AROUND THE WORLD · MUSEUMS

Palace Museums: 15 Royal Collections Worth a Ticket

40 tours  ·  from $5 a head

Treasuries, armouries and state collections that stayed in the building they were made for. The 15 below carry prices, opening constraints and which ones need a separate ticket from the palace around them.

Vienna: Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour - Meeting around Michaelerplatz
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Vienna: Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour

1.Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5,918 reviews · 2h 30m · from $61Our pick

Spend 150 minutes with a licensed guide such as Alex, Mario, Nicole, or Mirko at Vienna’s Hofburg. You’ll see Sisi’s personal items, imperial rooms, courtyards, the Spanish Riding School, and Burggarten. Choose English, German, French, Italian, or Spanish, and expect a group of up to 25.

“Ana is an extraordinary guide, very kind and provides a lot of great insights in History, the life and many details around Empress Sisi life and difficulties. We come from Mexico and enjoyed a lot learning and enjoying the Sisi Palace Tour”

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Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery - Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and the prison route
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Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

2.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

Begin near St. Mark’s Square with guided visits to the Basilica and Doge’s Palace, then take a shared gondola through Venice’s canals. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have earned praise for clear, lively storytelling. A Venice history VR experience and museum access are included.

“We were looking forward to seeing St Mark’s, the Doge’s Palace and the optional gondola ride. The tour time was listed as 3.5 hrs. Therefore we booked our train from Venice back to Florence after the tour an hour after it was finished to give some extra time in case the tour went long. Come to find out, the gondola was AFTER the 3.5 hrs tour so we wouldn’t have made our train back to Florence. That was not explicitly spelled out in the reservation I made. So, we had to chose between the Doge palace and the gondola. We chose the Gondola of course and were very glad we…”

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Vienna: Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour - The Augustinian Church and royal weddings
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Vienna: Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

3.Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,460 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Walk from Albertinaplatz into Vienna’s Habsburg center, visit the Augustinian Church and Lipizzaner stables, then skip the line at the Hofburg and Sisi Museum. Guides such as Siri, Dieter, Anna, Lisa, and Michael bring court life and Empress Elisabeth’s story to life in English, Spanish, or German.

“Rafa had extensive knowledge and a great sense of humour. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour”

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Royal Palace & Prado Museum Skip the Line Guided Tour - Starting at Plaza de España
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Royal Palace & Prado Museum Skip the Line Guided Tour

4.Royal Palace & Prado Museum Skip the Line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,347 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $82

Spend about five hours with an English-speaking guide at Madrid’s Royal Palace and Prado Museum, using included skip-the-line tickets. Guides such as Miguel, Marta, Eva, and Andrea bring the rooms, paintings, and old city streets to life, with a long walk between the two major sights.

“Our guide for the day was Marta. She was friendly, professional and extremely knowledgeable. Great presentation skills and a good use of humor and stories. Royal Place was the highlight for us. Unbelievable and you have to see it. Prada museum was good. Interesting to learn history on Mona Lisa.”

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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours - Meeting near Donganmen and getting through the gates
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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

5.Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,288 reviews · from $4Best value

Choose a Forbidden City ticket, small-group tour, or private visit in English or Spanish. Meet near the Bank of China Donganmen Branch, then explore Tiananmen Square and the imperial palace, with guides such as Linda, Vanessa, Mary, Snow, and Icy leading the way.

“The meeting point could be closer to the entrance, because it's a lot of walking inside the palace anyway.”

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Venice: City Pass with Museums including Doge's Palace - Doge’s Palace from noon to 6 PM
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Venice: City Pass with Museums including Doge’s Palace

6.City Pass with Museums including Doge’s Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,020 reviews · 1 day · from $74

This one-day Venice City Pass gives you timed access to Doge’s Palace from noon to 6 PM, plus entry to 11 museums. Use it for Correr, Ca’ Rezzonico, Murano’s Glass Museum, Burano’s Lace Museum, and more. There is no guide, transport, food, or St. Mark’s Basilica admission.

