AROUND THE WORLD · PALACE TOURS

The 15 Best Palace Tours in the World

847 tours  ·  from $2 a head

Granada, Versailles, Venice, Beijing, Bangkok. The 15 below are the palace days worth building a trip around, each with what the ticket really includes, what it costs a head and how far ahead the good slots go.

Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket - The Gothic exterior and Golden Staircase
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Venice: Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket

1.Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 42,716 reviews · 1 day · from $41Our pick

Use a reserved digital ticket to enter Doge’s Palace without the standard ticket queue. Tour the Gothic palace at your own pace, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and visit the Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum, and Marciana Library. This is self-guided entry, not a guided tour.

“It's just a skip-the-line ticket -- no personal guide or even an audio guide. The palace is breathtaking... so much to see. Like other reviewers we didn't have time to see the other ticket inclusions.”

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Paris: Versailles Palace and Gardens Full Access Ticket - Timed Entry Into the Palace
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Paris: Versailles Palace and Gardens Full Access Ticket

2.Versailles Palace and Gardens Full Access Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 41,579 reviews · 1 day · from $17

Spend a full day exploring Versailles Palace, the Hall of Mirrors, formal gardens, Trianon estates, and Marie Antoinette’s retreat. Your timed palace entry helps organize the visit, while garden access lets you set your own pace. Seasonal fountain and musical garden options are available from April through October.

“We spent most of our time in the Gardens, what a spectacular view with the opera music playing in the background. This was a memorable experience I got to share with my hubby.”

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Seville: Royal Alcázar Entry Ticket - The palace rooms: tile, shadow, and careful detail
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Seville: Royal Alcázar Entry Ticket

3.Royal Alcázar Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 28,378 reviews · 1 day · from $23

Use your timed entry at the Puerta del León to explore Seville’s Royal Alcázar independently. You’ll see Moorish and Christian architecture, tiled rooms, palace courtyards, gardens, and Game of Thrones filming sites. An audio guide costs extra, and Royal Bedroom access may require a separate fee.

“Amazing extensive grounds- I spent a few hours wandering around the gardens.”

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Granada: Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets - Starting at the hilltop citadel
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Granada: Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets

4.Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19,801 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

Explore Granada’s Alhambra in three hours with entry to the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Generalife, Palace of Charles V, and Mosque Baths. A guide such as Antonio, Patricia, or Guillermo brings the art, legends, fountains, and royal stories to life in English, Spanish, French, German, or Italian.

“Our guide was awesome! So glad we had a guide throughout the tour as it enriched our experience ten fold. I would absolutely recommend using a tour guide for anyone visiting the Alhambra.”

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Sintra: Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket - The 30-Minute Route Through Pena Park
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Sintra: Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket

5.Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 17,410 reviews · 1 day · from $11

Spend a day exploring Pena Palace and its romantic park above Sintra. Your ticket covers the palace, gardens, and Chalet of the Countess of Edla, plus an audio guide in four languages. Plan extra time for the uphill route from the park entrance to the palace.

“Pena Palace and its beautiful garden is a must see, if you're visiting Lisbon. 45min from Lisbon, it's really worth going there and enjoying the scenery and surrounding of the Mountain of Sintra.”

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Granada: Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces Entry Ticket - Your timed entry begins at the Nasrid Palaces
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Granada: Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces Entry Ticket

6.Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15,130 reviews · 3 hours · from $33

Visit the Alhambra complex without joining a group. Your timed entry is for the Nasrid Palaces, while the Alcazaba, Generalife, Palace of Charles V, Mosque Baths, and exhibitions can be visited the same day. Bring your passport or ID, allow 15 minutes to walk from the entrance to the palaces, and expect plenty of stairs.

“Absolutely mesmerizing architecture and very cool to learn about the history of this area.”

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Madrid: Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket - Getting to the Almudena esplanade entrance
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Madrid: Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket

7.Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13,856 reviews · 1 day · from $26

Use a fast-access ticket to enter Madrid’s Royal Palace through the Almudena esplanade gate. See the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, paintings by Goya and Velázquez, and the Royal Armory. Plan about 75 minutes, or longer if you read every display.

“Easy to purchase and enter the palace with the app and e ticket. There were lots of interesting ornaments and decor to see.”

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Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour - St. Mark’s Basilica and the bronze horses
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Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

8.Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 10,697 reviews · from $123

See Venice’s essential sights with a local guide such as Federica, Francesca, Elena, or Matteo. Enter St. Mark’s Basilica, climb to its terrace for lagoon views, then tour Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and the New Prisons. Private and small-group options are available.

“Elena was one of the best guides we have ever had. Very knowledgeable, charismatic, and very accommodating!”

