Famous Castles in Europe
Some castles are known far beyond their own country: Neuschwanstein in the Bavarian Alps, the Alhambra in Granada, Edinburgh Castle on its volcanic rock or the Palace of Versailles. This page collects the most famous castles in Europe that we cover, with tickets, opening hours and tips to help you plan a visit without the worst of the queues.
Eilean Donan Castle
Castel del Monte
Neuschwanstein Castle
Hohenzollern Castle
Château de Chenonceau
Château de Chambord
Bran Castle
Prague Castle
Alhambra
Windsor Castle
Muiderslot Castle
De Haar Castle
Why these castles are famous
Some are famous for their history. The Tower of London held prisoners and the Crown Jewels for centuries, Prague Castle has been the seat of Bohemian kings and Czech presidents, and Wartburg Castle is where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. Windsor Castle is still a working royal residence.
Others are famous for how they look or where they stand. Neuschwanstein Castle, built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, became a model for fairy-tale castles worldwide. Eilean Donan Castle sits on its own island in a Scottish loch, Mont Saint-Michel rises out of the tidal bay, and Pena Palace in Sintra is painted in bright yellow and red. Château de Chenonceau spans a river, and Bran Castle in Romania owes much of its fame to the Dracula legend.
Planning a visit to the famous castles
The best-known castles get very busy, especially in summer. For Neuschwanstein Castle, the Alhambra and Château de Versailles, book timed tickets online well in advance, because they regularly sell out. Arriving at opening time or in the last hours of the day usually means fewer people.
Many famous castles come in pairs or groups. Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle stand opposite each other, Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors share the same hill in Sintra, and in the Loire Valley you can combine Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, Château d’Amboise and Château de Blois. In Scotland, Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle are about an hour apart.
Famous castles by country
France
- Château Comtal
- Château d’Amboise
- Château de Blois
- Château de Brissac
- Château de Chambord
- Château de Chantilly
- Château de Chenonceau
- Château de Falaise
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Château de Malmaison
- Château de Pierrefonds
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
- Mont Saint-Michel
England
- Alnwick Castle
- Bodiam Castle
- Dover Castle
- Tamworth Castle
- Thornbury Castle
- Tower of London
- Whitby Abbey
- Windsor Castle
- York Castle
Scotland
- Castle Stalker
- Dalhousie Castle
- Dunnottar Castle
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Glamis Castle
- Inverness Castle
- Rothesay Castle
- Stirling Castle
- Urquhart Castle
Germany
- Burg Rheinfels
- Cochem Castle
- Heidelberg Castle
- Hohenschwangau Castle
- Hohenzollern Castle
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Wartburg Castle
Ireland
Italy
Czech Republic
Portugal
The Netherlands
Spain
Slovakia
Romania
Wales
Belgium
Luxembourg
Austria
Switzerland
San Marino
Poland
Denmark
Lithuania
CroatiaOther countries
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous castle in Europe?
Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany is probably the best known, followed by castles such as Edinburgh Castle, Prague Castle, Windsor Castle and the Alhambra. Which one is most famous depends a lot on where you are from.
Which famous castles should I book in advance?
Book ahead for Neuschwanstein Castle, the Alhambra and Château de Versailles, which work with timed tickets and often sell out. Edinburgh Castle and the Tower of London are also much easier with an online ticket in summer.
Is Bran Castle really Dracula's castle?
Bran Castle is marketed as Dracula's castle, but there is no firm evidence that Vlad the Impaler lived there, and Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The castle is still worth a visit for its own history and its rooms furnished by Queen Marie of Romania.
Which famous castles are still lived in?
Windsor Castle is still a royal residence, Prague Castle houses the office of the Czech president, and Glamis Castle in Scotland is the family home of the Earls of Strathmore. You can visit parts of all three.
Can you see several famous castles in one trip?
Yes. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau fit in one day, as do Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors in Sintra. The Loire Valley and central Scotland are good regions for a few days of castle visits.
Other castle styles
Last updated: 11 October 2026
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