“We visited a few churches, Doge’s palace, Querini Stampalia museum. We didn’t have time to visit anything else on this pass as we also had separate tickets for other attractions and the 3 islands. We were in Venice for 4 whole days and we felt that to visit more of the museums and churches we would have needed more time. The vaporetto system was excellent and we used the travel pass for 3 days a lot. Well worth getting that in advance.”

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The Hague: Escher in The Palace Museum Ticket - Following Escher from early work to impossible worlds
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The Hague: Escher in The Palace Museum Ticket

7.The Hague: Escher in The Palace Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 896 reviews · 365 days · from $15

Visit Escher in Het Paleis in The Hague with admission, an audio guide in eight languages, and access to interactive puzzles. See more than 130 original prints, including Metamorphosis III, inside Queen Emma’s former Winter Palace. Allow about an hour or two, longer with children.

“Great experience! So interesting, both the history of Escher and of the building where his art is housed.”

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Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides - The Throne Room, Queen’s Megaron, and Minoan stories
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Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides

8.Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 828 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $69

Pair Crete’s two essential Minoan sites with one timed-entry ticket. Visit Knossos Palace, then study remarkable artifacts at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum using a downloadable audio guide in English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. You arrange your own transport and explore at your own pace.

“guided tour was good! it didn’t connect to my location on my phone though which i expected, so it was hard to match up where i was with the info spots on the app to get the correct tour recording. the information was interesting and knossos itself was so cool! sadly the biggest part of it was closed, which was sad, but i visited during the off season so it’s unfortunately common.”

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Vienna: Skip-the-Line Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Tour - Meeting the guide inside the Hofburg
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Vienna: Skip-the-Line Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Tour

9.Skip-the-Line Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 801 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Follow an English, German, or Italian-speaking guide through the Hofburg’s Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments, then walk across Heroes’ Square and Josefplatz. Guides such as Michael, Claudia, Petra, and Kristina are praised for clear storytelling, humor, and useful details about Sisi and the Habsburg court.

“Claudia has been an amazing guide! She made the tour really interesting and also fun!! Would love to do more tours with her. The place and the museum are amazing. A must see !”

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Venice Museum Pass & Doge's Palace Entrance Ticket - Smaller museums that reward extra time
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Venice Museum Pass & Doge’s Palace Entrance Ticket

10.Venice Museum Pass & Doge’s Palace Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 769 reviews · 180 days · from $41

Exchange your voucher in Venice for a pass covering Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, and other civic museums. You can also use a Chorus Pass at 16 churches. The pass lasts 180 days, but the bell tower and St. Mark’s Basilica are not included.

“Skip the line tickets are excellent for someone who wants to wander round at there own pace”

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Marrakech: Palace, Museum, Madrasa & Medina Highlights Tour - Starting at Jemaa el Fna
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Marrakech: Palace, Museum, Madrasa & Medina Highlights Tour

11.Palace, Museum, Madrasa & Medina Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 706 reviews · 4 hours · from $18

Start at Jemaa el Fna with a licensed guide such as Yassine, Hassan, or Youness, then walk through Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the souks, Rahba Kedima, and possibly Dar El Bacha Museum. Expect history, Moroccan craft, photo stops, and some arranged shopping visits.

“I would like to Thank our guide Yassin, He was so friendly and so proffesional . Best tour ever”

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Madrid: Prado Museum and the Royal Palace Guided Tour - Starting at the Royal Palace in central Madrid
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Madrid: Prado Museum and the Royal Palace Guided Tour

12.Prado Museum and the Royal Palace Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 688 reviews · 5 hours · from $80

See Madrid’s Prado Museum and Royal Palace in one five-hour tour with skip-the-line entry, headsets, and a live English or Spanish guide. Expect major works by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and Tiziano, plus a city walk past Neptune Fountain, Cervantes’ home, and Puerta del Sol.

“Marta was very vivid and had good knowledge about the palace and the Prado. We enjoyed the tour quite a lot and think back with a warm feeling.”