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Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace and Gardens Access - The meeting point and arrival plan
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Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace and Gardens Access

9.Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace and Gardens Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 10,429 reviews · 2 hours · from $76

Meet your multilingual guide near Versailles, then spend 90 minutes in the palace’s State Apartments, King’s Bedroom, and Hall of Mirrors. Guides such as Valery, Gabriella, Aurelia, and Anne-Sophie bring the royal stories to life. Afterward, explore the gardens independently, with optional access to Marie Antoinette’s estate and the Trianon.

“Aurelia was an excellent host and guide for the day. She was very knowledgeable and made the experience one to remember. Apart from delays in having to queue up (not Aurelia’s issue), the day was great. Warning, it does get very busy in the palace with lots of other tour groups. Thank you Aurelia!”

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Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip - Meeting at Parque Eduardo VII
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Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip

10.Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9,981 reviews · from $91

Spend eight hours touring Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais from Lisbon in an air-conditioned vehicle. You get guided sightseeing, free time for pastries and lunch, and Atlantic views. Guides may include João, Hugo, Rodrigo, Inês, or Paulo, depending on the departure.

“Amazing! The guide was superb as he communicated well in english and told a lot about history of places. Full stars to them. Very professional”

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Seville: Cathedral, Giralda & Alcazar Entry With Guided Tour - Seville Cathedral and the climb up the Giralda
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Seville: Cathedral, Giralda & Alcazar Entry With Guided Tour

11.Cathedral, Giralda & Alcazar Entry With Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 8,560 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $65

Join a small or private group for a 2.5-hour guided visit to Seville Cathedral, the Giralda, and the Alcazar. Guides such as Joseph, Maria, Carmen, and Jose Miguel bring history, art, legends, and humor to the tour. Expect walking, ramps, security rules, and a fast-paced visit.

“Today’s tour with Joseph was so, so cool. He has an amazing and really funny sense of humor, which made the whole experience even better. Time absolutely flew by he shared so much information and showed us so many interesting things along the way. Just one small note: as a huge Game of Thrones fan, and knowing that there were quite a few filming locations connected to the show, I would have loved to hear a bit more about Game of Thrones or maybe see some pictures and really imagine specific scenes from the series. That would have made an already great tour even more special😊”

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Madrid: Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line - Entering the Palace With Priority Access
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Madrid: Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line

12.Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8,407 reviews · 2 hours · from $46

Meet your English, Spanish, French, or Italian-speaking guide at Opera Metro Station, walk through Plaza de Oriente, then enter Madrid’s Royal Palace by a priority route. See the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, Private Royal Apartments, Goya and Giordano artworks, and explore the gardens independently.

“Lydia is a fantastic guide! The tour was very interesting, totally enjoyable and much better than expected. The place is awesome, definitely recommend :-)”

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Granada: Alhambra & Generalife Fast-Track Guided Tour - Meeting at the ticket office square
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Granada: Alhambra & Generalife Fast-Track Guided Tour

13.Alhambra & Generalife Fast-Track Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8,313 reviews · 3 hours · from $88

Walk through the Alhambra’s Nasrid Palaces, Court of the Lions, Alcazaba, Charles V Palace, and Generalife Gardens with a French, English, or Spanish-speaking guide. Guides such as Carlos, Jose, Veronica, and Jolanda add history, practical direction, and photo tips to this $88 small-group visit.

“An incredible tour. Our guide Veronica was so passionate and knowledgeable. We learned so much and never felt rushed”

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Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included - Tiananmen Square and the first security wait
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Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

14.Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7,974 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $4Best value

Choose a small-group or private Beijing tour led by an English-speaking guide such as Mina, Miko, Maria, or Jay. Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, then add Coal Hill Park, palace museums, hotel pickup, or a hutong lunch depending on your package.

“Everything went perfect, from organization, to great guide and stories about site, to beautiful weather.”

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Amsterdam: Royal Palace Entry Ticket + Audio guide - Entering from Dam Square
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Amsterdam: Royal Palace Entry Ticket + Audio guide

15.Royal Palace Entry Ticket + Audio guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7,889 reviews · 1 day · from $15

Visit Amsterdam’s Royal Palace at your own pace with a multimedia guide in eight languages. See state rooms, Golden Age paintings, Louis Napoleon-era furnishings, and the vast Citizens’ Hall with Atlas overhead. Plan about 1 to 2 hours, and use the priority lane with your smartphone ticket.

“Beautiful paintings, statues and furniture. Audio guide gave all the information required to understand the history of the building and it's residents through the years.”

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New in Palace Tours

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★ 4.7Taman sari water castle, sultan palace & local food tastingFrom $3211 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