15 Great palaces you can stay in

Set on the Bosphorus, this large, five-star luxury retreat is set in an opulent 19th-century marble Ottoman residence, spilling out into several newer buildings.

The main palace building houses seven suites, popular among visiting royalty, heads of state and Hollywood stars.

The Ciragan Palace provides guests with every conceivable mod con – indoor and outdoor pools, a hammam, fitness centre, gardens, and even the occasional classical concert – alongside mesmerising views of the Asian side of town and the Bosphorus Bridge.

There’s a superb breakfast buffet, too – pricey, but could keep you going until the evening.

Lounging in the hotel’s heated infinity pool, watching ships sail down the Bosphorus strait, is a total luxury. After all, you are staying in a real Sultan’s palace.

Set above rustic Neemrana village on the shoulders of a stark ridge in the Aravalli Hills, Neemrana Fort-Palace is a sublime confection of medieval fortress and fairy-tale palace.

Originally built in the 1460s and expanded down the centuries, by 1947 it was abandoned and rapidly deteriorating. Its bold, late-1980s restoration has been bolstered by appealing, almost ‘Indo-Tuscan’, additions.

With almost 80 rooms and suites spread over 14 levels, it’s a lovely, relaxing and essentially rural hotel with charming terraces and gardens plus a welcome pair of swimming pools.

For a different perspective, a spectacular zip wire spans the lofty ridge above and behind the property – with awesome views of the fort-palace.

For a more sedate experience, the hotel arranges simple camel-cart tours of the locality – a mode of transport still used by some villagers throughout rural Rajasthan.

Set in the largest privately-owned garden in Florence of 11 verdant acres, the Four Seasons is effectively an urban resort within a city. 116 rooms and suites are spread across a frescoed heritage villa and former convent.

On-site facilities are impressive: there are three restaurants (one Michelin-starred, another serving top-notch pizza), an outdoor pool and a fabulous spa, perfect for a post-sightseeing wind-down. Service is flawless – as you’d expect from a Four Seasons hotel

The hotel combines the advantages of a country resort with proximity to the city’s main attractions. It’s convenient for the Accademia Gallery and the Museo San Marco, but a 15-minute walk (or short taxi ride) to Florence’s historic centre.

A Tudor royal pleasure palace set in 60 acres of gorgeous formal gardens and 750 acres of parkland. Anyone with the remotest interest in English history will get a kick out of exploring this sprawling Tudor and Baroque estate, where the infamous Henry VIII lived, loved and held lavish banquets.

Navigating the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned around 1700, is something of a rite of passage for British kids, with families often opting to visit the gardens alone (maze-only tickets are available). But don’t miss the Great Hall and royal apartments, the elaborate dome in the Chapel Royal or the gallery – reputedly haunted by Henry’s fated fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

You can also play Mary Poppins with a walk on the palace roof, on guided summertime tours that take in the intricate brickwork and chimneys and give VIP views of the estate.

The grandest Dame of Venice’s classic hotels, the Gritti lords it over the Grand Canal from a superb spot across from the Salute church and just 10 minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco.

A hotel since 1895, this 15th-century palazzo was once home of Doge Andrea Gritti; expect opulent interiors stuffed with antiques and grand master paintings, glittering Murano glass chandeliers and lots of polished wood and marble.

A major refurb in 2013 brought the hotel into the 21st century without compromising the old-world appeal and unmatched old-school service.

Breakfast or evening cocktails on the waterside terrace are memorable as is a dinner of taglierini with lobster at the shamelessly romantic Club dei Doge.

History blends with romance at this gorgeous, 19th-century Viscount’s palace – now a sumptuous 5-star hotel – set in sub-tropical gardens just outside Lisbon.

Thoughtfully renovated to retain the palace’s original style, it combines original Portuguese 19th-century style with art deco, colonial and native Pombaline styles.

Set in sub-tropical gardens, it has an outdoor pool and a spa, gorgeous views towards the river, and luxurious Portuguese furniture and fabrics.

Buses link it to the centre; the Janelas Verdes and church and garden of Estrela are in walking distance.

It’s ideal for romantic couples on a city break, but families are very welcome, too.

Built in the early 20th century, this glorious bourgeoisie palace is a cultural, historic and architectural gem.

