Splendid Royal Palaces to Visit in Europe

Europe is synonymous with its vast array of castles and palaces, and visiting one is often a highlight of a trip across the pond. Technically speaking, they’re different entities altogether (historically, a castle is fortified, whereas a palace is simply just a lavish place of residence), and these dramatic structures dot the landscape of Europe. No trip to the continent would be complete without visiting at least one of them in person. For this list, we’re focusing exclusively on palaces that are either former residences of royalty (or in one famous case, the Papacy) or are currently still the home base of one of the continent’s reigning monarchs. Click on the slideshow to see the best royal palaces in Europe to visit.