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Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum - Walking through Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol
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Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum

13.Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 628 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $119Top rated

In about four hours, an English-speaking guide leads you through Prado highlights, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and Madrid’s Royal Palace. Expect skip-the-line museum entry, a small group of up to 16, plenty of walking, and strong storytelling from guides such as David, Anna, Ernesto, and Irene.

“Isabel our tour guide was exceptionally friendly, helpful, & knowledgeable. She offered & pushed me in wheelchairs thru La Prada & the Palace. I highly recommend this tour.”

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Basilica, Doge's Palace, History Gallery & Bell Tower Option - St. Mark’s Basilica and its gold mosaics
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Basilica, Doge’s Palace, History Gallery & Bell Tower Option

14.Basilica, Doge’s Palace, History Gallery & Bell Tower Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 586 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $116

Visit Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark’s Basilica with a small group of up to 15. Your guide explains Venice’s art and politics, while the optional Campanile ticket gives you sweeping views from 98 meters above the square. Bell tower bookings include an exterior-only basilica visit.

“Really disappointing experience after our original tour guide didn’t turn up for our tour. The best part of the experience was the VR experience at the beginning and bell tower at the end with neither being guided. The replacement tour guides English wasn’t fantastic and he focused on only some members of the group rather than all. In some areas he gave too much historical information and in others not enough. We left early part way through as we weren’t enjoying ourselves. This is the only bad experience we have had throughout our travels in Italy.”

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Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour Vienna - Entering the Sisi Museum with timed admission
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Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour Vienna

15.Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 449 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your English-speaking guide at Michaelerplatz for a 2.5-hour walk through imperial Vienna. Visit the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments with timed entry, see the Spanish Riding School, and explore Heldenplatz, Burggarten, and Hofburg courtyards. Guides such as Alex, Alexander, and Rene are praised for lively storytelling.

“The guide was knowledgeable and informative. I would recommend the tour to other travellers. Good value for money.”

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New in Museums

★ 4.3“Skip the line” Royal Palace + Prado MuseumFrom $807 reviews
★ 4.5Stockholm Old Town Highlights, Royal Palace, Vasa Museum TourFrom $18817 reviews
★ 4.8Stockholm Royal Palace Museums Gamla Stan Skip-the-line TourFrom $24118 reviews
★ 4.5Prado Museum & Royal Palace: Madrid Guided Tour in EnglishFrom $82118 reviews
★ 4.0Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio GuidesFrom $69126 reviews
★ 4.7Skip-the-Line Hofburg Ticket & Sisi Museum TourFrom $241134 reviews
★ 4.2Museum Pass–David, Uffizi, Pitti Palace & GardensFrom $117134 reviews
★ 4.6Palazzo Madama Museum of Ancient Art Entrance TicketFrom $11149 reviews
★ 5.0Versailles & Louvre Museum: All-Inclusive Semi Private TourFrom $463150 reviews
★ 4.6Palatina Gallery and Pitti Palace Guided Tour158 reviews
★ 4.6Taipei: Morning City Tour with National Palace Museum EntryFrom $40173 reviews
★ 5.0Madrid Royal Palace and Prado Museum Private Tour with TransfersFrom $356185 reviews
★ 4.5Beijing：Jingshan Park (Palace Museum Garden) TicketFrom $6185 reviews
★ 4.7Casa Rocca Piccola Palace and Museum Entrance TicketFrom $12196 reviews
★ 4.7Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum Skip-the-Line TourFrom $249223 reviews

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Pick a gate

A named palace, a kind of ticket, or a whole country of them.

The famous ones

AlhambraVersaillesPena PalaceForbidden CityDoge’s Palace

Also worth the fare

TopkapıGrand PalaceSchönbrunnSummer PalaceAlcázar of Seville

Royal residences

BuckinghamWindsorRoyal Palace, MadridSeoul palacesRoyal castles

How you get in

Palace ticketsSkip the lineGuided toursGardens and groundsPalace museums