Decorated throughout in traditional Moorish style with zelliges (mosaics), zouaks (paintings on wood) and stuccos, it’s a showcase of Morocco’s famed artisan craftsmanship.

Berber carpets and old photos of Fez’s medina evoke an atmosphere of authentic Arab-Andalusian tradition.

This Neoclassical / Art Nouveau beauty – known as the Algarve’s Pink Palace – was built in the 1840s by the Viscount of Estoi.

It’s now a luxury 5-star hotel, with all mod-cons, famous for its pink rococo facade, Versailles-style gardens and an elaborate rococo-style interior of frescoes, panelling, ornate stucco ceilings, and gilded furniture.

This magnificent 1,441-room Rococo palace was once the summer residence of the ruling Habsburg Dynasty – one of the most prominent dynasties in European history – until 1918. It was built as a wedding gift for Empress Maria Theresa on an artesian well – Schonbrunn translates as ‘beautiful spring’. Franz-Joseph – Austria’s longest serving emperor and uncle to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was born here. His nephew’s assassination, of course, triggered World War 1.

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.

Step back into the atmosphere of Imperial Russia with a stay at the exquisite Four Seasons – a hotel whose elegance, and opulence matches the city outside its doors. A grand 19th-century palace, just steps away from the State Hermitage, the luxury interiors encourage guests to channel their inner aristocrat, with butter-soft carpets, marble floors and sumptuous fabrics throughout.

This is a place to relax and indulge, with an afternoon of pampering at the luxurious Luceo Spa, or caviar and champagne in the classic, wood-pannelled lounge. Staff are renowned for their knowledge of the city and attention to detail – nothing is too much trouble. An ideal choice for a celebratory weekend, or a truly indulgent break.

Tucked away in the north-east corner of the Old City, this two-hundred-year-old haveli – a nobleman’s traditional mansion – offers a romantic and atmospheric window on the lives and style of an aristocratic Rajput family. Intimate rather than palatial in scale, its elegant and traditional decor includes fluted arches, frescoed walls and period furniture.

A gorgeous dining hall offers traditional Rajasthani cuisine (such as lal maans, or red mutton, and ker sangri, which combines desert beans and wild berries), in addition to Indian staples and western favourites.

On a quiet street near the Royal Palace, this elegant 19th-century duke’s palace is now one of Madrid’s most luxurious hotels.

Set in manicured gardens, the hotel’s modern interior is full of references to the artist Velázquez’s masterpieces – and there are plenty of bells and whistles, especially if you book one of the VIP ‘Red Level’ rooms.

Perks for this tier of guest include a personal butler and access to the private lounge with day-long champagne, drinks and fancy snacks.

But everyone can enjoy the rooftop plunge pool, hot tub and cocktail bar, and the exotic Thai spa. Restaurants include the prestigious Dos Cielos, run by the Michelin-level Torres brothers.

Just outside Seville’s Santa Cruz district, this 5-star design hotel occupies an 18th-century palace from the city’s glory days.

Today, it’s the perfect small luxury hotel, deftly combining 21st-century creature comforts with original features: an elegant black and white tiled central patio with marble columns, another with a seashell mosaic and fountain linked to the pilgrimage route to Santiago, and a third large patio filled with fragrant orange trees.

There’s a bar and a fine restaurant – Los Rincones del Marques – that features gourmet takes on Andalusian dishes and occasional flamenco shows on summer nights.

The roof terrace and pool have enchanting views over the Cathedral and La Giralda, and nothing is ever too difficult for the staff. The only problem is ever leaving.

This handsome palace, built in 1776, is on a quiet pedestrian street in the old Jewish Quarter, near some of the city’s top restaurants and tapas bars and only a minute’s walk from the Picasso Museum and ten minutes from La Malagueta Beach.

The coolly sophisticated, understated bedrooms are a haven to return to (the secluded tower room has a wonderful private terrace, overlooking much of the city).

An elegant restaurant fills the glassed-in patio courtyard, bathed in natural light, where breakfast is served and where the Balausta restaurant, run by Michelin-starred chef Jose Carlos Garcia serves up creative, gastronomic Andalusian cuisine.

The staff are exceptional, and they’ll make sure you get the most out of arty, up-and-coming Malaga.