The biggest royal palaces, ranked (2024)

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Prague Castle in the Czech Republic spans 753,474 square feet.

Kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperors reigned at the ancient Prague Castle, which was built in the 9th century. While it was once home to royals, today it is the official residence for the president of the Czech Republic.

According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest ancient castle in the world, covering an area of more than 17 acres. Its expansive grounds also contain the Crown Jewels, St. George's Basilica, and St. Vitus Cathedral.

Buckingham Palace in London, England, measures in at 828,820 square feet.

Buckingham Palace has been home to the British monarchy since 1837. It contains 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.

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The Palace of Venaria in Italy covers 861,113 square feet.

The Palace of Venaria, which is located in Venaria Reale, near Turin, is a residence of the Royal House of Savoy, and it was built in the 17th century by Duke Carlo Emanuele II and duch*ess Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy Nemours. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace features Baroque architecturein its Hall of Diana, Great Gallery, and the Church of St. Hubert.

Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is 969,635 square feet.

The former official residence of the Malaysian monarchy, Istana Negara was built in 1928. Its grounds aren't open to the public, but they contain a golf course, a lake, a swimming pool, and indoor badminton and tennis courts.

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Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy, is 1,189,412 square feet, and its garden is five times that.

The 1,200-room Quirinal Palace was built in 1574 by Pope Gregory XIII. It served as the official papal residence from 1550 to 1870, and the official residence for Kings of Italy from 1871 until the end of the monarchy in 1946.

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The Royal Palace of Madrid in Spain has an area of 1,450,000 square feet.

Before the Royal Palace of Madrid was built as a royal residence in 1764, it was the site of a fortress dating back to the 9th century built by the Muslim kingdom of Toledo.

The palace contains 3,000 rooms, 70 windows, 240 balconies, and 44 staircases. While it remains an official residence, today's Spanish royal family lives in Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid and only uses the palace for ceremonial events.

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Malbork Castle in Poland is the largest castle in the world if measured by land area, encompassing 1,539,239 square feet.

Built by the Teutonic Knights beginning in 1274, the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is comprised of three castles surrounded by walls. It was damaged and nearly destroyed during World War II, but it was restored and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, spans 1,600,000 square feet.

Built in the 1400s, the Forbidden City served as the imperial palace of China for almost 500 years. It contains 90 palaces and courtyards, and over 8,728 rooms.

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Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, is 2,583,339 square feet.

Built in the 13th century, the imperial palace is the former home of the Habsburg dynasty that ruled Austria until the end of the monarchy in 1918. Each emperor expanded the palace, which today has 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and 2,600 rooms.

The Royal Palace of Caserta in southern Italy measures around 500,000 square feet, but it is the world's largest palace if measured by volume.

With its five floors, theUNESCO World Heritage Siteis theworld's largest palace if measured by volume with over 71 million cubic feet. Built in 1845, the Royal Palace contains 1,200 rooms and a 450-seat theater.