Cover Bellman at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel, a historic hotel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, that is also the residence of the former royal family of Jodhpur. (Photo: Sergi Reboredo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Bellman at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel, a historic hotel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, that is also the residence of the former royal family of Jodhpur. (Photo: Sergi Reboredo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Step inside the world’s most illustrious historic hotels once graced by monarchs, counts and aristocrats. In these majestic sites, the stories are as rich as the silks that once adorned their suites
Step into the past with these magnificent historic hotels that have hosted kings, queens, maharajas, and luminaries of every era. These are not just five-star properties—they are living monuments to legacy, luxury and lineage.
Far more than five-star accommodations, these properties are living monuments to grandeur and legacy—where gilded ceilings, manicured gardens and centuries-old ballrooms hold stories of empires, intrigue and high society. From Venetian palazzos to Rajput palaces and baroque lakeside retreats, these regal stays invite modern travellers to immerse themselves in aristocratic splendour and timeless luxury.
Also read: Live like royalty: 8 palaces turned luxurious hotels
1. Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur, India)
Commissioned by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1928, Umaid Bhawan Palace is where a 20th-century marvel of Art Deco meets Rajputana splendour. Completed in 1943, it remains one of the world’s largest private residences as it is still the primary residence of the former royal family of Jodhpur.
Designed by Henry Vaughan Lanchester, the palace features murals by Stefan Norblin, a soaring 105-foot dome and interiors lined with marble and mosaic. Today, the Taj Group operates 70 rooms and suites. The palace has hosted celebrity weddings, including that of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, reinforcing its modern-day relevance as a royal destination.
See more: Travel like a maharaja in new luxury royal tour of India for $81,400
2. The Gritti Palace (Venice, Italy)
Set on the Grand Canal, The Gritti Palace is a triumph of Venetian Gothic architecture and heritage. Originally built in the 14th century, the palazzo became the private residence of Andrea Gritti, the Doge of the Venetian Republic, in 1525. Later transformed into a luxury hotel in 1895, it now belongs to Marriott’s Luxury Collection.
Ernest Hemingway once called it his Venetian home. John Ruskin, Winston Churchill and Grace Kelly were also frequent guests. The hotel now offers 82 rooms, including the Hemingway Suite and the Redentore Terrazza, with panoramic views of Venice. When dining at The Gritti Terrace or sipping cocktails at Bar Longhi, guests are enveloped in the city’s cultural past.
3. Château de Bagnols (Beaujolais, France)
Dating back to 1217, Château de Bagnols is a medieval fortress turned Renaissance château in the heart of wine country. Royalty has walked its halls—King Charles VIII visited in 1490, and his crown still adorns the guardroom fireplace. Later residents included Madame de Sévigné, who wrote of the château in her letters.
Restored in the late 1980s, its suites feature original frescoes, antique furniture and period tapestries. Surrounded by vineyards and formal gardens, guests can enjoy tastings in its ancient caves or dine at Michelin-starred Le 1217.
4. The Ritz (London, UK)
Designed in the French château style by Charles Mewès and Arthur Davis, its Louis XVI interiors and gilded flourishes have hosted royalty since 1906. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday here, and King Charles III renewed its Royal Warrant in 2024.
Afternoon tea at The Palm Court is a London institution, while The Ritz Restaurant and the Rivoli Bar remain essential experiences. With individually styled suites and views over Green Park, The Ritz continues to attract London high society.
5. Villa d’Este (Lake Como, Italy)
Built in 1568 for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Villa d’Este has hosted everyone from the Princess of Wales (Caroline of Brunswick) to Czarina Maria Feodorovna. Converted into a hotel in 1873, its 152 rooms and suites blend Renaissance charm with 21st-century comfort.
The 25-acre gardens—named a national monument—include mosaic grottos, a nymphaeum, and the iconic floating pool on the lake. Guests such as Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock and George Clooney have all stayed, lured by its baroque beauty and Como's timeless allure.
In case you missed it: Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 makes a rare appearance at Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and Villa Erba, Italy
6. Rambagh Palace (Jaipur, India)
Once a garden retreat for a royal nurse in 1835, Rambagh Palace became the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur by 1931. Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi transformed it into Rajasthan’s most opulent royal address. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during her 1961 India tour, as did Jacqueline Kennedy and King Charles III.
The palace, now managed by the Taj Group, is known for its Indo-Saracenic architecture, Mughal gardens and heritage dining at Suvarna Mahal. Polo Bar and Steam—a cocktail bar set in a Victorian train station—lend period charm.
7. Hotel Imperial (Vienna, Austria)
Originally the Palais Württemberg, Hotel Imperial was built in 1863 and transformed into a hotel for the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair. A masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture, it became the go-to address for Emperor Franz Joseph I, who used it for diplomatic meetings and royal audiences.
Guests have included Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Wagner, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Freud. With 138 rooms and suites decorated with silk walls and antique furnishings, the hotel continues its tradition of imperial elegance. Café Imperial and its namesake torte remain an iconic Viennese indulgence.
8. Ashford Castle (County Mayo, Ireland)
Ashford Castle traces its roots to 1228, with the Guinness family later transforming it into a Victorian country retreat. The Prince of Wales (later King George V) visited in 1905, and the George V Dining Room still honours his stay.
Now part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Ashford offers 83 individually styled rooms, including staterooms in the oldest parts of the castle. The 350-acre estate features formal gardens, falconry and lakeside views of Lough Corrib. Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan and Pierce Brosnan have all visited, drawn by its Celtic romance and grandeur.
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Sasha Lim-Uy Mariposa is a lifestyle journalist who is known for her food writing. Based in Manila, she also covers entertainment and dining, as well as a broad range of topics. She was the former digital editor at Esquire Philippines and was the digital managing editor at Spot.ph, and now writes for the different Tatler Asia markets as a contributing writer for T-Labs.
