating on a lake. Before this regal property was a heritage hotel bearing the Taj brand name, it was the summer estate of the Mewar royal family in the 18th century. Now, it’s got 83 rooms and suites, a heated outdoor swimming pool and Lake Pichola views from every angle, making it feel more aristocratic than ever.

Amberley Castle (Arundel, England)

Over the course of nine centuries, Amberley has been home to bishops and dukes, and has even hosted kings and queens. In 1945, Elizabeth II—at the time a young princess—stayed here while visiting friends. Now the castle is a Relais & Châteaux property with only 19 rooms, each featuring original details such as exposed beams, 14th-century lancet windows and granite fireplaces. Guests can while away their days with croquet, miniature golf, tennis and, for those craving something more adventurous, scenic drives in supercars like Aston Martins, Ferraris and McLarens.

Palacio Solecio, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World (Málaga, Spain)

Bed down in this lovingly restored 18th-century Andalusian palace, once home to a former Genovese nobleman and now featuring original elements (a grand staircase and interior courtyard) alongside 68 chic rooms stocked with modern amenities (rainfall showers and Wi-Fi, of course). Splash out for exceptional views and book the Tower room—the only one on the hotel’s top floor, complete with a private terrace. Then spend afternoons sipping Spanish wine at the poolside La Terraza de Solecio; you might even catch a live guitarist.