Multiple countries
Inspiration
A Sultan’s palace in Istanbul, a royal palace in Vienna, a Mughal fort-palace in India – authentic palace stays offer a taste of royal and aristocratic life from bygone eras. Here’s our round-up of 15 of the best.
Travel bucket list idea:
Lake Palace
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
- https://www.tajhotels.com
Bucket List Experience
Last updated: 08 April, 2024
Built in 1746, this stunning marble palace (and famous Octopussy cult hideout) was the winter palace of Maharana Jagat Singh II of the royal dynasty of Mewar.
Mesmerising from the outside, inside it houses a peacock-filled central garden, with fountains, pillared terraces and shady courtyards.
Rooms are traditionally furnished and come with views out onto the lake and to the city of Udaipur in the distance.
Taken over and restored by a luxury hotel chain, you must be a hotel guest to visit. But it’s worth the price tag to stay and experience an authentic taste of royal Indian life. The Royal Butlers are descendants of the original palace retainers, and serve guests with Maharanan grandeur and tradition.
Logistics
Price from: £700
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
When to do it
The best time to visit Udaipur – and thus to stay a night in the palace – is the dry seasons from October to March.
Round-ups
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
Inspiration
Here’s our round-up of 60 unique and unusual places to stay – from castles to palaces, treehouses to caves and even UFOs – that justify a place on any travel bucket list in their own right.
Multiple countries
Inspiration
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.